0395 Part 2 - Driving into a Ditch Part 1

DRIVING INTO A DITCH

Matthew 7:24-27

Ditch is not far away from the right path (sin, huge trouble or problems) Being in a ditch, is not being on the wrong path, but being off the right track (homeless, addicts) – people in the ditch are not far from the right path Being in a ditch is being stuck Being on the right path doesn’t make you immune for sin or fall Staying on the right track helps you to avoid them, getting off the right path brings you to them

We end up in the ditch once we cross the white line of ‘common sense’ (foolish verses wise) Nothing bad will happen and it’s not wrong Man who build his house on the sand wasn’t wrong, but unwise Wrong decisions are preceded with multiple unwise decisions Most of unwise decisions are excused for they are not wrong You don’t end up in the ditch by crossing white line, but you don’t end up in the ditch without crossing it!!! Common Sense about Dating: - Dating is not for fun (fun is by product of dating not the purpose) - Dating is for those who are serious about marriage (if marriage is not an option then dating isn’t) - Dating has speed limits (don’t talk too much, don’t co-sign, don’t live together) - No dating right after break up (Jesus is the healer not another date, you’ll carry baggage) - No dating someone your authorities don’t approve of (love is blind, parents and pastor is not) Common Sense about Money: - Buy what you can afford (if you’re using plastic that means you can’t afford it) - Buy what you need (wait for few days and the urge will die) - It’s better to give than to receive (I can’t afford to give, God has been providing – don’t value it) - Don’t spend everything you earn (Prodigal son) - Have emergency fund (Joseph) - Invest (you’re not too young, you’re not too old) These things are not wrong, they are just unwise Common Sense about Spirituality: - Go to church regularly (not going to church is crossing the line) - Get involved in the church (stagnation, boredom, death) - Read more Bible than you play video games (don’t let games complete with truth) - Pray more than you watch TV (in dating we want privacy) - Spend more time with people than internet Question that gets us stuck, is it wrong? Question that gets us to destiny, is it wise? We reach destiny by doing what is wise, we reach ditch by doing what is not wrong CALL TO ACTION: (overeating makes you fat) A. What you don’t repent of, you’ll repeat (learn from your past, black box, take responsibility, don’t repent for getting in a ditch, repent for crossing white line) B. If it’s unwise, then it’s wrong for me (change your filter, redefine “wrong”, stay away from the line not from ditch) C. Ask for wisdom (James 1:5) (does teaches you wisdom not rescue you)

We end up in the ditch once we don’t drive in the middle of the lane (build on the rock) Don’t live on extremes Focus are lines are the center Jesus is center of your faith not feelings (Peter looking to the waves) Jesus is bigger Jesus is center of Christian life not rules (legalism, cheap grace) (Eve) (rules demand, relationship empowers) (Jesus gives power, Moses gives law) Jesus is center of church not programs (dead and over board) When you build on the rock it’s not a guarantee that storms wouldn’t come, it’s a guarantee that they wouldn’t crush you…no weapon formed against will prosper…that trouble wouldn’t come, it wouldn’t stay CALL TO ACTION: - Has my Christianity been reduced to set of rules? - Am I building my faith on Jesus or my emotions?