1. Excuses, Excuses

2. Examples of Excuses  Adam & Eve and the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3) o “She gave me the fruit”  Aaron and the golden calf (Exod. 32) o “The people wanted gods”  King Saul and the unlawful offering (I Sam. 13) o “I felt like I had to”  King Saul and the Amalekites (I Sam. 15) o “The people spared the animals”

3. Excuses for Not Following Jesus  Decline the king’s invitation (Luke 14:16-24) o “I’m too busy”  Not really ready to follow (Luke 9:57-62) o “I just have to do something first”  Not using abilities (Matt. 25:14-30) o “I was afraid”

4. Excuses to Get Out of Tasks  Moses (Exod. 3:11; 4:1, 10, 13; 6:12, 30) o “They won’t listen to me” o “I’m not a good speaker”  Gideon (Judges 6:15) o “I’m the least of the weakest clan”  Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6) o “I’m just a youth”

5. No Excuses  Jew & Gentile accountable (Rom. 1:19-23; 2:1)  Our sins are our own faults (James 1:13-14)  We must choose (Josh. 24:14-15)  If you sin, don’t make excuses o Confess, repent, pray, improve  Learn what’s right and obey it (James 4:17)

6. Excuses, Excuses Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:17