Handouts for Episode 3

Bearing Witness

                                                         Week  3

“Houston we have a problem!”

            “The predominant belief is that it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you believe something and feel good about it.”

            “(Some) people believe that sin is still a relevant concept and that all humans will be judged by God.  Unfortunately, most people expect the judge to go easy on sentencing.”

          From “The Boiling Point” by George Barna and Mark Hatch.

            Seventy-two percent of Americans believe there is no such thing as absolute truth.

I.                   The Problem of Sin and Evil

A.      For the Christian evil is real!  Ecclesiastes 7:20  Romans 3:23   Sin is contrary to the will of Holy God. 

B.        Sin is:

1-       Deceitful – Romans 7:11

2-       Enslaving – John 8:34

3-       Pervasive and progressive – II Timothy 3:13

C.      The consequences of sin are:

1-       Judicial – The Acts 17:31,  Romans 14:12

2-        Mortal – Genesis 2:17, Romans 6:23

3-        Eternal – Matthew 7:22-23,             Revelation 20:14

II.                 Seeing people through the lens of the Kingdom of Heaven.

A.       According to the Gospel accounts people matter to God.

B.        People are spiritually lost and life is eternal.  Luke 19:10

C.       People need Jesus.   John 14:6,  Acts 4:12,            I Timothy 1:15

D.       People are looking for answers, but not necessarily the Gospel answers.  “Today people not only need the Gospel declared.  They need to have it defined and defended.”  M. Mittelberg

E.        Sometimes people need time.