Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2014 Survey of Churchgoers Statistics for those in their Twenties There is a disturbing generational shift away from Biblical truth among churchgoers toward secularism 43% do not consider themselves to be born again 65% believe you get to heaven by being a good person

2014 Survey of Churchgoers Statistics for those in their Twenties 50% do not believe the earth is young 23% believe God uses evolution to change kinds to other kinds 19% believe humans evolved from an ape-like creature

2014 Survey of Churchgoers Statistics for those in their Twenties Only 56% believe homosexual behavior is sinful Only 58% believe premarital sex is wrong Only 49% believe abortion should be illegal in most cases

2014 Survey of Churchgoers Statistics for those in their Twenties Factors include family breakdown, lack of Bible teaching in churches, secularization of children There has always been a subset within religious groups whose professed and actual beliefs disagree

People of Little Faith Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56 Jesus fed the 5,000+ near Bethsaida, then walked across the sea to meet the disciples in the boat that night Peter had “little faith,” but he acted on what he had and got out of the boat

People of Little Faith Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56 Gennersaret is a farming area on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee south of Capernaum

People of Little Faith Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56 Matthew 14:35-36, - The people of Gennersaret acted on the faith they had and brought people to Jesus Mark 6:56 - Jesus continued a ministry of healing in the region for some time

The Search for Jesus John 6:22-27 Those who stayed in the area overnight looked for Jesus in the morning but could not find Him

The Search for Jesus John 6:22-27 Jesus does not answer their question and instead rebukes them for their wrong motives - John 6:26-27 They understood that Jesus was the prophet predicted in Deut. 18, but they misunderstood its meaning

The Search for Jesus John 6:22-27 Jesus’ prodded them to think beyond the physical world which perishes to the spiritual world which does not “Son of Man”is a Messianic title and God has set His seal on Jesus - John 5

The Search for Jesus John 6:22-27 Jesus came to break the bondage of sin and make us holy, not to give us a nice life in this world

Doing the Work of God John 6:28-29 A false basic religious premise that still remains is that you must work somehow to earn eternal life Their materialistic worldview blinded them from understanding the gift of eternal life based on belief

Doing the Work of God John 6:28-29 That belief in Jesus is a work does not negate salvation being the gift of God by His grace - Eph. 2:8-9 God does all the work of salvation, but the sinner must still respond in faith to its offer

Doing the Work of God John 6:28-29 We are born dead in sin (Eph. 2:1) with blinded minds (2 Cor. 4:4) & darkened understanding (Eph. 4:17) The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, illumines the mind and regenerates the sinner to believe and be saved

Elements in the Work of Faith 1)Hearing the word of God - Romans 10:17 2)Repentance from sin - Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 5:3f 3)Believing what Jesus says - John 6:40; 8:24, 46-47

Elements in the Work of Faith 4)Believing that Jesus’ death is the sufficient payment and substitute for your sins - 1 Peter 3:18 5)Believing that God raised Jesus from the dead - Romans 10:9

The Demand for Proof John 6:30-33 John 6:30-31, they demand that Jesus perform a miracle of the same nature as Moses John 6:32-33, Jesus corrects them (God gave manna) and again points to the spiritual nature of His message

The Bread of Life John 6:34-40 John 6:34, they want this bread, but they only perceive it from a physical perspective John 6:35, Jesus clarifies the nature of this true bread - it is Himself as spiritual food for spiritual life

The Bread of Life John 6:34-40 John 6:36, Jesus acknowledges they do not believe though they have seen His miracles & heard Him teach John 6:37, Jesus promises security to those who come to Him

The Bread of Life John 6:34-40 John 6:38-40, Jesus is in submission to the Father’s will which includes promises of security & resurrection God is sovereign in salvation, but there is also an open offer to “everyone who beholds the Son & believes”

The Bread of Life John 6:34-40 Jesus will not lose anyone given to Him and He will raise them up on the last day

Conclusion Jesus carries out and fulfills the Father’s will, so opposing Him is to oppose the Father’s will Salvation from sin is freely offered, but it requires the work of faith - what do you believe about Jesus?

Conclusion The reality of your belief in Jesus will be demonstrated by your life - be sure you are not self-deceived

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ