TITLE: Substitutes of Brass
TEXT: 1 Kings 14:25-28
PROPOSITION: Many try to substitute counterfeits for the genuine.
QUESTION: How?
KEY WORD: Substitutes
SCRIPTURE READING: Same
INTRODUCTION: We have become good at imitation.
Plastic that looks like metal on cars, Plastic for chrome.
Foods salt, sugar, margarine, WOW chips fat
Fake furs, fake pearls, many things are fake.
Many are now living imitations of true religion.
DANGER! Some substitutes are not adequate replacements.
Tell
story of the text. Rehoboam, son of Solomon Shishak, king of Egypt
Shishak stole the shields of gold, Rehoboam made shields of brass.
Substitutes in Life
| Gold Removed | Brass Replacements |
|---|---|
| Simplicity, truth, love, reverence | Impurity, irreverence, cleverness |
| Principle | Popularity |
| Dedication to the faith | Profession of religion |
| Spiritual warmth and life | Cold externals |
| Self-discipline | Self-indulgence |
Substitutes in Teaching
| Gold Removed | Brass Replacements |
|---|---|
| Divine atonement | Human attainment |
| Revelation | Humanism |
| Will of God (Bible) | Rights of man |
| Divinity | Humanity |
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The preacher is not sent to reconstruct society, but to regenerate it. |
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Preachers today would make the prodigal comfortable where he is, get him on welfare. |
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Christianity seeks to make him uncomfortable in his sin motivate him to go home. |
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| Miracles of Jesus | Myths, legends |
| Creation | Evolution |
| Salvation by the blood of Jesus | Social justice |
| Dynamics | Mechanics |
| Spirit of Worship | Going through motions |
| Sacrificial giving | Token donations |
| Evangelism | Living Example |
| Restore the Erring | Discuss WHY they left |