JACKSON STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES WELCOME TO THE JACKSON STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES

Luke 8:9-10  Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?" 10  And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.'

LOOKING GOOD Luke 8:10  'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.' We as Christians need to really see. We need to “look good.” There are some things we need to “look at good.”

I. LOOK TO THE SAVIOR Hebrews 12:1-3  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. John 1:29  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

II. LOOK IN THE BOOK 2 Timothy 2:15  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Peter 3:14  Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; John 5:37-40  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

III. LOOK AT THE FIELD John 4:35-38  Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36  And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37  For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' 38  I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors."

III. LOOK AT THE FIELD Matthew 9:35-38  Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37  Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

IV. LOOK AT THE TIMES Romans 13:11-14  And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

IV. LOOK AT THE TIMES 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8  But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3  For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5  You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6  Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8  But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

IV. LOOK AT THE TIMES Ephesians 5:8-17  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10  finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12  For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13  But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14  Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." 15  See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16  redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

V. LOOK FOR THE COMING 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

V. LOOK FOR THE COMING Acts 1:9-11  Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11  who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

V. LOOK FOR THE COMING Titus 2:11-14  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12  teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13  looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14  who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

ARE YOU LOOKING GOOD? Are you looking to Jesus? Are you looking in the Book? Are you looking at the field? Are you looking at the times? Are you looking for the coming of Jesus? If we are “looking good” at the right things, it will change our lives forever!

HAVE A GOOD LOOKING WEEK