1. To download a copy of today’s lesson go to TheGoodTeacher.com and click on “Gospel Meetings”

2. Prepared by Chris Reeves * Lakeland Hills church of Christ Gospel Meeting * March 28, 2011 Moral Issues Facing God’s People

3. Homosexuality Homosexuality is a sin (Gen. 19; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom. 1:24-27; 1 Tim. 1:10) Homosexual bishops ordained; gay marriages legal in Vermont and Massachusetts; gay celebrity “parents;” gay tolerance education curriculum in schools Homosexuality even condoned among some of God’s people Homosexuality is not inherited Homosexuals can change (1 Cor. 6:9-11)

4. Fornication Fornication (any unlawful sexual intercourse) and adultery (sexual intercourse involving a spouse) are sins (1 Cor. 6:9,11,18; Gal. 5:19) 11 million “live-in partners” preferred not to marry in the year 2000; out of wedlock births increased 511% between 1960 and 1997; 400% increase for out of wedlock teen births Pre-marital and extra-marital sexual activity is common Bestiality is promoted on the Internet Marriage is the only honorable way (1 Cor. 7:2; Heb. 13:4)

5. Pornography Pornography is a sin (2 Pet. 2:14) Lust of the eye is a sin (Mt. 5:28; 1 Thess. 4:3-5; 1 Jn. 2:15) Pornography is addictive leading to more and more sin (Rom. 6:19)

6. Pornography Every second - $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography. Every second - 28,258 internet users are viewing pornography. Every second - 372 internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines. Every 39 minutes: a new pornographic video is being created in the United States. A total of 4.2 million websites contain pornography. That is 12 percent of the total number of websites. – http://internet-filter- review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography- statistics.html

7. Lasciviousness Lasciviousness (excess or the absence of restraint) is a sin (2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 4:19; 1 Pet. 4:3; 2 Pet. 2:7,18) Shameless, excessive conduct abounds: Sexual excess Lascivious dress Wanton looks or gestures Gluttony and banqueting (Mardi Gras) Lewd speech Lasciviousness leads to a tarnished reputation, sin, addictions, unwanted wages

8. Modern Dance Modern dancing with its movements and touching that arouse sexual feelings is lascivious and sinful (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:19,21; 1 Pet. 4:3) A Christian must abstain from fleshly lusts (1 Pet. 2:11) A Christian must not flirt with temptation and sin, but run from it (1 Cor. 6:18; 2 Tim. 2:22)

9. Immodesty Immodesty is a sin. God desires “modesty” (decent, orderly, discreet, controlled) Immodest thoughts (Phil. 4:8) Immodest speech (Eph. 4:29) Immodest actions (1 Tim. 3:2,8,11) Immodest clothing (1 Tim. 2:8-11; 1 Pet. 3:1-6) Not being able to blush is a sign of spiritual weakness and corruption (Jer. 6:15)

10. TV, Movies, and Music We must guard what goes into our mind (Prov. 4:23; Mt. 6:22-23; Lk. 6:45) We are what we think (see and hear)

11. Intoxication Drunkenness is a sin (Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 5:11; 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:18) Drunkenness brings shame (Gen. 9,19; 2 Sam. 13; Dan. 5; Prov. 20:1) “Dignity is one thing that cannot be preserved in alcohol” Lesser amounts of alcohol, called “social drinking,” is also a sin (1 Pet. 4:1-3) We are to be sober (Tit. 2:6; 1 Pet. 5:8)

12. Drug abuse Drug abuse is a sin (1 Pet. 2:15; Tit. 2:6) Drugs, like nicotine, can be smoked At least 7,000,000 children between the ages of 5 and 17 have abused inhalants Between 1992 and 1997 there was a 10% increase in illegal drug use; 13% increase among high school seniors We must glorify God in our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

13. Divorce Divorce & remarriage for some cause other than fornication is a sin (Mt. 5:32; 19:3-9; Mk. 10:1-12; Lk. 16:18; Rom. 7:2-3; 1 Cor. 7:10-11) Divorce teaching in the New Testament is changed to justify divorce practices Divorce is quick, easy and popular. Divorce is over 50% in our country Single-parent families tripled between 1960 and 1998 Divorce costs are high (sin, hurt children and spouses, alcoholism, suicide, economic, social and physical hardships, etc.)

14. Improper Speech Profanity & vulgarity is sin (Ex. 20:7; Mt. 6:9; Rom. 3:14; Jas. 3:10) Gossip is a sin (1 Tim. 5:13; 3 Jn. 10) Idle words will be judged (Mt. 12:36) No corrupt or shameful speech is to come out of our mouth (Eph. 4:29; Col. 3:8)

15. Gambling Gambling = a wager / stake; profit from a another’s loss; a predetermined, preselected, preexisting chance; an arbitrary determination of chance Gambling violates several Biblical principles (Rom. 13:10; Mt. 7:12; 1 Cor. 4:2) Gambling promotes several sins (Eph. 5:3,5; Phil. 2:3; 1 Cor. 6:12; Mt. 6:13,25; 7:16; 18:6)

16. Gambling Money can be obtained in the following ways: 1) sale (Jn. 4:8); 2) trade (Gen. 47:15-17); 3) gift (Acts 20:35); 4) work (Eph. 4:28); 5) bank interest (Mt. 25:27) Gambling falls into none of these authorized categories

17. Gambling Revenues for 2007 Card Rooms - $1.18 billion Commercial Casinos - $34.41 billion Charitable Games and Bingo - $2.22 billion Indian Casinos - $26.02 billion Legal Bookmaking - $168.8 million Lotteries - $24.78 billion Pari-mutuel Wagering - $3.50 billion Grand Total - $92.27 billion

18. Violence Violence is a sin (Gen. 6:11,13; Rom. 1:30; Gal. 5:20) Violence portrayed in music, TV, movies, video games and the Internet continues to increase Violence in schools continues to increase America has the third highest amount of violent crimes in all industrialized nations We must treat others the way we want to be treated (Mt. 7:12)

19. Racism, Terrorism All mankind are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27; Jas. 3:9) All mankind are from one (Acts 17:25-29) Racism and terrorism is a sin (Rom. 13:8-10) Anger (hate crimes) and murder are sins (Rom. 1:29) We must respect everyone the way God respects everyone (Acts 10:34-35)

20. Abortion, Euthanasia and Suicide Abortion, euthanasia and suicide are sin (Prov. 6:17; Rom. 1:31; 13:9; Rev. 21:8) Abortion estimates are around 1.3 million a year; it has increased 35% since 1973; it is legal, but not lawful Suicide is the 10 th leading cause of death in the US (34,598 in 2007) Between 1962 and 1996, the teenage suicide rate increased 155%; more people die from suicide than homicide in America 3,147 recent cases of euthanasia worldwide We must promote life, not kill it (Gen. 1:27)

21. Dishonesty Lying is a sin (Eph. 4:25; Col. 3:9; Rev. 21:8) Dishonesty at work Dishonesty at home Dishonesty with self (Jas. 1:22) Stealing is a sin (Eph. 4:28; Tit. 2:10) God sees all (Heb. 4:13) Honesty is what God wants (Rom. 12:17; 13:13; Phil. 4:8; Heb. 13:18)

22. Idolatry There is one true God (1 Cor. 8:5-6) Idolatry is sinful (1 Cor. 5:11; 6:9; Gal. 5:20; Eph. 5:5; 1 Pet. 4:3; Rev. 21:8; 22:15) Covetousness is idolatry (Col. 5) We must run from idols (1 Cor. 10:14; 1 Jn. 5:21) and not be seduced by it (Rev. 2:14,20)

23. Materialism Out life is not just about things (Lk. 12:15) We must keep physical things in perspective (Mt. 6:33) We must not allow the love of money to corrupt us (1 Tim. 6:6-10,17-19)

24. Medical Ethics and Ecology We must be good stewards of our body, but we must not “play God” (Psa. 139:14) We must be good stewards of our earth, but we must not worship “Mother Earth” (Psa. 8:3-9)

25. Unbelief Unbelief is a sin (Jn. 8:24; Heb. 3:12) Unbelief manifest in leaving God all-together “Atheism,” “Materialism” and “Humanism” continue to increase Church membership has decreased since 1960 Unbelief manifest in leaving the truth for religious error Religious “Christian” denominations continue to increase (Matt. 7:21) World religions are commonly accepted

26. God’s People and Moral Issues Today How do we know if these things are among Christians today? Some don’t “blush” anymore (Jer. 6:15) Some are no longer “provoked” (Acts 17:16) Some go along and “consent” (Rom. 1:32) Some “fellowship” it (Eph. 5:3-14)

27. God’s People and Moral Issues Today Remember where our morality comes from: God’s word (Acts 5:29) Remember our relationship to the world: be not conformed (Rom. 12:2; 1 Jn. 2:15) Remember who fuels the fires of all this immorality: the media, educational system, etc. (1 Cor. 15:33) Remember our action against these things: have no fellowship & reproof (Eph. 5:11)