Sermon Outline: Optimism is the Church's Calling (Olyott)

Intro

Wales 1880 - Sunday 80% in a gospel Church

Wales 2008 - Sunday less than 2%

Plenty to be pessimistic about

 -The cure

    -John 10

4 directions to look, leading to optimism

1 Eternity past

 -You believe because you are a sheep of Christ not

the other way around 

2 The Cross

 -Non-puritan preachers will preach that Christ made

salvation available

 -Puritan preachers will preach that Christ

   -Has saved

   -Has finished

   -Has Accomplished

  -Something was done not just made possible

   -The wrath of GOD fell on Jesus Christ instead of

HIS SHEEP not everyone

  -This means the puritan has the widest gospel call

with no conditions

3 The Present

 -The preacher sounds out the shepherds voice

  -Found in scripture

   -Expressed in words

    -That are heard

     -Down in the soul

 -Puritanism

  -Confidence in the preached word

   -Whatever happens, sound out the shepherds voice

    -Optimism

4 The Future

 -How can we keep going?

  -Stepping forward one step at a time

 -The eternal perseverance of the saints

  -His sheep follow him

Conclusion

Optimism is the Churches calling

Stuart Olyott