Sermon Outline on Dealing With Discouragement

Below is a sermon outline on dealing with discouragement which comes from self-imposed condemnation with a reference text of Romans 7:14-24. These well-known verses were spoken by the apostle Paul and the outline will encourage the hearts of the preacher and those who hear it.

Of course we offer higher level, human written sermon outlines here produced by a master's level pastor and writer.

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Sermon Outline Title:

“I Can’t Live Up to This” (Romans 7:14-24)

More Plainly: “My efforts are just not enough.”

Context: In Romans 7, Paul addresses the purpose of the Mosaic Law and its role in revealing sin. He explains that the law is holy and good, but it exposes human inability to achieve righteousness through personal effort, highlighting the need for salvation through Christ.

• I cannot speak for anyone else but the Word of God is difficult to consistently and with integrity to constantly live up to.

  
  

• That becomes interesting because when one is transparent and honest enough to self-evaluate, the only conclusion possible is, and as Paul ended our text with today; “Oh what a wretch I am; who will deliver me from the body of this death?”

An old preacher (Joe Hughes) once closed a sermon with:

“Yall, I need somebody to deliver me from this death. Turtle doves, they couldn’t do it. Oxen blood they (sic) couldn’t do it. Burnt out sacrifices, they (sic) couldn’t do it. I need somebody to deliver me from this death! Hey Adam, can YOU help me (to which Adam replied) “I’m sorry, I can’t help because Eve gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

• Paul, a former Pharisee (expert in the Law of Moses) understood that he could not live up to the PEDESTAL he is put on my modern readers of his epistles.

The issue we face is three-fold:

1.     The Word of God demands; “be ye Holy as I am Holy” (1 Pet. 1:13-16)

2.     Yet I am constantly reminded that; “in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing” (Rom. 7:18)

3.     We serve a good that also says; “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23)

Question:

Faced with such an impossible situation, what am I to do Lord God?

Point #1

Stop trying to keep the Word and allow the Word keep YOU (your effort vs. God's sovereignty)

More plainly; your strength isn't enough to hold onto the Lord but His is surely enough to hold onto you (2 Cor. 12:9).

• This seems to be a statement at odds with itself but there are several things to grasp:

  - The Word (Jesus) found YOU and you did not find Him! HE knocked on your door and not the other way around (Luke 19:10, Rev. 3:20).

  - That same Word (Jesus) SAVED YOU (Acts 16:31, Rom. 10:9).

CONDEMNED people are in HELL and since you are on your way to Heaven, why pronounce ‘death’ that no longer belongs to you as proven by Jesus Christ paying for your sin?

Point #2

Stop reaching for something you already possess (being declared righteous)

>>Big Idea<< Much of our daily struggle in the faith is putting the lion’s share of focus on OUR INSUFFUCIENCY rather than the Lord’s SUFFICIENCY

>>>It is Written<<< "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength” (Isa. 40:29).

>>>It is Written<<< "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever” (Psa. 73:26).

Thought:

Examine your immediate struggles in the faith and ask the Lord Jesus if any frustrations are based in desiring that which you already have yet cannot see.

• Think about it like this: you keep asking a parent or caregiver for a plate of food while sitting at the table yet the plate if right in front of you, already served and waiting for you to dig in. However, you cannot see it because you are distracted with the request.

Point #3

Surrender defines your ‘faithfulness’ (not accomplishment much less condemnation for falling short)

The 70,000 foot view:

There are three states of being one can be experience on their way to destiny:

1.     (If lost and needing salvation) “Behold I stand at the door and knock…” (Rev. 3:20)

2.   (If just Saved) “Present yourself as a living sacrifice; Holy acceptable and blameless which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1).

3. (Walking in sanctification as a mature Believer) "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Pet. 4:10).

   
   

   Final Thoughts:

   • The Lord's Grace Exceeds Our

   • Shift Focus to Jesus's Victory Not Your Failures

   • Live as a Steward of God’s Gifts (3 stages of Christian living from earlier)

   • Surrender IS Worship

   • Trust in the Lord's Strength (Not Your Own)

   • Rest in Your God-Given Righteousness and Reject Self-Condemnation

Amen (Prayer)