7 Sayings of the Cross – Part 1 - Father, Forgive Them; For They Know Not What They Do!

Temple Baptist Church - 2-22-2026

Luke 23:26-34

Introduction:

A.  As we quickly approach Resurrection Sunday, 2026, I want our hearts and minds to center upon Calvary.  My pastor, Dr. Harold B. Sightler, advised his preacher boys to stay close to the cross in our preaching. 

 

B.  As we begin looking at the sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross, it begins with these amazing, loving, kind, and enduring words: “Father, Forgive Them; For They Know Not What They Do!”  Paul, in the book of Hebrews, describes this moment:

 

Hebrews 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  (Contradiction: a statement or phrase whose parts contradict each other.  Christ has been abused above all measure and unjustly so.  In the moment of the world’s hatred of and cruelty against Christ, He asks the Father to forgive the perpetrators.)

 

1.  There is Conviction in the Cross.  John 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

 

2.  There is Conversion in the Cross.  Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

3.  There is Confidence in the Cross.  1 Corinthians 1:17-18  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  (18)  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

 

4.  There is Condemnation in the Cross.  1 Corinthians 1:22-25  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:  (23)  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;  (24)  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.  (25)  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

 

C.  Seven times our Lord spoke from the cross.  These seven sayings speak volumes concerning our salvation. 

 

1.  The first saying of Christ from the cross was a petition for forgiveness.  How appropriate!  Jesus died to save, not to condemn.

 

2.  The cross of Christ is all about the reconciliation of sinful man with a thrice holy God.

 

D.  At Calvary, we find the love of God for each and every one of us. 

 

1.  Calvary is the ultimate proving of the love of God for sinful mankind.  If you want to know how God feels about you, go to Calvary!  Greater love hath no man than this:  the one should die for his friend. 

 

2.  Calvary’s love is the greatest and most compelling of all loves as the Worthy died for the unworthy; the Holy died for the unholy; the Righteous died for the unrighteous.

 

E.  The reason for forgiveness is sin.  The fact of sin is what compelled the Father to send forth His only begotten Son.  This morning, I want to look at God's forgiveness.  “For they know not what they do!”

 

1 Corinthians 2:7-8  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  (8)  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

 

1.  Some believe that ignorance brings forgiveness.  As ignorance of the law is not an excuse in our judicial system, neither is it an excuse in the court of heaven!

 

2.  Their ignorance was not that they did not know that the man they were crucifying was innocent. 

 

a)  Judas Iscariot declared Him to be innocent.  Matthew 27:4  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

 

b)  Both Herod and Pilate had declared Jesus to be innocent.  Luke 23:14-15  Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:  (15)  No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

 

F.  “For they know not what they do!” What was their ignorance?  Their ignorance is the same as the ignorance of modern men.  I want to look at three areas of ignorance that will lead mankind to hell instead of to heaven.

 

1.  They were ignorant of Who He was!  Matthew 27:29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! (He was almighty Jehovah God in the flesh!  King of kings and Lord of lords!  They mocked Him!  The world still does not know who He is!  He was the Almighty, and He still IS the Almighty!)

 

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

a.  “without faith”  Saving faith is based upon faith, not sight!  God cannot be seen but fully reveals His person through nature and the Bible!  That is the only revelation that man will ever get.  It was and is enough for me!

 

b.  “that He is”  Man cannot deny Him for He is!  Man cannot ignore Him for He will not go away!  God's existence is not nullified because man chooses to turn away from Him.  Jesus Christ is “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

 

c.  “he is a rewarder of them.”  Jesus Christ is not only the Saviour of the world, but He will also save all who come to Him by faith.  He is not a “saviour”; He is THE Saviour.  The One and Only!

 

2.  They were ignorant of what He was doing!  John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  (He was paying for the sins of the whole world.  The soldiers knew that He was innocent but did not know that He had become sin for them!  They did not know that He was dying for them!  The world still has no concept, as they are religionists instead of saved.  Their hope is in their religion and good works, not in the finished work of Calvary!)

 

John 3:14-17  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  (15)  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  (16)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

 

a.  “as Moses lifted up … even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”  Calvary paid for sin’s consequence.  The wages of sin are still death and have never changed!  In Genesis, chapter 3, God took the life of the innocent to cover the sin of the guilty.  That’s Calvary!

 

b.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.”  At Calvary, we find propitiation.  Appeasement!  God looked upon His Son’s sacrifice and was satisfied.  Calvary covers it all!  Calvary is sufficient! 

 

c.  “The world through him might be saved.”  God is not willing that any perish and gave His Son to die for the sins of the whole world.  “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)    “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  (1 John 2:2) 

 

3.  They were ignorant of what they were!  Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.  (These men were the best of the best!  They were the “seals, green berets, delta force of the day.  They were the Pretorian Guard!  They were invincible!  They did not understand that they were sinners who would one day stand before an angry God!  People today believe that they will just cease to exist after death or that they will be justified before God by who they are but have no understanding that they will one day stand in their sin before a thrice-holiest God and be judged!)

 

a.  They no doubt knew that they were not perfect men, as they were soldiers and had done many things worthy of death.  They were “sinners,” BUT not lost sinners.

 

b.  They no doubt knew that they had sinned against mankind, but not that they had sinned against a thrice-holiest God.

 

c.  They did not realize that, because of their sinfulness against God, they needed to be saved from their sin.

 

4.  They were certainly not repentant of their sins against our Lord Jesus Christ!  They scourged Him, they beat Him, they spat upon Him, they placed on His head a crown of thorns, they crucified Him, they railed on Him, they gambled over His robe, and—as far as the Bible is concerned—they never got right with Him.  He forgave them anyway, but only in a temporal sense!  Forgiveness can only come through faith in the shed blood of Christ.  Hebrews 9:22b  And without shedding of blood is no remission.

 

a.  Our Lord’s forgiveness was personal and temporal, not eternal!  If they remained lost, they still faced their works at the Great White Throne Judgement.  Revelation 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

 

b.  Our Lord’s forgiveness was an example to us!  Forgiveness is as much for the victim as it is for the perpetrator!  When people hurt us, they may never make it right with us, but if we forgive them, we have done what we can and can live with it.  “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

 

Conclusion:  “Father, Forgive Them; For They Know Not What They Do!” 

 

John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (The Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of all men and will forgive those who come to Him by faith.)

 

Matthew 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (We are to forgive those who sin against as God forgives us.)

The Lord’s Supper

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-18-2026

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

 

Introduction: 

A.  What a blessing it is to partake of the Lord’s Supper or Communion, as many call it. I want to look at its proceedings and purpose tonight.  The Lord’s Supper has not only been a blessing, but also a curse to many who have either misused it or taken it lightly in a sinful condition. 

 

B.  It is a serious matter to participate, and our people need to be informed as to the why, how, and manner of it.  The Corinthian church had perverted it, either out of willfulness or ignorance, and, for this cause, many were sickly among them, and many died.

 

C.  It is a Divine Ordinance, not manmade, not denomination, not traditional, nor optional.  It is a command, therefore an ordinance of the local church. 

 

D.  The Problems Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 17-22  Paul wrote this section, with the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, because of the problems in the Corinthian church. 

 

1.  Their motives were wrong – their desire – vs. 17  “ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.”  Communion is referenced in 3 of the 4 Gospels.  It is of interest that there is no Scripture commanding us to commemorate the Lord’s Birth, but this one to remember His death!  People love Christmas but miss Communion.

 

2.  Their minds were wrong – their division – vs. 18  “I hear that there be divisions among you”  The Bible promotes unity while division and confusion are Satan’s devices.

 

3.  Their manners were wrong – their disorder – vs. 19  “For there must be also heresies among you”  This is the crux of my message tonight, the misunderstanding, misrepresentation, and misuse of this Divine Command.

 

E.  The Problems In The Continued Church.  In our day, we find so much confusion and division in our Communion.  Most is based upon biblical ignorance, willful or otherwise.  I will deal with several tonight.

 

1.  That the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament or imparts grace to the believer.  Many call it “Holy Communion,” a term adopted by Catholic, Protestant, and liberal Baptist churches.  Nowhere in the Bible is “Holy Communion” found. 

 

1 Corinthians 11:20  When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

 

2.  That the Lord’s Supper contains the literal body and blood of Christ.  Transubstantiation and Co-substantiation.  These two heresies make the mass a re-crucifixion and essential to salvation and produce grace for those who receive it.  Grace is a gift, an unmerited favor, given by God, and cannot be produced or reproduced through human ritual.

 

Hebrews 10:10-12  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  (11)  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:  (12)  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

 

3.  The actual use of wine, which is fermented or leavened, instead of the fruit of the wine.  Wine, as a strong drink, is a product of fermentation and, therefore, leaven.  Wine is also a mocker and is to be totally abstained from by the believer.  Also, the fruit of the vine was to be drunk by all who partake and not just a priest.

 

Matthew 26:28-29  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  (29)  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

 

Proverbs 20:1  Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

 

4.  The use of leavened bread.  Once again, leaven is a type of sin and brings the sinfulness of man into the Lord’s Supper, which defiles the type.

 

1 Corinthians 5:7-8  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:  (8)  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

 

5.  Open Communion – where everyone, saved or lost, fundamental or heretical .at you believe, you are welcome to partake.) 

 

1 Corinthians 11:18a, 20a  For first of all, when ye come together in the church … When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

 

6.  Closed Communion – where other Bible-believing Christians who visit from another local church are excluded from the fellowship.  Only those who are members of the church in communion are welcome to participate. All others, including those who are saved and fundamental but are members of other good local churches, are rejected and cannot participate.

 

F.  The Proceeding Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 23-25

 

1.  The Thanksgiving – vs. 24  Thank God for Calvary!  It is sad to see the number of so-called Christians who never attend the Lord’s Supper.  We have some who never attend Sunday night services.  We normally hold the Lord’s Supper on Sunday night because there are fewer visitors.

 

2.  The Taking – vs. 24-25  The taking of both bread and juice.  It was not just the death of Christ that saved, but the precious blood that has been applied!

 

G.  The Purpose Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 23-26

 

          1.  The Receiving – vs. 23  (From generation to generation.)

 

2.  The Remembering – vs. 24-25 – (In remembrance of me.  What Christ did for us!)

 

          3.  The Revealing – vs. 26 – “shew the Lord’s death till he come”

 

H.  The Problems Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 27-32

 

          1.  The Problem Of Improper Actions – vs. 27-29 - unconfessed sinfulness

 

2.  The Problem Of An Improper Attitude – vs. 29 – “not discerning” A mere rite or ceremony.  The Lord’s Supper is a serious matter and needs to be taken as such.

 

J.  The People Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 33 - The Saved – “brethren”

Action or Reaction

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-15-2026

Psalm 141

 

Introduction:

A.  Here, we find David in another troublesome time of his life.  This Psalm was written in retrospect.  There is an old saying that hindsight is 20/20?  David did not react in one way but he did in another.

 

1.  The backdrop for this particular Psalm is likely found in 1 Samuel chapter 24, when David tried to escape Saul by hiding in a cave with his men.  Saul then entered the cave, also with some of his men, and slept. 

 

2.  Now trapped, David’s men encouraged David to kill his enemy.  There is a worldly theory that the best defense is a good offense.  Though in some things, like basketball, where good defense produces good offense, it is not necessarily good advice spiritually. 

 

3.  David had an opportunity to take the life of Saul while he slept, but chose rather to cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe. 

 

4.  God smote David’s heart because he had stretched forth his hand against the anointed of the Lord.

 

B.  In times of trouble, we often become reactionary instead of proactive. 

 

1.  We often call this a “knee-jerk.”  No thought process before or during something that puts the believer in a hard place.  With this in mind, I want to examine how David handled his predicament.  He and his men are now trapped within the place of refuge that David chose.  But the trapped place became a trap or an opportunity for reprisal against his pursuer, King Saul.

 

2.  Proactive – tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events.  Thinking before acting.  Plan your plan and work your plan.  Understanding the positive and negative results of our actions before proceeding. 

 

3.  Knee Jerk – an automatic response without thinking.  There have been more than one occasion when I reacted without thinking, pausing to consider the problem and how to resolve it in a godly manner.  Almost invariably, I have paid a price for my reaction.

 

4.  There are times in life’s hard places when we are tempted to react.  Reaction to harsh words.  Reaction to harsh treatment.  Reaction to betrayal or pressure.  Proverbs 15:1

 

C.  In this psalm, we find that David chose to be proactive in his predicament.  He chose to respond in a less violent way, but not in the right way.  Now, we see his assessment of his reaction.

 

1.  Verses 1-2.  David’s Dilemma.  He is trapped in the cave by his enemies.  David chose to find counsel in the Lord rather than in his men.  To react with prayer instead of the flesh.  Though we can find good counsel in men, we are not to put confidence in men.  This is not an oxymoron but a realization that the counsel of men can be wrong, as they are also human.  We are to weigh the validity of men’s counsel by seeking God’s counsel.  Much is said in the Bible about wrong places of confidence.  Our confidence is to be in the Lord.

 

a.  David needed an immediate response.  Psalms 141:1  A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

 

b.  David received immediate advice from his men, but not necessarily sound advice.  When problems come upon us in a moment’s time, we need an answer quickly, and there is little or no time for us to say, “Wait for a little while and give me time to call my counselors.” 

 

c.  David’s men were ready for him to kill Saul, God’s anointed!  David’s reaction was both spiritual and prayerful.  David did not allow himself to be pressured into something that he knew was a wrong response.

 

2.  Verses 3-4.  David’s Desire.

 

a.  Verse 3.  Guard my lips.  In times like these, we often say things in the heat of the moment that will come back to haunt us later.

 

Proverbs 15:1  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

 

b.  Verse 4.  Guard my heart.  In times like these, when we react, we often do things we would never do if we thought them through.

 

Matthew 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

 

c.  Verse 5.  Guard my spirit.  We must keep the right spirit in hard times as others watch.  David would later, in his penitential prayer in Psalm 51:10, say, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

 

3.  Verses 5-7.   David’s Determination.  David was realistic!  He fully understood that not everything works out for the child of God in this world.  There will be times when we all suffer.

 

a.  David was determined not to be moved from doing right during this hard time.

 

Acts 20:22-24  And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:  (23)  Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.  (24)  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

 

b.  In the end, God will bring about justice.  We are not to seek vengeance, as vengeance belongs to the Lord.

 

c.  The battles that we face are not always easy, and the way will sometimes be hard.  We will suffer in this world for righteousness; we will be persecuted because of godliness.  We do not always win every battle, but we will win the war!

 

4.  Verses 8-10.  David’s Dependence.  Whatever may come, God will always be with the child of God.

 

a.  God will always be with the believer.  Matthew 28:20b  “and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  (The word “lo” is the second person singular imperative middle voice.  It means Behold!  To be sure of or to fully understand. It is used to draw attention.)

 

b.  God will always give grace or a way of escape.  1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

Conclusion:  When trouble comes suddenly, learn not to “knee-jerk” act, but instead to act.  Be proactive instead of reactive. 

 

1.  Pray  2.  Guard your mouth.  3.  Guard your heart.  4.  Guard your spirit.  5.  Endure your hardships.  6.  Looking unto Jesus.  7. Trust God with the outcome. 

 

2.  Never “Knee Jerk”.  Be proactive by making up your mind before such an event occurs to act in a godly manner.  I have learned to ask God for patience before I need it.

 

Hebrews 10:35-37  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  (36)  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  (37)  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

 

3.  Act instead of react, and there will be fewer regrets.

Thriving in 2026 - Abiding and Purging

Temple Baptist Church - 2-15-2026

John 15:1-5

 

Introduction: 

A.  Are we “Thriving or Surviving?”  God wants us to thrive in these last days!  To thrive, we must abide. 

 

B.  John 15 mentions both pruning and purging of the branches.  The commentators make these two words virtually the same.  THEY are different!  If they had the same meaning, they would be spelled alike!

 

1. By pruning, God breaks off the unfruitful branches.  Bad branches!  Over the years, we have had families and individuals who just never got into the church. I call them “Out lyers.”  You either abideth (notice the eth ending: present perfect tense.  Faithful to God.) in Christ or you do not.  If you never get faithful, you will eventually get out!  Do not make God break your branch off, as Satan and the world will devour you, that the spirit might be saved.

 

1 Corinthians 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

2.  By purging, God trims the branch. Good branches!  Though the branch has brought forth fruit, God trims off that which is not productive, allowing more of the sap that comes from the Vine to invigorate and grow more and much fruit.

 

a)  By purging the branches, removing the shoots and suckers that are not fruit-bearing, thus directing the sap to the part of the branches that bear.  It not only increases the quantity of the fruit, but it also increases the quality of the fruit.

 

b) In our humanity, we often have things in our lives that hinder spiritual fruit-bearing that must be removed.

 

C.  I want to look at two pairs of verses that will explain what purging is.  Here are two of the most quoted verses that explain our abiding and flourishing. 

 

1.  Purging has to do with removing weights (anything that hinders us from loving and serving the Lord) and besetting sins (sins that we constantly have to avoid that are particular to us individually).

 

Hebrews 12:1-2  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

2.  When we put those two verses to work in our lives, we can fulfill these two by presenting our bodies to Christ, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service.

 

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

D.  Now, how does God purge His branches?  With the Word of God.  Dive into the Word of God, the Truth of God that makes us free.  Free from sin, discouragement, disappointment, doctrinal confusion, failure, and falling.

 

Ephesians 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

 

E.  Here we find the importance of God’s Word in our lives.

 

1.  Reading the Word of God.

 

2.  Studying the Word of God.

 

3.  Hearing the Word of God.

 

4.  Applying the Word of God.

 

F.  The Word of God is essential for the spiritual welfare of the believer.  We all tend to get “a little out of sorts” at times.  This is because, though saved, we are still human.  The problem is not the condition; the problem is to remain in that condition.

 

G. Physical growth is something God does, and we can help.  Spiritual growth is something we do, and God helps with!  Two of the things that will stunt both physical and spiritual growth:

 

1.  A lack of appetite. Healthy children and adults will have a healthy appetite. When a person becomes sick or old, they will often lose their appetite, and it is virtually impossible to get them to eat. They do not eat because they do not feel like eating. How often, at the end of a loved one's life, do people tell them they have to eat for strength, but they refuse food? Thus, the physical man and the spiritual man will lose strength.

 

2.  An appetite for the wrong things.  I love buying cakes at Walmart.  You know, the ones with an inch of icing and all the flowers and designs, all made of pure sugar.  I love ice cream, which I am sure is not the healthiest of foods.  Meat, bread, and vegetables build strong bones and muscles.  Cake and ice cream build big bellies and fat.  Physically and spiritually, we must eat a proper diet.

 

H.  Abiding in Christ finds the Word of God an imperative.  Therefore:

 

1. The Bible Teaches me.  The importance of the teaching of God’s Word.  Taught by the Spirit of God; taught by personal reading and study; taught by being faithful to the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

 

A believer will never spiritually grow as they should until they become learners. A person can go to college, spend a fortune, goof off and party, and never get an education.  One must apply themselves to learn properly.

 

Isaiah 54:13  And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

 

John 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

 

2.  The Bible Enlightens me.  Help me to understand God’s Word.  Learning can be a set of facts memorized, but enlightenment gives the learner the wisdom and knowledge it takes to excel.  The Enlightener is the precious Holy Spirit

 

Proverbs 4:7  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

 

Psalms 36:9  For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

 

3.  The Bible Leads me.  To follow God’s lead, we need to learn to trust the Lord in His guidance.  “Make me go!”  Asking the Lord to remove all our ways and force us to do His will. 

 

Psalms 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 

Give me no options! Believers are free moral agents.  God has given to each of us the right of choice, but the serious child of God does not want to unknowingly make the wrong choice. 

 

I often ask God to close all other doors so that I have only the right door to choose.  I personally wanted out of the Bible Belt.  My desire was to go to New Hampshire and start a church but each night I would say, “Dear Lord, if New Hampshire is not your will for my life, close the door.”  He did and I am here!

 

James 1:22-25  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  (23)  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  (24)  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  (25)  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

4.  The Bible Draws me.  Draw us near in heart through the Scriptures.  That we may spend quality time with the Lord.  Relationships are established with conversion.  You speak to God in prayer and allow God to speak to you through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.  One of the greatest enemies of the believer in these days of plenty is the sin of covetousness.  Can’t help it and got to have it.  Through the lure of the world, so many believers have lost their excitement and desire for God’s Word. 

 

Romans 8:6-8  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  (16)  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  (17)  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 

5.  The Bible Turns me.  One of the three areas of sin concerns the eyes.  Eve saw and took; Lot vexed his righteous soul by hearing and seeing.  In today’s society, we see more by accident than people in years gone by saw on purpose. 

 

Turn my eyes from: Things that are not good, things that are temporal instead of eternal, things that tear down instead of buildup, things that are ungodly or worthless.

 

We cannot help what we see but we need the help of the Lord to turn our eyes from the sinful sights.  Ask God for “spiritual blinders.”

 

Proverbs 4:25  Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

 

Genesis 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 

2 Peter 2:8  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

 

6.  The Bible Stabilizes me.  Establishment in the unshakable Word.  Help us to be stable-minded instead of double-minded.    The world and churches are full of unstable people.

 

One of the most important aspects of spiritual growth, stability, and having a firm foundation is found in the Word of God. 

 

James 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

 

1 Peter 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  (32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

7.  The Bible Encourages me.  In the Word, in the Lord, and in the church.  Every child of God needs encouragement.  This is why the Bible commands us to faithfully assemble.  Faithfulness and communion bring about encouragement. 

 

Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

8.  The Bible Quickens me.  Biblical spiritual growth makes the child alive in righteousness. 

 

Psalms 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 

Biblical Leadership

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-11-2026

1 Corinthians 11:1-16

 

Introduction:

A.  Paul continued the context of chapter 10 in chapter 11.  This is a very important chapter, as every one of us must follow and set an example for those who follow us.  As kids, we would play “Follow the Leader.” 

 

1.  He began with his responsibility in spiritual leadership and the believer’s responsibility to follow such.  You will never be a good leader if you are not a good follower.   

 

2.  We must follow a good example before we become one.  Paul said that the Corinthian believers were to follow him as he also followed Christ.  This is not blind following.  If the blind follow the blind, they both end up in the ditch!

 

B.  God gave gifts to the church, the evangelist and pastor/teacher, who were to set proper examples of following Christ before the people.  The people were to follow these men of God AS they also follow Christ.  This poses a two-fold problem for the end-time local churches.

 

1.  People blindly follow pastors who teach and do unbiblical things.  This creates congregations that have no idea what the Bible teaches and are, therefore, doctrinally incorrect.

 

2.  Then there are those people who refuse to follow pastors who preach the Bible and live a consistent life for Christ.  Laodicea means “The rights of the people!”  We are certainly there!

 

C.  Paul now moves from the leadership of the church to leadership in the home in verse 3.  Why is the home important?  A couple of things need to be explained first. 

 

1.  This section of Scripture is not about superiority or inferiority, as both the man and the woman are irreplaceable in the structure of both the home and the local church. 

 

2.  It is about authority and submission, which bring glory to someone other than self.  Each individual mentioned in verse 3 has a position to be filled and someone else to be glorified. 

 

3.  This section is important because the home was the first corporate union that the Lord created.  One man, one woman, living in harmony with God, was God’s plan for us to follow.

 

4.  It is also important because everything rises or falls upon the condition of our homes.  As goes the home, so goes the local church; as goes the home, so goes the nation; as goes the home, so go the children. 

 

D.  Chapter 11 shows the proper structure of a godly home.  God the Father, God the Son, the husband, and the woman. Verse 3 spells this out clearly so that no one can misunderstand this pattern.

 

1 Corinthians 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

 

1.  The Head of everything is God the Father.  “the head of Christ is God!”  The Bible says that all that we do is to be for the glory of God. 

 

1 Corinthians 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

 

John 8:29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

 

John 17:1  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

 

2.  The Head of the man is Christ.  “the head of every man is Christ” 

 

Ephesians 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour of the body.

 

a.  We live in the days when men follow their wives instead of vice versa.  As many homes are out of order, so are many churches and denominations.

 

1 Timothy 3:1-2  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.  (2)  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

 

1 Timothy 3:12  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

 

b.  The husband is to be led by Christ so as to properly lead his wife.  In so many homes, the wife is more spiritual than the husband, leading them to think that if the man won’t do it, then I must step in and take his place. 

 

c.  The husband is not to be a dictator. 

 

Ephesians 5:22-25  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  (23)  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.  (24)  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.  (25)  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

 

Ephesians 5:33  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

 

1 Peter 3:6-7  Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.  (7)  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

 

3.  The Head of the woman is the Man.  “The head of the woman is the man.”  Let me say this as we begin this last section: ladies, you are blessed!  Your accountability to God is your home and children.  The husband’s accountability is much greater, as to whom much is given, much is required.

 

Genesis 3:16-17  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 

 

Ephesians 5:21-28  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.  (22)  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  (23)  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.  (24)  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 

 

a.  The submission of the wife is important because the woman is the glory of the man (verse 7).  Behind every good man, there is a good woman!  The woman is the husband’s “Crown of Glory!”

 

1 Corinthians 11:7  For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

 

b.  The submission of the wife is important because of why she was created and what she was created for.

 

1 Corinthians 11:8-10  For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.  (9)  Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.  (10)  For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

 

c.  The submission of the wife is important because of Eve’s deception. 

 

1 Corinthians 11: 10  For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

 

1)  It amazes me that most commentaries either do not understand this verse or ignore it because it is not popular.

 

2)  The woman was subject to angelic deception!  Eve set the standard in Genesis chapter 3.  The serpent was the angel Lucifer’s tool of deception.

 

a)  The Woman’s Creation. 1 Corinthians 11:8-9  For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.  (9)  Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 

 

b)  The Woman’s Glory.  1 Corinthians 11:7  For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

 

c)  The Woman’s Deception.  1 Corinthians 11:10  For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

 

2 Corinthians 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

Genesis 3:13  And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat

 

1 Timothy 2:11-15  Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.  (12)  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.  (13)  For Adam was first formed, then Eve.  (14)  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.  (15)  Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing (Messianic Prophecy), if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

 

d.  The Woman’s Exception.  The husband is to love and rule his wife righteously.

 

Ephesians 5:25, 28  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  …  (28)  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

 

1)  The woman’s obligation is to live with him as long as you can while living for the Lord.

 

1 Corinthians 7:13-14  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.  (14)  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 

 

1 Peter 3:1-2  Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;  (2)  While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 

 

2)  The woman’s release.  If the unbelieving husband leaves, let him depart.  The marriage vows no longer apply.

 

1 Corinthians 7:15  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

 

4.  Ephesians 5-6 expands the order of the home to its children.  The Heads of the children are Dad and Mom!

 

Ephesians 6:1-3  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  (2)  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  (3)  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.