Introduction

• Jeremiah 8:11 – There are some spiritual things we need to worry about.
• Revelation 3:17
• II Corinthians 2:4
• II Corinthians 11:28 – Paul’s daily concern for all the churches.

Matthew 6:19-25 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.”

• If my focus is on physical things rather than spiritual, I will always be plagued with worry!
• We must fix our hope on God.
• Matthew 6:24 – A divided allegiance is impossible!
• Matthew 13:22
• Luke 10:40-42 – We are like Martha too often – caught up in mundane things of the world.

Matthew 6:25-30 – “You of little faith!”

• God provides for us!
• Mark 14:7
• Luke 12:31-32
• Philippians 4:6 – Don’t let anxiety consume you!
• Philippians 1:12-14 – Paul was in jail and could have worried endlessly, but instead he worked for Christ. People took courage because of his imprisonment!

Matthew 6:31-34 – “So do not worry about tomorrow.”

• Matthew 6:27 – Worry doesn’t fix things!
• Matthew 23:37 – Even Jesus could only do His part and leave the rest. We still have the final decision to obey or not.

• Matthew 11:15

• Luke 8:18 – Take heed how you hear.

• Acts 2:11

• Acts 2:32-33, 36 – They could know for certain that God made Jesus Lord and Christ because of what they had seen and heard.

• Acts 2:37 – See Romans 10:14.

• Hebrews 4:2

• Hebrews 3:7 – Hardening of heart will cause us not to hear.

• Zechariah 7:11

• Hearing involves:

  • Listening carefully with an open and honest heart.

  • Comprehending

  • Being prompted to action

• Mark 4:24 – Take heed what you hear.

  • Romans 10:17 – Hear the word of God

  • Matthew 17:5

  • Hebrews 1:1; 2:1

  • Matthew 15:10

  • Luke 15:1; 5:1

• We need to discern what we hear.

• Hearing prompts a response.

• The word of God is a great blessing!

  • Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:27-28; Luke 10:23-24

• Hearing involves reading and understanding.

  • Galatians 4:21

  • Ephesians 3:1-4 – When we read, we can understand.

• Seeing also helps us hear and understand.

  • Romans 1:20

• John 9:31

• John 8:47

• Matthew 6:7 – Speaking many words to God doesn’t necessarily mean you will be heard.

• Zechariah 7:13

• Matthew 13:1-8 – Parable of the sower. People have different responses when hearing the gospel.

• I Timothy 4:!6

Job 1

• Job 1:1-5 – See Ezekiel 14:12-16, 18-20. Job was doing everything he could to make sure he and his family were on good terms and God. Ezekiel references Job as a faithful man.
• Job 1:6-12 – Who were the sons of God? Compare Job 38:7.
• Job 1:13-22 – Immediately after all the bad news, Job worshipped God.

Job 2

• Job 2:1-10 – Satan brings physical misery on Job. Job still refuses to curse God. See Job 38:1; 40:1-4; 42:6-7
  • Job 2:6 – Note that Satan is neither omniscient nor omnipotent.
• Job 2:11-13 – Job’s three friends arrive and sit with him. See John 9:1-3; Luke 13:1-5. We can’t presume to know why God does various things or allows them to happen.

Job 3

• Job 3:1-26 – Job is in anguish, wishing he’d never been born.

Introduction

• Ecclesiastes 12:7

Love the Lord

• Luke 9:57-62 – Jesus can tell the difference between reasons and excuses!
• Luke 5:27-28 – Levi got up and left when called! He did not make excuses.
• We probably wouldn’t say we don’t love God, but we would make excuses and procrastinate in serving God.
• Luke 9:23 – We must deny ourselves to serve God!
• Don’t lie to yourself and say you love God if you are not serving Him now!

Love the brethren

• Acts 16:1 – Timothy went all over with Paul.
• II Timothy 3:10-11 – Timothy had seen persecution.
• I Timothy 5:1-4; 6:17 – Timothy would be dealing with all sorts of people. He was to love and serve all of them.
• II Timothy 2:23 – Timothy’s role – love.
• We need to develop a sincere love for all the brethren.
• We should focus on what unites us – our faith in Jesus.

Love the truth

• II Corinthians 10:1, 11, 2-6 – Verse 1 might be sarcasm from Paul. He certainly was not timid in person when it came to defending God’s word!
• I Corinthians 2:1-5 – Paul came not with wisdom of men.
• Romans 1:!6
• II Thessalonians 3:10

Introduction

• Judges 2:6-10 – “know” means to regard or esteem God. They knew of God, but did not esteem Him.
• Apostasy doesn’t happen overnight. It often happens after years of unaddressed spiritual problems.
• Apostasy often has outside help. Possibly even parents and elders.

Things that can produce “another” generation

Young people not encouraged to ask “why”

• Acts 17:11 – This advice is good for others and for us.

• John 20:24-25

  • There are two kinds of doubt:

    • “I doubt it!” – refusal to budge from a position

    • “I doubt it?” – honest doubt seeking answers

  • Thomas had the right kind of doubt. He was willing to believe, but wanted reason to.

• Paul Little, paraphrased – Children who ask questions to adults with a high shock index are quickly taken aback by their reaction and switch to towing the party line. They quietly wait until the pressure to conform is reduced and then leave a faith that was never really their own.

Pressure to become a Christian

• Galatians 4:19
• We can’t force people to be Christians. We should be leading people to Christ.
• Even after people are baptized, don’t leave them. Help them grow.
• I Peter 3:15
• We need more real disciples of Christ!
• Luke 17:20-21 – The kingdom of God is within you! Kingdom here means the rule of God in your heart.

Self-righteous people

• Luke 18:9
• II Corinthians 10:12

Hypocrites

• Romans 2:17-24 – The name of the Lord was blasphemed because of their hypocrisy!
• Little eyes and ears pick up on hypocrisy and it can stay with them for years.
• Galatians 5:13-15 – Don’t bite and devour each other!