FCA Dodge City High School

To Believe

Introduce myself

Pastor at FFC in Hanston, 45 minutes away

Basketball Coach at Pawnee Heights High School

enrollment 38

last years team - 6 players

made it to the state tournament

Lillie’s dad

commercial, little boy yells, “I’m the greatest hitter in the world”

three times he throws the ball in the air, takes a big swing and misses three times!

Suddenly he realizes that is strike three… he must be the greatest pitcher in the world!

I was a confident athlete when I was a kid

played three sports in High School

I was a trash talker… Mom worked with another mom

Was pretty confident until I went to college

many people are confident that there is a God

until something bad happens in their life

James 2:19 (CSB)

You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.

Many people say they believe in God, but it gains then nothing.

James tells us they are no different than the demons (not the DC Demons)

Then he says this…

James 2:20 (CSB)

Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?

don’t you know, that your faith, what you believe, is useless, worthless, or dead without works

I do not believe that the Bible teaches that you earn your salvation by doing good works

I do not go to heaven simply because my good things outweigh my bad things

i would never make it, the Bible says that even my good works are like filthy rags before him

they are not near as good as I think they are

So how do we balance this… the book of Romans

Romans 3:23 (CSB)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:8 (CSB)

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23 (CSB)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 12:1 (CSB)

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.