Sermon at the Haynes Street church of Christ on February 8, 2015. Topic: "Spiritual Pitfalls" Preacher: Steven Matthews

1. Times of Services
Sunday:
9:30 a.m. Bible class
10:30 a.m. worship
Wednesday:
7 p.m. Bible class

2.  “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it” (Prov.
26:27; Eccl. 10:8).
 What are your spiritual pitfalls?
 What scenarios make us act as a fool?
 Jesus warns us about many spiritual pitfalls.
 Matthew 7
◦ V. 1-5: Judging others
◦ V. 15-20: Being deceived
◦ V. 24-27: Building on a weak foundation

3.  Spiritual pitfall #1: Judging others opens the
door for retaliation (v. 1-5)
◦ Matt. 7:1: Do we have the authority to pass
judgment on others?
◦ Every judgment that a person makes becomes a
basis for his or her own judgment.
◦ John 7:24: “Judge with righteous judgment.”
◦ Matt. 7:3-5: Do we try to fix others because it
provides a good distraction?
◦ Bottom line: Jesus is condemning hypocritical
judging.

4.  Spiritual pitfall #2: Being deceived (v. 15-
20)
◦ Not everyone who claims to know God does: “By
their fruits you will know them.”
◦ We are instructed to test the doctrine being taught
(I John 4:1-6; Rev. 2:2; Acts 17:11).
◦ Are you contending for the faith (Jude 3)?
◦ Teachers have a great responsibility (James
3:1).
◦ Gal. 1:6-9: Christ’s one true gospel can save us.

5.  Spiritual pitfall #3: Building on a weak
foundation (v. 24-27)
◦ Key difference is not external appearance; it is the
foundation.
◦ James 1:22-25: Hearing is not enough.
◦ We’ve got to dig deep (Luke 6:46-49).
◦ A Christian’s life is built on a foundation of faith
(Heb. 11:1, 6; Rom. 8:24-25).
 Rom. 2:16: Our actions will not only be judged,
but also our motives and secrets.

6.  Hear (Romans 1:16; 10:14,17)
 Believe (John 8:24; Mark 16:16; Hebrews 11:6)
 Repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30)
 Confess (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32-33)
 Be baptized (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16)
 Live faithfully (Revelation 2:10; Matthew 6:33;
Romans 12:1-2; I Corinthians 15:58)

7.  Hear (Romans 1:16; 10:14,17)
 Believe (John 8:24; Mark 16:16; Hebrews 11:6)
 Repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30)
 Confess (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32-33)
 Be baptized (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16)
 Live faithfully (Revelation 2:10; Matthew 6:33;
Romans 12:1-2; I Corinthians 15:58)