David Allan Trott
Tuesday, November 24 at 5:32 P.M.
9# 4oz and 22" long
Tuesday, November 24 at 5:32 P.M.
9# 4oz and 22" long
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
TURNING GREEN
A Look At Envy
INTRO - A little snail that lived by the ocean noticed with envy the big and beautiful shell in which the lobster lived.
"Oh! How this little shell of mine pinches," whined the little snail. "What a grand palace the lobster carries on his back! I wish I lived in his place. Oh! Wouldn't my friends admire me in that shell! Think of a snail living in a mansion like that!" In time a wonderful thing occurred. The watching, envious snail beheld the lobster work right out of his shell to grow up in another, larger one. When the empty, metallic green shell of the lobster lay neglected on the beach, the snail said, "Now I shall have my wish. Hurrah! The little snail is going to live in a lobster shell!" In his pride he cried out to the birds overhead, "Ah, the little snail is going to live in a lobster shell." He cried to the cattle in the field, "Oh, oh! Now you shall see. The little snail is going to live in a palace." So the birds and the cattle in the field were curious and they watched the little snail. The snail pulled himself loose from his own little shell, and cried, "Well, I'm glad to say I'm through with you. Goodbye. You've pinched me and pressed me for the last time. I am going to live in the grand lobster shell." The birds and the animals saw the little snail proudly crawl into the towering lobster shell and he huffed and puffed and blew and gasped in an effort to make himself fit. But with all his efforts he felt very small inside the grand lobster shell. He grew tired, too. That night he died because the great empty shell was so cold. A wise old crow then said, "You see! That's what comes of envy. What you have is enough. Be yourself and save yourself from a lot of trouble. How much better to be a little snail in a comfortable shell than to be a little snail in a big shell and freeze to death!"
(Bible Illustrations)
According to Oxford, envy is defined as a discontented or resentful longing aroused by another's possessions, qualities, or luck. Many times in the Bible envy and jealousy are interchanged.
I. STORIES OF ENVY
A. Philistines of Isaac’s Flocks - Gn 26:14
B. Joseph’s Brothers of His Dreams & Treatment - Gn 37:11
C. Korah of Moses’ Position - Nm 16:3 / Ps 106:13
D. Satraps of Daniel’s Position - Dn 6:3-4
E. Chief Priest of Jesus’ Results - Mk 5:10
II. DANGERS OF ENVY
A. Envy is Comparable to Sheol - Ss 8:6 Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the LORD.
B. Envy Is Of The Flesh - 1 Co 3:3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
C. Envy Rots Away At Us - Pv 14:30b But passion is rottenness to the bones.
D. Envy Drives People Away - Pv 27:4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?
E. Envy Enrages - Pv 6:34 For jealousy enrages a man, And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
F. Envy Brings Disorder And Evil - Jm 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
G. Envy Kills - Jb 5:2 For anger slays the foolish man, And jealousy kills the simple.
CONCL - Envy demonstrates a lack of trust in God. We are not to set our desires on anything that belongs to someone else. Not only can such desires make us miserable, they can also lead us to many other sins. Envying others is a useless exercise because God is able to provide everything we really need, even if he does not always give us everything we want. - 1 Tm 6:7-8 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
INTRO - A little snail that lived by the ocean noticed with envy the big and beautiful shell in which the lobster lived.
"Oh! How this little shell of mine pinches," whined the little snail. "What a grand palace the lobster carries on his back! I wish I lived in his place. Oh! Wouldn't my friends admire me in that shell! Think of a snail living in a mansion like that!" In time a wonderful thing occurred. The watching, envious snail beheld the lobster work right out of his shell to grow up in another, larger one. When the empty, metallic green shell of the lobster lay neglected on the beach, the snail said, "Now I shall have my wish. Hurrah! The little snail is going to live in a lobster shell!" In his pride he cried out to the birds overhead, "Ah, the little snail is going to live in a lobster shell." He cried to the cattle in the field, "Oh, oh! Now you shall see. The little snail is going to live in a palace." So the birds and the cattle in the field were curious and they watched the little snail. The snail pulled himself loose from his own little shell, and cried, "Well, I'm glad to say I'm through with you. Goodbye. You've pinched me and pressed me for the last time. I am going to live in the grand lobster shell." The birds and the animals saw the little snail proudly crawl into the towering lobster shell and he huffed and puffed and blew and gasped in an effort to make himself fit. But with all his efforts he felt very small inside the grand lobster shell. He grew tired, too. That night he died because the great empty shell was so cold. A wise old crow then said, "You see! That's what comes of envy. What you have is enough. Be yourself and save yourself from a lot of trouble. How much better to be a little snail in a comfortable shell than to be a little snail in a big shell and freeze to death!"
(Bible Illustrations)
According to Oxford, envy is defined as a discontented or resentful longing aroused by another's possessions, qualities, or luck. Many times in the Bible envy and jealousy are interchanged.
I. STORIES OF ENVY
A. Philistines of Isaac’s Flocks - Gn 26:14
B. Joseph’s Brothers of His Dreams & Treatment - Gn 37:11
C. Korah of Moses’ Position - Nm 16:3 / Ps 106:13
D. Satraps of Daniel’s Position - Dn 6:3-4
E. Chief Priest of Jesus’ Results - Mk 5:10
II. DANGERS OF ENVY
A. Envy is Comparable to Sheol - Ss 8:6 Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the LORD.
B. Envy Is Of The Flesh - 1 Co 3:3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
C. Envy Rots Away At Us - Pv 14:30b But passion is rottenness to the bones.
D. Envy Drives People Away - Pv 27:4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?
E. Envy Enrages - Pv 6:34 For jealousy enrages a man, And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
F. Envy Brings Disorder And Evil - Jm 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
G. Envy Kills - Jb 5:2 For anger slays the foolish man, And jealousy kills the simple.
CONCL - Envy demonstrates a lack of trust in God. We are not to set our desires on anything that belongs to someone else. Not only can such desires make us miserable, they can also lead us to many other sins. Envying others is a useless exercise because God is able to provide everything we really need, even if he does not always give us everything we want. - 1 Tm 6:7-8 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
MAYBE TOMORROW
A Look At Slothfulness
INTRO -Sloths are very slow in their movements, when undisturbed. Reaching a tree limb, the creature advanced along it, body hanging underneath, suspended by the long claws of all four feet. So slowly did it take each step, so deliberately did it place each set of claws over the limb, that one would have thought it was stalking something rather than traveling. Because of their legendary slowness, writers have indulged in exaggerations: before they could come down from one tree and climb another, they were skin and bones, though they were fat when they started; and it took eight or nine minutes for them to move one leg forward three inches; and even in action, the second hand of watch often covers more distance! (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations)
According to the Oxford dictionary, slothfulness is:
reluctance to work or make an effort; or just plain laziness. This is the third of the seven deadly sins and the focus for today.
I. STORIES OF SLOTHFULNESS
A. The One Talent Man - Mt 25 - from Jesus parable comes a lesson on laziness
B. The Athenians - Ac 17:21 at Mars hill Paul found these men.
C. Some Thessalonians - 2 Th 3:11- Instead of working the busybodied
D. The Unmarried Widows - 1 Tm 5:13 - Became busybodies.
II. DANGERS OF SLOTHFULNESS
A. Slothfulness Leads To Poverty
1. Pv 10:4a Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
2. Pv 20:4 The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
3. Pv 20:13a Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
B. Slothfulness Leads To Deterioration
1. Pv 24:30-31 I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.
2. Ec 10:18 Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.
C. Slothfulness leads to hunger
1. Pv 19:15 Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.
2. Pv 13:4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
D. Slothfulness Creates Busybodies - 2 Th3:10-11 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
E. Slothfulness Is No Good For All
1. Pv 10:26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him.
2. Pv 15:19 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway.
3. Pv 18:9 He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.
CONCL. - Pv 6:6-8 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.
INTRO -Sloths are very slow in their movements, when undisturbed. Reaching a tree limb, the creature advanced along it, body hanging underneath, suspended by the long claws of all four feet. So slowly did it take each step, so deliberately did it place each set of claws over the limb, that one would have thought it was stalking something rather than traveling. Because of their legendary slowness, writers have indulged in exaggerations: before they could come down from one tree and climb another, they were skin and bones, though they were fat when they started; and it took eight or nine minutes for them to move one leg forward three inches; and even in action, the second hand of watch often covers more distance! (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations)
According to the Oxford dictionary, slothfulness is:
reluctance to work or make an effort; or just plain laziness. This is the third of the seven deadly sins and the focus for today.
I. STORIES OF SLOTHFULNESS
A. The One Talent Man - Mt 25 - from Jesus parable comes a lesson on laziness
B. The Athenians - Ac 17:21 at Mars hill Paul found these men.
C. Some Thessalonians - 2 Th 3:11- Instead of working the busybodied
D. The Unmarried Widows - 1 Tm 5:13 - Became busybodies.
II. DANGERS OF SLOTHFULNESS
A. Slothfulness Leads To Poverty
1. Pv 10:4a Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
2. Pv 20:4 The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
3. Pv 20:13a Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
B. Slothfulness Leads To Deterioration
1. Pv 24:30-31 I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.
2. Ec 10:18 Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.
C. Slothfulness leads to hunger
1. Pv 19:15 Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.
2. Pv 13:4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
D. Slothfulness Creates Busybodies - 2 Th3:10-11 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
E. Slothfulness Is No Good For All
1. Pv 10:26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him.
2. Pv 15:19 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway.
3. Pv 18:9 He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.
CONCL. - Pv 6:6-8 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
ANGER DANGER
A Look At Anger
INTRO - America is becoming a nation of angry, short-tempered people. From road rage to airplane rage, grocery store rage, and violence at youth sports events, the media has been reporting these emotional outbursts with unprecedented frequency. More than three-fourths of Americans believe angry behavior has increased in places like airports and highways, according to a recent USA Today CNN/Gallup Poll C. Leslie Charles, author of Why Is Everyone So Cranky? writes: I'm describing a fuming, unrelenting, sense of anger, hostility, and alienation that simmers for months, even years, without relief. Eventually, all it takes is a triggering incident, usually minor, for the hostile person to go ballistic.James Garbarino, human development professor at Cornell University, reports a major social shift: There is a general breakdown of social conventions, of manners, of social controls. This gives a validation, a permission, to be aggressive. (Illustrations for Every Topic and Occasion)
Oxford defines anger as a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility. Webster adds that it is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance. As one of the seven deadly sins, I would question if it belongs for if anger is an actual sin than Jesus himself was a sinner. I don’t believe that anger in and of itself is sin but uncontrolled can be deadly.
I. STORIES OF ANGER
A. Cain - Directed towards his brother (Gn 4:1-8)
B. Saul - Directed towards his son (1 Sm 20:30-33)
C. Asa - Directed towards a prophet (2 Ch 16:1-10
D. Jonah - Directed toward God (Jo 3:10-4:8)
E. Uzziah - Directed toward a priest (2 Ch 26:16-21)
II. DANGERS OF ANGER - It’s what it leads you to do
A. ANGER’S CHARACTER
1. Anger makes one weak - Pv 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.
2. Anger makes one foolish
a. Pv 14:17a A quick-tempered man acts foolishly
b. Ec 7:9 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools.
c. Anger makes one sad - Gn 4:6-7 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."
B. ANGER’S DESTRUCTIVE FORCE
1. Anger leads to unrighteousness - Jm 1:20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God
2. Anger stirs up strife - Pv 29:22 An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
3. Anger leads to evil - Ps 37:8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing
CONCL - Ep 4:26-27 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
INTRO - America is becoming a nation of angry, short-tempered people. From road rage to airplane rage, grocery store rage, and violence at youth sports events, the media has been reporting these emotional outbursts with unprecedented frequency. More than three-fourths of Americans believe angry behavior has increased in places like airports and highways, according to a recent USA Today CNN/Gallup Poll C. Leslie Charles, author of Why Is Everyone So Cranky? writes: I'm describing a fuming, unrelenting, sense of anger, hostility, and alienation that simmers for months, even years, without relief. Eventually, all it takes is a triggering incident, usually minor, for the hostile person to go ballistic.James Garbarino, human development professor at Cornell University, reports a major social shift: There is a general breakdown of social conventions, of manners, of social controls. This gives a validation, a permission, to be aggressive. (Illustrations for Every Topic and Occasion)
Oxford defines anger as a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility. Webster adds that it is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance. As one of the seven deadly sins, I would question if it belongs for if anger is an actual sin than Jesus himself was a sinner. I don’t believe that anger in and of itself is sin but uncontrolled can be deadly.
I. STORIES OF ANGER
A. Cain - Directed towards his brother (Gn 4:1-8)
B. Saul - Directed towards his son (1 Sm 20:30-33)
C. Asa - Directed towards a prophet (2 Ch 16:1-10
D. Jonah - Directed toward God (Jo 3:10-4:8)
E. Uzziah - Directed toward a priest (2 Ch 26:16-21)
II. DANGERS OF ANGER - It’s what it leads you to do
A. ANGER’S CHARACTER
1. Anger makes one weak - Pv 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.
2. Anger makes one foolish
a. Pv 14:17a A quick-tempered man acts foolishly
b. Ec 7:9 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools.
c. Anger makes one sad - Gn 4:6-7 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."
B. ANGER’S DESTRUCTIVE FORCE
1. Anger leads to unrighteousness - Jm 1:20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God
2. Anger stirs up strife - Pv 29:22 An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
3. Anger leads to evil - Ps 37:8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing
CONCL - Ep 4:26-27 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
SATISFACTION UNGUARANTEED
A Look At Pride
INTRO - In a certain pond on one of the farms in the East were two ducks and frog. Now these neighbors were the best of friends; all day long they used to play together. But as the hot summer days came, the pond began to dry up and soon there was such a little bit of water that they all realized that they would have to move. Now the ducks could easily fly to another place, but what about their friend the frog? Finally it was decided that they would put a stick in the bill of each duck, and then the frog would hang onto the stick with his mouth and they would fly him to another pond. And so they did. As they were flying, a farmer out in his field looked up and saw them and said, "Well, isn't that a clever idea! I wonder who thought of it!" The frog said, "I did..." (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations)
It could be called a group of lions but it could be better defined as the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself. (Oxford) or an unreasonable and excessive vie of one’s self-esteem (Webster) It is when one thinks higher than self than one should. What is it? It is Pride the first of what was once classified as the Seven Deadly Sins by Pope Gregory the Great.
I. STORIES OF PRIDE
A. Pharaoh - Unable to let the Israelites go. (Ex 4-14)
B. Naaman - Unwilling to dip in the Jordan river (2 Kg 5)
C. Hezekiah - Showing off all his riches (2 Kg 20)
D. Haman - Thinking all should bow to him. (Es 3-7)
E. Nebuchadnezzar - Thought he did it himself (Dn 4)
II. DANGERS OF PRIDE
A. PRIDE AND GOD - Unhealthy pride is a form of self deification. (Making ones self out to be god.)
1. 1 Pt 5:5B for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. - Pride is in opposition to God
2. Pv 16:5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
a. Pride is hated by God
b. Pride will be punished by God
B. PRIDE AND SELF
1. Pv 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling
a. Pride brings destruction
b. Pride causes stumbling
c. Pride leads to a many sinful attitudes and actions
2. Pv 29:23 A man's pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor. - Pride leads to humiliation
3. Pv 11:2 When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom - Pride brings dishonor on one’s self
C. PRIDE AND ALIENATION
1. Psalms 10:4 The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, "There is no God." - Pride lures us into living independently of God. The proud person depends on self rather than on God.
2. Mt 13:58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief. - Pride undermines our faith.
3. Ep 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
a. Pride distorts our view of our self and others. Jews and Gentiles alike could be guilty of spiritual pride—Jews for thinking their faith and traditions elevated them above everyone else, Gentiles for trusting in their achievements, power, or position. Spiritual pride blinds us to our own faults and magnifies the faults of others.
b. When one makes mistakes - and we all do - the bragger is often left to his own.
CONCL - Pp 2:3-8 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. - Pride, something we can live without.
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