Text: 1 Kings 16:29-33

“Ahab… did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him” (v. 30) — What did Ahab do to earn this infamous recognition?

He Failed to Learn from His Father’s Sins (v. 30; Ezekiel 18:14-17)

Sin Was a Trivial Thing to Him (v. 31; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23)

He Allowed Himself to be Influenced by Evil (v. 31; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 15:33)

He Engaged in Idolatry (v. 31-33; Deuteronomy 7:3-4; 1 John 5:21)

Read the article: Evil Ahab

Text: Galatians 1:6-10

Jeopardizes Our Salvation (v. 6; Romans 1:16)

Regardless of Preacher (v. 8; Matthew 7:15)

Condemnation for Preaching a Different Gospel (v. 8-9; 1 Peter 4:11)

What Other Gospels?

• Judaizers – failed to distinguish between the covenants (Colossians 2:14)
• Gnostics – taught a different Jesus (Colossians 2:9) and that sin was not a problem (Jude 4)
• Catholics – believe in a different head, the pope (Ephesians 1:22-23), therefore a different standard (Matthew 28:18-20)
• Protestants – most teach salvation by faith alone (James 1:22; 2:24) and that there are many legitimate churches (Matthew 16:18)
• Liberals – do not respect authority (Colossians 3:17) or bounds of fellowship (Ephesians 5:11)

Who Are We Trying to Please? (v. 10)

Text: Romans 14

What We Must Understand As We Begin:

• Controversy: Does Romans 14 allow ongoing fellowship with those in sin/error?
• We can understand this (Ephesians 3:4)
• Scripture does not contradict itself (John 10:35)

What Does This Chapter Teach & What Does It Not Teach?

• Don’t judge others’ opinions by your opinions. NOT: Don’t judge. (v. 1-6)
• God will judge all. NOT: God will accept all unconditionally. (v. 10-12)
• Nothing is unclean in itself. NOT: Anything goes, we can do as we please. (v. 14)
• Pursue the things which make for peace. NOT: Ignore sin & error in order to maintain fellowship & unity. (v. 19)

Passages Contradicted by the False View

• 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14-15 – withdraw from brethren living in sin who refuse to repent
• 1 Corinthians 5:9-10,13 – refrain from social contact with erring brother, except to teach (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:15)
• Ephesians 5:11 – not to have fellowship with works of darkness; don’t ignore them, but expose them
• Romans 16:17 – mark & avoid false teachers
• 2 John 10-11 – receiving, even greeting, a false teacher amounts to participation in his evil deeds

Text: Nehemiah 4

We Will Face Opposition (v. 1-3, 7-8)

Trust in God (v. 4-5)

A Mind to Work (v. 6)

Pray and Act (v. 9)

We Are in This Together (v. 14,20)

Always Be on Guard (v. 16-23)

Text: John 21:25

The Bible is Concise – this is by design

The Bible is Understandable – in order to produce belief

The Bible has Everything We Need – we are not missing any information necessary to please God

Read the article: Many Other Things

Where Have We Been?

• Born innocent, without sin (Ecclesiastes 7:29)
• All who have reached an accountable age have sinned (Romans 3:23)
• Sin separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 2:1-3)
• Without direction (Jeremiah 10:23)

Where Are We Now?

• Those who have not had their sins forgiven are still in the condition described above
• Christians have been saved by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:5,8)
• We have been added to Christ’s church (Acts 2:47)
• We are part of His kingdom (Colossians 1:13)
• We are still on the earth (2 Corinthians 5:1-2; Philippians 3:13-14)

Where Are We Going?

• Death (Hebrews 9:27)
• Judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10)
• From judgment, either to heaven or hell (Matthew 25:46)

How Does One Get to Heaven?

• Believe that Jesus is the Christ (John 3:16)
• Put away sin from your life (Acts 11:18)
• Confess your faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10)
• Be baptized into Christ to have your sins washed away (Galatians 3:27; Acts 22:16)
• Remain faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10)

How Does One Get to Hell?

• Anyway you want (Proverbs 14:12)

Read the article: Taking Stock