Introduction

• Exodus 23:2

“Marriages end and kids misbehave.”

• Esther 1:10-12, 19-21 – The king’s wife made him mad, so he got rid of her.
• Temporary marriage license
  • Professor and author Stephanie Coontz put it this way: “In modern society, people are reluctant to enter marriages unless they know they can get out … That’s probably solved already by the availability of no-fault divorce.”

“The culture so quickly says, oh it’s over, it’s not going to work. We live in a consumer society. If something doesn’t work, you chunk it away and get a new one. And that has been translated into relationships … It’s a very pervasive myth today, that a marriage only works if you’re compatible. And couples come up against difficulties, disagreements, conflict, and they think, ‘We’re not compatible’ and so they separate. But actually, with a few very simple tools, they can work through these disagreements.”

• Matthew 19:3-9
• Ephesians 5:22-6:4
• God’s standard has not changed!

“It doesn’t hurt to look.”

• Matthew 5:27-28
• Job 31:1
• What is so dangerous about pornography is that so many people don’t think it’s wrong.
• Galatians 5:16-26
• I Thessalonians 4:1-8

“Just do what’s best for you.”

• Genesis 3:6 – The first sin was all about what Eve thought was good for her.
• II Peter 2:3
• The first thing society does to make sin acceptable is change how things are worded.
  • “Strong woman finds unlikely advisor, learns to stand up for herself.”
• The New Moral Code (Source: Bama OmniPoll, August 2015, Good Faith, p.58)

• Titus 2:11-15
• Luke 9:23

Conclusion

• We must live by the Word of God, not the immoral ideas people have … even if everybody’s doing it.

Galatians 1

Galatians 1:1-5 – Jesus and the Father sent me.

• Paul immediately points out that Jesus and God the Father had sent him.
• He was writing to the churches in Galatia. There is some debate about which region of Galatia this is (northern or southern), but it seems likely to be the southern region. This area includes a number of places that Paul visited on his missionary journeys.

Galatians 1:6-10 – Don’t desert God for a different gospel!

• Galatians 1:6 – They were deserting God by deserting the gospel. See Galatians 5:6-8, 2. You can’t add circumcision to the gospel. That perverts the gospel!
• Galatians 1:8 – Paul says “we,” including himself in the warning. This directly contradicts the teaching the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which teaches that the angel Moroni gave Joseph Smith a new revelation.
• Galatians 1:10 – The word “still” here implies that Paul was previously trying to please man.

Galatians 1:11-24 – Paul’s conversion, independence, and early travels.

• Galatians 1:12 – Paul wasn’t trained by the other apostles. He received direct revelation. See Acts 9:1-2, 13-14. Paul used to operate under authority from Jewish leaders. See Paul’s conversion in Acts 9:3-6, 15-20.
• Galatians 1:13-14 – Paul fully admits that he was wrong. His honesty is admirable.
• Galatians 1:17 – We have little information about Paul’s time in Arabia. Much has been made of it in commentaries, but we simply don’t know.
• Galatians 1:18-19 – Paul had no contact with the apostles until years after his conversion. James the brother of Jesus was not one of the twelve apostles and actually didn’t believe Jesus was the Christ early on. This passage could simply be saying that Paul didn’t see the apostles or James.

Introduction

• Romans 1:15
• II Timothy 2:2

“All of us have become guilty of sin.”

• Acts 2:22-25, 36-37
• Acts 3:14-15
• Acts 4:11
• Acts 7:51-53
• Acts 26:18
• Isaiah 59:2
• II Thessalonians 1:8-9
• Whoever we are talking to will find out at some point that they are guilty of sin. We are just trying to make sure they find out early enough to do something about it.
• Most people would admin they are not perfect.
• We must have a good attitude when we speak to others. Speak to them in love!
• It may help to use the word “us.”
  • Acts 22:4-5, 20; 26:9-11
  • I Timothy 1:15 – Paul called himself the “foremost sinner.”
  • Ephesians 2:1-3

“Jesus died so we can be forgiven!”

• Ephesians 1:7
• Colossians 1:13-14
• Jesus alone is the savior. Not a church or a pastor. The church doesn’t save – the church is composed of the saved.

• Acts 8:3 – The gospel spread!
• I Corinthians 15:1-4 – This is the basis for our faith.

“We have to follow God’s instructions to receive this gift!”

• II Thessalonians 1:8
• Both of these are true!
  • Ephesians 2:8; Matthew 7:21
  • Romans 4:5; James 2:24
  • Titus 3:5; II Corinthians 5:10
• Paul to the Romans
  • Romans 1:16 – Gospel!
  • Romans 3:24 – Grace!
  • Romans 5:1 – Faith!
  • Romans 5:9 – Blood!
  • Romand 6:3-4 – Baptism!
  • Romans 10:9-10 – Believe and confess!
• Useful analogies to salvation:
  • What makes a car move? The gas pedal? The engine? All are involved.
  • Think about a college scholarship. The money is a gift, but conditions must be met.

Matthew 5

• Matthew 5:3 – This is talking about people in abject poverty that are looking for something. Those that are spiritually poor are looking for God. They are the ones who will allow Jesus to rule in their hearts.
• Matthew 5:4 – Those who are looking for something in their lives are miserable until they find God.
• Matthew 5:5 – The definition of meekness is strength under control. Those who are meek allow Jesus to lead. They will inherit the earth in a figurative sense. They were looking for the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 5:6 – If we really hunger and thirst for righteousness, we can be satisfied.
• Matthew 5:7 – Those who are merciful will receive mercy in the end.
• Matthew 5:8 – “Pure in heart” can mean pure of motive. People who serve God with a pure heart serve God for His approval, not man’s.
• Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are those who teach others how to have peace with God. The phrase “called sons of God” is a figure of speech. It refers to what they are in a higher sense.
• Matthew 5:10-12 – Christians will be persecuted.
• Compare David in Psalm 51 to these attributes.

Introduction

• Hosea 4:6 – The people were destroyed for lack of knowledge.
• II Chronicles 36:11-16 – Under Zedekiah, the people rejected God and His prophets.

“I remind you that God wrote a Book; and He only wrote one. I wonder what we’ll say to Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ if He asks us, “Did you read My Book? I mean one time in your entire life did you read My whole Book?” – Woodrow Kroll, August 2009

• II Timothy 3:15-17

There will be a lot of “Oh, wow I get it” moments.

• II Chronicles 34:14-21, 31, 27 – The Israelites rediscover the book of the law and realize they hadn’t been obeying it. Josiah decides to make things right with God.

You’ll feel better about the way you’re spending your time.

• Matthew 6:19-21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
• Time is the number one issue people cite when asked why they don’t read the Bible more.
• It takes about 75 hours to read the entire Bible. That is about 17 minutes a day for five days a week.
• Ezra 7:10

You’ll start thinking and talking about spiritual things more.

• Psalms 1:1-6
• We start feeling guilt about sins we suddenly become aware of.
• We start praying more.
• Spiritual disciplines and risk behaviors among U.S. adults:
  • Researchers called it the “Power of 4” (reading the Bible at least 4 days a week)
    • Getting drunk = 57% lower odds
    • Sex outside marriage = 68% lower odds
    • Pornography = 61% lower odds
    • Gambling = 74% lower odds
    • Sharing faith with others = 228% higher odds
    • Discipling others = 231% higher odds
    • Memorizing scripture = 407% higher odds
• Hebrews 4:12

You’ll feel better about life.

• Philippians 4:8-9 – It’s hard to complain about my life after seeing the conditions Paul was in when he wrote this.
• “Bible-engaged Americans are more likely than any other group in America to have a hopeful perspective.”