• The Truth Is Like A Big Mac
(Part One)
Teaching People The Truth
• With What Shall I Compare Thee?
• With What Will We Compare The Church?

• Introduction
• We as Christians have the responsibility to teach others and teach them the truth.
• Sometimes the truth is too hard to take for some people, and sometimes it has to be presented in an understandable way.
• Several (now many) years ago I was asked to prepare a sermon on how to explain the church to someone unfamiliar with the Bible.
• My mind began to wander and I eventually was struck with the following thoughts.
• I have revised this sermon over the years to be more effective.
• So, this truly is an original sermon by me.
• There is nothing wrong to try to explain the truth in a way that can be understood.
• Providing that you do not add to it or leave things out.
• We in our day should make comparisons of the things that people know about.
• After all, Jesus used the same method.

• Examples Of Teaching
• Matthew 13:10 (NKJV) "And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"
• Matthew 13:13 (NKJV) "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."
• Matthew 13:34,35 (NKJV) "All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, {35} that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."
• Mark 4:2 (NKJV) "Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:"
• Mark 4:33 (NKJV) "And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it."
• Mark 12:1 (NKJV) "Then He began to speak to them in parables: ..."

• The Purpose of Teaching
• Mark 4:11 (NKJV) "And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,"
• Matthew 13:34,35 (NKJV) "All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, {35} that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."
• Matthew 21:45 (NKJV) "Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them."
• Mark 4:34 (NKJV) "But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples."

• Why Teach By Parables?
• Most parables were stories with moral implications.
• Occasionally it would be a comparison type of parable to describe something of the truth such as the kingdom.
• How can you describe something that is spiritual to one who only sees the physical?
• This applies to all of us, and should help us.
• Some people would only hear an interesting story being told by a great teacher.
• Others would perceive that there was a moral to the story, but could not figure it out.
• Now that we have been enlightened by God's whole truth, we can understand what He was trying to tell them and us.

• There Was An Explanation
• Mark 4:34 (NKJV) "But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples."
• Luke 8:11 (NKJV) "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."
• Matthew 22:2 (NKJV) "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,"

• Our Responsibility To Teach
• The Bible was written to reveal God and instruct us in righteousness.
• As Christians, we all have the responsibility to teach and bear fruit for the Master.
• John 15:2 (NKJV) "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."
• Luke 8:15 (NKJV) "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."

• Teaching The Truth
• The Truth is the most important element when it comes to serving God. Many religions will want to change it or add to it or leave certain elements out. All this does not take away the Truth of God. It only serves to judge them.
• 1 Samuel 12:24 (NKJV) "Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you."
• 1 Kings 17:24 (NKJV) "Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth."
• A miracle had just been performed. The miracle was given to confirm that the message given by this one has divine origins and approval.

• The Truth Is Most Important
• Psalms 25:5 (NKJV) "Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day."
• Psalms 25:10 (NKJV)All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
• Psalms 33:4 (NKJV) "For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth."
• Psalms 100:5 (NKJV) "For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations."
• Psalms 119:142 (NKJV) "Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth."
• Psalms 119:151 (NKJV) "You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth."
• Psalms 119:160 (NKJV) "The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever."
• Proverbs 23:23 (NKJV) "Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding."
• John 1:14 (NKJV) "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
• John 1:17 (NKJV) "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

• TRUTH IS SUPREME
• John 4:23-24 (NKJV)"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
• John 8:32 (NKJV) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
• John 14:6 (NKJV) "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
• John 16:13 (NKJV) "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
• John 17:17 (NKJV) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."
• John 18:38 (NKJV) "Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?".....
• To answer this question, we must now attempt to answer it in a language that would be appropriate and understandable by todays people.
• Jesus usually spoke in terms of agriculture or fishing which those people would understand.

• Let's modernize it a little and bring it closer to home.
•
• The Truth IS LIKE: • A BIG MAC©

• CONCLUSION
• Sadly, our time is up.
• We have to wait until our next lesson to see just how this is to be.
• So far, we saw the necessity of teaching others.
• We saw how Jesus taught others.
• We learned why we teach others.
• It all comes down to presenting the truth that can save souls.

By Carey Scott

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