FIRST THINGS FIRST

INTRO.

1. Common saying: “First things first!”—Common sense!
2. First things first in spiritual things as well.

• 1. See Lev. 19:23-25.

1. OLD COVENANT CAME FIRST TO PREPARE FOR THE NEW COVENANT.

• 1. Heb. 8:6ff.
  1. Heb. 9:15.
  2. Heb. 9:23
  3. The “first tabernacle

1. JOHN THE BAPTIST CAME FIRST TO PREPARE FOR CHRIST’S MINISTRY.

• 1. Jn. 1:23-36.
  1. Lk. 3:4-6.
  2. Jn. 5:33-35.
  3. Matt. 3:11, 12.
  4. Matt. 17:11-13.

1. BEING IN GOOD FELLOWSHIP COMES FIRST TO PREPARE FOR WORSHIP.

• 1. Matt. 5:23. 24.
  1. Phil. 4:2—Synteche and Euodias needed reconciling!

1. EXAMINING SELF FIRST PRECEDES REBUKING OTHERS.

• 1. Lk. 6:42.
  1. 2 Cor. 13:5—Are YOU in the faith?
  2. Matt. 23:25, 26.
  3. Cf. Acts 20:28—Elders heed selves and then able to oversee others.
  4. 1 Tim. 4:16—Preacher heed self and then able to be good teacher of others.

1. OBEDIENCE PRECEDES SALVATION.

• 1. Heb. 5:9—Author of salvation to them that obey him.
  1. No one promised salvation without obedience!
  2. Mk. 16:16—What precedes what?
  3. Acts 2:38—What precedes what?

CONC.

1. Consider these things.