Tuesday, September 05, 2006

When the Church Gives Birth to Ichabod

A few weeks ago, Scott preached a sermon on Sunday night called, "When the Church Gives Birth to Ichabod." The text was 1 Samuel 4. I do not have the transcript, but wanted to post the outline. It was a good sermon and, I thought, very applicable to the Western church. Here is the outline.

Ichabod is born in the church when:

I. GOD’S PEOPLE PLAY GAMES

The Ark of the Covenant contained three items that represent the things people in the church play games with (Hebrews 9:4):

1. TABLETS of God (1 Kings 8:21)

It is not the word of God that is your protection; it is the God of the word who is your protection

[The Word of God is not any less glorious than God Himself. It is "God-breathed". Nevertheless, God's Word is not a book of magic spells. It is revealed truth that is God-centered, not man-centered, and should be treated as such]

2. BOWL of Manna (Exodus 16:33-34)

God is faithful to provide

3. Aaron’s ROD that Budded (Numbers 17:8-10)

Stop murmuring and grumbling

II. GOD’S POWER IS SUBSTITUED FOR

1. Faith is in the SYSTEM and not the SAVIOR

2. Focus is on MAINTAINING not MINISTERING

III. GOD’S LEADERS LACK INTEGRITY

1. Hophni and Phinehas

Superstition = FAITHLESSNESS

2. Eli

Permissiveness = LAZINESS

What should we do?

To the hurting – Get your HEAD up!
The King of Glory will come in! (Psalm 24:7)

…and then you’ll run and not grow weary,
You’ll walk and not grow faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

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