Sermon Series: Nevertheless
Nevertheless
A Sermon Series Idea
Dr. J. Mike Minnix, Editor, www.sermoncity.com
The word “nevertheless” means “even though” or “in spite of” and is found often in the NKJV of the Bible. Its significance should not be lost to us. Numerous times God interrupted a thought in the Bible with the word, “nevertheless,” and then went on to point out important truths, responsibilities and dangers to the readers. Below you will find a few examples of sermons that can be developed from the word “nonetheless.” The dedicated and experienced preacher will see many applications within the texts that are shared and the outline or subject ideas presented.
The Nevertheless of Love
Revelation 2:4
The Lord Jesus walks among the churches. He is present whenever and wherever His people meet to serve, pray, fellowship and worship. He observes the faithfulness and faults of the congregations. In Revelation 2 we find Him moving among the believers who are part of The Church at Ephesus. Here we find the awesome inclusion of the word, “Nonetheless.”
I. The Divine Observation
He noted that they were faithful and worked very hard. These are not bad attributes. But I have known some very faithful Christians in terms of attendance and giving whose hearts were like stone. They were judgmental, angry, argumentative and difficult to deal with. There is more to Christianity than outward duty! Though we must not diminish the faithful dedication of those who serve diligently, we can and should point out that there is something far more important in the Christian life. When God looks at us, He does not look at the outside, but rather views the heart. Remember the story of the prodigal son and the elder brother. The prodigal came home from a period of rebellion and repented. The Father received him gladly. The elder brother had never left home. In fact, in the parable Jesus told, He pointed out that the elder brother came in after a long day of work to find a party taking place in the house. The elder brother had been working so late that lights were on in the house. Yet, the elder brother had no love, compassion or forgiveness toward his prodigal brother. Sadly, he refused to even go in and enjoy the party that the Father had thrown for the repentant prodigal. Working hard for the Lord doesn’t ‘mean’ much if one maintains a ‘mean’ heart!
II. The Divine Revelation
Jesus revealed to The Church at Ephesus that, though they were hardworking and faithful, something was missing. They had left their first love. When a person comes to Christ, all that matters is Jesus. Many new believers know very little about church life, fellowship among believers, and almost nothing about the problems taking place within a congregation. What they do know is that Jesus loves them and they love Him back!!! All that matters is that they have been forgiven, accepted and loved by the Lord. What a wonderful time that is. However, it is easy to move away from the first love and get bogged down in the minutiae of church life. Christ calls us back to a single focus – Jesus! We must renew that love relationship with Him or we will become hardhearted workers like the elder brother in the parable Jesus told. It is good for us to return to Him with a heart of love.
III. The Divine Expectation
What Jesus desired and demanded was a return to the first love. We used to call this revival, but that word has fallen out of favor with some Christians in this modern age. It doesn’t matter what you call it, it is the act of coming back to the childlike love you first had for Jesus. It is pushing aside all the problems, hurts, burdens and difficulties of life and focusing only on Him. The songwriter penned,
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace!”
Yes, that is it! Let us do it – NOW!
The Nevertheless of Popularity
Acts 27:11; Matthew 14:9; John 12:42
Before sailing for Rome, Paul warned the captain of the ship that danger was lurking out in the sea. Note in the text that the captain listened to others in order to please them or to ensure that he made more money. The captain was buckling under the pressure of popular opinion rather than using the word given to him through divine inspiration. Let’s not be too hard on the captain; we all do that at times.
In another illustration of this weakness, we discover in Matthew 14:9 that Herod decided to take the life of John the Baptist even though it grieved him to do so. Why did he make a decision against his better judgment? He did it to please someone else. How often do we do the same thing? We make a decision because of the pressure we feel rather than because it is the right thing to do.
In John 12:42 we discover, in yet another biblical illustration, that many of the rulers believed in Jesus, but they did not acknowledge Him publicly. Why not? They knew that the Pharisees hated Jesus and they didn’t want to experience their wrath. For the sake of public opinion, they were silent! Why did these people give in to public opinion and pressure? Note the answers below:
I. The Captain Made a Decision for Profit
II. The King Made a Decision for Pleasure
III. The Rulers Made a Decision for Peace
Any decision that does not line up with obedience to God is a ‘Nonetheless’ for Popularity and a weakness that comes with grave consequences!
The Nevertheless of Progress
Philippians 3:16
In Philippians 3 we read the wonderful account of Paul’s commitment to know Christ, to attain the goals that Christ had for Him and the desire and determination Paul had to endure anything in order to please the Lord. In essence, Paul was determined to keep making progress in getting to know Jesus better! In Philippians 3:16 Paul points out that all of us that are mature should do likewise. We are to follow the Lord even though it requires a measure of suffering and endurance. Think of the athletes who push their bodies beyond that which seems possible in order to win a game, be the victor in a race or gain the top prize in a contest. As Christians it is easy for us to become flabby in our souls – to grow weary in well doing. Paul stated that he had “not yet” reached that level for which God had called Him. Who among us has done so? Note the following:
I. The Not Yet of Paul’s Priority
A. The Person of Christ
B. The Power of Christ
C. The Persecution of Christ
D. The Perfection of Christ
II. The Not Yet of Paul’s Pursuit
A. The Value Illustration – We must put value on this pursuit above all other things
B. The Vision Illustration – We must envision God’s goals for us and reach for them
C. The Victory Illustration – We must desire to be victorious in our walk with Jesus
Another idea for this message could be as follows:
I. The Commitment to the Way of the Lord
II. The Consciousness of the Work of the Lord
III. The Courageousness in the Will of the Lord
Yet another idea might be as follows:
I. What I Had Before Christ
A. Paul’s Fleshly Confidence
If anyone on earth deserved to place confidence in the flesh, Paul was that man. He committed his body to God, suffered incredibly, turned his back on a position of leadership among the Pharisees and earned their disdain. Paul had every reason to have confidence in his own accomplishments. But, he put all that behind Him.
As Christians, we face the danger of becoming proud of our accomplishments. After serving a number of years in various positions of leadership, we can become haughty. Don’t think it doesn’t happen! It is major factor in church division.
B. Paul’s Fiery Zeal
In his life before coming to Christ, Paul was filled with a fiery zeal. His religion was no passive, run-of-the-mill religion. He was a burning flame for the God. Being excited about something doesn’t make it right. People were excited about Hitler, and we all know how that turned out. Zeal is of no value unless it is a zeal placed in the right cause!
C. Paul’s Faultless Legalism
Paul was a good man, as far as morals go, even before he came to Christ. He kept the law. He lived a rigid life. He was a legalist and sought to keep every single law.
Some people never come to Christ because they feel that they are good, moral and decent and don’t need a Savior. Paul could easily have been such a person.
II. What I Have In Christ
A. The Surpassing Greatness of Knowing Christ
Paul lost his position within the Jewish community. He lost his prestige in Judaism. He lost his possessions on earth. But he gained a relationship with Christ. He called it the surpassing knowledge of knowing Christ.
B. The Saving Grace in Knowing Christ
He also speaks of the saving grace in knowing Christ. It was not the righteousness through Paul’s own efforts, but the righteous of God in Christ that saved him. It was a gift. It was not something Paul had earned; it was something God had given.
How wonderful to attempt to comprehend the unsearchable greatness of God’s gift of salvation through Christ. We owe everything to Jesus!
III. What I Would Have With Christ
A. A more Personal Relationship to Christ
Paul’s desire was to know Him. He did not want to know more ABOUT Him. He did not want to know more FACTS. Paul wanted to know HIM!!! The songwriter penned:
“Just a closer walk with thee,
Grant it Jesus is my plea;
Daily walking close to thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be!”
B. A more Powerful Relationship to Christ
Paul wanted to live so close to Christ that he could feel a compassion for the world like that which Jesus felt when He wept over Jerusalem. He wanted to suffer with Jesus by taking the insults of men while saying, “Father forgive them they do not know what they are doing.” He wanted to die to Paul and live for God. That is what Jesus did. He died to self in order that He might fulfill the Father’s will – “not My will but Thine be done.” That is our need, that is our goal, and that should be our desire.
The Nevertheless of Salvation
2 Corinthians 3:16
In this passage, and the verses that appear before and after it, we note that Paul is speaking of the glory of salvation. He points out that Satan has blinded the eyes of unbelievers so that they cannot see or understand God’s Word. He then states that those who believe have the veil removed so they can see and believe. He further affirms that we go on from glory to glory. Paul loves the word “glory” word and uses it in various forms 20 times in 2 Corinthians. He is revealing that some will not believe, NEVERTHELESS there are those who will believe and experience the glory of God in Christ.
I. Glory in our Possessions when we are Saved (3:1-11)
A. Internal Life
The sinner doesn’t need a change on the outside, but he requires a change on the inside. He doesn’t need a makeover, or a do over, rather he needs a new heart. When we come to trust in Jesus, He gives us a new, internal life. He places His Spirit in us. He gives us a New Birth.
B. Eternal Life
One rich lady said to a poor neighbor, “That table goes back to Louis the 14th. The poor lady said, “Yes, and my sofa goes back to Havertys on the 13th.” Dear friends, what we have goes all the way back to the Cross! What Christ gives, no one can steal. As long as Jesus lives, those who are saved will live. Wherever He is, that is where we will be (John 14:1-6).
l. Our Position – In His Righteousness
2. Our Permanence – In His Resurrection
II. Glory in our Practice when we are Saved (3:12-17)
A. Boldness
B. Understanding
C. Freedom
III. Glory in our Progression when we are Saved (3:18)
A. Transfigured
B. Transformed
Our world may mock Jesus, they may use art to profane Him, they may lie about Him, ‘Nevertheless’, He is Lord and many yet will believe in Him and know the glory He provides through salvation. Thank God that the veil was removed from our faces and we have beheld the glory of the only begotten Son of God!
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Use a concordance and look at other occasions when the word ‘nevertheless’ was used in the scripture. A number of them contain the seeds for sermons that can be developed into a single message or a longer series.