SPIRITUAL DROPOUTS

INTRO:

1. Today there is a great concern about boys and girls dropping out of school before they finish.

2. There are millions being spent to correct this problem.

3. This is a vital problem and we must be concerned about it.

4. But the problem of dropouts is not limited to our schools.

5. The Lord's church is having a dropout problem of its own.

6. Someone has said we lose 50 percent of our new members every 7 years.

7. I don't know whether this is true or not, but, we do lose a lot of them.

8. Why do men leave God, and drop out of His service?

9. What causes someone to become a spiritual dropout?

10. Contrary to popular belief, the Bible teaches a man can drop out, or fall away from grace. Gal. 5:4.

11. Peter tells us that the "latter end is worse than the first." 2 Pet. 2:20.

12. The Hebrew writer says that some were, "departing from the living God." Heb. 3: 12.

13. James speaks of people being in error and then being converted from the error of his ways. Jas. 5:17-20.

14. In every era of history, men have dropped out:

A. Eve, was deceived by Satan. Gen. 3.

B. Israel, wandered 40 years in the wilderness. Exo. 16:35.

C. Demas forsook Paul. 2 Tim. 4:10.

D. We too can be drop outs. Gal. 5:4; 1 Cor. 10:12.

15. Let's notice some reasons why men leave God, or become spiritual dropouts:

I. THEY FAIL TO COUNT THE COST.

A. Before conversion, they fail to take the cost into account. Lk. 14:25-35.

1. They fail to consider, "denying themselves." Matt. 16:24; Lk. 9:23.

2. They fail to realize that 99.44% won't do.

II. THEY FAIL TO LISTEN TO GOD'S MESSENGERS.

A. Read: Jer. 7:25-28; 2 Tim. 4:1-6.

III. THEY FAIL TO DEVELOP VIRTUES OF A CHRISTIAN.

A. Read: 2 Pet. 1:5-11.

IV. THEY FAIL BECAUSE OF WRONG ASSOCIATION.

A. This was Solomon's problem. 1 Kgs. 11:1-13.

B. It can also be our proplem. 1 Cor. 15:33.

V. THEY FAIL TO BE LED BY THE WORD OF GOD.

A. They continue in their ignorance. Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15; Hos. 4:6.

VI. THEY FAIL BECAUSE OF THE DEMANDS OF THIS LIFE.

A. Consider the parable of the sower and the soils. Lk. 8:9-14.

VII. THEY FAIL BECAUSE OF THE DESIRE TO BE RICH AND TO HOLD ON TO THEIR RICHES. Matt. 19:16-22.

A. Paul warns against such. 1 Tim. 6:6-10, 17-19.

B. John also warns about worldly desires. 1 Jno. 2:15-17.

VIII. THEY FAIL BECAUSE SIN IS SO DECEITFUL.

A. Read: Heb. 3:12,13.

IX. THEY FAIL BECAUSE OF FALSE DOCTRINE.

A. Read: 1 Tim. 4:1-4; Acts 20:28-31.

X. THEY FAIL BECAUSE THEY ARE SET IN THEIR OWN WAYS.

A. Read: Prov. 14:14; 1:30-33.

XI. THEY LOSE THEIR LOVE FOR GOD.

A. Read: Jno. 14:15; Rev. 2:4; Matt. 24:12.

XII. THEY FAIL BECAUSE OF IN-ACTIVITY AND COMPLACENCY.

A. Read: Jas. 2:14-26.

CONCLUSION:

1. Are you a spiritual dropout?

2. If you are, the Bible tells you how to come back.

A. Repent and return: Acts 8:18-24; Lk. 13:3; Jer. 3:22.

3. There is no better time than right now to get right with God. Won't you come now?

By Jim Sasser

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