Listen to this Sermon: 01202013GoingTheSecondMileDonRuhl

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Going the Second Mile  

How can we go the second mile?

Matthew 5.41

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • January 20, In the year of our Lord, 2013

Scripture Reader and Reading: Phil Joseph – Matthew 5.38–48

Song Leader and Song Suggestions: Kevin Michael – Songs on love

 

Prelude: 

  1. In my judgment, 
    1. the Scripture reading separates the religion of Jesus from all others, and
    2. from anything else in this world.
      1. Our brethren in the first several centuries
      2. practiced this teaching of Christ and
        1. changed the world,
        2. converting millions of people.
  2. What Jesus said in verse 20
    1. drives what He said in verses 38–48,

      20 “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5.20).

      1. We exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees
      2. when we go the second mile.
    2. Jesus put this matter on a level of heaven and hell.
  3. Many question whether we should take the words of Christ literally. 
  4. In this section we heard Jesus teach 
    1. that if someone compels us to go one mile,
    2. we should go two miles.
  5. Consider the difference between the first mile and the second mile. 
    1. We go the first mile as a minimum, and
      1. if we stop there,
      2. we are asking, “Do I have to do more?”
    2. We go the second mile by love, because
      1. the first mile was not enough to show the love of God and of Christ, and
      2. we are asking, “What more can I do?”

Persuasion: 

  1. Sinning 
    1. 1st Mile: Confess sins

      10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us (1Jo 10).

    2. 2nd Mile: Forsake sins

      1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2Co 7.1).

  2. Loving 
    1. 1st Mile: Love those who love us

      22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart (1 Pe 1.22).

    2. 2nd Mile: Love those who hate us

      27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6.27).

  3. Greetings 
    1. 1st Mile: Greet brethren

      14b Greet the friends by name (3Jo 14).

    2. 2nd Mile: Greet strangers

      47 “And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” (Matt 5.47).

  4. Giving 
    1. 1st Mile: To brethren

      1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also… (1Co 16.1).

    2. 2nd Mile: To strangers

      10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith (Gal 6.10).

  5. Assembling 
    1. 1st Mile: Sunday morning

      7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight (Acts 20.7).

    2. 2nd Mile: All services and classes

      24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Heb 10.24, 25).

  6. Teaching 
    1. 1st Mile: In the home

      4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord (Eph 6.4).

    2. 2nd Mile: In the world

      19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matt 28.19).

  7. Forgiving 
    1. 1st Mile: Seven times

      21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (Matt 18.21).

    2. 2nd Mile: Seventy times seven

      22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matt 18.22).

Exhortation: 

  1. Salvation 
    1. 1st Mile: Save yourself

      40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation” (Acts 2.40).

    2. 2nd Mile: Save others

      16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you (1Ti 4.16).

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