First Light! Welcome To We Meet Every Wednesday. Join Us Afterward, Upstairs in the Café.

UPCOMING EVENTS Adult Baptism Information Class Have you been baptized as an adult believer? If not, please plan to attend the adult baptism class on Sunday, December 9 at 9 PM in Conference Room 3201. No registration required, just show up. Congregational Meeting Wednesday, December 5, 2018 (7:30-9 PM) Prayer Meeting from 7:00 to 7:30 PM

Open Groups – Join Us!

PARKING MINISTRY Contact Aaron Paganini WANTED: A few GOOD MEN!! Aaron.Paganini@mcleanbible.org 703-867-3268

What’s in your back pocket? The Tract League 1-616-453-7695 www.tractleague.com What’s in your back pocket? Salvation?

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY Just a friendly reminder. If the Federal Government is closed, then First Light will not meet. If the Federal Government is on liberal leave, delayed or open, then First Light will meet.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY For Federal Government STATUS: Download their OPM Alert app today: www.OPM.gov and find the link Also avail at Google ‘Play Store’ and the ‘App Store’ Search OPM Fast & Easy Updates

Speaker Schedule: December 12 – Greg Gibson December 19 – Jim Battle December 26 – No First Light

When God Abandons… Samson – Judges 16:20 - Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Israel - God said, in Judges 10:13, "You have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen. Let them deliver you in the time of your distress."

When God Abandons… Nations - Acts 14:16:17 – (Paul and Barnabas in Lystra) In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” Pharisees – Matthew 15:14 – “Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Common Grace Defined A term theologians use to describe the goodness of God to all mankind universally, which restrains sin and the effects of sin on the human race. “…for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matt. 5:45)

John MacArthur “Sin is so rampant in our country, it is so widespread, it is so tolerated by people in leadership and even people in the church, it is pandemic, it is endemic, it is in the very fabric of our life, that I believe God has just taken away the restraining grace that might preserve our nation and has let our nation run to its own doom.”

CONTEXT OF ROMANS: Date stamped: A.D. 56–57 (20+ years after Christ) Sender: Paul Receiver: Church in Rome Origin: Corinth Subject: Righteousness

OUTLINE: Chapters 1–3:20 - The Problem of Righteousness Every person in the world is guilty of sin, which separates them from God and condemns all to eternity apart from Him. The Guilt of the Gentiles (Romans 1:18-32) The Guilt of the Jews (Romans 2-3:8) The Guilt of all men (Romans 3:9-20) Chapters 3:21–5:21 - The Provision of Righteousness

TEXT: Romans 1:18-32 Reasons for Condemnation (v18-23) For suppressing God’s truth (v18) For ignoring God’s revelation (v19-20) For perverting God’s glory (v21-23) Results of Condemnation (v24-32) – “God gave them over…” Abandoned to fornication (sex outside of marriage covenant) (v24-25) Abandoned to sexual perversion (sexual gratification outside intended purpose) (v26-27) Abandoned to depraved lifestyle (v28-32)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: How is America, individually and societally, suppressing God’s truth? How is America, individually and societally, ignoring God’s revelation? In one word what is the overall opinion within our society regarding sexual perversion? How do we see the advocating of depravity in our society today? How does this passage have the power to impact our personal lives?

Is there any hope? Psalm 81:11-16 - “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. “If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Pray for our nation, individually and collectively to return to God as: The Creator The Law Giver The Redeemer, who in Christ has purchased us for time and eternity.