SEMESTER 6
394 – I Love to Tell the Story
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: ECCLESIOLOGY VI (HYMNOLOGY) LESSON # 94
THE DOCTRINES AND EFFECTS OF CHURCH MUSIC – I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY
Read: Acts 8:1-4
and 11:19-21
INTRODUCTION:
1. The story, of which the song writer speaks, is the Gospel. (I Cor. 15:3-4)
2. The word story is used to mean a detailed account of a great, memorable event.
III: Many songs speak of His life and death as a story.
3. No human biography could be more rare, or moving, than Jesus’ life and death.
4. Yet, biography is not the purpose of this story, but a message from God.
5. It tells how that by going from life to death, He brought us from death to life.
I. THIS IS A STORY OF SUPERNATURAL AND UNSEEN THINGS
1. The love of Christ is not seen, or known, by this world. Religion is considered drudgery.
2. He “Went about doing good.” Yet, His good was often hated and perceived as evil.
III: How His healings were criticized as without authority, as done on the wrong day, or wasted on nobodies.
3. But these strange and unprecedented activities flowed out of a love unknown.
4. Above all, His great and unique SAVING activity flowed from love. (Rom. 8:6-8)
II. THIS STORY IS MORE WONDERFUL THAN ANY FICTION
1. The scoffers and unbelievers are offended with this story. (Acts 4:1-3 and 5:40)
2. Many have now modified it to a set of non-offensive religious directions. Plans!
3. Many have almost totally replaced it with just the teaching of Christianity.
III: What is called discipleship, today, is not what Christ spoke of in Matthew 28:19-20.
III. THERE ARE STILL SOME WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD (1 COR. 15:34
)
1. As we preach it and see it rejected, we tend to forget that some have not heard.
2. Men abuse and capitalize on the Gospel all over the world.
III: By Jim Jones, and the Bakers, the Filipino and the Nigerian hucksters who seek only money.
3. Still, in the homes and streets of every nation there are those who have not heard.
4. Our children have been attacked and naturalized by “Child Evangelism” programs.
5. Our neighbors have been inoculated against the Gospel by such programs as Roman’s Road Evangelism and Evangelism Explosion.
6. These have heard much, but never that message ECCLESIOLOGY VI calls the Gospel.
7. All this is discouraging, but it is no excuse to forget that some have never heard.
IV. IT IS STILL THE FAVORITE STORY OF TRUE CHRISTIANS
1. There exists the foolish idea that the Gospel is only good for salvation.
2. NO! my friend, repeating the Gospel is the highest possible form of worship.
III: My favorite conferences are those where the doctrines of the Gospel prevail.
3. Preachers and Christians who know it best, hear it best, and they love it most.
III: By the old black preacher and his assigned subject of the pill and the Gos-pill. (Hear on tape.)
4. It is the Gospel of life to the child at play and the old man at hard labor.
III: By Spurgeon’s desire to properly hold the pitcher so that both might drink.
5. Today, the world mocks this, but they always have. (Acts 17:31-32)
6. But let us never become embarrassed by it, nor turn aside from it.
III: By the near deaf preacher and the meetings in Anchorage, Alaska.
7. Has this great story been told to you, not only by men, but by the Holy Spirit?
III: “Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word; Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.”
(I pray that it is precious to you.)