First Baptist Church Elma

6/18/2017

How Can a Good God Allow Evil and Suffering? (Isaiah 46:8-10; 2 Samuel 2:6-8; Amos 3:6; 1 Peter 1:3-9)

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Big idea
- God is willing to own the problem of evil.
Options
- Evil exists to balance the good in the universe.
- Evil and suffering don't really exist. Mark 7:15
- Evil has to exist so we can have freewill.
- Ultimately evil exists to bring glory to God! Job 38:1-17, 40:1-2; Romans 3:5, 8:18-25; 1 Peter 1:20
Look Up
- The cross proves God cares. Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Acts 4:27-28; Hebrews 4:15
Look Forward
- The resurrection proves God is all-powerful. Job 19:26-28; 1 Peter 3:8-9
Worship
- We can surrender to God and know His peace. Romans 11:29-35
- We can enter into a living hope through worship. Revelation 15:1-4

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6/11/2017

Is God Different in the Old and New Testaments? (Numbers 23:19; Deuteronomy 20:10-18; 1 Samuel 15:1-3; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8)

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Big Idea
- When we seek God for understanding we gain perspective that makes us stronger in our faith.
God's Judgment
- There are many passages in the Bible that require a gut check. Genesis 6-8; 19:1-29; Joshua 6:21; Judges 14:19
Crisis
- Some people refuse to believe in Christianity because of their questions.
- Are we willing to say we're not God?
Context
- Perspective matters. Genesis 6:5;
  - 1. God declares judgment for extreme sin. Genesis 6:5
  - 2. A warning was given to repent and avoid punishment. 2 Peter 2:5
  - 3. Someone is always saved from the judgment. Jonah 3:4
  - 4. God's judgment falls.
- God's punishments are always carried out as careful acts of judgment. Exodus 20:13
  - Murder – premeditated, unlawful taking of life.
  - Killing – the taking of life in a lawful manner.
Faith
- Is God a better Judge than me? Hebrews 13:8; 2 Peter 3:9
- God doesn't want us to remain under His judgment. Romans 15:8-9

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6/4/2017

What about Other Religions? (Isaiah 45:5-7; John 3:1-21; 14:6)

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Big Idea
- God has narrowed the focus of our salvation – so that can be completely saved.
Aren't All Religions the Same?
- All major religions claim exclusivity.
- All major religions have competing, or incompatible versions of the truth.
How Are Religions Difference?
- All religions, besides Christianity, are works-based. Philippians 2:12-13; 3:4-9
- We have to consider whether or not our religion is true.
Does God Really Send People to Hell?
- Either no religion is true – or only one can be true. Romans 1:24
- God is continually making His plea for people to turn to Him.
How Are Christians to Distinguish Themselves?
- Set apart Christ as Lord! 1 Peter 3:15
- Share what's difference about our Savior with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:16

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5/28/2017

Is the Bible True? (Psalm 119:105; Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

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Big Idea: The Bible is God's personal message to us.
Great Expectations
- The first of the six "Es" is expected testimonies. Psalm 22:16-18.
- If the Bible promises something to us in Christ that promise will be fulfilled. Isaiah 53:4-6, 11
Early On
- The second "E" is early testimonies. Matthew 24:1-2
Were You There?
- The third "E": eyewitness testimony. Luke 24:25-27; 1 Corinthians 15:6
The Truth Hurts
- Our fourth "E": embarrassing facts. 1 Timothy 1:15
Out of the Cross
- Our fifth "E" is excruciating testimonies.
Other Voices
- Our sixth and final "E": extra-biblical testimonies.
A Light
- Read the Bible! John 17:17; Romans 12:2
- Tell the truth. John 8:32

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5/21/2017

Does God Exist? (Psalm 14:1-3; 19:1-4a; Isaiah 45:5-7; Romans 1:18-23)

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Big Idea
- If God exists, that's a game changer.
No One Greater
- The ontological argument: If a Being as great as God can exist – He must exist.
- If God did not exist then He would not be the greatest conceivable Being. Ecclesiastes 3:11
Pitch Perfect
- The teleological argument: The universe displays such an amazing design; there must be a divine Designer. Isaiah 45:7
- The aesthetic argument: There's a reason we value things as beautiful.
Bang!
- The cosmological argument asks: How did life begin in the first place? Psalm 19:1-4a; Luke 19:40
- You Really Should… (Or Shouldn't)
  - The moral argument asks: Where did the sense of right and wrong come from? Romans 1:20-22
Respond
- Ask God to help you believe. Mark 9:24
- Consider: What's my vision for glorifying God? 1 Corinthians 10:31

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5/7/2017

Repairing (Proverbs 10:18; 11:12-13; 17:9 ;24:17-18, 28-29; 25:7-10,21-22;27:5-6)

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Big Idea
- God can make us complete as we learn to repair relationships.
The Need for Repair
- In the Bible hate is simply having ill will toward someone. Matthew 5:21-22
- Slander in Proverbs is a bad report.
Obstacles to Repair
- Thinking we're superior.
- We fail to forgive. Proverbs 20:22; Matthew 5:43-45; Romans 12:9.
The Beauty of Repair
- We can have fellowship with Christ. Luke 14:8-11
- We can overcome evil with good. John 16:33: Romans 12:20-22
The Impossibly Possible
- Don’t hide. 1 John 4:8
- Receive Christ’s radical calling. Luke 9:23

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5/1/2017

Friendship (Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 25:17,20; 26:18,19; 27:5,6,9,14,17; 28:23; 29:5)

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Big Idea
- Friendships can be our most transformative relationships.
Discovering Friends
- Friendships are born, not engineered. Proverbs 17:17
- Friendships reflect our deepest longings and commitments. Proverbs 18:24
The Challenge of Friendship
- Friends tell the truth. Proverbs 27:5-6
- Friends respect boundaries. Proverbs 25: 17, 20; 27:14 \
The Power of Friendship
- Friends value each other’s advice. Proverbs 26:18-19; 27:9
- Friends shape each other. Proverbs 27:17
Closer than a Brother
- Jesus shares what He has in common with God the Father, and the Holy Spirits. John 15:13-15
- A real relationship with Jesus enables us to be real with others. Proverbs 28:23; 29:5

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4/23/2017

Words (Proverbs 10:18-19, 31-32; 12:13-14, 17-18; 15:1, 4; 16:23, 28; 18:13, 21; 24:26; 25:11, 15)

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Big Idea
- Words can make or break our lives.
The Power of Words
- Words are powerful. Proverbs 12:18; 15:4; 25:15
- Words have the power of life or death. Proverbs 18:21
The Problem with Words
- Words can distort. Proverbs 10:18-19; 12:13-14
- Words can separate. Proverbs 16:28; 18:13
The Redeeming of Words
- Words can repair. Proverbs 10:31-32; 12:18; 15:1; 24:26; 1 Corinthians 13:4-6
- Words can persuade. Proverbs 12:14; 16:23; 25:11
The Perfecting of Words
- Let God have the last word. Romans 10:9-10; James 3:5-6
- Let God reverse our cursing. Genesis 11:1-9

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