Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:20–22
Introduction
A. Change is a very difficult thing to make, especially when you are perfectly satisfied with the way things are.
B. This is a problem that the prophets of God fought for centuries (Isaiah 6:9–10; Amos 5:6–11).
Discussion
I. There were many in Paul’s audiences who refused to change.
A. Felix was unwilling to change (Acts 24:24–25).
B. Agrippa was unwilling to change (Acts 26:26–28).
C. This was also the case with the Jews in many of the places where Paul preached (Acts 13:46; 17:5; 28:24).
D. The prophets offer many more examples of people unwilling to change (Jeremiah 3:6–10; 6:16; Hosea 4:16; Isaiah 53:1).
II. Are we willing to change when we need to?
A. It is easy to see the need for change in someone else, but more difficult to apply the same measure to ourselves (Matthew 7:1–5).
B. When you see that something is amiss in your life, are you willing to change it (James 1:21–25)?
C. If you learned that something was wrong with your faith, would you change (Acts 17:11; Philippians 3:4–9)?
D. If you knew something was wrong with the church, would you work toward a solution (1 Corinthians 5:1–5; 2 Corinthians 2:5–11)?
Conclusion
A. Instead of focusing on things that we cannot change, let’s spend our time focusing on the things that we can.
B. When we show willingness to repent of mistakes we have made, we can be certain that God will help us.