SERIES: Danger: Toxic!

TITLE:   Nauseating

TEXT: Matthew 15:1-9 (p.820); Romans 3:20-22 (p.941)

“The tendency to turn human judgments into divine commands makes religion one of the most dangerous forces in the world.”  Craig Groeschel in Soul Detox

“We may spend our days in what we call our religious duties, and we may fill our devotions with fervor, and still may be miserable.  Nothing can set our hearts at rest but a real acquaintance with God.”  Andrew Farley in The Naked Gospel

1. THE BAD NEWS

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”  Luke 5:32

Christianity is not intended to make us (religious) or to be one of the (world’s major religions).  It is supposed to be a (relationship) with the one, true, living God.

Following religion leads to two toxic problems:

1. Religion leads you to focus on the (external) rather than the (internal).
2. Rules-following religious people believe their (behavior and beliefs) are right and everyone else is wrong.

Being converted to Jesus is not just learning to obey (some rules).  Being converted to Jesus is learning to so (adore God) we would gladly renounce everything we have to follow Him.

2. THE GOOD NEWS

Religion can tell you what do; the gospel gives you the (power) to do it.

Why is it easy for people to honor God with their lips and not their heart?   Tradition requires no (integrity of heart) and is easily substituted for true (worship and obedience).

Turn to Romans 3:20-22.  Some important points:

1. You cannot earn God’s acceptance by (observing the Law).
2. The purpose of the Law is to show (you need a Savior).
3. Righteousness from God comes by (faith) in Christ alone.

To sum up: Religion = Christ + anything.  Gospel= Christ + nothing.

Religion is all about what I do.   Gospel is all about what Jesus has done.

Religion is all about me.  Gospel is all about Jesus.

Religion highlights my efforts.  Gospel highlights what Christ has done.

Religion puts the burden on us.  Gospel put the burden on Him & what He did.

NEXT WEEK:   Drifting- Jer.2:1-19; I Cor.9:24-27

SERIES: Danger: Toxic!

TITLE:   Germs

TEXT: I Thess. 4:1-8 (p.987)

“For the first time, the weird and the stupid and the coarse are becoming our cultural norm, even our cultural ideal.”  Carl Bernstein

I.    CONTAMINATION

Why has this happened?

1. “It’s a (sign of the times)
2. “The (devil) made me do it.”
3. More Christians now opt for (lower standards) when confronted with the choice of living in (moral purity) as set forth in Scripture or (compromising) the rationalizing away the guilt.

What is “the Judges syndrome?”   Doing what is right (in our own eyes).

Read this recently: “God, how long do I have to cry out for help before you listen?  How many times do I have to yell, ‘Help! Murder! Police!’ before you come to the rescue? Why do you force me to look at evil? Stare trouble in the face day after day? Anarchy and violence break out, quarrels and fights all over the place.  Law and order fall to pieces.  Justice is a joke. The wicked have the righteous hamstrung and stand justice on its head.”

Habakkuk 1:2-4)

II.   CLEANSING

What is the answer?  I Thess.4:1-8

1. (Walk and excel)- [1-2]
2. (Abstain)- [3]
3. (Holiness)- [7-8]

NEXT WEEK:   Nauseating- Mt.15:1-9

SERIES: Danger: Toxic!

TITLE:   Discontent

TEXT: I Timothy 6:6-10 (p.993)

I.   THE BANE OF DISCONTENT

“Re-examine all you have been told.  Dismiss whatever insults you own soul.” Whitman

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

Let’s establish this: there is nothing wrong with having nice things.  However, there is something wrong with drawing value and worth from those nice things.  Having stuff does not/cannot define us.

II. THE BENEFITS TO CONTENTMENT

One of the first questions we must ask: (How much is enough?)

Things to keep in mind:

1. Realize having money is (not wrong) in itself.
2. Recognize that money is a (gift from God).    “The silver is mine; the gold is mine, says the Lord.”  Haggai 2:6
3. Remember to (surrender).
4. Rethink (expectations).
5. Refuse to (seek security) from money.
6. Remind yourself (eternal purposes) matter.
7. Reconsider the (priority) you place on stuff.

“When we place our discontented egos on the altar of gratitude, we develop contented altar egos filled with thanksgiving.”  Groeschel

We are not (entitled) to anything.  We don’t (deserve anything) we have been given.

NEXT WEEK:   Germs- I Thess.4:1-8

SERIES: Danger: Toxic!

TITLE:   Septic

TEXT:  Psalm 139:1-18 (p.521)

I.    THE STRUGGLE WITH INFERIORITY

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”  Prov.23:7

Some characters in the Bible who struggled with inferiority:

1. Moses-   To feel inferior is not to be (humble).
2. Jeremiah- Turn to Jer.1:4-5 (p.627)
3. Amos- “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsmen and a dresser of sycamore figs.  But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophecy to my people Israel.’ “  God can (transform) anyone into His (vessel).

II.    THE SOLUTION TO INFERIORITY

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”  Phil.4:8

1. You need to remember (God’s estimate) of you.  Mt.6:26: “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?”
2. You need to remember (your importance) to the body.   I Cor.12:14-17
3. You need to remember you are never out of (God’s sight).   Psalm 139:1-18

1)     Verses 1-6-

2)     Verses 7-12-

3)     Verses 13-16-

4)     Verses 17-18-

How do we deal with inferiority when it creeps in?

1)     Remember you were prescribed before birth.

2)     Remember growth is a process and is still going on.

3)     Refuse to compare yourself with others.

4)     Respond correctly to your shortcomings.

NEXT WEEK:   Discontent-  I Tim.6:6-10

SERIES: Danger: Toxic!

TITLE:   Radioactive

TEXT:  Proverbs 6:16-19 (p.531)

I.   AVOID THESE

“Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins (corrupts in some translations) good morals.”

I Cor.15: 33

“Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”  George Washington

3 types of people to avoid (dubbed Toxic Trinity by Craig Groeschel):

1. Chronic (Critic)-
2. (Controller)
3. (Tempter)

Proverbs 6:16-19

II.  CONNECT WITH THESE

“Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.”  Proverbs 17:17 (MSG)   “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”  (NLT)

“Whoever walks with the wise become wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”  Proverbs 13:20

Keep in mind when choosing friends:

1. Set (healthy boundaries).  Draw a line in the sand.
2. Make sure people will know you will not act in a (toxic manner).

Who should we look for?  (A positive to 6:16-19)

1)     People with a (teachable) and (humble) spirit.

2)     People who tell the (truth).

3)     People who are sensitive, tender-hearted and (full of mercy).

4)     People who have (integrity).

5)     People who can keep (confidences).

6)     People who can lead us to (deeper intimacy) with Jesus.

NEXT WEEK:   Septic- Psalm 139:1-18

SERIES: Danger: Toxic!

TITLE:   AMPED

TEXT:  Eph. 4:26-27, Mark 3:16

Two Key Suppositions About Anger:

1.) Anger is an emotion (experienced) and created by God, and what God

created He called (GOOD).

2.) Anger has a purpose: (ENERGIZE) you to do something! (MOTIVATE) you

into action!

Two Ways We Deal With Anger:

1.) (Spewers): explosive venters, angry outbursts, ‘blow a gasket’

2.) (Stewers): bottle-it-up, stored internally, grudge-holder

Sinful Anger:

Craig Groschel: “Sinful Anger usually results when we lose control of our emotions and take matters into our own hands. Sinful anger is getting angry at something–maybe even something legitimate, something that also angers God–but then allowing that anger to lead us to do the wrong thing.”

Antidote for Sinful Anger: (Self-Control)

Dealing With Anger:

1.) Listen:               strive to understand, lose the (defensiveness)

2.) Process:            don’t allow a knee-jerk reaction, analyze first

3.) Respond:           with love and self-control be slow to anger

4.) (Pray):               before you respond, but also before conflict ever arises

Righteous Anger:

Ask yourself the following:

1.) What’s the cause of my anger? Is it worth getting angry over?

2.) How should I (respond)?

Righteous Anger is anger over (the right things) that evokes the (right response).

SERIES: Danger: Toxic!

TITLE:   Green

TEXT:  Proverbs 14:30

“Envy is the art of counting the other fellows’ blessings instead of your own.”

 “Five great enemies to peace inhabit within us: avarice (greed), ambition, envy, anger, and pride. If those enemies were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.”  Petrarch

I.    COLOR ME GREEN

Envy is the desire to equal another in achievement or excellence or possessions.

“Envy is when you resent God’s goodness in other people’s lives and ignore God’s goodness in your own life.”  Craig Groeschel

Jealousy refers to having something and living in fear of losing it.

Jealousy wants to posses what it already has; envy wants to have what another possesses.

“A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.” Pr.14:30 (NLT)   “A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.” (NKJV)

Who is susceptible to jealousy?

1. Those steeped in (materialism).
2. Those who revel in (power).
3. Those who are motivated by (performance).
4. Those who are motivated by (professions).
5. Those who are motivated by (personal issues).

II.   COLOR ME FREE

How can we be free?

1. Stop (comparing). “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”  I Cor.10:12
2. Renounce jealousy as a (sin).
3. Reaffirm God’s (goodness) to us.
4. Watch where we (step).  “Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite.  This too is meaningless.”  Eccl.6:9 (NIV)

NEXT WEEK:   Pastor Ryan preaching

SERIES: Danger: Toxic!

TITLE:   Paralyzed

TEXT: Psalm 27: 1-14 (p.460)

Some fears (familiar and unfamiliar)

1. Agoraphobia- Fear of (open spaces or crowds).
2. Androphobia- Fear of (men)
3. Gynophobia- Fear of (women).
4. Equinophobia- Fear of (horses).
5. Bacteriophobia- Fear of (bacteria).
6. Cacophobia- Fear of (ugliness).
7. Ephebiphobia- Fear of (teenagers).
8. Scolionophobia- Fear of (school).
9. Technophobia- Fear of (technology).
10. Phobophobias- Fear of (phobias).

I.    PINPOINTING FEAR

Most adult fears fall into four categories:

1. Fear of (loss).
2. Fear of (failure).
3. Fear of (Rejection).
4. Fear of the (Unknown).

II.   PREVAILING OVER FEAR

5 key principles about fear from Deuteronomy 1:  (Jeremiah)

1)     Fear disregards God’s (Plan).  [19-21]

2)     Fear distorts God’s (Purposes). [27-28]

3)     Fear discourages God’s (People).

4)     Fear disbelieves God’s (Promises). [29-31]

5)     Fear disobeys God’s (Principles). [26]

How to deal with fears: (Swindoll)

1. Admit them
2. Commit them.
3. Release them.
4. Stand firm.

NEXT WEEK:   Green- Proverbs 14:30

SERIES: Danger: Toxic!

TITLE:   Root

TEXT: Heb.12:14-15 (p.1009); Gen.50:15-21 (p.44)

“Resentful souls draw the drapes and purposely block out the sunshine.”

I.    THE COST OF BITTERNESS

“Bitterness is like a cancer.  It eats upon the host.”  Maya Angelou

 I Cor.13- “love keeps no record of wrongs.”  The word for record is (to calculate or reckon).

 Resentment douses the flames of (life and love).  It enshrines (failure and evil), and it lets no one else forget.

 Scripture reference to I Kings 2 (p.280)

 Bitterness never draws us (closer to God).  “It is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

II.   THE CURE FOR BITTERNESS

Several downfalls of resentment and bitterness:

1. It ties you to (the past) in a way that keeps you from living fully in (the present) or moving fully into (the future) God has for you.
2. Fill our minds with (junk).
3. It is direct (disobedience) to God’s Word.

What about Joseph?

1)     He kept an attitude of (forgiveness).

2)     He shows us forgiveness is a (strength), not a (weakness).

3)     He shows us we are all dependent on God’s (love, grace, and forgiveness).

4)     He shows us forgiveness is the way (out of the prison).  “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.”

NEXT WEEK:   Paralyzed- Psalm 27:1-14

SERIES: Danger: Toxic!

TITLE:   Words

TEXT: Prov.  18:21;  James 3:1-12

“A slip of the foot you my soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.”  Ben Franklin

I.   LETHAL LANGUAGE

Creative words (create). Destructive words (crush).

Hurtful words (tear down).  Helpful words (build up).

Toxic words (poison). Soothing words (heal).

Faith-filled words bring (life).  Faithless words bring (death).

“Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise.” Pr.12:18 (MSG)

“Gentle words are a tree of life, a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” Pr.15:4 (NLT)

“Gracious words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Pr.16:24 (ESV)

II.   LIFE-GIVING LANGUAGE

“A good person’s mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom; a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp. The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it.” Pr.10:31-32

We cannot control what other say about us, but we can control what we believe.

Some simple steps concerning words:

1. (Choose life).
2. Talk to (yourself).
3. Speak to your (mountain).  “God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control.”  2 Tim.1:7

NEXT WEEK:   Root- Heb.12:14-15; Eph.4:31; Gen.50:15-21