Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Feb. 27, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including a zipped file of all of my 1999 sermon outlines, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:

IT'S IN THERE!

By Michael D. O'Neal              Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church              Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:1-13

Text: Luke 4:4

Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Introduction: There used to a commercial on television for a spaghetti sauce named, "Ragu." The gist of the commercial was that the manufactured sauce had all of the ingredients of home-made sauce. When a friend asks about one ingredient after another, the Ragu sauce user exclaims each time, "It's IN there!"

The Bible is the Book of all books! There are many kinds of books about romance, war, science, money, etc. All of these important things are in the Bible. It is not just a book of teachings about which people argue. I am not condemning all reading of western novels, sports magazines, and such, but if you aren't reading your Bible from cover to cover, you are not only SINNING, but you are also robbing yourself of the blessings from this Book of God that has SO MUCH in it!

For instance,

I. YOU CAN READ ABOUT COMEDY IN THE WORD OF GOD

Psalms 37:13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A. There are comical saints in the Bible

B. There are comical situations in the Bible

C. There are comical sinners in the Bible

II. YOU CAN READ ABOUT COURTSHIP AND ROMANCE IN THE WORD OF GOD

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

The Entire Song of Solomon

A. The couple in creation

B. Couples through the centuries

C. Christ and the church - Eph. 5:25

III. YOU CAN READ ABOUT CONFLICT AND WAR IN THE WORD OF GOD

James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

A. Sinners against sinners

B. Sinners against saints

C. Sinners against the Savior

D. Satan against the saints

E. Satan against the Savior

IV. YOU CAN READ ABOUT CRIME IN THE WORD OF GOD

Acts 25:16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

A. There are stealing crimes

B. There are slaying crimes

C. There are sexual crimes

D. There are spiritual crimes - Rom. 3:10,23

V. YOU CAN READ ABOUT CELESTIAL BEINGS IN THE WORD OF GOD

Genesis 6:1-2 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

A. The sons of God