What do you think of Robert Lowery?

• Do you feel sorry for him?
  • Money/marital problems
  • Distraught/depressed
  • Overwhelmed/inadequate
• Selfish?
• Do you wonder why?
• Do you think he is unusual?

Statistics

• Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.
• 2nd leading cause of death for 10-34 years old
• 4th leading cause of death for 35-44 years old
• 5th leading cause of death for 45-54 years old
• There are 2.5x more suicides than homicides in the United States.
• In 2019, suicide rate was nearly four times higher in males than females.

What does the Bible say about suicide?

• Nothing direct, but there are principles.
• Six characters that committed suicide:
  • Abimelech – Judges 9:54
  • Saul – I Samuel 31:4
  • Saul’s armor bearer – I Samuel 31:4-6
  • Ahithophel – II Samuel 17:23
  • Zimri – I Kings 16:18
  • Judas – Matthew 27:5
  • Samson? – Judges 16:26-31
• God gave life
  • Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:28; James 1:18; Genesis 9:6
• Our purpose is inconsistent with suicide
  • I Chronicles 6:11; John 8:12; 7:38; I John 3:16
• I Corinthians 6:20 – Glorify God in your body!

Why do people commit suicide?

• Mental illness (depression)
• Traumatic stress (sexual abuse, rape, physical abuse, war trauma)
• Substance abuse
• Loss/fear of loss (academic, job, imprisonment, financial, relationship)
• Chronic pain, terminal illness
• Feeling like a burden to others
• Social isolation
• All of these basically relate to hopelessness.

Are you or your family at risk?

• Warning signs
• What to do
  • Talk to a respected church member.
  • I Corinthians 15:1-15, 50-58 – Consider the value Christ puts on your life.
  • Focus outside yourself, do good for others

Introduction

• Psalms 11:1-3
• The foundations then are the same as they are today.

Family

• Genesis 1:28; Matthew 19:6; Genesis 4:19; 6:1-8; Matthew 19:1-9
• Husband – wife – children
  • Companionship
  • Share marriage bed in honor
  • Replenish the earth
• The family as God would have it is under attack.

Civil government

• Romans 13:1-7
• Has two primary functions
  • Protect the good
  • Punish the evil
• The government as God would have it is under attack.
• Thomas Jefferson said, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that my God is just. His justice will not sleep forever.”

The church

• It’s purpose is reconciliation to God.
  • The relationship of service.
  • The relationship of blessings.
• The reconciliation is unto God, no other. Ephesians 2:14-16
• Reconciliation is by the cross of Christ, no other.
• Reconciliation is in the one body, no other.
• The church as God would have it is under attack.

If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

• Psalms 11:4-7
• Can keep on trusting
• Can keep on being righteous
• Can keep on teaching

The gospel has not lost its power.

• The church has lost its fire. Brethren, let us rekindle the fire of love for God, the gospel and souls.
• If heaven is not worth everything, it is not worth anything!

Sorry, no outline available for this class.

Questions

• Who are you?
• List the top four topics that are currently very controversial.
• Name three characteristics, features, qualities, and abilities that are unique to only you.
• What are your two primary purposes for your life?
• Why do you believe God gave us local works, congregations, spiritual families?
• What comes to mind when you read these verses?
  • Genesis 1:26-27
  • Romans 6:23; Acts 2:38
  • Hebrews 6:11-12
  • I Timothy 4:16
  • II Timothy 2:23-26
  • John 4:35

Applications

• Ephesians 1:3-14 – We should be a child of God first.
• Philippians 3:12-17
• Acts 26:28-29 – We should look to share the gospel.
• We need to take advantage of our spiritual family!
  • Galatians 6:10
  • Romans 12:4-9
• How can you start a spiritual conversation with …
  • Someone you know?
    • What do you think happens when you die?
  • With strangers?
    • Are you happy?

Introduction

• I Samuel 15:3 – Saul was told to annihilate the Amalekites.
• Genesis 7:23 – God destroys the earth in the flood.
• Marcion, 140 AD – He thought the God of the Old Testament was different from the New Testament. He edited a new Bible to remove the violence.

This is a huge source of criticism and confusion

• Deuteronomy 32:42
• Steve Wells: Drunk with Blood: God’s Killings in the Bible

God is just and will punish those who reject Him

• Genesis 6:5
• Genesis 18:20
• Deuteronomy 9:5
• Deuteronomy 18:9-12
• Deuteronomy 20:16-18

God is compassionate and wants to bless people

• Exodus 34:6-7
• Ezekiel 33:11
• II Peter 2:5-7; 3:9 – Even in God’s fury, he provides salvation for the faithful.
• Joshua 6:21; 2:11; 6:25 – God saved Rahab because of her faith.
  • Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25; Matthew 1:5
• Jonah 3:4, 10; 4:2, 11 – Ninevah repents and God relents, deciding not to destroy the city.

But what about the children?

• Consider the eternal perspective.
  • Matthew 19:13 – Children are innocent. At death, they go to be with God.
• God is sovereign as creator.
  • Job 1:21
  • Romans 8:18
  • As the creator, God has the right to create and destroy.

Application

• Be wary of how critics frame the issue.
• Don’t start with the bias of “modern society is right.”
• Keep the eternal perspective.
  • Luke 12:4-5