Sermon Series
Dr. Gary VanDeWalker Evangelical
Free Church
10 Things That Annoy
Me About God
1. He takes everything personally.
Matthew 25:40 "The
King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least
of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
2. He thinks what He said 2,000 years ago
applies to today.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
3. He won’t let me take anything with me when
I die.
1 Timothy 6:7 For we
brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
4. He allows evil to continue.
Psalm 74:10-11 How
long will the enemy mock you, O God?
Will the foe revile your name forever?
Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds
of your garment and destroy them!
5. He isn’t impressed by what I do.
Romans 4:2-3 If, in
fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not
before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was
credited to him as righteousness.
6. He is way too generous with my possessions.
Matthew
7. He doesn’t justify Himself to me.
Job 38:4 Where
were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
8. He won’t let me earn my way to heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it
is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it
is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
9. He won’t prove His existence to the world.
Luke
10. He isn’t politically correct.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me.“
I
may be overstating my case a bit. These
10 things no longer annoy me, but in the past they have. At different times in my life I have
questioned why God does some of the things He does or why He has set up the
world the way He has done. I’ve had more
than 10 annoyances; however, these 10 are the ones I have found I have most in
common with other people.
As I have thought about God, I’ve
wondered…why is He so touchy about things?
Why so dogmatic? Don’t the things
I do count for something good in His eyes?
If He is all-powerful, then why does evil exist? He could explain Himself to me and prove
Himself to everyone, so why doesn’t He? Sometimes,
He seems out of touch with the real world.
I love finding answers when I
can. Questions bother me. When I have a question I pursue an
answer. I haven’t found answers to all
the questions I have. But to these 10
things, I have discovered amazing truths about God and this world.
For the next 10 weeks, I invite you to
join me in the adventure of probing into these issues and discovering why what
once annoyed me about God has drawn me into a closer and more personal
relationship with Him.
--Pastor Gary
5. April 27
He isn’t impressed by what I do.
If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast
about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed
God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
1. The
2. You have nothing to ____________________ about before God. (vs 1-3)
--_________________ keeps you from
God (Proverbs
--The greatest people in the Bible learned that ______________ pleases God (Hebrews 11:6)
3. If you could earn God’s favor, God will __________________ you. (vs. 4-5)
--How does one bring the God of the Universe into their _________________?
--How can one impress an ______________ being with _______________ acts?
4. Happiness and esteem comes from ____________________________. (vs. 6-8)
--You are happy when you learn how to be _________________________
--You are exalted in God’s sight, when you are _________________ (1 Peter 5:6)
5. An area where I need to please God with more faith is:
5. April 27
He isn’t impressed by what I do.
If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast
about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed
God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
1. The
2. You have nothing to boast about before God. (vs 1-3)
--Pride keeps you from God
(Proverbs
--The greatest people in the Bible learned that faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6)
3. If you could earn God’s favor, God will owe you. (vs. 4-5)
--How does one bring the God of the Universe into their debt?
--How can one impress an infinite being with finite acts?
4. Happiness and esteem comes from grace and humility. (vs. 6-8)
--You are happy when you learn how to be forgiven
--You are exalted in God’s sight, when you are humble (1 Peter 5:6)
5. An area where I need to please God with more faith is:
5. Bible Study
1. Growing up, who was someone you wanted to impress?
2. How do you see others around you trying to be impressive?
3. Read Hebrews 11:1-40 (yes it’s a lot)
4. What one word sums up this passage?
5. According to verse 1, what is faith? Put it in your own words.
6. In verses 2-3, 6 what is necessary to please God?
7. What made Abel’s sacrifice better than Cain’s?
8. What are the different ways Abraham showed his faith?
9. What obstacles did Abraham have to overcome to have faith?
10. Who’s faith in the Scriptures impresses you? Why?
11. What price did some of these people pay for having faith?
12. What are some words you would use to describe your own faith?
13. What person in this chapter of Scripture do you most closely relate to? Why?
14. What situation in this chapter would you have found it most difficult to face? Why?
15. How has your faith cost you?
16. What is an area of your life where you would like to increase your faith?
17. You can’t impress God, but you can please Him. Do you find that makes your Christian walk harder or easier?
18. What is one thing you can do this week to exercise your faith?
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