Proverbs 14 - The Way That Seems Right Which Leads to Death

Proverbs 14 

Hello Project Ezra!  My apologies for missing last week’s post.  Last weekend was Norcal Fire, our local evangelism conference, which I help to run, and I was indeed running for most of the week, trying to make final arrangements and make sure no detail was forgotten.  By God’s grace, it went very well.  The preaching from Tony Miano (who founded this group), Andrew Rappaport from Striving for Eternity, and Matt Slick from CARM was excellent, and many people were blessed and encouraged.  The sermons will be available soon, and I would encourage you to check out the Q and A session I did with the speakers here: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=9231302483.  It was a lot of fun to do, and there were many good subjects regarding evangelism that were addressed 

This week’s outline is below.  The recommended chapter is Proverbs 14, and I have focused on verse 14, which says “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”  This is perfect description of the behavior of a large part of modern society.  The outline points this out, and gives several examples of how our society's view of right and wrong are contrary to God's word.  I would encourage you to search the scriptures, consider the news, the entertainment industry, etc., and come up with your own additional examples, and share them with the group if you would like. 

Thanks for being part of Project Ezra.  I pray this outline is a blessing to you, and convicting to those who hear the gospel preached.        

All for His glory, 

Dan  

INTRODUCTION 

READ PROVERBS 14 

Proverbs 14 tells us, among many other wise statements, there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death 

There may be few other passages of scripture that I can think of which describe our society better 

Our society in general, and each of us in particular, are in nearly constant rebellion against God, and His word. 

We call evil good, and good, evil.  (isaiah 5:20)   

We marginalize God’s law, or deny His existence all together. 

But in our hearts, we know that God exists, and that He has spoken. 

God’s law is written on our hearts, and our consciences bear witness (Romans 2:15) when we sin against Him. 

Yet this society of rebels not only accepts many of those sins, but celebrates them. 

We celebrate moral relativism, saying that everyone should be allowed to define their own morality.  Yet scripture says there is only one lawgiver and judge, Jesus Christ (James 4:12).  When we define our own morality, we commit idolatry, attempting to usurp God’s authority. 

We celebrate Religious pluralism, and the idea that we should all coexist.  Yet scripture tells us that God is a jealous God (Deuteronomy 6:15), that sacrifices offered to false gods are really offered to demons (1 Corinthians 10:20), and calls worship of any but the true God spiritual adultery. 

We celebrate sexual freedom, claiming that our bodies are ours to do with as we please.  But God created sex, just as He created everything else, with a purpose.  When we reject that purpose, through pre-marital or extra-marital sex, homosexuality, pedophilia, or any other sinful act or thought, we blaspheme God and spiritual as well as commit adultery. 

CONSIDER GOD'S LAW AND COME UP WITH ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES.  SHARE THEM ON THE  

GROUP FACEBOOK PAGE IF YOU THINK APPROPRIATE. 

In all these we break God’s law, and rebel against Him, earning His wrath. 

In fact, scripture tells us we are all, by nature, children or wrath (Ephesians 2:3). 

Every one of us deserves death and fiery hell as punishment for our sins against God. 

God, who is just, will see that justice is satisfied, and that every sin is paid completely. 

But the same passage that tells us that we are by nature Children of wrath, also has good news. 

It tells us of a God who is also loving, and merciful (Ephesians 2:4-7). 

It tells us of a God who gave us the immeasurable riches of His grace through Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, was the one man in history who lives as God had commanded. 

He lived the perfect life we could never live, and then died the criminal’s death we deserved. 

He rose on the third day, proving His power over death, proving who He claimed to be, and is now seated at God’s right hand, as our advocate. 

Now, if we will trust in Him, if we will, in humility, turn from sin and trust in His sacrifice for us, then we will be saved. 

Fix your eyes on Christ, my friend.  Trust in Him alone! 

There is no other name under heaven by which you must be saved (Acts 4:12).  There is no other hope in 

heaven or on earth. 

If you do not trust in Jesus as God, you will die in your sins (John 8:24). 

If you reject His sacrifice as payment for your sins, you will spend eternity paying for them yourself. 

So turn to Christ today, and live!