TITLE: Centipedes and the Frog

TEXT: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

PROPOSITION: We can over analyze a matter until we decide that it is too difficult or impossible.

QUESTION: What?

KEY WORD: Matters

INTRODUCTION:

1. Poem - The centipede was happy until the frog in fun,
   Said, "Pray, which leg comes after which
   When you begin to run?"
   This racked his mind to such a pitch,
   He lay distracted in the ditch,
   And now not knowing how to run!

2. Point is "Paralysis through Analysis!"

3. As this church looks for a minister – remember the centipede.

1. Qualities in a minister

   1. 35 year old with 40 years experience

   2. Good with youth, spend all time with elderly

   3. Always visiting people, spend all day in study of lessons

   4. Read 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus for work of a minister

   5. What to look for – Faithful to the Word; Able to communicate

   6. Over analyze = never find a minister

2. Qualifications for church leaders.

   1. There are qualifications:

      1. 1 Tim. 3:1-7 Elders

      2. 1 Tim. 3:8-13 Deacons

      3. 2 Tim. 4:1-5 Evangelists

   2. We have hashed, fussed over, analyzed to death.

   3. This makes it difficult to find men to be leaders.
       

3. Marriage and Family.

   1. Marriage Enrichment Films - "I can't do all that."

   2. Books, special lectures, seminars, etc.

   3. Every parent can't be a child psychologist.

   4. Marriage and children don't come with instruction manuals.
       

4. Personal relationships.

   1. We try to analyze every action. Why did he do that?

   2. “He looked at me funny.” “He did not sound happy.”

   3. Analysis makes up helpless in deepening relations.

5. Evangelism.

   1. Jule Miller - 5 filmstrips. 12 strips to teach how to teach them.

   2. OBS - Ivan Stewart. 30 hour training to use the simple 3-lesson set.

   3. Paul and Peter did not have all this training.

   4. They just shared their faith with people.

CONCLUSION:

1. We often over analyze and it causes us to do nothing.

2. What about our relationship with God?

3. Don't wait.