PART 7 CARING ABOUT THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS

TEXT- JOHN 7:14-18

INTRODUCTION

A VERY FRUGAL MAN AND HIS WIFE WANTED TO TAKE A PLAN RIDE OVER THEIR CITY TO SEE THE SIGHTS, BUT HE DIDN'T WANT TO PAY THE $50.00 PER PERSON REQUIRED. EACH WEEKEND THEY WENT TO THE LOCAL AIRPORT AND MATCHED PEOPLE GET ONTO THE SCENIC FLIGHT. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE TWO HAD BEEN THERE EVERY WEEKEND AND ASKED THE COUPLE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE FLIGHT FOR FREE. OF COURSE THE MAN ACCEPTED, BUT THE PILOT TOLD HIM THERE WAS ONE CONDITION. HE TOLD THE MAN THAT HE LIKED DOING AEROBATICS WITH HIS PLANE AND THAT IF HE SAID ONE WORD WHILE IN THE AIR THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY DOUBLE. THE MAN AGREED AND HE AND HIS WIFE GOT ONTO THE PLAN. WHILE IN THE AIR THE PILOT DID EVERY KIND OF STUNT IMAGINABLE, BUT THE MAN SAID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. WHEN THE PLANE LANDED THE PILOT TOLD THE MAN, "WELL, I GUESS YOU GET A FREE RIDE, YOU ^ DIDN'T SAY A WORD." TO WHICH THE MAN REPLIED, "I ALMOST DID WHEN MY WIFE FELL OUT."

HOW MUCH DO YOU CARE? HOPEFULLY, MORE THAN THIS MAN DID.

THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN JOHN 7:14-18 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "CARING ABOUT JESUS' TEACHINGS."

TODAY THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO JUST DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING.

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR JOBS, THEIR CHURCH, THEIR HUSBANDS OR EVEN THEIR WIVES.

THIS YEAR OUR CHURCH IS EMPHASIZING THE THEME, "THE CHURCH THAT CARES."

IF WE WANT TO BE EFFECTIVE IN OUR MINISTRY AS A CHURCH OR AS INDIVIDUALS WE MUST BE A CHURCH AND PEOPLE WHO REALLY CARE.

HERE IN OUR TEXT WE FIND JESUS IN THE CITY OF JERUSALEM DURING THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES.

THERE WERE SEVERAL FEASTS THAT WERE OBSERVED BY ISRAEL.

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES WAS OBSERVED AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER AND LASTED EIGHT DAYS.


EVERY JEWISH ADULT THAT LIVED WITHIN TWENTY MILES OF JERUSALEM WAS OBLIGED TO ATTEND THIS FEAST.

IT WAS A FEAST THAT WAS CELEBRATED IN REMEMBRANCE OF HOW GOD TOOK CARE FOR ISRAEL DURING THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH THE WILDERNESS.

IT WAS WHILE HE WAS ATTENDING THIS FEAST THAT JESUS TAUGHT THE PEOPLE.

AS CHILDREN OF GOD WE NEED TO CARE ABOUT JESUS' TEACHING BECAUSE IT FORMS THE VERY FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH.

AUTHOR RONALD B. SCHWARTZ ASKED SCORES OF WELL-KNOWN CONTEMPORARY WRITERS TO NAME THE BOOKS THAT INFLUENCED THEM MOST DEEPLY. THEIR RESPONSES RANGED FROM THE NOVELS OF DOSTOEVSKY TO THE POPULAR STORIES OF MARK TWAIN. THE WORKS OF DICKENS, SHAKESPEARE, AND FAULKNER WERE MENTIONED MANY TIMES. BUT TOPPING THE LIST WAS THE BIBLE.

AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE NOT TO LISTEN TO OR FOLLOW THE TEACHINGS OF MEN, BUT RATHER THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS.

AS WE EXAMINE OUR TEXT I'D LIKE US TO NOTICE FOUR REASONS WHY WE SHOULD ALL CARE ABOUT THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS.