Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – April 19, 2020
Series Title: “Discovering Our Own Life in the Life of Jesus”
Today’s Title: The Undivided Heart & the Tale of Two Kingdoms
Today’s Text: 6:14-29
Gospel Parallels: Matthew 14:1-12, Luke 9:7-9
The Undivided Heart
“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. – Psalm 86:11
The Tale of Two Kingdoms
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – April 19, 2020
Series Title: “Discovering Our Own Life in the Life of Jesus”
Today’s Title: The Undivided Heart & the Tale of Two Kingdoms
Today’s Text: 6:14-29
Gospel Parallels: Matthew 14:1-12, Luke 9:7-9
The Undivided Heart
“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. – Psalm 86:11
The Tale of Two Kingdoms
THE KINGDOM OF THE HERODS
- Herod the Great
- Herod Antipas
THE KINGDOM OF JESUS
Jesus & John the Baptist
- “cousins” – Luke 1:26-38
- grew up together? - Luke 1:39-56
- John’s preaching prepares the way for Jesus – John 1:6-8 & 19-28
- John identifies Jesus as the One God has sent – John 1:29-31
- John’s disciples who became Jesus’ disciples – John 1:35-42
- Jesus begins preaching when John is put into prison – Mark 1:14-15
- Jesus encourages & compliments John – Matthew 11:1-19
The death of John the Baptist - Mark 6:14-29
- This is the same Herod that Jesus was taken before on the night he was arrested
- Herod respected John, but John called him out for his adulterous relationship with Herodias
- Herod tried to play every side but clearly had a divided heart
- he tried to keep his wife happy, whom he never should have married in the first place
- he tried to keep the Jewish leaders happy, but they could not get past his marital infidelity
- he respected John the Baptist, and seems to fear God, but not as much as he feared losing his power
- A foolish moment of drunken lust he forces him to choose
- his relationship with his wife & daughter (step-daughter?) was on the line
- his standing with Rome was on the line
- his standing with the Jewish religious leaders was on the line
- his word was on the line
- John the Baptist’s life was on the line
- His faith in God was on the line
- If he refuses her barbaric request he could lose everything
The news of John’s death comes to Jesus - Matthew 11:13-23
- Jesus feels the pain of death deeply, especially this one
- We see this also in the death of another friend, Lazarus - John 11:35 (“Jesus wept”)
- Though deeply hurt, “he had compassion” on the crowds who followed Him to this “solitary place”
– Matthew 11:13-14
The Undivided Heart
“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. – Psalm 86:11
- THE DIVIDED HEART CREATES GRIEF FOR OTHERS
- THE UNDIVIDED HEART SUSPENDS GRIEF FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS
