Sermon Outline: Measuring Success

MEASURING SUCCESS
Isa. 55:8-9

INTRODUCTION
 A. God’s ways are not man’s ways (Isa. 55:8-9).
  1. God is right.
  2. Man is wrong.
 B. What is success?
  1. “1. The gaining of something desired, planned, or attempted.  2. a. The gaining of fame or prosperity.  B. The extent of such gain” (Webster’s II, New Riverside Dictionary, 1988).
  2. Bible (Ecc. 12:13-14).
 C. This lesson will examine the contrast between man’s measure of success and God’s.
  1. Individually.
  2. Congregationally.

I. WORLDLY-MINDED MEN MEASURE PERSONAL SUCCESS DIFFERENT FROM GOD
  A. Men often measure success by wealth vs. poverty: possessions.
  1. Rich fool (Lk. 12:13-21).
  2. Rich man & Lazarus (Lk. 16:19-26).
  3. Warning (1 Tim. 6:6-10, 17-19).
 B. Men often measure success by prestige vs. obscurity: power.
  1. Pharaoh & Moses (Ex. 3:1; 5:2).
  2. Caesar & Paul (Acts 25:9-12).
  3. Warning (Matt. 20:20-28).
 C. Men often measure success by acceptance vs. rejection: popularity.
  1. Barabbas & Jesus (Matt. 27:15-26).
  2. False teachers & Paul (2 Cor. 10:10-11:5).
  3. Warning (Lk. 6:26).
 D. True, personal success is measured in one way (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

II. SOME CHRISTIANS MEASURE SUCCESS DIFFERENT FROM GOD
 A. Some judge success by the number of conversions.
  1. Noah (Gen. 7:7; 1 Pet. 3:20-21).
  2. Season (2 Tim. 4:1-5).
  3. Plant & water (1 Cor. 3:5-7).
 B. Some judge success by the size of the congregation.
  1. Gideon (Jud. 7:1-7).
  2. Two or three (Matt. 18:20).
  3. Growing vs. swelling (Eph. 4:11-16).
 C. Some judge success by the lack of trouble: calmness.
  1. Jerusalem (Acts 5).
  2. Divisions must come (1 Cor. 11:19).
  3. Test men (Rev. 2:2-3, 6).
 D. True congregational success is measured in one way (Rev. 3:7-13).

CONCLUSION
 A. We noted the contrast between God’s and man’s measure of success.
  1. Worldly-minded men VS. God.
  2. Christians VS. God.
 B. God’s ways are not man’s ways (Isa. 55:8-9).
 C. Are you successful according to God’s definition (Ecc. 12:13-14)?

— Steven F. Deaton | www.ImplantedWord.com