May 27 Sermon Wrap-up

Morning Audio Link (alternate link)

Evening Audio Link (alternate link)

Morning Outline:

There's a link here to the text of a sermon preached in 1770 about righteous rulers and the responsibility of God's people to work to make sure that's the kind of rulers they have.

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Rev. Samuel Cooke May 30, 1770

Web note: http://www.belcherfoundation.org/civil_government.htm

2 Samuel 23:1-7

I. David's Last Words--

     A. Not exactly last, but one of his main closing statements (Psalm 72 is possibly another)

     B. He speaks here more as a prophet or preacher than as a king

II. What do we gather?

     A. As citizens of the United States of America

          1. We have the blessing, thanks to the sacrifices of many others before us, of choosing our own leaders

          2. That on its own is worth celebrating and remembering: we do not have to live with someone of ungodly character simply inheriting the power over our lives that the government holds

          3. In turn, we need to apply this somewhat backwards. While David is speaking of the character that the king should aspire to, we should consider this as a test of the character that one pass to receive our support

          4. Our focus must be on our covenant with God: we must demonstrate that we will trust Him to provide and protect if we do that which is righteous

     B. As a church

          1. Faithfulness secures our legacy

          2. More than our own faithfulness, but the faithfulness of God to honor His own word

     C. As individual people

          1. Strive first to place our hearts on the rock

          2. Pass this on to our house, our lineage

          3. Build a generation that will follow God no matter what

               a. In faith

               b. In practical matters

Evening Outline:

Acts 2

Birthday of the Church

I. Prayer

II. Fellowship

III. Unity

IV. Evangelism

V. Ridicule

VI. Scripture

VII. Victory