Sermons

PREACHED BY JOHN GAINES
AT LEONARD STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST

Street Level Theology

Introduction

1. We are what we think [Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. . . .

2. If we think as most other people think, we are likely to end up at the same destination [Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!']

3. George Barna is a well-known religious pollster. His surveys have been used by the "felt needs" movement to argue that churches should tailor their presentation to what the people want. If we listened to these people, we would be marketing the church to the community in much the same way that Sears or Wal-Mart markets themselves.

4. However, Mr. Barna's research does give us some insight into the thinking of people we're trying to reach with the gospel. A few years ago, he conducted a series of "OmniPoll" surveys and reported the results in a 1998 book. One chart in the book which caught my attention is called "Street-Level Theology: What Americans Really Believe." Let's look at some of those results to help us understand more clearly the teaching job we face in reaching people with the gospel of Christ. We will look at five results of the polls.

I. AMERICANS BELIEVE IN SELF-HELP.

A. 81% thought the words "God helps those who help themselves" were in the Bible.

B. We are helpless without God.

1. Acts 17:28 (NKJV) "for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

2. Sin separates us from God [Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV) But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.]

3. The only way to bridge that divide is through the forgiveness given to us in Christ. We are saved by grace [2 Timothy 1:9 (NKJV) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,]

C. It is a misunderstanding to think that human beings have nothing to do with our own salvation.

1. There is a sense in which we save ourselves.

a. Acts 2:40 (KJV) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

b. We must act in order to be saved. The gospel includes facts to be believed and commands to be obeyed.

2. Some cannot understand that while salvation cannot be earned, it must be received by acts of obedient faith -- hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized.

II. AMERICANS BELIEVE ONE FAITH IS AS GOOD AS ANOTHER.

A. Their is only one faith acceptable to God [Ephesians 4:5 (NKJV) one Lord, one faith, one baptism;] That faith is New Testament Christianity.

B. Multicultural America today not only believes that one denomination in Christendom is as good as another; it believes that one religion is as good as another. Buddhist? Hindu? Moslem? Pagan? No problem -- let everyone find his own way to God. Another question in Barna's poll asked, "Do you agree that all religious faiths teach equally valid truths?" 40% (a plurality) said YES!

C. Jesus disagreed. He said, John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Jesus, the one savior, purchased one church [Acts 20:28 (NKJV) ". . . shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."] That church is His body [Ephesians 1:22-23] and there is ONE BODY [Ephesians 4:4].

III. AMERICANS BELIEVE EVERYONE WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME OUTCOME AFTER DEATH.

A. Most people expect to go to heaven. There's some good in everyone and a loving God would condemn only the most vile and wicked to hell.

B. This way of thinking conflicts plainly with the teaching of Jesus.

1. Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV) "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

2. John 5:28-29 (NKJV) "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 "and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

IV. AMERICANS BELIEVE THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF LIFE IS ENJOYMENT.

A. They share the philosophy of the rich farmer who wanted to "take [his] ease; eat, drink, and be merry." [Luke 12:19 (NKJV)] Surveys show that the #1 goal of most people is to "be happy." Many think money and wealth are necessary to have that happiness.

B. Happiness is desirable, but real peace and happiness comes only from being right with God [Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.] In Christ, we have:

1. All spiritual blessings [Ephesians 1:3]

2. Freedom from condemnation [Romans 8:1 (NKJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.]

3. A new beginning [2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.]

4. Salvation [2 Timothy 2:10 (NKJV) Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.]

V. AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT SATAN IS NOT A LIVING BEING, BUT JUST A SYMBOL OF EVIL.

A. John 8:44 (NKJV) "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. One of Satan's most effective lies is that he is not real.

B. We live in a time of constant watchfulness.

1. The President has warned us that we must be constantly alert against further terrorist attacks.

2. Terrorists are children of the devil. Long before ben Laden, Satan had other agents working his will. They are far more subtle and far more effective in snatching the souls of men. The devil is a roaring lion [1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.]

CONCLUSION

1. If Satan can cause us to believe a lie, he succeeds in leading us away from God.

a. Consider the example of Eve in the Garden of Eden.

(1) What he said had an element of truth . . . he told her she would know good and evil if she ate the forbidden fruit.

(2) He lied when he told her something good would happen -- she would be like God.

(3) He lied when he told her something bad would not happen -- Satan said "You will not surely die." He was wrong. Eve was deceived.

b. Satan has deceived America into believing many things which conflict with the Word of God.

2. This leaves us with two matters of great urgency facing us. We cannot afford to neglect these responsibilities.

a. Examine our standing in the one faith of Jesus Christ [2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV) Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?; unless indeed you are disqualified.]

b. Use every opportunity to teach those who will listen to God's truth. Americans are hearing wrong information. It is critically important that they hear the truth. Who will speak God's word if we do not do it?

3. Invitation

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