A sermon on "doing good"
1. We have probably heard someone say that they did their “good deed” for the day.
2. I am not sure where the “good deed” expression came from.
3. It may have come from the Bible.
4. When Peter and John were tried for healing a man they spoke of their “good deed.”
5. They healed a man who had been very ill.
6. People in the world talk about their “good deeds.”
7. God’s people should be interested in “good deeds.”
8. If anyone is entitled to talk about “good deeds” it should be members of the church.
9. The word that Peter used in Acts 4:9 is found only twice in the New Testament.
10. It is used here and 1 Tim. 6:2.
11. The term implies “goodness, kindness, and generosity that knows no racial barriers.”
12. The noun form of this word is used in Acts 10:38.
THOUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT DOES NOT USE THIS WORD VERY OFTEN, THE NOUN AND VERB FORM OF THIS TERM TELL US SOME THINGS ABOUT JESUS AND THE FIRST Christians.
A. These words point us towards the fact that there are different kinds of deeds.
B. There are “good deeds.”
C. There are evil deeds (2 Jn. 11).
1) The Bible actually has lists of “evil works” (things).
2) Just as our nation has lists that describe crimes, the Bible has lists which describe evil works. Gal. 5:19 begins one such list. Paul referred to the “works of the flesh.”
3) There are evil works that are described as “sinful passions” (Rom. 7:5).
4) People can engage in evil works by “sowing to the flesh” (Gal. 6:8).
5) A passage that is especially intriguing is 2 Pet 2:8 – READ .
6) Evil deeds can be both “heard” and seen.”
7) Wicked deeds can “vex the soul” of someone who is trying to do what is right.
8) Deeds that are evil can have far reaching consequences.
9) Thus, it is no surprise that Rev. 2:6 tells Christians that some deeds need to be “hated.”
10) Most can easily identify works that are evil.
2. God does not want His people to be associated with evil deeds.
3. Paul said “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, Eph. 5:11.
4. Scripture associates evil deeds with our life before conversion.
5. We are to get rid of the old ways and put on new ways.
6. Jesus referred to this in places like Mt. 6:1.
7. In this passage the NKJV says that citizens of the kingdom engage in “charitable deeds.”
A. Charitable (kind acts) may be done for those we do not know.
B. It is possible to be kind to a complete stranger.
C. These kinds of deeds may be done for people who do not deserve it.
D. They can be done for a Christian or a non-Christian.
E. The people of God are to be known for good works.
8. The word “deeds” is used in a different way in Lk. 11:48.
9. Here Jesus spoke about the people that God had previously sent to the Hebrew nation.
10. The Lord was not very gentle when He spoke these words.
11. Here is what He said – READ Lk. 11:48.
12. These verses tell us that we can “approve” of deeds.
13. We can lend our support to an idea or an idea or we can express our disapproval.
14. When Stephen died (Acts 7), Paul stood by and watched over some clothing (Acts 7:58).
15. Acts 8:1 says that he approved of Stephen’s death (he gave his blessing).
16. As Christians we are in a unique and sometimes a difficult position.
A. At times we are asked to “approve” of certain deeds.
B. God’s people are sometimes asked to support things that are contrary to God’s word.
C. We may even be asked to perform evil deeds.
D. How we deal with these situations has some bearing on our faith.
17. The Bible tells us that deeds are actually a gauge of our character.
18. Jesus said (Jn. 3) that those who are involved with evil deeds run from the light.
19. Those who are involved with evil works do not want others to see them or know about them.
20. Those who are involved with good deeds are not afraid (Jn. 3:19-21).
21. Our goal must be to engage in good works and approve of good works.
22. This is the positive part of engaging good works.
23. The negative aspect is to avoid works that are evil and disapprove of things that are wrong.
A. It would be possible to take about three months to talk about deeds and the Bible.
B. We are only going to take on night and narrow the focus to “good deeds.”
24. THIS WAS WHAT PETER AND JOHN DID. THIS WAS ALSO WHAT JESUS DID (ACTS 10:38). JESUS WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD WORKS.
A. People usually do things for a reason.
B. Why did Jesus go throughout the land of Israel healing people?
C. Why did the apostles continue the healings after the resurrection?
D. Part of the answer is found on the word used in Acts 4:9.
E. Christians like Peter and John wanted to do things that were kind.
F. Regardless of race, they wanted to help people.
G. This was one of the lessons these people learned from Jesus.
25. According to Mk. 7:26 a woman who was a “Greek” came to Jesus.
26. Her daughter was possessed by a demon; she wanted Jesus to heal her child.
27. The Lord said that He had been sent to Israel.
28. He was supposed to work among the Hebrews.
A. If we remember the story we know that this mother received her miracle.
B. Jesus was not sent to the Greeks but He still took the time to help this lady.
C. Today there are times people need help.
D. This is so common that we have songs about people who needed help or have received help.
E. Sometimes those who help really go out of their way.
F. People may stop even though they are headed in the opposite direction..
G. Others stop even though they are on a time schedule or out of their territory.
H. This is somewhat like the situation described in Mk. 7:26.
I. Heaven’s plan did not immediately start out with those who were outside the Hebrew race.
J. Yet, because the Lord was committed to doing good deeds this lady and her daughter were helped.
29. This point is related to Acts 4.
30. Peter and John were headed to the temple when they met the man who was sick.
31. Other people might have passed him by.
32. Some might have said that they had an appointment and could not be delayed.
33. This man was a beggar. He had probably been there yesterday, last week, and last month.
34. A kind hearted people might have told him that they would stop on their way back from the temple services.
35. After all, this man had been sick from his birth (Acts 3:2).
36. What difference would 20 minutes or even a few hours make?
37. The apostles believed in doing good deeds.
38. They stopped, talked to this man, and healed him.
39. This was a “good deed.”
40. God says to us, “Go thou and do likewise.”
41. We have all hear the parable of the good Samaritan.
42. A good deed was done and Jesus said that this kind of goodness needs to be repeated.
43. The world is our stage. We are exposed to all kinds of people.
44. Jesus says to us, “Go forth and do good things.”
A. A similar point is made in Jn. 13.
B. Jesus showed kindness, humility, and consideration by washing the apostles’ feet.
C. He said this was an “example” (verse 15) that needed to be repeated.
D. Elsewhere in the gospels Jesus said, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
E. How do we do this?
F. This command is partly fulfilled by doing good works.
45. Jesus and the apostles repeatedly did good deeds.
46. The good deeds did not stop with the Lord and His special friends.
47. Other Christians engaged in good deeds.
A. Another importance reference is Acts 9:36.
B. There was a Christian woman named Tabitha.
C. She lived at Joppa.
D. Luke described her with these words – READ Acts 9:36.
E. When this woman died she was greatly missed.
F. This Christian woman exerted a lot of influence on others.
G. Act 9:39 – READ .
48. Have you ever wondered “how” the clothes this woman made were shown to Peter?
49. Was Peter taken to a closet where the garments were hanging?
50. The description sounds as if people were wearing the clothes that Dorcas made.
51. One of the basic needs that people have is clothing.
52. What would we say about the person who makes clothing to those who have none?
53. It is a kind deed.
54. The same is true for those who feed the hungry, aid those who are ill, or help someone get a job.
55. There are all kinds of good works that we can do.
A. The first Christians were known for their good works.
B. Today members of the church should still be known for their good works.
56. In Mt. 5:16 Jesus spoke of people “seeing” the good works done by His people.
57. Eph. 2:10 says that we were “created in Christ” for good works.
58. When Paul spoke about enrolling widows he said they were to be “reported of” for “good works.”
A. The specific reference for this is 1 Tim. 5:9-10.
B. 1 Tim.6:18 joins the word “rich” with good works.
59. We use the word “rich” in many different ways.
60. God says to us, “Be rich in good works.”
61. Tit. 2:14 expresses the thought this way: “be zealous in good works.”
62. My favorite passage for good works is Gal. 6:10.
63. Paul said, “As we have opportunity.”
A. How often do we have an “opportunity” to do good works?
B. Each and every day.
C. Each day we have a lot of choices about deeds.
D. We can engage in lawless deeds.
E. There are also “charitable” deeds.
F. We can also be “zealous” for good works and pursue opportunities to do good.
64. One of the simplest things we can do as a Christian is be active in the area of good works.
65. How well are we doing in this area?