Faithful Phrases?

2. Faithful Phrases?

3. Phrases to Rethink: “It sure beats the alternative.” or “At least I’m still alive.”

4. Where is Your Home? • 1 Pet. 2:11 • “I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims…”

5. Where is Your Home? • Heb. 10:11 • “…he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

6. Better than the alternative…Heaven? (Rev. 21:10-27)

7. The Christian Attitude Toward Death • Philippians 1:21-24 • 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

8. Phrases to Rethink: “It sure beats the alternative.” or “At least I’m still alive.” “Everything happens for a reason.”

9. Does Everything Happen For a Reason? • Ecclesiastes 9:11 • I returned and saw under • the sun that-The race is • not to the swift, Nor the • battle to the strong, Nor • bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.

10. SometimesBad ThingsHappen… • Due to chance (Eccl. 9:11) • God (Ex. 12:29; 2 Sam. 2:14; Dt. 8:5). • Other People (Death of Jesus) • Satan (Job; 1 Pet. 5:8)

11. Phrases to Rethink: “It sure beats the alternative.” or “At least I’m still alive.” “Everything happens for a reason.” “They are in a better place now.” OR “At least they’re not suffering anymore.”

12. Are they in a Better Place Now? Is their suffering over? Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13. Are they in a Better Place Now? Is their suffering over? Hebrews 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him

14. Rest Easy…God is a just judge. • Psalms 7:11 • God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.

15. Phrases to Rethink: “It sure beats the alternative.” or “At least I’m still alive.” “Everything happens for a reason.” “They are in a better place now.” OR “At least they’re not suffering anymore.” “God needed another angel in Heaven, so He called him/her home.”

16. Phrases to Rethink: “It sure beats the alternative.” or “At least I’m still alive.” “Everything happens for a reason.” “They are in a better place now.” OR “At least they’re not suffering anymore.” “God needed another angel in Heaven, so He called him/her home.” Phrases of Complaint

17. Should a Christian use phrases of complaint (grumbling)? • Philippians 4:11 • Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content…

18. Should a Christian use phrases of complaint (grumbling)? • Philippians 4:12 • I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

19. Paul said he learned to be content…even under these circumstances! • 2 Corinthians 6:4-5 NKJV 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; • 2 Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

20. Paul said he learned to be content…even under these circumstances! • 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 NKJV 23 Are they ministers of Christ? --I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness-- 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

21. Paul said he learned to be content…even under these circumstances! • 1 Timothy 6:6-8 • Now godliness with contentment is great gain…And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

22. Phrases to Rethink: “It sure beats the alternative.” or “At least I’m still alive.” “Everything happens for a reason.” “They are in a better place now.” OR “At least they’re not suffering anymore.” “God needed another angel in Heaven, so He called him/her home.” Phrases of Complaint “God will never allow you to have more than you can handle.”

23. Idea Probably Comes From Misquote of this Verse: • 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

24. Idea Probably Comes From Misquote of this Verse: • 1 Jn. 3:17 “…whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” • Gal. 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

25. 1 Jn. 3:17 “…whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

26. Gal. 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

27. Phrases to Rethink: “It sure beats the alternative.” or “At least I’m still alive.” “Everything happens for a reason.” “They are in a better place now.” OR “At least they’re not suffering anymore.” “God needed another angel in Heaven, so He called him/her home.” Phrases of Complaint “God will never allow you to have more than you can handle.” “God helps those who help themselves.”

28. “God helps those who help themselves?” Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?”

29. “God helps those who help themselves?” Eccl. 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

30. Phrases to Rethink: “It sure beats the alternative.” or “At least I’m still alive.” “Everything happens for a reason.” “They are in a better place now.” OR “At least they’re not suffering anymore.” “God needed another angel in Heaven, so He called him/her home.” Phrases of Complaint “God will never allow you to have more than you can handle.” “God helps those who help themselves.” “When God closes a door, He opens a window.”

31. Phrases to Rethink Most Carefully: “To be saved… …just ask Jesus into your heart….” …just pray the sinner’s prayer…” …all you need to do is believe…”