DON’T SWERVE
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Aug. 22, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
DON’T SWERVE
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 1:1-7
Text: 1 Timothy 1:6
1 Timothy 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
Introduction: To swerve is to change course. Some swerves are gradual. Others are sharp and drastic. A swerving is good when it is temporary, for avoiding danger, or when it is necessary to get back on the desired path. In nearly every other case, swerving is dangerous.
A swerving driver of a car makes its passengers nervous. Likewise, a swerving pastor can make his church nervous. I know a pastor who, after being at his church for a number of years, changed his position about the Rapture of the church. Recently I heard of a pastor who resigned his church after pastoring it for many years. Shortly after he announced his resignation, he announed God did not want him to resign.
A swerving father can make his family nervous. Church workers who swerve can make their friends in Christ nervous.
I. CATEGORIES OR PATHWAYS OF SWERVING
Job 24:13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
Psalms 17:4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
Proverbs 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
Psalms 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
A. People swerve from the word of God
B. People swerve from the will of God
C. People swerve from the work of God
D. People swerve from the witness of God
II. CAUSES OR PROVOCATIONS FOR SWERVING
A young man joined our church a couple of weeks ago. This Sunday he was absent, and one of our members asked where he was. “He has quit already,” I told him. He said, “How could he quit? He didn’t even START!”
2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
A. Distractions cause some Christians to swerve
B. Desires cause some Christians to swerve
C. Difficulties cause some Christians to swerve
D. The devil causes some Christians to swerve
II. CORRECTIONS OR PREVENTION OF SWERVIN
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Numbers 20:17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.
A. Be conscious of your direction
B. Be content with God’s will
C. Be consumed with your task
D. Be consistent in your journey