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THE KING’S BUSINESS
audible at the end of a sentence as it is at the beginning. Do not speak too low. Take good care o f the voice. Practice deep breathing. Breathe through your nose and Sermon Theme: An Open Confession of Christ. T ext : Romans 10:9, 10 ; Proverbs 29:25 ; Matthew 10:32, 33; John 12:42, 43. . Introduction. - A large class o f people who believe, but who are either ashamed to confess that belief, or too timid to do it, like Joseph of Arimathaea or Nicodemus. I. W hat I t I s to C onfess C hrist . 1. Not merely uniting with the church. This is a confession, o f course, if rightly done. It signifies much, but a man may be a member o f the church and yet be ashamed to confess Christ. There may be reason for it. It may be that.he used to confess Christ at prayer meetings, but not now. 2. Not merely living a consistent Christian life. This ,is conceded to be vital, important, powerful and necessary to true confession o f -Christ, but confession with thè lips is needed to tell the secret of-that life. 3. Not merely a worker in the church. A man may lead a meeting on Sunday and be silent through the week. It is not merely taking part as by reading a verse 4. It js confession with the lips and mouth, always, everywhere, in public and in private, that Jesus Christ is one’s personal Saviour. II. P ublic C onfession of C hrist I s N eces sary . 1. Loyalty to Christ demands it. Christ is in need o f witnesses. He is on trial before the world. Gratitude to Christ demands it. 2. W e are under obligation to preach the gospel to our fellowmen (Romans 10:14). . Talking is the force that moves the world. Voting changes no opinions ; it only
with your mouth shut. I f you wake up in the night and find your mouth open, get up and close it. Whatever else you do, breathe with a closed mouth. Outlines records them. The Christian is Christ’s talking man. 3. It is an essential o f salvation (Romans 10:9-11). We cannot have faith in the heart with out speech on the lips. Faith without con fession is no more faith than confession without faith is real confession. III. T he A dvantages in C onfessing C hrist . 1. It commits to a certain definite course o f conduct. This is helpful, and settles many questions. 2. It helps to define your own faith. Our faith is confirmed by talking about it. 3. It confirms the faith o f wavering brethren. Every man has an influence, for or against Christ. What you do encour ages others. 4. Think o f the honor conferred upon you. - , No man should be ashamed that he “loves the loveliest and serves the holiest.” IV. W hat H inders M en from ing C hrist . C onfess - 1 . A sense o f personal unworthiness. 2 . Fear o f backsliding. 3. to it. A sense o f responsibility attached 4. Pride. 5, The fear o f man. Theme: First Love Lost. T e x t : “ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”—Revelation 2 :4. Introduction. Christ’s method o f dealing with His Church. I. W hat Is F irst L ove ? 1. The love o f espousal or engagement (Jeremiah 2:2 ). 2. The loVe o f the new convert.
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