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Puzzling Mysteries
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Why is it easy to see others' _______, but hard
to see our own? Human Nature
•Matthew 7:1-6
mistakes
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Matthew 7:1-6
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 "For in the way you judge,
you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be
measured to you. …”
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Matthew 7:1-6
“… 3 "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?
…”
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Matthew 7:1-6
“… 5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will
see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. 6 "Do not give
what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will
trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
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Romans 2:1
“Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who
judge practice the same things.”
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Romans 2:17-23
“But if you bear the name "Jew" and rely upon the Law and boast in God, 18
and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being
instructed out of the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in
darkness, …”
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Romans 2:17-23
“… 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and
of the truth, 21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach
yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? …”
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Romans 2:17-23
“… 22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit
adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law,
do you dishonor God?”
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Why is it easy to see others' mistakes, but hard to see our own?
Human Nature•Matthew 7:1-6; Romans 2:1, 17-23
Once we correct ourselves, we are in a position to help others.•Luke 22:31-34
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Luke 22:31-34
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you,
when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." …”
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Luke 22:31-34
“… 33 But he said to Him, "Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison
and to death!" 34 And He said, "I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times
that you know Me."”
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Why is it easy to solve others' ______,
but hard to solve our own? It is human nature to want to give advice, but not to take it.
problems
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Why is it easy to solve others' problems,
but hard to solve our own? It is amazing how many answers we often have for the other fellow's problems •We can train the other fellow's children.
•We can tell another man how to deal with his spouse.
•We know how the other fellow should spend his money.
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Why is it easy to solve others' problems,
but hard to solve our own? We have all of the answers to others' problems, but none for our own.
The Bible teaches us to not be meddling in the affairs of others, but to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.•Galatians 6:4
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Galatians 6:4
“But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for
boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.”
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Philippians 2:12
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with
fear and trembling;”
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Why is it easy to "find the time" to attend recreational
activities, but hard to attend _____ _______? We are simply failing to put
the Lord first•Matthew 6:33
BibleStudies
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Matthew 6:33
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will
be added to you.”
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Why is it easy to "find the time" to attend recreational
activities, but hard to attend worship services? Perhaps our heart is in the wrong place.•Matthew 6:21
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Matthew 6:21
“for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
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Colossians 3:2
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
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Why is it easy to spend several hours reading
the newspaper, magazines, or books, but hard to spend just a few
minutes reading the _____?
1 Timothy 4:13-16
Bible
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1 Timothy 4:13-16
“Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to
exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through
prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. …”
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1 Timothy 4:13-16
“… 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your
progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for
as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for
those who hear you.”
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Why do Christians dress ___ for weddings and
funerals, but dress _____ for worshiping God?
We are well aware of the fact that God does not look on the outward appearance, but on the heart.•1 Samuel 16:7
Up
Down
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1 Samuel 16:7
“But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart."”
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James 2:1-5
“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes,
and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, …”
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James 2:1-5
“… 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine
clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor
man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," …”
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James 2:1-5
“… 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor
of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He
promised to those who love Him?”
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Why do Christians dress UP for weddings and funerals, but dress
DOWN for worshiping God? We should "give of your ____
to the Master..."•Modesty demands neat and orderly, as well as non-revealing apparel.
•1 Timothy 2:9-10
best
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1 Timothy 2:9-10
“Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with
braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, 10 but rather by
means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.”
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Why is it easy to encourage our children for _____, but hard to do
their _____ _____? Let me encourage our parents to encourage their children to do their Bible lessons.•Ephesians 6:4
schoolBiblelessons
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Ephesians 6:4
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in
the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
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Why is it easy to encourage our children
for school, but hard to do their Bible lessons?
It is important that we set a good example in preparing for our own Bible classes.
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Why is it easy to spend $30-40 at a fancy
restaurant and see the latest movie, but hard to place the same amount in the collection plate to support the work of the
_____? 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
church
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1 Corinthians 16:1-2
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you
also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put
aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be
made when I come.”
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2 Corinthians 9:6-7
“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed
in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves
a cheerful giver.”
“It is more blessed to give than to
receive.”Acts 20:35b
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Why is it easy to spend $30-40 at a fancy
restaurant and see the latest movie, but hard to place the same amount in the collection plate to support the work of the
church? When we give to the Lord, we become partakers in the preaching of the gospel.•Philippians 4:14-19
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Philippians 4:14-19
“Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. 15 You
yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church
shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; …”
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Philippians 4:14-19
“… 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my
needs. 17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. …”
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Philippians 4:14-19
“… 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am
amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a
fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. …”
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Philippians 4:14-19
“… 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory
in Christ Jesus.”
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Philippians 1:7
“For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you
in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and
confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.”
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Why does it seem like a sacrifice to spend an hour worshiping the Lord, but easy to spend an hour
_______ ___? Our priorities are not correct.•Perhaps we don't fear God or love God as we should.
•God seeks our worship, and we should joyfully render it to Him – John 4:23-24
watchingTV
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John 4:23-24
“"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such
people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 "God is spirit, and
those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."”
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Why does it seem like a sacrifice to spend an hour worshiping the Lord, but easy to spend an hour
watching TV? Our priorities are not correct.•Perhaps we don't fear God or love God as we should.
•The Lord favors those who fear Him – Psalm 147:11
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Psalm 147:11
“The Lord favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His
lovingkindness.”
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Why is it easier to talk to your friends about your views on world affairs,
but harder to speak about your ____ __
_____? We don't like the stigma of being labeled a fanatic or trouble maker.
faith in Christ
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Why is it easier to talk to your friends about your views on world affairs,
but harder to speak about your faith in
Christ? Nonetheless, it is our duty, as well as our privilege, to …
“proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into
His marvelous light;” 1 Peter 2:9
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Why is it easier to talk to your friends about your views on world affairs,
but harder to speak about your faith in
Christ? When our zeal for the Lord has eaten us up, there will be no way to hold us back from proclaiming God's praises •Jeremiah 20:9
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Jeremiah 20:9
“But if I say, "I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name," Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot
endure it.”
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How is it that we can chat with ______ for
hours, but find it a chore to talk to ____ in prayer for a few minutes each
day? A genuine love for God, as opposed to love for the people and things of this world, is what we need •Matthew 10:37
friendsGod
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Matthew 10:37
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than
Me is not worthy of Me.”
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How is it that we can chat with friends for
hours, but find it a chore to talk to God in prayer for a few minutes each
day? The prayers of the upright is God's _____•Proverbs 15:8
delight
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Proverbs 15:8
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the
prayer of the upright is His delight.”
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How is it that we can chat with friends for
hours, but find it a chore to talk to God in prayer for a few minutes each
day? Notice how David expressed his genuine love for God •Psalm 63:1-8
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Psalm 63:1-8
“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul
thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 Thus
I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power
and Your glory. …”
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Psalm 63:1-8
“… 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will
praise You. 4 So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my
hands in Your name. 5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers
praises with joyful lips. …”
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Psalm 63:1-8
“… 6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, 7 For You
have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for
joy. 8 My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.”
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“Why do people cast away salvation when it is so
readily available to all?” Don’t be an enigma yourself
•If you are not a Christian, why not obey the gospel now?
•If you have fallen away, why not return to the Lord now?
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