God’s CardiogramGraphical sermon notes by,

Rev. Ed Whitman

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Evangelical Congregational Church in Dunstable Massachusetts

© Copyright 2014 by the author, Rev. Ed Whitman, with permission to freely redistribute.

Matthew 19: 16-26

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”  “Why do you ask me about what is good?”  Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

Matthew 19: 16-26

  “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,’  and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 19: 16-26

 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”  Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Matthew 19: 16-26

  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.  

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 19: 16-26

  When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”   Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

God’s CardiographYou shall not covet – Exodus 20:17

Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

Proverbs 30: 8-9

“What’s the matter with your boys?”

What’s the matter with the whole world?

Watch out! Be on your guard against greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

Luke 12: 15

Two walnuts are better than one!

Let’s

Pray

The Tenth Commandment

You shall not covet

The Tenth Commandment“You shall not covet your

neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or his maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Exodus 20: 17

“Covet”

“Desiring what appears to be good to us, take delight in”

“Wanting to possess what is not lawful for you with God”

Wrongfully desiring your neighbor’s:House = property

Wife = spouse

Manservant/maidservant = helpers

Ox/donkey = means to work and transpo

Anything that belongs to him/her

Little Jack Horner

Haven’t worshipped other gods

Don’t worship God thru images

Don’t swear or use profanity

Keep Sunday special

Little Jack Horner

Haven’t worshipped other gods

Don’t worship God thru images

Don’t swear or use profanity

Keep Sunday special

Not dishonored my parents

Not murdered anyone

Not an adulterer

I don’t stealI do not lie about my neighbor

Jesus and the Rich Young Man

Matthew 19: 16-26

Mark 10: 17-27

Luke 18: 18-27

Jesus and the Rich Young Man

Long on achievements

Short on recognizing heart realities

The Tenth Commandment

Got a Healthy Heart?1. Would life be over if

that dreamed of, sought after, “something” is NEVER yours? Or taken from you?

Got a Healthy Heart?1. Would life be over if

that dreamed of, sought after, “something” is NEVER yours? Or taken from you?

2. How much are you counting on things for happiness?

Got a Healthy Heart?1. Would life be over if

that dreamed of, sought after, “something” is NEVER yours? Or taken from you?

2. How much are you counting on things for happiness?

3. If God says “No!”, what then?

Got a Healthy Heart?1. Would life be over if

that dreamed of, sought after, “something” is NEVER yours? Or taken from you?

2. How much are you counting on things for happiness?

3. If God says “No!”, what then?

4. Willing to relax your grip on some of your holdings if that is what God asks of you?

Got a Healthy Heart?1. Would life be over if

that dreamed of, sought after, “something” is NEVER yours? Or taken from you?

2. How much are you counting on things for happiness?

3. If God says “No!”, what then?

4. Willing to relax your grip on some of your holdings if that is what God asks of you?

5. Do you give God His tithe? Are you solidly moving in that direction?

Got a Healthy Heart?1. Would life be over if

that dreamed of, sought after, “something” is NEVER yours? Or taken from you?

2. How much are you counting on things for happiness?

3. If God says “No!”, what then?

4. Willing to relax your grip on some of your holdings if that is what God asks of you?

5. Do you give God His tithe? Are you solidly moving in that direction?

6. What is it that you want more than anything? -are certain it will fulfill you?

What is it that you long for more than anything? Are certain it will fulfill you?

“Being with You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73: 25-26

You shall not covet

You shall want only what God is pleased

to give you.

Be content!

Contentment

Paul’s Awakening

The law code has a perfectly legitimate function. Without it’s clear guidelines for right and wrong, moral behavior would be mostly guesswork. Apart from the succinct surgical command, “You shall not covet,” I could have dressed covetousness up to look like a virtue and ruined my life with it. Romans 7:7 (The Message)

You shall not covet

You shall want only what God is pleased

to give you.

Be content!

The Rich Young Man When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19: 22

At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Mark 10: 22

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Luke 18: 23

A Young Man’s Prayer

“Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

Proverbs 30: 8-9

Three-fold Purpose of This and all Ten Commandments

1. Upset you enough to come to God

2. Upset you enough to come back to God

3. Inform you on how to love God and people

Will you ask God for help about your EKG?

Final Word on the Tenth Commandment and Your Genuine Needs

O you of little faith! Do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Final Word on the Tenth Commandment and Your Genuine Needs

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6: 31-33

Make it Your Prayer

“Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

Proverbs 30: 8-9