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Batteries Not Included

                                                                                                                                      <Return to Sermon Outlines>
-Introduction
-This is a fun time of the year!  Busy, but fun.  I remember – as a youngster - the anticipation – holiday 
  break from school but especially for opening the presents that began showing up under the tree.
 -Then finally, the time would come to open those presents.
 -But, wasn’t it terrible to open a package and see that dreaded statement, “Batteries Not Included.”
  (A friend of mine once said he was going to wrap a package of batteries and write on the back,
  “Toy not included.”)  That was ok as long as you had batteries in the house.  But, it was torturous if you 
  didn’t.
    -Different back then:  You couldn’t just go out on Christmas day and find batteries.
    -Many things are different now:  Toys have become more complex.  It can be somewhat 
     challenging to find a toy that doesn’t light up, flash, move, talk, make noises, etc.  But, that 
     all means batteries.
        -Over 3 billion batteries are sold annually in the U.S.
-But, more recently, things have become different again.  Now, many things need to charge.
    -tablets, phones, MP3 players, DS games, remote control toys, etc.
    -That initial charge can be torturous.  “For the initial charge, let charge for 6 hours.”
-So, many, many things either require batteries or must be charged.
    -What about us?
 
-The Marvel of the Human Body
-Ps. 139:14
-A look at the human body absolutely exclaims “Creation!” 
     -Whether you look at the body’s systems, organs, tissues or cells, there is tremendous complexity
      in the design. And, when you have design, there must be a Designer.
    -For those who say life came about by way of evolution, how do any of these things work in 
     partial stages of development?  How would a heart in a transitional stage pump properly?  Or a
     transitional eye see?  Or a transitional digestive tract work at all?
-Whether you look at the skin system, digestive system, circulatory system, nervous system or any of 
 the other systems in the body, you see the Intelligent Design of God.
    -recommend Wayne Jackson’s book – The Human Body—Accident or Design?
    -“The heart is an involuntary muscle that beats about 100,000 times a day, or nearly 40,000,000
     times each year.  It pumps about 1,800 gallons of blood a day.  In a lifetime a heart will pump 
     some 600 metric tons of blood!” (p 44).
    -Yet, no batteries, no plugging in to charge.
-Digestive System
    -Energy for the body is obtained through the digestive system…food.
    -An average person consumes approx. 40 tons of food in a lifetime.
    -We basically take this for granted.  We just shovel the food in and keep on going.
        -Complexities:  mouth, teeth, tongue, throat (esophagus), stomach, small and large 
         intestines, various glands, liver, pancreas, etc.
    -The food is broken down into what the body needs, absorbed through the lining of the 
     intestine and carried throughout the body by the blood.
        -So, we have the energy to keep going 

-The Spiritual Side of Life
-Obviously, we could spend considerable time addressing the amazing facets of the human body.  In 
 particular, I always find the eye to be mind-boggling.
-But, there is much more to us than these physical systems.
-We have been made in the image of God (imago dei) – Gen. 1:26, Jas. 3:9.
    -spiritual aspect, mind, conscience
    -Image of God gives intrinsic value to life – Gen. 9:6.  Therefore, life is to be respected and valued.
-The fact we are in the image of God shows that God cares for us and that he desires to have a 
 relationship with us – Jas. 4:8, 1 John 3:1, 2 Cor. 6:17-18, Gal. 3:26-29.
    -Great news!  We can draw near to God – Jas. 4:8, Isa. 55:6-9.
-To draw near to God and have a proper, healthy relationship with Him, we must submit to his will.
    -Being made in the image of God, we can become more like him – Eph. 4:17-24.
    -How do we know how to put of the old and put on the new? – the word (2 Pet. 1:3-4)
        -The Christian graces/virtues then follow. The results? – vs 9-11.
    -How do we then keep from putting off the new and putting the old back on?  (2 Pet. 2:20-22)
-We need to keep our “spiritual batteries” charged!
    -If we simply go about life and become neglectful of the spiritual aspect of life, we will become 
     spiritually drained.
    -So, we need to make it a point to stay spiritually charged – worship, Bible reading, Bible study, 
     prayer, good works, fellowship.  (not just a matter of picking and choosing, package deal)
 
-Closing and Summary
-For us physically, batteries are not included.  Yet, we have a spiritual battery that needs to remain 
 charged.  What are you doing to charge that battery?  What do you need to be doing to charge that 
 battery?
-And, how much charge are you carrying with you currently?  Do you need to recharge?

                                                                                                                                  <Return to Sermon Outlines>

See you soon!


Location

1819 E. 26th St.
Joplin, MO 64804

Telephone

417-781-2326

Email

joplincoc@gmail.com

  • HOME
  • Calendar
  • New AND Visitor
    • What to Expect when you Visit
    • Tell us about Yourself
  • About Us
    • Our Mission and Vision
    • Beliefs
  • Leaders
    • Elders and their Families
    • Deacons and Their Families
    • Minister and his Family
  • GIVE
  • Ministries
    • Community Outreach
    • Youth Ministries
    • Ladies Ministries
    • Circle of Friends
  • Lessons
    • Audio >
      • 2022
      • 2021
      • Archived Sermons
    • Outlines