Matthew 7:7-12 Sermon Slides

1. Ask, Seek, Knock – loving each other? Matthew 7:7-12

2. Introduction • What if we were all the same? • Looked the same • Sounded the same • Thought the same • We are not therefore conflicts can occur • Community emphasis • How do we treat each other?

3. Bible Explanation • Ask, Seek (search), Knock • Ask – asking God for needs, thus demonstrated a dependence on God • Seek – listening for God’s direction • Knock – the “Door of Mercy”

4. Bible Explanation • Bread or stones • Bread was surrounded by stones • When Children cried at night, parents gave them bread • Most did not have lamps • Stone and bread were the same color • Stone and bread were the same size and shape

5. Bible Explanation • Fish and Snakes • Fish cooked and placed in pots • Roofs were of thatch • Snakes lived in the roof • Snakes would get into the baskets

6. Bible Explanation • Being Evil • Metaphor meaning people make mistakes and are imperfect • Imperfect parents do their best for their children

7. Golden Rule • If we treated each other correctly we do not need laws • Golden Rule has been around for a long time • Jesus was the first to say it in a positive way • Treat people correctly

8. For us Today • Since we are all different disagreement will always exist • Mainline church failures can be traced to how people treat each other • Showing respect to all must start here • The church needs to be the example especially in our society today • We can make a difference