CONSUMER
REPORTS
Apr 15, 2001 PM
The sixth chapter of John presents a
classic contrast between the two most basic types of consumerism. On the one
hand is the feeding of the five thousand—secular consumption at its most fundamental
level. On the other hand there is the nourishment for our souls found in
internalizing the spirit of Christ—spiritual consumption of the first order.
This contrast is not unexpected; the essential choice is, after all, the one
between God and mammon (Matt. 6:24). Only by using God’s own version of Consumer Reports, the Bible, will we be
able to make the right choice.
THE UNCOMFORTABLE
ATTRACTION OF MAMMON
John 6:1-26
1. Good
things, even necessary things, can become damning to us (Lk. 10:38-42).
2. The
good and proper actions of one person can be seen differently through the jaded
eyes of another (Matt. 12:22-37).
3. Compassion,
not withstanding potential abuse, continues to be in order for those who are in
need (Matt. 5:43-48).
4. We are
prone to follow those who give us what we want and reject those who give us
what we need (Jn. 5:43-44).
5. We
are apt to go to great lengths when we believe our materialistic desires will
be satisfied (Lk. 16:1-8).
6. The
stomach can all too easily be allowed to rule the spirit ( Rom. 16:17-18; Phil.
3:19).
THE POINTED CHALLENGE
TO CHOOSE CHRIST
John 6:27-60
1. Jesus
will not indulge any form of selfishness or materialism (Matt. 6:33; Lk. 9:23).
2. The
hypocrisy of the people in John six is seen by their asking for a sign (v. 30),
even though many signs had been presented already (v. 2).
3. They
needed no further signs to take Jesus by force and make Him a “bread king” (v.
15).
4. They
asked for much more before they would bow to Jesus as a spiritual king—
requiring self-denial and a life of putting Jesus first in all things (vv. 31,
49).
5. Humans
frequently settle for perishable consumer items, rather than for the things of
true worth (v. 27; Matt. 6:19-21).
6. Jesus’
insistence that spiritual food must be chosen over material concerns is a hard saying (v. 60).
7. Jesus
presented the hard saying in such a way as to give the people a way to appear
to shift the blame for their rejection to Jesus Himself (v. 52).
8. If
we are intent on playing games, God will accommodate us (II Thess. 2:10b-11).
9. It
is a fearful thing to play games against truth, we fool ourselves, but we do
not fool God (Matt. 7:21-23).
JESUS CHALLENGES
BELIEVERS TO MAKE UP THEIR MINDS
John 6:61-71
1. There
are difficult choices to make if we want to submit to the Lordship of Jesus
(Matt. 10:34-39; II Tim. 3:12).
2. However,
true peace can only come by choosing the Christ (Matt. 11:28-30; Jn. 14:27;
16:33).
3. That
choice of Jesus is the only place to go if eternal life is to be experienced
(v. 68).
4. Other
choices only expose their own futility (vv. 70-71).
5. Our
God is a God who expects to be chosen by His followers (Josh. 24:14-15; I Kg.
18:21; Jer. 6:16; Matt. 27:22; Lk. 9:23; Acts 22:16).
As consumers in our culture we are assailed
by unending material goodies to tempt us to choose mammon over God. Jesus
offers us the only imperishable commodity available. By letting the Bible be
our spiritual Consumer Reports,
we will find that there is no place to go but to the Lord.
Edwin
4/15/01
Return to "Sermon
Outlines" Page