The Soul's True Value and the Call to Share
Summary
In reflecting on the profound truths of life and faith, it becomes evident that the soul's value surpasses all worldly gains. The soul, an imperishable entity belonging to God, is the only thing that can be truly satisfied by Him. Jesus, when observing the multitudes, saw them as sheep without a shepherd, highlighting their lack of sustenance and protection. This imagery underscores the world's inability to nourish the soul, leaving people spiritually faint and vulnerable to life's adversities.
The Christian perspective sees through the world's facade, recognizing its emptiness and futility. This realization is not just about seeing the world's vanity but also understanding the danger of living apart from God. The urgency of this understanding compels believers to warn others, much like the rich man in Luke 16 who, after realizing his fate, wished to warn his brothers. This urgency is mirrored in the Samaritan woman's desire to share her newfound understanding with others.
A true Christian life is marked by a deep conviction of sin and an awareness of the precariousness of life without Christ. This conviction fuels a genuine concern for others, driving believers to share the gospel not out of obligation but out of compassion and love. The joy of the Christian life should grow with understanding and knowledge, not diminish over time. This joy is rooted in the knowledge of being saved by grace, a truth that should never be forgotten.
The Christian's mission is to share the "prescription" of salvation with others, much like a person who has found a cure for a debilitating disease. This is not done out of duty but out of a heartfelt desire to see others experience the same healing and joy. The love of Christ compels believers to cross the street, so to speak, and share the good news with those who are still in darkness.
Key Takeaways:
- The soul's value is immeasurable, and only God can truly satisfy it. The world, with all its offerings, cannot nourish the soul, leaving people spiritually faint and unprotected. [19:36]
- Recognizing the world's emptiness and the danger of living apart from God is crucial. This understanding compels believers to warn others of the spiritual peril they face. [25:23]
- A deep conviction of sin and an awareness of life's precariousness without Christ are essential for a vibrant Christian life. This conviction fuels genuine concern for others. [29:23]
- The joy of the Christian life should increase with understanding and knowledge, not diminish over time. This joy is rooted in the knowledge of being saved by grace. [32:27]
- Sharing the gospel is not a duty but a heartfelt desire to see others experience the same healing and joy. The love of Christ compels believers to share the "prescription" of salvation. [45:08]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [18:45] - The Value of the Soul
- [19:36] - Sheep Without a Shepherd
- [20:22] - Spiritual Faintness
- [21:20] - Seeing Through the World
- [23:08] - Forsaking the World
- [24:08] - The Danger of Ignorance
- [25:23] - Urgency of Warning Others
- [27:01] - Conviction of Sin
- [29:23] - The Importance of Sin Awareness
- [30:42] - Joy in Knowledge
- [32:27] - Growing Christian Joy
- [34:17] - The Christian's Daily Reminder
- [36:19] - Rejoicing in the Lord
- [39:04] - Sharing the Good News
- [41:11] - The Christian's Unselfishness
- [43:05] - The Prescription of Salvation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Mark 8:36 - "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
2. Luke 16:19-31 - The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
3. John 4:28-30 - The Samaritan Woman at the Well
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Observation Questions:
1. In Mark 8:36, what does Jesus imply about the value of the soul compared to worldly gains?
2. How does the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16 illustrate the dangers of living apart from God? [25:23]
3. What was the Samaritan woman's reaction after her encounter with Jesus, and what does this reveal about her understanding of her own spiritual state? [27:01]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the imagery of sheep without a shepherd in the sermon reflect the spiritual state of people without Christ? [19:36]
2. What does the urgency of the rich man in Luke 16 to warn his brothers tell us about the importance of sharing the gospel with others?
3. How does the sermon suggest that a deep conviction of sin can fuel a genuine concern for others? [29:23]
4. In what ways does the sermon describe the joy of the Christian life as something that should grow over time? [32:27]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are seeking worldly gains at the expense of your spiritual well-being? How can you realign your priorities to focus on the value of your soul? [18:45]
2. Have you ever felt spiritually faint or unprotected, like sheep without a shepherd? What steps can you take to seek spiritual nourishment and protection in your daily life? [19:36]
3. Think of someone in your life who may be living apart from God. How can you share the urgency of the gospel with them in a compassionate and loving way? [25:23]
4. How can you cultivate a deeper conviction of sin in your life to fuel a genuine concern for others? What practical steps can you take to share the gospel out of love rather than obligation? [29:23]
5. Reflect on the joy of your Christian life. Is it increasing with your understanding and knowledge of God's grace? If not, what changes can you make to experience a growing joy in your faith journey? [32:27]
6. Consider the analogy of the prescription of salvation. How can you be more intentional in sharing this "prescription" with those who are still in spiritual darkness? [45:08]
7. Identify one person in your life who is spiritually faint or vulnerable. What specific action can you take this week to offer them spiritual support or guidance? [19:36]
Devotional
Day 1: The Soul's Incomparable Worth
The soul, an eternal entity created by God, holds a value that surpasses all earthly possessions and achievements. Unlike material wealth, which is transient and ultimately unsatisfying, the soul is designed to find fulfillment only in God. The world, with its myriad distractions and promises, cannot provide the nourishment the soul requires, leaving individuals spiritually weak and exposed to life's challenges. Recognizing this truth is crucial for understanding the depth of one's spiritual needs and the necessity of seeking God for true satisfaction. [19:36]
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you sought fulfillment in worldly things, and how can you begin to seek satisfaction in God alone today?
Day 2: The Urgency of Spiritual Awareness
Understanding the emptiness of the world and the peril of living apart from God is vital for spiritual awakening. This awareness compels believers to act with urgency, warning others of the spiritual dangers they face. Just as the rich man in Luke 16 wished to warn his brothers, believers are called to share the truth with those who are unaware of their spiritual condition. This urgency is not born out of fear but out of love and concern for the eternal well-being of others. [25:23]
"Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:12, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the spiritual dangers of living apart from God, and how can you lovingly share this truth with them today?
Day 3: Conviction and Compassion
A vibrant Christian life is marked by a deep conviction of sin and an acute awareness of the precariousness of life without Christ. This conviction is not meant to lead to despair but to fuel a genuine concern for others. It drives believers to share the gospel out of compassion and love, not obligation. The realization of one's own need for grace and forgiveness becomes a powerful motivator to extend that same grace to others. [29:23]
"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." (2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV)
Reflection: How has your understanding of your own sin and need for grace influenced your interactions with others, and how can you show compassion to someone in need today?
Day 4: Joy in Salvation
The joy of the Christian life should grow as one's understanding and knowledge of God's grace deepen. This joy is not fleeting but is rooted in the assurance of being saved by grace. It is a joy that should not diminish over time but should increase as believers grow in their relationship with Christ. This joy becomes a source of strength and encouragement, enabling believers to face life's challenges with hope and confidence. [32:27]
"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory." (1 Peter 1:8, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper joy in your salvation today, and how can this joy impact your daily life and interactions with others?
Day 5: Sharing the Gift of Salvation
Sharing the gospel is not a mere duty but a heartfelt desire to see others experience the same healing and joy found in Christ. The love of Christ compels believers to reach out to those still in darkness, offering them the "prescription" of salvation. This act of sharing is motivated by love and a genuine desire for others to know the peace and joy that come from a relationship with God. [45:08]
"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life is in need of hearing the good news of salvation, and what steps can you take today to share this message with them in a loving and compassionate way?
Quotes
men though he gained the whole world of wealth and of knowledge and of sophistication and of Claws and everything the world prizes what shall it profit him if he's lost his soul this imperishable thing this thing that belongs to God and is bigger than the whole universe this thing which nothing but God can finally satisfy now there it is you see that is how our Lord puts it or again he puts it in another way which shows us I think still more clearly the kind of feeling that arose instinctively in this woman's breast. [00:18:33]
we are told that our Lord looked out upon the multitude and this is what he saw he looked out upon them and he saw them as sheep without a Shepherd but when he saw the multitudes he was moved with compassion because they fainted and were scattered abroad and as sheep having no Shepherd then said he unto his disciples the Harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few pray ye therefore the lord of the Harvest that he will send forth laborers into the Harvest. [00:19:22]
the shepherd protected his sheep there were dogs marauding dogs that came and attacked them and harassed them and would would even kill them at times there they are and having no Shepherd they had no protection and I say that when life begins to attack you illness or disease or old age you're left upon the scrap you're left to yourself no man gave unto him now the Christian sees through this he sees that this supposed nous life is the emptiest thing. [00:21:00]
this is the thing that this woman saw in a flesh as it were saw through the futility the vanity of our old life and all who were still living it those people in the town and having seen through it she wants them to see through it and so you find this is expressed so constantly in our hyns and other places fading is the worldlings pleasure all his bursted pump and show solid Joys and Lasting treasure none but Zion's children know. [00:21:31]
you can't become a Christian without realizing once that the non-Christian is in a very dangerous position this is something that works again in the natural sense if you know that somebody is in a dangerous position you're concerned and you warn them you tell them about it you happen to have information the person concerned doesn't know about this but you do know so you warn them at once you say look here perhaps I shouldn't be telling you but I must I'm concerned about you. [00:24:23]
there men di is there rich men who lived the life of the world and had his plenty dressed in gorgeous robes and ha sumptuously clothed in purple and fine linen here's the world you see he's got everything and all his family were living in the same way but he dies and here he is in Hell his first desire is that he may escape from them and go to be in Abram's bosom with this poor beggar Lazarus whom he ignored while he was still alive. [00:25:29]
this is the first thing the Christian is convicted of that he's a sinner in the sight of God he's in a dangerous position she realizes so she rushes why well because she knows that they don't realize it they have no idea about this at all not only the people who lived as she lived but even the best people in the city they were unaware of all this this is the whole tragedy with men as he is by nature men and enlightened by the scriptures and the Holy Spirit. [00:27:19]
conviction of sin sense of sin the danger of the Soul Outside Christ now this you see has not been emphasized in this Century in fact we haven't liked this we've said we must tell people to come to Jesus we must always be positive we don't like preaching of the law we don't like the thunderings of the law we don't like the Old Testament no no no we say it's a matter of love so we tell people to come to Jesus and they'll get this that and the other. [00:29:36]
the Christian Joy should not only not become less it should become greater and greater greater and greater but people don't like that they say no no of course you can't expect to go on like that through your life the child is full of exuberance and excitement and enthusiasm and gets Joy over things of course as you grow up you don't go on like that you become more stayed and more set and so on and then in middle age you probably become cynical and then you pet her out. [00:32:59]
you are nothing but a sinner saved by the grace of God you remember the story of the great Daniel Roland that great preacher of 200 years ago a man who knew what it was to be transported up into the Heights in preaching and in private and men who had great experiences from God and who wonder God had been the means of leading so many thousands to Christ in that amazing Evangelical Awakening he was dying at last and somebody one of the other preachers went to him and said how are you Mr erand what's your experience. [00:34:52]
you rejoice in the Lord not in your experiences not what's happened to you not what you're doing but in the Lord and that means at months you'll be reminded of where you were the precariousness the hopelessness and how we are saved in one way and in one way only and you see if you do that you will be reminding yourself immediately automatically at the same time but all those other poor people people are still in that condition you've got relatives in that condition you've got friends acquaintances in that position. [00:36:48]
the Christian isn't selfish this is one of the great changes that takes place we cease to be selfish self-centered and hold it all we want to share it we want everybody to enjoy it why we are in a common salvation this is the thing that moved the Apostle Paul this is why he felt he was up DEA this is why he says the love of Christ constraineth me shall I put it you in this way trusting that this will bring it right home to all of us. [00:41:25]
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