Why are we separated from God?

• God has always been here.
  • Genesis 1:1-2
  • Exodus 19:10-11, 16-20 – God spoke to Moses.
  • Matthew 3:16-17 – God was present when Jesus was on earth.
  • I Timothy 3:16
  • Matthew 18:20

Sin has separated us from God.

• Matthew 5:3
• We forget that we need God.
• Psalm 86:1

We must have a commitment to serving Christ.

• This is our bridge back to God.
• Luke 9:23
• Some claim to know a lot about Jesus, but are nothing like Him.

Luke 9:23

• Let him deny himself.
  • Galatians 2:20
• And take up his cross daily
  • II Timothy 3:12
  • Romans 12:12
• And follow me
  • John 8:31
  • Hebrews 10:25
  • We must plan if we are going to meet our commitment to serving Christ.

• II Peter 2:5-8 – Noah was a preacher of righteousness. Righteousness was something he did. Sadly, he was not able to save anyone except his own family.
  • II Peter 2:6 – See Genesis 19. Like Noah, Lot was not able to positively influence anyone except his own family, and even his wife was then lost as they escaped the city.
• II Peter 2:9-10 – God knows how to deliver us from temptation and he has shown us how through His word. Instead of yielding to temptation, we must go to God’s word and pray.
• II Peter 2:15-16 – See Numbers 22-25 for the story of Balaam. Balaam repeatedly said he would do only what God told him to do, while he was doing exactly what God told him not to do!
• II Peter 2:20-22 – This is a horrible image, but it shows what it looks like to God when someone returns to sin after becoming clean.

• Abortion
  • Nearly a million abortions are performed legally in the United States each year.
• Homosexuality and transgenderism
  • Marriage is between one man and one woman.
  • James 4:6 – God opposes the proud!
• The Bible has many examples of slippery slopes.
  • I Samuel 8:10-18 – There were 43 kings. Only seven were good!
  • Genesis 25:28; 37
• Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are all slippery slopes!
• Romans 14:11 – Society tries to lie and tell us we are not accountable for our actions.
• Mark 10:15
• Matthew 15:18
• II Peter 2:20
• Hebrews 10:22

Pistis – faithfulness

God is faithful (reliable)

• Deuteronomy 7:6-9; Joshua 21:43-45 – God promised to bring the people to the land of Canaan and He did!
• Numbers 23:19-20
• Romans 3:1-4 – God is faithful even when no one else is.
• I Thessalonians 5:23-24
• II Thessalonians 3:1-3 – You can count on God’s plan happening!
• I Corinthians 1:7-9; 10:13-14 – God is faithful in providing a way for us to escape sin.
• II Corinthians 1:15-20, 23; 2:1

We must also be faithful (reliable)

• I Corinthians 4:1-2 – We must be good, faithful stewards.
• Philippians 1:27; 2:14-16
• Matthew 5:33-37; 23:16-22 – When you say something, mean it! Don’t be deceptive or play word games.
• James 5:12
• Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 – Be careful what you promise!
• Matthew 25:14-30

Introduction

• Romans 15:20 – What did Paul preach when He went to a new place? He probably started with the basics.

God created us in love.

• Genesis 1:1
• Acts 17:22-28 – God doesn’t need us, but He designed us to seek Him.
• Psalms 115:1-9
• God created us, so He is in charge!

The Bible is His word.

• John 1:1-10 – The word of God came to Jeremiah.
• I Thessalonians 2:13
• Psalms 119:17-24

Judgment Day is coming.

• Acts 17:29-31
• Romans 3:8-12, 23
• Romans 2:16
• We’re all guilty of sin. What are we going to do about it?
• Am I ready?

Christ died for our sins and then resurrected!

• Romans 3:21-24 – God intervened and made a way for us to be saved.
• Romans 5:6-9