Another Sermon Outline by Brian A. Yeager
Spiritual Contrasts to Secular Things
I. Introduction: Sometimes we need things drawn out for us (Matthew 21:28-32).
    A. A Christian’s life should be different from the world (Galatians 1:4,
    Ephesians 2:1-5, Colossians 3:5-7, and James 4:4).
    1. We need a spiritual focus in our lives (Colossians 1:9-10).
    2. Folks, we need to examine ourselves to make sure we are not
    condemned with this world (I Corinthians 11:31-32).
    B. Are we more focused on carnal things than spiritual (Galatians 6:8)?
    1. To what are you indebted (Romans 8:12-14)?
    2. What side of the battle are your invested in (Galatians 5:16-17; cf.
    Luke 12:34)?

II. Body: Are spiritual things foolish to us (I Corinthians 2:14-15)?
    A. Consider how we look at the preaching of truth (Ezekiel 33:30-33).
    1. After 3 hours in the waiting room: “Doctor, tell me if I’m dying… Doc,
    give me what I need to live…  You’re great Doc” versus “preacher, tell
    me I’m going to Heaven…  Preacher, you’d better just stick to the
    approved subjects…  Preacher, you stink” (Isaiah 30:20-21, Isaiah 62:6,
    Jonah 3:1-2, Mark 6:12, I Corinthians 2:1-5; 13, II Corinthians 3:12, I
    Thessalonians 2:1-8, I Timothy 1:3-4, and II Timothy 4:2-5).
    2. “Yes!  The game is going into overtime…  What a great movie, I didn’
    t notice it was 3 hours long…  I’ve seen this movie seven times, I love
    it… I can’t wait to hear this band perform, I could listen to them all
    night… Those fireworks were great, too bad they were too short” versus
    “Preacher, if you can’t say it in 30 minutes don’t say it at all…  I already
    know this subject so I’m leaving early, not coming, etc…  My attention
    span is only 30 minutes” (Nehemiah 8:3, Matthew 15:32, and Acts 20:7;
    9).
    3. “I’m on a healthy diet to have a good heart…  I love to eat good
    food…” versus “I don’t care what’s preached as long as it’s not blatant
    error…  I’ve had my full of the Gospel today” (Matthew 4:4; 5:6, Hebrews
    5:12-14, and I Peter 2:1-3).
    B. What if we put the same effort into spiritual education as most do secular
    education (I Corinthians 1:20-21; 3:18-20)?
    1. “Do your homework, study for the test, you have to pull good grades
    because your future depends on it” versus “if I have time today I’ll study
    the Bible” (Psalms 1:1-2; 119:97-99 and Proverbs 7:1-3).
    2. After 13 years of first level education you spend 18,720 hours at
    school (180 days per year x 8 hours per day x 13 years).  The
    congregation here assembles about 6 hours per week (out of 168
    hours).  If you are here all of those times, it’ll take 60 years before you
    reach 18,720 hours (6 x 52 = 312.  18,720 ÷ 312 = 60).  What do you
    suppose is our focus in life after those statistics (Matthew 6:33 cf. II
    Chronicles 31:20-21)?  
    C. What if we worked as hard for the Lord as we do ourselves (Haggai 1:2-
    10).
    1. “I work 40+ hours a week and provide great for my family…  I have
    worked for many years to get the financial security I have now” versus
    “Hey, I show up for services and now you want more…  I have a life
    away from the church you know” (Galatians 6:4-5, Philippians 2:25-30,
    Titus 3:8, and Hebrews 13:20-21).
    2. Realize that your hard work secularly is for temporary things
    (Ecclesiastes 2:18-24; 5:10-16 and I Timothy 6:6-9).
    3. Your labor for God has an eternal reward (John 5:28-29 and
    Galatians 6:7).

III. Conclusion:
    A. We have to change our desires if they are of the flesh (Psalms 78:29-31).
    B. This world and the things therein are going to perish (II Peter 3:10).
    C. Our focus has to be on a higher plain (Philippians 3:13-15).
© 2007 This material may not be used for sale or other means to have financial gain.  Use this as a
tool for your own studies if such is helpful!   Preachers are welcome to this work, but please do not
use my work so that you can be lazy and not do your own studies.  – Brian A. Yeager