SERMON SUMMARY
Sunday, April 15,
2007
The Year of the Invitation : The Compass for Life
Sermon given by Senior Pastor, Dan Tabolt
One of the words
our God uses to disrobe mankind’s condition is “lost”. In the natural
world most of us will never really experience you panic and fear of really
being lost. Getting lost on the highway or in a city is uncomfortable, but
I feel can never compare to being lost in the deep woods or in the
mountains. One thing I was told about my father, who was a hunter, was he
did not like to be in the woods when it was snowing. It seemed as if a
panic would come over him to get out if the snow began to fall. He knew
that being deep in the woods in a snowstorm could be very dangerous
because when the snow begins to fall everything familiar begins to look
different. You could find yourself very easily turned around in the woods
and have no idea which direction you were moving in. As young boys, we
were taught how to use a compass. A compass would give you a fixed
direction to follow. I was told to take note of the direction where I can
from so if I became lost I could move in that direction until I came to
safety. The plan was to look at the compass and choose a fixed point in
the right direction and walk to it. Then after reaching that point, take
out your compass again; pick another fixed-point, walk to that and so on
until you came out of the woods. The danger with being lost is that you
will go in the wrong direction or walk in circles. Fear and panic are two
dangers emotions that must be brought under control when lost; you must
trust you compass not your surroundings. My Bible lesson today is, “What
is your compass in life?”
John 14:1-7 The Way, the Truth, and the Life
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2
In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I
am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you
know."
5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how
can we know the way ?"
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way , the truth, and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through Me. NKJV
I. Jesus is the “I am the Way”.
A. Jesus Himself is the way. He is the compass that we must have and
follow each step of the way until we find ourselves safely home.
1.The Way of a Savior.
B. Jesus, the True Shepherd.
John 10:1-6 "I am telling you the truth, he who does not enter the
sheepfold by the door , but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief
and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the
sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he
calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out
his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they
know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will
flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." NKJV
1. Jesus is the door. If we are not in proper relationship with Him, we
can be looked at as a thief or a robber, an illegal person.
2. Proper relationship, let us in, leads us through and brings us comfort.
The Narrow gate, not a broad road.
3. Relationship is like a set of keys that can open and lock things in our
journey in life.
II. Jesus is the Truth.
Rom 1:18 God's Wrath on Unrighteousness
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, NKJV
Rom 1:24-26 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts
of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who
exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator , who is blessed forever. Amen. NKJV
1. The Moral Compass of Life.
The truth of God is that He is the compass of life. We are the creation
and must be lead not by ourselves, but by God.
The exchange of the truth for a lie is that man has enough goodness in
himself to make his own decision without God; say I am my own god and my
own moral compass.
Rom 10:1-4 We all Need the Gospel
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may
be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not
according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness,
and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to
the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to everyone who believes. NKJV
When we make up the rules on our own, we are going about establishing our
own righteousness and not seeking after and accepting God’s Christ.
Matt 25:31"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels
with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations
will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the
sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will
say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I
was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I
was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I
was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' NKJV
Depart all who work lawlessness. All who make up their own rules, their
own way, their own god and have not embraced the gift of God.
III. Jesus is the Life.
It is interesting to note where Jesus wants to take us. It is to the
Father. Father denotes a wonderful relation from Jesus. People refer to
God in many ways. They call Him the man, the man upstairs, and many of the
attributes that disrobe their view of Him. But to be able to say it is my
father, for you, is a great comfort.
Rom 12:3 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and
acceptable and perfect will of God.
A tape recording
of today’s message is available from the church. To get your cassette tape
recording of this message, just send $5 (to cover costs of tape and
postage) to:
Attn.: Tape
Ministry
Abundant Life Fellowship
P.O. Box 22
Boonville, NY 13309-0022
Please note that all
sermons are property of Abundant Life Fellowship and should not be
reproduced for the purpose of profit or to be edited. Please understand
that these are here for the purpose of you bettering your own personal
understanding of what scriptures may mean, and we encourage you to read
the Bible for yourself as well and to pray for the Holy Spirit to give you
discernment of their meaning. All of the above sermons are available on
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