你是贼吗？Are You a Thief?
出埃及记 Exo 20:15
Remember these points
I put these points at the top of my sermon-prep template to remind myself every week:
- Show that main point of passage relates to Jesus and his saving work
- (1 Cor 1:18) A truly gospel-centred message will not be acceptable in a synagogue or mosque
- Did I proclaim the gospel as the headline news of the sermon, rather than as a “by the way…”?
- Unbelievers are called to repent, believe, and be saved
- Believers are encouraged to abandon their old self, renew their minds, put on the new self in Christ
- Preach simple sermons, so that God’s people can see Christ more clearly and love him more dearly
News
Hook
Think carefully: Have you ever been a thief?
Some common scenarios of breaking this commandment
Passage
Commandment 8 is “You Shall Not Steal.”
The Hebrew verbs covers the usual stealing, and also kidnapping.
Jewish rabbis seem to take kidnapping as the main meaning for this commandment.
An example from Genesis, the story of Joseph: While in prison, Joseph told the Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer:
“for I really was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews…” Gen 40:15.
A commandment against stealing implies the existence of private property,
so don’t think that the church or Christian communities have no concept of private property.
<27>
The other important thing to note is that the commandment is unconditional.
We don’t steal, period.
What does the rest of the Bible say about stealing?
The next 3 slides are just a tiny sample of Bible passages against all forms of stealing,
both from the OT and NT.
What are the different types of stealing? Here’s just a short list.
Most people won’t think of doing any of these things. But, are there other forms of stealing?
Lots of people don’t consider these to be stealing. What do you think?
Just go down the list, and think of all the situations when theft happens in these places.
We all know it’s not right to steal, but why do we do it?
This slide shows some of the common reasons for engaging in stealing (or engaging in what we know deep down to be stealing, but refuse to acknowledge it as such).
Even many Christians engage in these forms of stealing.
But even with these reasons (some might even be very valid), Christians still shouldn’t engage in these activities.
Why?
Why?
Because God doesn’t like it!
This is reason enough!
与我有什么关系? So What?
- Why do we keep God’s commandments?
Because that will please God! - We must trust God, trust in his provisions.
- We must be good stewards, so that God is glorified.
- Are you a thief?
- At home…
- At work…
- In church…
God is extremely generous.
He sent his son Jesus to die for our sins (remember the two thieves crucified with him).
We should be generous too!