Proverbs 1:20-21Wisdom cries aloud in the street,in the markets she raises her voice;21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

There are Many Reasons for Failure

Matthew 13:20-21

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately

receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when

tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 

Hard times and depth to self, so as to resist

There are Many Reasons for Failure

Matthew 13:22

22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the

world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 

The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches

There are Many Reasons for Failure

Ephesians 4:17-18

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of

God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

Trusting in self and following our own mind

There are Many Reasons for Failure

Galatians 5:19-21

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry,

sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,

divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not

inherit the kingdom of God.

Practicing the works of the flesh

There are Many Reasons for Failure

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living

sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what

is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

In all things we’re told to transform, not conform

There Might Have Been A Warning

Romans 14:11-12

for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Each one of us will give account of ourself

There Might Have Been A Warning

2 Corinthians 5:10

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive

what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Each one of us will be recompensed

There Might Have Been A Warning

2 Thessalonians 1:6-9

since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is

revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not

know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of

eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Jesus will bring relief and retribution

Nobody Falls Alone

Fathers lead their homes Mothers lead also

Proverbs 17:25A foolish son is a grief to

his fatherand bitterness to her who

bore him.

Proverbs 23:24The father of the righteous

will greatly rejoice;he who fathers a wise son

will be glad in him.

Nobody Falls Alone

Fathers lead their homes Mothers lead also Children affect homes Brethren are left Those looking for light are

left in darkness

Even Long Flights Fail Sometimes

The elderly Mature Those “raised” in the church

Hebrews 6:4-6

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have

shared in the Holy Spirit,5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and

then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their

own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Tasted, enlightened,

partakers - FALLEN

Hebrews 10:35-39

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what

is promised. 37 For,

“Yet a little while,and the coming one will come and will not delay;

38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,and if he shrinks back,

my soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

We need endurance, to stay the course

Even Long Flights Fail Sometimes

We’re All Going This Way Taken with no time to prepare Not even time for a “mayday” Rescue efforts are often not

dependable Can’t help but wonder how

many were at worship on that “last” Lord’s day

Are We Ready?