SERMON OUTLINE FOR JANUARY 17, 2021

 

“THE HURRY UP CALL OF GOD”

JOHN 9: 1 – 11, 18 - 25

 

INTRODUCTION:  In this passage from John’s gospel, Jesus is approaching His impending death.  There is a sense of urgency in His words and actions as He encounters a man who had been blind from birth; the kind of urgency a child senses when his/her parent uses the dreaded “middle name.”  Put simply, there are moments in our lives and service of the Lord in which we must urgently respond to, and act upon, God’s call to minister in His name.  What can we say about the “hurry up” call of God?  We learn from this Biblical account that:

 

I.       IT IS A PERSONAL CALL – “I”

        

         A.  Jesus did not allow Himself to get involved in theological debate or discussion.

 

         B.  We must take God’s hurry up call personally. 

 

         C.  We must avoid expecting: “Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody” to

              answer God’s call for us.

 

II.      IT IS A MANDATORY CALL – “must”
 

         A.  Jesus was compelled to act.

 

         B.  This is not an option, nor open to debate for God’s children.

        

         C.  John 3: 30, 4: 4; Luke 19: 5; Acts 4: 12

 

III.     IT IS A LABORING CALL – “work”

        

         A.  The song writer said that “we will work till Jesus comes”.

 

         B.  Matthew 11: 28 – 30, Ephesians 2: 10, Philippians 1: 6, 2: 12 – 13

 

IV.    IT IS AN ASSIGNED CALL – “Him who sent me”

 

         A.  Matthew 16: 18; John 11: 42, 4: 34

 

V.     IT IS A TIME-LIMITED CALL – “while it is the day” “the night is coming”

 

        A.  God’s invitation will not be extended forever.  Hebrew 9: 27

 

        B.  We cannot always be assured of opportunities to minister to others in Jesus’  

              name.