[Due to technical issues, we had to make do with a backup recording system. Sorry for the lower audio quality on this lesson! -MRW]

Introduction

• II Chronicles 34:15 – The book of the law of God was lost in the house of God! It was lost for probably 60 years.
• 20 million Bibles are sold in the United States every year. How many are read?
• Ignorance just means lack of knowledge.
• George Gallup described America as a nation of Biblical illiterates.
• Satan’s greatest weapon is man’s ignorance of scriptures.
• Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
• Matthew 4:4 – Man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

How do we prevent Biblical ignorance?

• I Peter 2:1-3
• Colossians 2:6-8, 18-19
• I Timothy 4:6-8
• Psalm 1:1-2
• Ephesians 5:17
• I Timothy 2:3-4; 4:13 – Give attention to reading!
• II Timothy 2:15
• Everyone can understand God’s word if they take the time to study!

Are we destroyed for lack of knowledge?

• Do you know the books of the Bible?
• Be careful about being too dependent on a Bible app.
• Hebrews 5:11-14 – They had become lazy about God’s word. We can have this problem also!
• Have we walked away from God’s pattern and just continued to drift because we didn’t study?
• II Peter 3:15-18 – If we don’t grow, we’ll forget and go backwards!
• Can you teach someone the plan of salvation from the scripture? If not, make up your mind to learn!
• Can you explain why we don’t use instrumental music in worship?
• Can you teach what the New Testament says about baptism?
• Matthew 19:3-6
• II Peter 1:3
• Matthew 22:24-33 - Jesus said, “Have you not read?” He expects us to read and study! See Exodus 3:6.
• What does God say about civil authority?
  • Unless it contradicts God’s commands, we are to submit to civil authority.
• Where do we go when we die?

Why Young People Stay “In Church”

Ate dinner 5 of 7 nights a week as a family.

• Proverbs 15:17; Matthew 6:9, 11
• “The Family Dinner Table” – Connie Adams

Served with their families in a local church.

• Romans 16:1-5; I Corinthians 16:15-18
• Parents and their children personally involved in the work of the local church.
  • Cleaning the building.
  • Participate in workday.
  • Preparing communion.
  • Taking food to a member.
  • Visiting the elderly.

Had one spiritual experience in the home during the week.

• I Thessalonians 5:17; II Timothy 3:14-17; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalms 145:4
• Prayer should be a daily activity.
• Reading the Bible and discussing it.
• Preparing lessons for Bible classes.
• Engaging our children in spiritual conversations.

Entrusted with responsibility in spiritual service at an early age.

• Luke 2:49; Ecclesiastes 12:1
• Helping to prepare the classroom for a new teaching quarter.
• Putting up numbers for songs/attendance.
• Handling out bulletins.
• Reading scripture.
• Leading prayer.
• Extending the invitation.
• Leading singing.

Had at least one faith-focused adult in their lives other than a parent.

• II Kings 12:2; Hebrews 13:7, 17; I Peter 5:3
• Those that take a sincere interest in them:
  • Preacher
  • Elder
  • Deacons
  • Bible class teachers
  • Parents of other young people
  • Older members

Staying in the Church

• Luke 9:23-26
• Attached instead of detached.
• Involved instead of uninvolved.
• Connected instead of disconnected.
• A spiritual focus instead of a world focus.
• Two-fold responsibility:
  • Proverbs 22:6; cf. Ephesians 6:4 – “Train up a child in the way he should go …”
  • Ecclesiastes 12:1 – “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth …”

Introduction

• Acts 17:1-9
• Matthew 10:34-38
• Luke 12:51-52
• I Corinthians 1:22-24 – We preach Christ crucified.

Christ and His teaching was controversial to:

• The Jewish rulers (John 9:16)
• The Jewish people (John 7:40-40; 10:19-21, 30-33)
• His family (John 7:2-5)
• His disciples (John 6:59-67)

The controversial gospel of Christ

• God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1)
• God made two genders: male and female (Genesis 1:27)
• Marriage is between man and woman (Matthew 19:4)
• Homosexuality is perverse and sinful (Romans 1:26-27)
• Your body belongs to God (I Corinthians 6:19-20)
• Baptism is essential to salvation (Acts 22:16)
• Repentance precedes baptism (Acts 2:38; 17:30)
• One, true church (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 4:4; 1:22-23)
• No authority for instruments in worship (Ephesians 5:19)
• One scriptural cause for divorce (Matthew 5:32; 19:9)
• II Corinthians 10:4-5
• Jesus and His teachings have always been controversial.
• Jude 1:3
• II Timothy 2:24-26

Turning the world upside down preaching …

• The truth that sets men free from sin was taught. (John 8:32)
• The message was preached with humility, love, plainness, and boldness.
• Many rejected the gospel; some souls were saved.
• Will continue to be controversial and divisive.

Introduction

• Nehemiah 6:15-16

What could you do in 52 days?

• Sunday, April 16 to Tuesday, June 6.
• Read through the entire New Testament!
  • I Timothy 4:13; Psalms 1:2; Matthew 4:4; 5:6
  • You will make time to do whatever you delight to do!
• End bad habit, begin good habit! (Ephesians 4:20-24)
  • Euphemisms; impatience; wasting time on TV, video games, social media, cell phone use, etc.
  • Pray, visit sick, family Bible study, hospitable, etc.
• Make at least on spiritual contact!
  • Matthew 9:35-38
• Strive for perfect attendance
  • Hebrews 10:24-25; Matthew 6:33
• Every member increase their giving
  • II Corinthians 8:1-5; 9:6-7
• Evangelistic effort by the local church
  • I Thessalonians 1:8

Conclusion

• Nehemiah 2:17-18 – Let us get to work!

Rebuilding the wall: Nehemiah

• Nehemiah 6:15-16

Fifty-two days

• Nehemiah 1:1-2:10
• The condition of the people of Jerusalem
  • In great distress and reproach (Nehemiah 1:3)
• The condition of the walls of Jerusalem
  • Broken down and gates burned with fire (Nehemiah 1:3; 2:13)
• Their enemies mocked and plotted against them.
  • Nehemiah 2:10, 19; 4:1-3, 7-8
• The remnant held strong, godly leadership.
  • Ezra (Ezra 7:10; Nehemiah 8:1-8); Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:11-20)
• The people had a mind to work.
  • Nehemiah 4:6
• The people joined together in a united effort.
  • Nehemiah 3
• Continued to work and were prepared to fight.
  • Nehemiah 4:9-23 – They refused to quit working! This was the work of the Lord.
  • Nehemiah 6:15-16

Conclusion

• What could you do in 52 days?