1. “Games People Play” “Oh the games people play now Every night and every day now Never meaning what they say now Never saying what they mean …” (Joe South)

2. Games Sinners Play James 1:12-16

3. Introduction  Sinning is serious Factor for all (Romans 3:23) Deadly consequences (Romans 6:23)  Not taken seriously by some Try to “play games” with God Tragic outcome

4. “I’ll Repent Tomorrow”  Based on God’s promise to forgive All past sins (Acts 2:38) Sins as a Christian (Acts 8:22; James 5:16; 1 John 1:7-9)

5. “I’ll Repent Tomorrow”  Variety of situations “Sow wild oats” (Galatians 5:19-21) Responsibility of youth (1 Timothy 4:12-16; 2 Timothy 2:22) Obey just before dying?

6. “I’ll Repent Tomorrow”  Attempt to take advantage of grace Grace not a license to sin (Romans 6:1) Time not on our side (James 4:14) Don’t delay (Acts 24:25)

7. “The Devil Made Me Do It”  Popularized by Flip Wilson Old as mankind (Genesis 3:13) Still doesn’t work

8. “The Devil Made Me Do It”  Widely used “Lose our temper” and sin (Ephesians 4:26, 29) Cheating on taxes (Romans 13:1) Homosexuality (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

9. “The Devil Made Me Do It”  “Players” memory loss Can resist (Genesis 4:7; James 4:7) Way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13) Can change (1 Corinthians 6:11)

10. “Let’s Trade”  Attempt to “balance the scales” Lie about your neighbor this week “Solve” it next week by helping him

11. “Let’s Trade”  Worked out in advance Plan to go fishing on Sunday Promise to study more

12. “Let’s Trade”  Will not work Usually no follow through Sin offset only by forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9)

13. “Just One More”  Based on future ability to resist Diet tomorrow “One last drink” Promise to quit after that

14. “Just One More”  Game belongs to Satan Wants us to procrastinate (James 4:17) Uncertainty of life Certainty of death (Hebrews 9:27)

15. “Think How Bad I Could Be”  Always find someone “worse” The Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14) The lawyer (Luke 10:29)

16. “Think How Bad I Could Be”  Used in a variety of circumstances Cuss a little, but avoid taking God’s name in vain (James 3:10-12) Smoke but don’t drink (1 Corinthians 9:27) Lust but don’t commit adultery (Matthew 5:27, 28)

17. “Think How Bad I Could Be”  Ignores the standard of judgment Another’s life is not the standard God’s word is the standard (John 12:48)

18. “Maybe It’s Not A Sin”  Pretend not to know for sure Generally know what is sin Helps ease our conscience

19. “Maybe It’s Not A Sin”  Very popular game Gossip becomes “concern” (Matthew 18:15; Ephesians 4:31) Dancers just “exercising” (Mark 6:22; Galatians 5:19)

20. “Maybe It’s Not A Sin”  Sin is defined Transgression of God’s Law (1 John 3:4) We can know

21. Conclusion  Self-examination  Don’t play games with God