First Alliance Church ATL

03-18-18 The Terrible Problem That No One Has, part 2

“The Terrible Problem That No One Has” (Part 2)   Proverbs 1:8-19

Surveys show that when asked, “What is the most urgent problem in the U.S. today?” people respond, “Greed.” Strangely enough, however, when asked about their own personal problems, people rarely, if ever, talk about greed. The book of Proverbs lets us know that greed is not only everyone’s problem, it is a potentially deadly problem. Fortunately, Proverbs has some help for us. How does Proverbs help us with greed?

I First, Proverbs teaches us that if we want to escape the slavery of greed, we need to be taught how in the family (1:8-9).

II Second, Proverbs teaches us that if we want to escape the slavery of greed, we need to avoid the w_______ kind of relationships o___________ the home (1:10-14).

A. First, this warning isn’t just about greed itself, it is about being t_________ by p__________.

1. Notice, in verses 8-14 two very different kinds of i_________ are given to the person Solomon is addressing.

2. Notice, the invitation from the gang has two promises
intended to attract new members: the two promises are m________ and e___________.

3. Notice, the invitation from the gang is focused, not on g________ something to the one who joins, but on g______ something from him.

B. Second, this warning is e___________. Why?

1. Solomon’s target audience, on this occasion, is an a_______.

2. Solomon wants us to know that greed is d__________.

C. Third, this warning is r_________.

03-11-18 The Terrible Problem that No One Has

“The Terrible Problem That No One Has”  Proverbs 1:8-19

Surveys show that when asked, “What is the most urgent problem in the U.S. today?” people respond, “Greed.” Strangely enough when asked about their own personal problems people rarely talk about greed. It seems that greed is the predominant national problem which affects no one individually. This strange phenomenon calls for some study and that is what we want to do today.

I. Greed is a significant problem for human beings because greed is energized by d___________.

A. Greed is a big problem, not just for Americans, but especially for American _______________.

B. Not only does greed keep its presence secret, there are few sins that so c______________ our heart as greed.

II. How does Proverbs help us with greed?

A. First, Proverbs teaches us that if we want to escape the slavery of greed, we need to be taught how in the ________ (1:8).

B. There are two questions we need to ask of this verse:
1. First, Who is the t________?
a. The fact is, children learn from mother and father how to view ________ and __________.
b. Here is the challenge: not only is it necessary for ____ parent to have their greed under control, ____ must have their greed under control.
2. Second, who is the r___________ of the teaching?

III. Look at how Solomon reinforces his teaching: he says we have a powerful i___________ for listening to our parents (1:9).

IV. Solomon says, “Parents, we must inoculate our children against the world’s lie that money, and what it can buy, will make life w_______ l________.”

03-04-18 The Wisdom Test

“The Wisdom Test” Proverbs 1:1-7

Last Sunday we began our introduction of the Old Testament book of Proverbs.  In the first seven verses of the book we find three
crucial questions: 

First, what are proverbs? Proverbs are sayings composed or collected by Solomon (1:1).

Second, what is the p__________ of these proverbs?  (1:2-6)

1. With the exception of verse 5, we have five p_________ c________ or five r__________ for why God has given us these proverbs.
2. The first reason God gave us these proverbs, verse 2 says, is so that we might have w__________. Wisdom is l____-s______, the ability to handle what comes at us in life in the b______ p__________ w____.
3. We can use verses 2 – 6 to t______ our level of wisdom:

            Question 1: Am I willing to accept d__________?

            Question 2: Am I a good l_________?

            Question 3: When I make decisions, is my goal to do what is r_____ and j______ and f_____?

            Question 4: Am I s________ my wisdom with those who are i______________?

            Question 5: Am I g_________ in wisdom?

Third, how do we make Proverbs w______? (1:7)

Fourth, Proverbs begins and ends by telling us that if we want wisdom, one thing is required:  the f______ of the L______.

 

02-25-19 Kevin Goins - How Wise Do You Want To Be? Proverbs

“How Wise Do You Want to Be?” (Part one) Proverbs 1:1-7

Today we are going to introduce the Old Testament book of Proverbs.  We are currently working our way through the Gospel of John on Sunday mornings, and we plan to continue.  On occasion, however, we want to season our study of John with a little spice from the book of wisdom. 
Today we are focusing on the way Proverbs begins and over the next two Sundays we want to ask three crucial questions: 

I First, w____ are proverbs?   Proverbs are sayings c__________ or c____________ by Solomon.

1. There are four things we need to highlight about Solomon:
2. Solomon was the a_______ or e________ of many proverbs found in this book.
3. Solomon was ________ of __________.
4. Solomon was the w___________ human being in all of history.

II What Solomon says about wisdom brings up a crucial question:  Does everything stated in Proverbs apply u_______________?  Does it always apply e________ to every person in every situation?

1. The bottom line is that the principles of Proverbs do not allow us to accurately p____________ or c___________ how life will turn out.
2. Knowing this helps us with a verse which has caused a great deal of p_________ and c__________: Proverbs ____:___.
3. This proverb lays down a general principle: If you want a child to take the right way, you better train her when she is ___________.

III The fourth thing we need to know about Solomon is that he was, Proverbs 1:1 says, “the s____ of D______.”

1. The Old Testament prophets said M_________ would also be the “Son of David.”
2. Not only does Proverbs spell out a connection between Jesus and S_________, it also spells out a very strong connection between Jesus and __________.

IV What exactly is a proverb?

1. Kenneth Burk says, “proverbs are shorthand for situations in life that r________ often enough that people feel the need to have a n______ for them.”
2. The book of Proverbs ___ _______ the only place in the Bible where we find proverbs.

02-18-18 Kevin Goins - How Bad Can It Get? - conclusion

“How Bad Can It Get?” (Conclusion)
John 6:16-21

All of us know what it is like to face problems. Sometimes, however, problems come in bunches, either one right after the other or all at once. What does this text teach us about troubles that come in bunches?

I. Bunches of trouble often come without warning (6:16).
II. Not only can bunches of trouble come without warning, they can also come without any explanation (6:17a)
III. A bunch of troubles can overwhelm us with darkness (6:17b).

IV Bunches of trouble often arouse feelings of f______ and a____________ (6:16-18).
     A. What the disciples face is a bunch of troubles:
          1. First, d________ was falling.
          2. Second, “a strong w____ was blowing.”
          3. Third, “the w_______ grew rough.”
     B. It was the a_______ of Jesus that made the fear and the aloneness so horrible.

V Bunches of trouble often find no relief until the danger reaches its h________ p________ (6:19-20).

VI Bunches of trouble can only be survived when we are willing to b_______ Jesus into our b_______ (6:21).

VII Bunches of trouble can h_____ us by l_______ us where we need to go (6:21-22).

VIII We have a lot of troubles, but the Gospel tells us that Jesus s_________ and e_________ those troubles with us.

 

02-11-18 Dave and Teresa Bill - Republic of the Congo

01-28-18 Kevin Goins - Learning from Need part 2

“Learning From Need”  John 6:1-15

Hurricane Harvey so devastated Houston and the surrounding area that many Americans decided they wanted to do something to help those who had been hurt.  Sadly, however, not all the help people gave was really helpful.  That is because we human beings are often at a loss when it comes to dealing with need.  Fortunately, our text today helps us to know how to face need.  What does it teach us? 

I  First, you never know when a significant need will appear.

II  Second, people who are sensitive to the needs of others, will see the need in others.

III  Third, sometimes a need is present in our life to remind us that we have limits we are not yet aware of – limits that have not yet been tested.

IV  Fourth, we need to focus our attention of the b____ i_________.

V   Fifth, we need to make sure we do not d___________ God’s resources for meeting our need.

VI  Sixth, Jesus not only meets n______, he sometimes satisfies w_______.

VII  Seventh, we must never w_______ what God provides to meet our needs.

 

 

 

 

VIII         Last, we need to make sure we do not ignore the most p_________ n_____ of our life.

02-04-18 Kevin Goins - How Bad Can It Get?

“How Bad Can It Get?”  John 6:16-21

All of us know what it is like to face problems.  Sometimes, however, problems come in bunches, either one right after the other or all at once.  What does this text teach us about troubles that come in bunches? 

First, bunches of trouble often come without w__________ (6:16).

1. Sometimes we can convince ourselves that b___ things only happen when we do something w_______ to cause it.
2. We like to feel that bad things happen for a reason because, if that is true, then we have c___________.

Second, not only can bunches of trouble come without warning, they can also come without any e_____________ (6:17a)

1. Jesus also multiplies the bread and fish in Matthew and Mark, but there are differences which tells us Jesus did this miracle m______ t_______ o______.
2. What is different in John is this: after Jesus multiplies the bread and fish in Matthew and Mark, he gives d_________ to his disciples.
3. But in the Gospel of John the disciples are d________-l_____ after the miracle.  

Third, a bunch of troubles can overwhelm us with ______________ (6:17b).

1. John has two themes in his Gospel to which he repeatedly draws attention. One of them is ___________.
2. But John not only paints a very vivid picture of darkness in his Gospel, he says there is a _________ which can drive any darkness away.

01-21-18 Kevin Goins Learning from Need

“Learning From Need”   John 6:1-15

Hurricane Harvey so devastated Houston and the surrounding area that many Americans decided they wanted to do something to help those who had been hurt.  Sadly, however, not all the help people gave was really helpful.  That is because we human beings are often at a loss when it comes to dealing with need.  Fortunately, our text today helps us to know how to face need.  What does it teach us? 

I First, you n_______ know when a significant need will a__________.

II Second, people who are sensitive to the needs ___ others, will see the need ___ others.

III Third, sometimes a need is present in our life to remind us that we have l_______ we are not yet aware of – limits that have not yet been t_________.

01-14-18 Kevin Goins - Fearless!

“Fearless!”  2 Timothy 1:6-8

We all have certain fears and these fears can keep us from doing the things we would really like to do. In fact, sometimes fear keeps us from doing the work God calls us to do. That is why at the beginning of this new ministry year we need to look at the handicap of fear. The Bible has an antidote to fear and it is found in our text for today.

I If you have never felt fear in carrying out your calling as a Christian, I want you to put yourself in the place of someone who did. Imagine you are pastor of the t______ l_________ Christian church in the first-century world.

   A. As pastor you have all the responsibilities that come with the job, but in addition to that, your church has some problems:

      1. Your church isn’t exactly a u_______ body of believers. There are groups within your church q__________ about what Christians should believe.

      2. The g_________ is putting pressure on you and your church.

  B. Timothy had to face all that and he wasn’t exactly a c_____________ personality with nerves of s_________. And he was y________ and had h________ p_______.

II After beginning his letter, Paul comes to the point in verse 6: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

  A. There was a time in Timothy’s life when Paul laid his hands on him in prayer and asked God to give him a g_____ for m__________.

  B. The question for us is: Do we have the same e_________in our ministry today? If not we need to f____ the f_______.

III But it is hard to be enthusiastic when you are scared to death, so Paul goes on in verse seven to deal with fear:

  A. First, the n___________ - “God did not give us a spirit of fear.”

  B. After telling us what God hasn’t given us, he goes on to tell us what God has provided:

      1. P__________

      2. L________

      3. A s__________ m________

IV Finally, what is the result of this fearless approach to life? Answer: b_______ t__________.