1. Welcome to Country Gospel
Topic: SIN – JUDGMENT – RIGHTEOUSNESS
Presented by
Henry Lepke
www.netPastorHenry.org

2. The
Bird
Cage
Let me tell you a story…

3. The Bird Cage All credit is given to the marvelous unknown author of this story.
 There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor of a small
New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the
Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the
pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor
Thomas began to speak...
 "I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy
coming toward me swinging this bird cage. And at the bottom of
the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.

I stopped the lad and asked, "What you got there, son?"
"Just some old birds," came the reply.
"What are you going do with them?" I asked.
"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered.
1

4. The Bird Cage (continued)
 "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em
fight. I'm gonna have a real good time."
 "But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you
do?" "Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds.
I'll take 'em to them.“ The pastor was silent for a moment.
 The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill.
He placed it in the boy's hand, and in a flash, the boy was gone.
 The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end
of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the
cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars
persuaded the birds out, setting them free.
2

5. The Bird Cage (continued)
 Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit.
 And then the pastor began to tell the following story:
 One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation.
Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was
gloating and boasting.
 "Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there.
Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all.
 "What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.
 Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them
how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse
each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. 3

6. The Bird Cage (continued)
 I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill
each other.I'm really gonna have fun!"
 "And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus
asked.
 "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.
 "How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.
 "Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good.
Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you.
They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you.
You don't want those people!"
4

7. The Bird Cage (continued)
 "How much?" Jesus asked again.
 Satan looked at him and sneered,
"All your blood, sweat and tears –
and your life."
 Jesus said, "DONE!"
 Then He paid the price…
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8. SIN
JUDGMENT
RIGHTEOUSNESS
Today’s Topic:

9.  SIN - because they do not believe in me
 JUDGMENT - because the ruler of this
world [Satan] is judged
 RIGHTEOUSNESS - because I go to my
Father and you see me no more
John 16:8-11
Jesus said:
And when the Holy Spirit has come, he will convict the
world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment:

10. SIN
 There is none righteous,
no, not one…
 for all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God
Rom.3:10,23

12. “NO”
Sin is
saying
to
Jesus Christ

13. JUDGMENT
 The unrighteous will go
away into everlasting
punishment
 But the righteous into
eternal life. Matt.25:46

14. Jesus said:
“Do not fear those
who can kill the
body but cannot
kill the soul.
But rather
FEAR HIM [GOD]
who is able to
destroy both soul
and body in hell.”
Matt.10:28

15. But Jesus also said:
Whoever
confesses me
before men,
him I will also
confess before my
father who is in
heaven.
Matthew 10:28-33

16. RIGHTEOUSNESS
 The righteousness of God is
through the faith(fulness)
of Jesus Christ
 To all who believe…
 Have you received it? Romans 3:22

17. God’s
Love &
Grace
Personal
Faith in
Jesus

18. Faith
+
Trust in Jesus

Pardon + Peace
For Eternity…

19. God so loved the
world
That He gave His
only Son
John 3:16
that whoever believes
In Him
will not perish but have
eternal life.
Amazing
Grace

20. God so loved
……………… (your name)
That He gave His
only Son
John 3:16
so that if ………………
believes In Him
…… will not perish but
have eternal life.
Amazing
Grace

21. Oh, for the wonderful love
He has promised
Promised for you and for me
Tho’ we have sinned
He has mercy and pardon
Pardon for you and for me
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Chorus:
Come home - come home
Ye who are weary come home
Earnestly tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling O sinner come home!

23. www.netPastorHenry.org
Presented by
Henry Lepke