your own faith (the grim truth). just because you are in a garage

Your Your OWNOWN FaithFaith

(The Grim (The Grim Truth)Truth)

Just because you Just because you are in a are in a GarageGarage

Just because you Just because you are in a are in a GarageGarage

does not mean does not mean

you are a you are a carcar..

Just because you Just because you are in a are in a churchchurch

Just because you Just because you are in a are in a churchchurch

does not mean does not mean

you are a you are a ChristianChristian..

The Grim TruthThe Grim Truth


93 % of 13 year olds 93 % of 13 year olds

saysay they are Christians… they are Christians…


93 % of 13 year olds 93 % of 13 year olds

saysay they are Christians… they are Christians…

but the vast majority of these people but the vast majority of these people

show show no signsno signs

that they are really following God!that they are really following God!

The Grim TruthThe Grim TruthMany people will not end up in heavenMany people will not end up in heaven

Matthew 7:13,14Matthew 7:13,14

"You can enter God's Kingdom only through "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. who choose the easy way.

Matthew 7:13,14Matthew 7:13,14

"You can enter God's Kingdom only through "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it. narrow, and only a few ever find it.


Many people who Many people who saysay they are Christians, they are Christians, really aren’treally aren’t

Matthew 7:21-23Matthew 7:21-23

Not all people who sound religious are really Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as `Lord,' but godly. They may refer to me as `Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Heaven.


Not all people who sound religious are really Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as `Lord,' but godly. They may refer to me as `Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Heaven.

The decisive issue is whether they obey my The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven...Father in heaven...


On judgment day many will tell me, `Lord, On judgment day many will tell me, `Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.'performed many miracles in your name.'


On judgment day many will tell me, `Lord, On judgment day many will tell me, `Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' performed many miracles in your name.'

But I will reply, `I never knew you. Go away; But I will reply, `I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized. the things you did were unauthorized.



Many Christians don’t really follow GodMany Christians don’t really follow God

Matthew 13Matthew 13Farmer Scattering SeedFarmer Scattering Seed

"A farmer went out to plant some seed. As "A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some he scattered it across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. came and ate them.


Other seeds fell on shallow soil with Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The plants sprang up underlying rock. The plants sprang up quickly, but they soon wilted beneath the quickly, but they soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil. nourishment in the shallow soil.


Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades. and choked out the tender blades.


But some seeds fell on fertile soil and But some seeds fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had even a hundred times as much as had been planted. been planted.


The seed that fell on the hard path The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the Good represents those who hear the Good News about the Kingdom and don't News about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the seed away from their and snatches the seed away from their hearts. hearts.


The rocky soil represents those who hear The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But the message and receive it with joy. But like young plants in such soil, their roots like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep. At first they get along don't go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they problems or are persecuted because they believe the word. believe the word.


The thorny ground represents those who The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced. so no crop is produced.


The good soil represents the hearts of those The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God's message and who truly accept God's message and produce a huge harvest--thirty, sixty, or produce a huge harvest--thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had even a hundred times as much as had been planted." been planted."




Everyone has to Everyone has to decide for themselvesdecide for themselves whether or not to follow Godwhether or not to follow God

The BridgeThe Bridge


you God


you God

SPLAT

Thud,Thud,


You on steroids God


GodYou on steroids


God

Bounce, Bounce, SPLAT

You on steroids


you God


you God

Where are you on this drawing?

The Good News The Good News


God is totally perfectGod is totally perfect



I’m notI’m not



I’m notI’m not

Christ died for my sinsChrist died for my sins



I’m notI’m not

Christ died for my sinsChrist died for my sins

I accept God’s giftI accept God’s gift

If you have done this, If you have done this,

you already you already

KNOWKNOW

God.God.

It only makes sense It only makes sense

to to

FOLLOWFOLLOW

God.God.

A Challenge!A Challenge!Memorize this verse by next week:Memorize this verse by next week:

Romans 6:13bRomans 6:13b

Give yourselves completely to God Give yourselves completely to God

since you have been given new life. since you have been given new life.

Pray about what it meansPray about what it means

Some questions for small group:Some questions for small group:


Why do I come to church?Why do I come to church?



Am I sure that I really know God?Am I sure that I really know God?



Am I sure that I really know God? Am I sure that I really know God?

Could I honestly say that I am a follower of Could I honestly say that I am a follower of God?God?



Am I sure that I really know God? Am I sure that I really know God?

Could I honestly say that I am a follower of Could I honestly say that I am a follower of God?God?

What What one thingone thing can I do this week to get can I do this week to get to know God better?to know God better?

your own faith (the grim truth). just because you are in a garage

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heavenmany people

arentthe grim truthmany

grim truththe grim truth93

christiansthe grim truth93

seeda farmer

kingdom of heaven

faiththe grim truthjust

shallow soil