Join us for our sermon titled “Eat This Book: Keep The Main Course, The Main Course,” where we dive deep into the metaphorical language used in the Bible to underscore the severe consequences of sin and the profound nature of God’s kingdom. This message will explore significant passages such as Mark 9:43-48, emphasizing the drastic measures suggested for avoiding sin and its eternal consequences. We also delve into various similes and metaphors across the Bible, from the vivid descriptions of Jesus in Revelation to the parables illustrating the kingdom of heaven. The sermon will challenge you to prioritize the essential truths of the scripture, avoiding distractions and focusing on what truly matters in our spiritual journey
Sermon Audio
Sermon Video
Sermon Notes:
Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life
maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be
quenched—
Mark 9:44 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Mark 9:45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter
life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall
never be quenched—
Mark 9:46 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Mark 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter
the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell
fire—
Mark 9:48 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Rule #12: Don’t Major on the Minors or Minor on the Majors, but Keep the Main Thing,
the Main Thing and the Plain Things are the Main Things
In a CBS morning interview, Joel Osteen was asked the question:
Do you feel like you’re cheating people by not telling them about the Hell part?
Or repentance part?”
Joel Osteen answered: “No, I really don’t, because it’s a different approach.
You know, it’s not hellfire and brimstone. But I say most people are beaten down
enough by life. They already feel guilty enough … My goal is to make God good
and let them know, hey, I tell them all the time, God’s smiling down on you right now.
You’re his child. He’s got a great plan for your life. You can overcome mistakes,
and to me, that draws people to God.”
The Bible uses similes to describe Jesus
Revelation 1:14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His
eyes like a flame of fire;
Revelation 1:15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice
as the sound of many waters.
Jesus incorporated numerous similes into His parables to help us understand:
Mark 4:30 Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with
what parable shall we picture it?
Matthew 13:31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven
is like a mustard seed …”
Matthew 13:33 Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like
leaven, …”
Matthew 13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field …”
Matthew 13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful
pearls, …”
Matthew 13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet …”
1 Peter 1:24 “… All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and its flower falls away,
1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the
members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
Job 9:18 He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.
Isaiah 40:15 “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust
on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow
of Your wings,
Job 19:20 My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the
skin of my teeth.
Daniel 5:5 In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote
opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the
king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
Exodus 31:18 And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai,
He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the
finger of God.
Genesis 8:11 Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly
plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded
from the earth.
Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
Psalm 34:16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither
his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
Psalm 91:4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
Deuteronomy 1:28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our
heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and
walled up to heaven …
Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life
maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be
quenched—
Mark 9:44 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Mark 9:45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter
life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall
never be quenched—
Mark 9:46 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Mark 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter
the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell
hell fire—
Mark 9:48 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
The hand symbolizes what is done, the foot where one goes, and the eye what is seen.
Romans 8:13 “…by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body …”
Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:
fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Mark 9:44 where ‘Their worm does not die.
Mark 9:46 where ‘Their worm does not die.
Mark 9:48 where ‘Their worm does not die.
Verses 44, 46, and 48 are a direct reference to Isaiah 66:24,
Isaiah 66:24 “And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who
have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not
quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
The Hearse Song by Harley Poe
Don’t ever laugh as a Hearse goes by
For you may be the next to die
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
From your head down to your feet
They put you in a big black box
And cover you up with dirt and rocks
And all goes well for about a week
And then your coffin begins to leak
And the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle on your snout
They eat your eyes, they eat your nose
They eat the jelly between your toes
A big green worm with rolling eyes
Crawls in your stomach and out your eyes
Your stomach turns a slimy green
And puss comes out like whipping cream
You spread it on a slice of bread
And that’s what you eat when your dead
And the worms crawl out and the worms crawl in
The worms that crawl in are lean and thin
The ones that crawl out are fat and stout
Your eyes fall in and your hair falls out
Your brain comes tumbling down your snout
And the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
They crawl all over your dirty snout
Your chest caves in and your eyes pop out
And your brain turns to sauerkraut
They invite their friends, and their friends too
They all come down to chew on you
And this is what it is to die
I hope you had a nice goodbye
Did you ever think as a Hearse goes by
That you may be the next to die
And your eyes fall out and your teeth decay
And that is the end of a perfect… day
Psalm 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the
people.
The fire that shall never be quenched, and the fire is not quenched
Lyrics “And When I Die”
Now troubles are many there’re as deep as a well
I can swear there ain’t no Heaven but I pray there ain’t no hell
But I’ll never know by livin’ only my dyin’ will tell.
Charles F. Kettering said,”We should all be concerned about future because we will
have to spend the rest of our lives there.”
Mark 9:43 “… It is better for you to enter into life maimed … than to go to hell
Mark 9:45 “…It is better for you to enter life lame, than … to be cast into hell
Mark 9:47 “…It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye …than to be
cast into hell fire
Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved.
How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?
Isaiah 46:9
Deut 28:29
Prov 4:18
2 Peter 1:19
Rev 1:1
Deut 29:29
Isaiah 46:9
Gal 4:4
Isaiah 30:18
Genesis 1:26
Psalm 2:7
Psalm 51:11
Romans 1:7
John 1:1
Acts 5:3-4
1 John 5:7
Proverbs 4:18
Psalm 119:133
Psalm 17:5
John 3:19-20
2 Peter 1:19
Jeremiah 17:9
1 Peter 1:19
Psalm 119:105
Rev 22:16
Luke 21:26-27
Matt 7:21-23
Sermon Notes
Isaiah 46:9 (NIV) “… I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none
like me.
Isaiah 46:10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times what
is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things
which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all
the words of this law.
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and
more unto the perfect day.
2 Peter 1:19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to
heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star
rises in your hearts;
Rule #5: All of the Bible is about Jesus.
Rule # 6: The Bible not only has to be Read, It has to be Interpreted
Rule #7: “A Text Taken out of Context is a Con”
Rule #8: Let the Bible interpret Bible
Rule #9: There is a Progressive Revelation in the Bible
Progressive revelation simply put is the unfolding of God’s revelation.
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His
servants—things which must shortly take place.
Now the whole Bible is Jesus being revealed and He is the one doing the revealing
The whole Bible is God’s Revelation not just the Book of Revelation
Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things
which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all
the words of this law.
I. GOD’S PROGRESSIVE REVELATION COMES THROUGH INFORMATION.
Isaiah 46:9 “… For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none
like Me,
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things
that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’
Isaiah 46:9 (NIV) “… I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none
like me.
Isaiah 46:10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times what
is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
(1) Later revelation interprets earlier revelation.
(2) The New Testament interprets the Old Testament,
It has been said: “The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed;
the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.”
Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law,
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you …
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…
Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son;
this day have I begotten thee.
Psalm 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit
from me.
The Father is God
Romans 1:7 …Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Son is God
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.
The Holy Spirit is God
Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the
Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
Acts 5:4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it
not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You
have not lied to men but to God.”
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word,
and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
II. GOD’S PROGRESSIVE REVELATION COMES THROUGH ILLUSTRATION.
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and
more unto the perfect day.
The truth does get truer.
Psalm 119:133 Order my steps in your word: and let not any iniquity have
dominion over me.
Psalm 17:5 Hold up my goings in your paths, that my footsteps slip not.
The light recieved increases light
The light refused increases darkness.
Vance Havner once said, “A man is judged not on the basis of how much sin he
commits, but on the basis of how much light he rejects. ”
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light,
lest his deeds should be exposed
III. GOD’S PROGRESSIVE REVELATION COMES THROUGH ILLUMINATION.
2 Peter 1:19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to
heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star
rises in your hearts;
2 Peter 1:19 (NLT) You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words
are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning
Star shines in your hearts.
1 Peter 1:19 (KJV) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do
well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day
dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
1 Peter 1:19 “… until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
1 Peter 1:19 “… until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things
in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and
morning star.
We sing a hymn about it “The Lily of the Valley”
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star.
Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight,
flooding my soul with glory divine:
hallelujah, I am rejoicing,
singing His praises, Jesus is mine.
Luke 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those
things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Luke 21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and
great glory.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
Matthew 7:23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me,
you who practice lawlessness!’
Sermon Text:
Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:
fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the
sons of disobedience,
Colossians 3:7 In which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath,
malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man
with his deeds,
Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who created him,
Romans 3:11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Mark Twain once said, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no
influence on society.”
Colossians 3:1 “… seek those things which are above, where Christ is,..”
Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
I. OUR ERADICATION: PUT TO DEATH SEXUAL SINS.
Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:
Colossians 3:5 (NLT) So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.
Deitrich Bonhoeffer (quote) ‘When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.’
Colossians 3:5 “… fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and
covetousness, which is idolatry.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that
you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your
reasonable service.
The complaint report states:
“The decision to smear Pastor Johnny’s reputation with these accusations has
led him to suffer substantial economic and other damages. He has lost (his) job
and income; he has lost current and future book deals; and he has lost the
opportunity to generate income through speaking engagements.”
Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not
be once named among you, as becometh saints;
2 Samuel 12:14 “… by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies
of the Lord to blaspheme …”
II. OUR MOTIVATION: THE COMING WRATH OF GOD.
Colossians 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the
sons of disobedience,
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
that he will also reap.
Colossians 3:7 In which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
Colossians 3:7 (NLT) You used to do them when your life was still part of this world.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
III. OUR ELIMINATION: PUT OFF SOCIAL SINS.
Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these:anger, wrath,
James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow
to speak, slow to wrath;
James 1:20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Colossians 3:8 “… malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man
with his deeds,
IV. OUR TRANSFORMATION: TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST.
Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who created him,
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good
work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have
put on Christ.
Romans 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Lyrics You Are My All In All
Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising again I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all.
Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
John 11:43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice,
Lazarus, come forth!
John 11:44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes,
and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let
him go.”
The grave clothes of the old you
Fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language and lies
Colossians 2:1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and
those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,
Colossians 2:2 That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love,
and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge
of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
Colossians 2:3 In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive
words.
Colossians 2:5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit,
rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk
in Him,
Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you
have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
I. PASSION: I WANT YOU TO KNOW MY PASSION FOR YOU
Colossians 2:1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and
those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,
Colossians 4:16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read
also in the church of the Laodiceans,…
Richard Foster, in his classic book on prayer, writes:
“If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is in our power
to give them, and this will lead us to prayer. Praying for others is a way of loving
others.”
Colossians 2:2 That their hearts may be encouraged …
Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit
of doing, but encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day
approaching.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) Therefore encourage one another and build each
other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Truett Cathy, founder of Chik-Fil-A, once said, “No one ever died from too
much encouragement.”
Colossians 3:23 (ESV) Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not
for men.
Colossians 2:2 That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love,
Jordan Peterson (quote) “You actually don’t grow up until someone is more
important than you.”
John 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for
one another.
II. PROSPERITY: I WANT YOU TO SEE HOW PROSPEROUS YOU ARE.
Colossians 2:2 … and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding,
to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
Colossians 2:3 In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
The life-changing mystery of God is summarized in these seven words:
Colossians 1:27″… Christ in you–the hope of glory.”
2 Corinthians 4:7, “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing
power is from God and not from us.”
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
III. PROTECTION: I WANT TO PROTECT YOU.
Colossians 2:4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive
words.
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in
among you, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20:30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse
things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease
to warn everyone night and day with tears.
IV. POTENTIAL: I WANT YOU TO REACH YOUR POTENTIAL.
Colossians 2:5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit,
rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk
in Him,
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children
of God, to those who believe in His name:
Jesus will live in His people, not merely live with His people.
Colossians 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk
in Him,
Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights
in his way.
1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He
walked.
Galatians 2:20 “… It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me …”
Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you
have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
1. CULTIVATION: BE ROOTED.
Colossians 2:7 Rooted … in Him ”
Isaiah 61:3 “.. That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of
the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Psalm 1:3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth
its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither;And whatever he does shall
prosper.
2. CONSTRUCTION: BE BUILT UP.
Colossians 2:7 “… built up in Him …”
1 Corinthians 3:14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will
receive a reward.
Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
3. REGULATION: BE ESTABLISHED.
Colossians 2:7 ” … established in the faith,…”
Matthew 18:16 ” … by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established.
Acts 16:5 So the churches were established in the faith, and increased in number
daily.”
4. EDUCATION: BE TAUGHT.
Colossians 2:7 “… as you have been taught…”
Acts 20:20 How I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you,
and taught you publicly and from house to house,
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able,
by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time,
Matthew 5:34 But I say unto you,
Half of spiritual growth is learning what we don’t know.
The other half is unlearning what we do know.
5. RECOGNITION: BE ABOUNDING.
Colossians 2:7 “… abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you abound in everything–in faith, in speech, in knowledge,
in all diligence, and in your love for us–see that you abound in this grace also.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you,…
