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Bible Shorts Introduction:
Acts 20.7-12 tells of Paul’s
preaching and what happened to Eutychus. Some people complain about long
lessons, long prayers, and long services. Notice that it says Paul talked a long
time. Today
is the shortest day of the year, December 21. It is also the beginning of
winter. I got to thinking about some short lessons from the Bible. I)
The Shortest Person In The Bible A)
Zacchaeus, Luke 19.1ff 1.
To be fair we really don’t know if he was really the shortest person in the
Bible or not, but it does say he was of “short stature.” 2.
He overcame his lack of height by climbing up in a tree. B)
Spiritual lessons from Zacchaeus 1.
He was considered a sinner, v. 7
a. Tax collectors were known to be unscrupulous and he was
wealthy.
b. This did not make him any
worse in the sight of God for all men
are sinners. 2.
He committed himself to change.
a. He would help feed the poor
b. He would repay what he had taken plus extra “if” he had taken
more. Let us not minimize the person cost this man was willing to endure.
c. How would he know if he had charged too much? The people
would come let him know. 3.
We need to remember that we are sinners and need to change. There is a
commitment to repent “if” and when we sin.
a. Sometimes we may not be sure if we have done anything wrong
or not; our attitude should be that we will everything we can to be right with God
b. We will do whatever we can to have peace with our fellow man, Romans
12.18
c. The problem
is we may want to determine the conditions of having peace with our fellowman
and with God
d. Such shows a lack of understanding
or commitment. II)
The Shortest Command In The Bible A)
John 2.5 the first miracle performed by Jesus 1.
At the wedding feast in 2.
Jesus mother commanded the servants to do “whatever He told them to do.”
a. She knew Jesus was from God, remember His birth
b. She did not know what He was going to tell the servants but she
knew to trust in Him.
c. Jesus told one man to sell all that he had (Matthew 19.21), another He
spit on the ground and then put the clay on the man’s eyes and then told him
to go and wash in the pool (John 9.7). 3.
He told the disciples to go forth and preach His word. B)
Spiritual lessons 1.
We need to trust in whatever Jesus tells us to do. 2.
The more faith the more we trust His words. Too often people say “I don’t
see why I have to do that.” The reason is because Jesus said so. Mark 16.16 III)
The Shortest Parables A)
Parable of the hidden treasure, Matthew 13.44 & Parable of the pearl of
great price, Matthew 13.45-46 1.
In both parables we have something of great value: treasure and a pearl 2.
In one parable the man has great joy, he realizes somewhat the value of what he
has found. 3.
In both parables the man sells all that he has to obtain what he has found. B)
Application 1.
Jesus is talking about man entering or finding a way to enter the kingdom of
heaven. 2.
There is to be great joy when man hears the Gospel.
a. A man goes to a yard sale and purchases a picture frame for $4.
Getting home he takes the picture out of the frame to discover something on the
back of the picture. It is the Declaration of Independence. He ends up selling
it for $11 million. I believe he had great joy.
b. Remember the joy of hearing the Gospel and obeying it. 3.
The cost of entering the kingdom of heaven may be great but it is nothing
compared to what he obtains. 4.
What is salvation worth to us, Matthew
16.24-28 IV)
The Shortest Verse In The Bible A)
John 11.35 1.
Time of sorrow – seems to last forever, time of agony and suffering. 2.
Hebrews 12.7-11 the writer
says that our earthly father discipline us for a “few days” 3.
2 Corinthians 4.16-18 that which we
endure now is temporary, that which awaits on the other side of the grave is
eternal. B)
Jesus wept 1.
What more could He do? 2.
He died so we can have eternal life. Conclusion:
Short lessons are often powerful lessons. |