Proposition: When the professing Christian lives a life that’s all but Christian, then we bring shame to the Name of Jesus.

Introduction: The Practical Atheist

Moody Handbook of Theology classifies an atheist in three ways:

•Dogmatic Atheist. Says there is no God

•Virtual Atheist. Do not believe in God, based on their terminology of who God is

•Practical Atheist. Believes there is a God, but lives life as if there is no God.

The prodigal son lived in the pig pin as if he had no father.

In the second chapter of Romans Paul is laboring the point of a natural law. There is a righteousness that is evident in the conscience of men.

I.The Guilty Jew

A.Rested on the fact that the law was given to the Jews

1)Being a son of Abraham does not guarantee a blessing

2)Esau sought a blessing with tears and there was none. Hebrews 12:16-17

B.Lived his life contrary to the law he boasted about

1)How can the Jew claim to be a leader and guide when he breaks the very law he boasts about?

2)Paul asked if these Jews stole, committed adultery, or committed sacrilege.

II.The Guilty Christian

A.We are confident that “Going to church” is enough

1)Being a member of a church does not guarantee salvation

2)Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter Heaven. Matthew 7:21-23

3)How are we living as Christians?

1.Marriages

2.Sexual standards

3.Substance abuse

B.Do our actions outside of the church doors reflect a true belief in God?

1)If any man is in Christ he is a new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17

2)We show our faith in God by how we conduct ourselves James 2:17

Conclusion: The Hope of the Christian

Our faith in trying times

•Do we fret and worry as if there is no God?

•What a friend we have in Jesus. All of our sins and grieves to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

•Live a life that embraces the knowledge that God is real

Our hope for better times

•We look forward to “The city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” Hebrews 11:10

•Heaven is our goal

•We should not sorrow as the unbeliever. 1Thessalonians 4:13

The Church Going Atheist

Introduction: The Practical Atheist

Moody Handbook of Theology classifies an atheist in three ways:

•Dogmatic Atheist. Says there is no God

•Virtual Atheist. Do not believe in God, based on their terminology of who God is

•Practical Atheist. Believes there is a God, but lives life as if there is no God.

The prodigal son lived in the pig pin as if he had no father.

In the second chapter of Romans Paul is laboring the point of a natural law. There is a righteousness that is evident in the conscience of men.

I.The Guilty Jew

A.Rested on the fact that the law was given to the Jews

1)Being a son of Abraham does not guarantee a blessing

2)Esau sought a blessing with tears and there was none. Hebrews 12:16-17

B.Lived his life contrary to the law he boasted about

1)How can the Jew claim to be a leader and guide when he breaks the very law he boasts about?

2)Paul asked if these Jews stole, committed adultery, or committed sacrilege.

II.The Guilty Christian

A.We are confident that “Going to church” is enough

1)Being a member of a church does not guarantee salvation

2)Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter Heaven. Matthew 7:21-23

3)How are we living as Christians?

1.Marriages

2.Sexual standards

3.Substance abuse

B.Do our actions outside of the church doors reflect a true belief in God?

1)If any man is in Christ he is a new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17

2)We show our faith in God by how we conduct ourselves James 2:17

Conclusion: The Hope of the Christian

Our faith in trying times

•Do we fret and worry as if there is no God?

•What a friend we have in Jesus. All of our sins and grieves to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

•Live a life that embraces the knowledge that God is real

Our hope for better times

•We look forward to “The city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” Hebrews 11:10

•Heaven is our goal

•We should not sorrow as the unbeliever. 1Thessalonians 4:13