SERIES: The Great Adventure: Listen! (Matthew)
TITLE: Heart Pollution
Scripture: Matthew 15: 10-19
“It is much better to keep silent and thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Abe Lincoln
I. THE REAL CAUSE OF POLLUTION
Some research statistics:
- Pollution affects over 100 million people.
- 14 billion tons of garbage are dumped into the ocean every year
- Over 1 million seabirds and over 100,000 mammals are killed every year by pollution.
- Approximately 40% of the lakes in America are too polluted for fishing, aquatic life, and swimming.
But what about another form of pollution:
- In America alone revenue for the sex-related industry is estimated at ($13 billion).
- Internet porn is a ($3 billion a year) business.
- (50%0 of all Christian men and (20%) of all Christian women say they are addicted to porn.
- Go to covenanteyes.com/pornstats for a revealing look into a scary world
II. THE SOLUTION TO POLLUTION
What did the Pharisees teach about tradition?
- God spent all day studying His own law and all night studying the Mishna that interpreted the law.
- God presided over the holy Sanhedrin and the rabbis sat closer to God depending on their holiness.
- God was distraught over the destruction of the Temple that in all three watches He roared like a lion. His tears fell into the ocean and caused earthquakes.
Turn to Proverbs 4:23-24. Read in ESV. Here are some other versions:
“Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously. (HCSB)
“Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.” (NLT)
“Keep vigilant watch over your heart, that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth, avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.” (MSG)
“Learn from the mistakes of others. You don’t have time to make them all yourself.”
NEXT WEEK: TGA: Change (Mark)
Title: The Call to Change Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-17
