TITLE: Old Shirts, New Patches
TEXT: Luke 5:33-39
PROPOSITION: We must keep the religion of Jesus Christ new, soft and pliable.
QUESTION: What?
KEY WORD: Parables
INTRODUCTION:
1. Background - "Why don't you fast?"
2. Jesus answered:
A. You are right, I don't fast.
B. Fasting, just to fast, is not valid.
C. When I am gone, they will be sad & fast.
3. The parables:
I. Old shirt with a new patch 36
A. The religion of Jesus is NEW.
B. Not warmed-over Jewish teachings.
C. Solution is:
1. NOT: a new patch
2. BUT: a new garment!
D. Ill. with a car. Time to repair. Time to replace.
II. Old skins with new wine 37-38
A. Bottles = "goat-skins" wine-skins.
B. Old = stretched, cracked, brittle
C. New = soft, pliable, stretchable
III. Set in our ways 39
A. Forsaking old ways, prejudices, traditions = hard
B. After a long time, now they are asked to change their ways, habits, customs, and traditions
C. They want to hang on to the old - even though it tastes bad, makes them sick, stinks, etc.
D. Song - "Give me that Old Time Religion" "Good enough for ma and pa - It's good enough for me."
E. Kid given "pepper gum" -- terrible face -- "This is good." Would not tell us it was bad. Macho
Conclusion:
1. We must keep Christianity soft and pliable.
Not in teaching or doctrine
But in:
Dealing with the world as it is today
Accepting people for who they are
Making Christianity "fit" our lives
2. What
do you have that is old, worn - out and needs to be replaced?