Evans Church of Christ

A Bad Diet Phil. 3:13-14 Forget the past Reach forth to the future “I press toward the mark” Diet – lose weight Pay off debts Enjoy life

Anything that tastes Good ! GOOD DIET _______________ BAD DIET _____ _______________ _______________ Anything that tastes Good !

“You can’t out-work a bad diet” “Spiritual application” You can’t overcome a sinful life by doing other things to make up for it !

I. YOU CAN’T ATTEND ENOUGH No doubt, attendance is important and essential for the Christian life Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.” Matthew 23:2-3

II. YOU CAN’T READ THE BIBLE ENOUGH “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11

Jesus healed a lame man in John 5 Jesus told him to take up his bed and walk “For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.” John 5:16 Just reading the Bible is not enough unless you put it into practice.

Nikita Khrushchev The important difference between “knowing the truth,” and merely “knowing OF the truth.”

III. YOU CAN’T TALK ENOUGH Some people like to just “talk a good religion” “but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.” Matthew 23:3 Talk is not a substitute for action

IV. YOU CAN’T GIVE ENOUGH “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come” 1 Cor.16:2 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.,” 2 Corinthians 9:7

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” Matthew 23:23 Justice Mercy Faith

V. YOU CAN’T RATIONALIZE ENOUGH “Everyone else is doing it.” “So and so is doing something worse.” “God wants me to be happy.” “God loves me and I know He understands.” “I’m just going to sow my wild oats.”

Don’t try to substitute Other things for what God wants ! “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Rom.6:1-2 Repent of your sins

Live Righteously 11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Tit. 2:11-12

A Good Diet Read the Bible Attend all services Love one another

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249 evanscoc@bellsouth.net www.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Morning January 4, 2015