First Baptist Lenoir City First Baptist Lenoir City

I. The Rich Man & Lazarus - Luke 16:19-31
Jesus says 3 Main Things:
(1) Religious people go to Hell -
(2) Rich people go to Hell
(3) You are going to Hell unless you change your ways (and their hatred for Jesus continued to build)

I. Is The Scriptural Standard too High for Mothers and Fathers and Wives and Husbands?
1. The Excellent/Virtuous Wife - Proverbs 31:1-31
2. The Exemplary Husband - Ephesians 5:22-33.
3. The Perfect Savior - Christlikeness!

II. Why we DEDICATE babies:
1. We recognize God as Creator and Giver of life inside the womb
2. We recognize God as Teacher and Trainer outside of the womb
3. We recognize and hope God to be the future Savior & Lord of our babies

III. Why we HONOR Mothers/Motherhood - bc God does. The World doesn’t honor motherhood. God’s Word does.
(1) Eve is called “the mother of all the living” in Genesis 3:20. This is a physical designation.
(2) Sarah is called “the mother of all nations” in Genesis 17:16. This is a spiritual designation.
(3) Mary is called “the mother of Jesus” This is a Savior designation.
(4) Pray over every mother who recognizes what has been stated today.
a. May 5th is International Bereaved Mother’s Day - honoring mothers who have lost a child
b. THE GOD-FEARING WOMAN

A Message first for the Graduates and then to the rest of us. Matthew 16 reveals a critical encounter that Jesus has with His disciples. Jesus speaks to His FUTURE. Jesus speaks to their FAITH. What is the end goal? What is the measurement for success? Will they prevail? Will you prevail graduates? Will we prevail in our life?

You will PREVAIL in life based on your relationship to Jesus AND His Church! Many say they’ve left the church but kept Jesus. That won’t fly with Jesus. The Church is His Body! The Church is His Bride!

Wherever Life Takes You: The Person of Jesus and the Gospel of Jesus will be the determining factor on whether you PREVAIL in this world and in the next. (Heaven and Hell weigh in the balance)

(1) Matthew 16:1-4 (Demands)
(2) Matthew 16:5-12 (Dangers)
(3) Matthew 16:24-28 (More Dangers)

I. The Church @ Thessalonica - Acts 17:1-11

II. The 6 Marks of a Healthy Church (Based on the Test & Testimony)

We must examine WHAT we do and WHY we do it! 

1. The Work of Faith - WHAT/WHY 
We work because we believe 
2. The Labor of Love - WHAT/WHY 
We labor because we love 
3. The Endurance of Hope - WHAT/WHY 
We persevere because we have hope 
(A church that lacks work; labor or endurance is a church that lacks faith, hope, & love!) I Corinthians 13:13

(We Turn; We Serve; & We Wait!)
II. Turning to God from idols - Serving the living and true God 
Waiting on His Son (1:10; 2:19; 3:11-13; 4:15-17; 5:23) 
a. The One coming from Heaven 
b. The One Whom He raised from the dead 
c. The One Who rescues us from the wrath to come 

The Resurrection Celebration Pt 4
The Folly of Following a Dead Man / I Corinthians 15:1-19
 
Christianity - Victory or Vanity?
 
Resurrection wasn’t something Jesus hoped for. Resurrection was something Jesus planned for / prepared for! Jesus predicted 4 Major Events that came to pass within 3 days of each other.
 
(1) His betrayal / denial
(2) His arrest / suffering
(3) His death
(4) His resurrection -
John 2:18-22 (The Sign)
John 5:24
John 10:10 (can’t offer what you don’t possess)
John 10:17-18 (crystal clear)
John 12:25-26 (Powerful and Personal)
(5) Oh and a 5th yet to be fulfilled - His return!
 
 
I. The Evidences of Resurrection - vv. 1-4
 
II. The Appearances of Resurrection - vv. 5-11
 
III. The Consequences of No Resurrection - vv. 12-19
 
Jesus still dead -
Preaching is worthless -
Faith is worthless -
False witnesses -
Still in sin -
Those passed have perished -
We are to be pitied -
 
Christianity w/out a risen Savior is like having a car w/out an engine (it won’t move); like having a flashlight w/out a battery (can’t shine); like having wood w/out fire (doesn’t warm). Christianity w/out a risen Savior is a waste of time, a waste of energy, a wasted life. Is the resurrection a HOPE or a Hoax?
 
Romans 10:9-10

The Continuation of the Cross
a. Acts 1:3 - The Living King concludes His earthly teaching
b. Acts 2:22-24 - The Point of Pentecost
c. Romans 1:1-4 - The Right Focus for Rome
d. Ephesians 1:15-23 - The Power in Prayer
e. Colossians 3:1-4 - The Direction of Dedicated Disciples