AM Scripture Reading: Hosea 4.1-6

This morning’s Sermon:                                                          Brent T. Willey

A CUT-FLOWER GENERATION

Introduction:

1. “The terrible danger of our time consists in the fact that ours is a cut-flower generation. Beautiful as cut flowers may be, and much as we may use our ingenuity to keep them looking fresh for awhile, they will eventually die, and they die because they are severed from their sustaining roots” (Elton Trueblood, The Predicament of Modern Man).

2. God’s Word is the basis of our Judeo-Christian roots, which is absolutely necessary (Jer. 10.23; Prov. 14.12; cf., Hosea 4.6).

3.   Can we make a difference?

I. WHY DO WE BELIEVE WHAT WE BELIEVE?

1. Never underestimate the power of influence! (Matt. 16.6-12; Gal. 5.7-9)

2. Every one of these sources is very fallible:

1. Parents? (Ezek. 18.1-4)

2. Friends? (Job 32.3)

3. Secular teachers? (1 Tim. 6.20)

4. Preachers? (2 Pet. 2.1-2)

5.   Personal experience? (Prov. 14.12)

II. THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH IN GOD’S WORD!

1. We need to know what truth is and from where it comes.

   1. “God’s word is truth…” (John 17.17; John 8.32)

   2. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10.17 – nasb).

   3. “What” we believe needs to totally agree with God’s Word! (2 Tim. 3.16-17; Acts 17.11)

2. Much of whatis believed today resembles cut flowers:

   1. “All I have to do is be a good moral person.” (Acts 10)

   2. “Just accept Jesus as your personal Savior.” (Acts 2.38)

   3. “It’s impossible to fall from grace” (Gal. 5.4)

   4. “Advanced societies are tolerant of homosexuality.” (Rom. 1.26-27; 1 Cor. 6.9-10)

   5. “God won’t send anybody to hell.” (Matt. 10.28)

   6.   “Doctrinal beliefs are not that important.” (Matt. 15.8-9)

 Conclusion: Our children deserve more than cut flowers…