Making It PLAIN! (Sermon Audio)

This is the audio from the April 3, 2022 sermon, “Making It PLAIN”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 2 Corinthians 6

While everyone of us stumble and fall at various times in our life, sometimes of our own doing, sometimes caused by others, and often caused by a combination of our self and others, we would do well to live in such a way that we don’t put a stumbling block in the path of anyone. Because sometimes it is a lack of clarity that causes a person to stumble, we would do well to present the good news of Jesus in a way that we make it . . .

Personal.
- We make the good news of Jesus plain to others when we make it personal. Everyone who has come to a saving faith in Jesus has a personal story of how that happened. Paul writes of being commended as a servant through life circumstances that are difficult, pleasant, and everything in between. When we personalize how God is with us in good times and bad, we help others see the hope which can be found in Christ.
Loving.
- We make the good news of Jesus plain to others when we make it loving. Paul writes about his affection for the Corinthian people, even when they were not loving toward him. When we learn to love people regardless of how they view us, we help make the good news of Jesus real.
Active.
- We make the good news of Jesus plain to others when we make it active. When Paul writes about not being unequally yoked, I believe one of the things he is addressing is a consistency that we need to have when it comes to our words and actions pulling in the same direction. While this section of 2 Corinthians is often applied to marriage, there are many other areas of life that we can find ourselves joined with people who are pulling in different directions. God says we cannot serve two masters and our actions ought to show we only have one.
Instructive.
- We make the good news of Jesus plain to others when we make it instructive. Paul makes it clear that the instruction he gives is not based on his wisdom but on God’s. When we share with people, it is important that God’s Word is the foundation upon which we learn and teach. The changes that God wants to make in our life are not random or arbitrary, rather they are always consistent with His Word.
Now.
- We make the good news of Jesus plain to others when we make it now. Paul made it clear that “now is the time of the Lord’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” There is an urgency to the message because the message is a matter of life and death.