Pastor Mike's Weblog

SIN IS THE PROBLEM      Genesis 6-9:17; Romans 1,3

Bible Study:

God hates sin and that sin is a problem we all must deal with.

• See Genesis 6:5-7
• "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 (HCSB)

"Today it seems impolite to call people sinners and tell them they are lost in sin. Even those adults who agree they are sinners usually think they are not so bad as to deserve eternal punishment in hell. Some even feel they have a private agreement worked out with God, Who Himself thinks they are OK. Other adults think that if people are religious or good or sincere that they are OK with God."

The Apostle Paul devoted a significant portion of the book of Romans to refuting this misguided yet popular belief. We will focus on 4 main emphases:

I.                    People Suppress the Truth that God Exists (Romans 1:18-20)

"And you know what currently restrains [him] , so that he will be revealed in his time. ⁷ For the  mystery of lawlessness is already at work; but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, ⁸ and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming. ⁹ The coming [of the lawless one] is based on Satan's working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, ¹⁰ and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. [They perish] because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved." 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10 (HCSB)

A. How does the world suppress God's Truth? Examples? (Hint: "by their unrighteousness" Romans 1:18)

1.  
   1. Ignore it (or not learn it)
   2. Replace it
   3. Pervert it

B. How do believers sometimes suppress God's Truth? Examples?

II.                  People Prefer Their Own Gods (Romans 1:21-25)

"At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped the cast metal image. ²⁰ They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating ox." Psalms 106:19-20 (HCSB)

A. What are some gods the world sets up in rejecting the One True God?

1. World Religions
2. Materialism
3. Democracy

B. What are some gods that believers sometimes prefer in the place of our God?

III.                People Delight In and Applaud Evil (Romans 1:28-32)

A. In what ways does the world delight in and applaud evil?

1. Ignore it
2. Legislate / Regulate it
3. Politicize it
4. Popularize it

"And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving, and I guarded the clothes of those who killed him." Acts 22:20 (HCSB)

B. In what ways can believers delight in and applaud evil?

"Woe to you! You build monuments to the prophets, and your fathers killed them. ⁴⁸ Therefore you are witnesses that you approve the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments." Luke 11:47-48 (HCSB)

IV.               Even Religious People Are Lost (Romans 3:9-10)

      "Let's answer vs. 9a together" = NO!!! We have just proved it! Sin even affects ‘good' people, too.

Points to Remember:

• All people are sinners and are spiritually lost.
• People are not naturally good and automatically right with God.
• People are sinners by nature and sinners by choice.
• Our human standards of right and wrong are twisted and perverted.
• The absolute nature of sin demonstrates the depth of God's grace.

      So:      a. We should avoid sin at all costs.

                  b. We should be diligent in bearing witness to the lost.

Sorry for the lack of posts - whew! We have been busy the past few weeks with Vacation Bible School in two parts of the state of Tennessee. Now - off to Camp Linden to be the Camp Pastor at Journey Camp (Camp Linden), in Linden TN. It is a camp for kids sponsored by the TN Baptist Convention. This week and next week I will be there interacting with kids and church sponsors and teaching adult bible studies as well as challenging the kids each morning and evening. I would appreciate your prayers for these two awesome weeks. Thanks!!

Click on the logo above for information on Journey Camps in TN!! 

I am dealing with the theme of lostness for a current writing assignment and I need your help. Please give me your definition of lostness. In formulating your definition, think about the following questions:

1. What does it mean for a person to be lost?
2. According to your definition, are all people lost?
3. Do people today have an understanding of lostness? That they themselves are lost? Why or why not?

Please try to think about your answers and reply in the next few days if possible.

Thanks so much for your help.

Sunday June 3 is National Cancer Survivors Day. Click on the logo below for more information. This Sunday, hug a cancer survivor and tell them you're glad they're here! I am proud and very grateful to be a 1-year cancer survivor.