We are glad you came today to worship the Lord!

1. We are glad you came today to worship the Lord!

2. May we use this time to honor and remember the fallen of that tragic day. September 11, 2001

3. Lessons learned from 911

4. Lessons learned from 911 Ecclesiastes 9:11,12 11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

5. Lessons learned from 911 • Life is Fragile – James 4:13-17

6. Lessons learned from 911 • Life is Fragile – James 4:13-17 • Really, it is short

7. Lessons learned from 911 • Life is Fragile – James 4:13-17 • Really, it is short • It ends (in this life)

8. Lessons learned from 911 • Life is Fragile – James 4:13-17 • Really, it is short • It ends (in this life) • We need to plan accordingly

9. Lessons learned from 911 • Life is Fragile – James 4:13-17 • We need to plan accordingly • James 4:13-17 13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;  14whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  15Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”  16But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

10. Lessons learned from 911 Life is full of important decisions

11. Lessons learned from 911 • Life is full of important decisions • We need to face these decisions with wisdom • James 1:5,6 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

12. Lessons learned from 911 • Life is full of important decisions • We need to face these decisions with wisdom • We need to face these decisions now – today…

13. Lessons learned from 911 • Life is full of important decisions • We need to face these decisions with wisdom • We need to face these decisions now – today… • We need to face these decisions with determination • Philippians 3:13-14 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

14. Lessons learned from 911 Life’s is a faltering (uncertain) future

15. Lessons learned from 911 • Life’s is a faltering (uncertain) future • We do not really know what it holds • Ecclesiastes 10.14 4A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

16. Lessons learned from 911 • Life’s is a faltering (uncertain) future • We should do a good job in everything we do • Ecclesiastes 3:22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

17. Lessons learned from 911 • Life’s is a faltering (uncertain) future • We should be prepared to face life • Matthew 24.43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

18. Lessons learned from 911 • Life’s is a faltering (uncertain) future • We should be prepared to face death • 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

19. Lessons learned from 911 • Life’s is a faltering (uncertain) future • We should be prepared to face the death (and life) of others • 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,  3remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,  4knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 

20. Lessons learned from 911 • Life’s is a faltering (uncertain) future • We should be prepared to face the death (and life) of others • 5For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,  7so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.  8For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 

21. Lessons learned from 911 • Life’s is a faltering (uncertain) future • We should be prepared to face the death (and life) of others • 9For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,  10and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

22. Lessons learned from 911 • Life’s is a faltering (uncertain) future • We should be prepared to face the death (and life) of others • Are they ready to meet the Lord?

23. Lessons learned from 911 • Life’s is a faltering (uncertain) future • We should be prepared to face the death (and life) of others • Are they ready to meet the Lord? • Have we prayed for them?

24. Lessons learned from 911 • Life’s is a faltering (uncertain) future • We should be prepared to face the death (and life) of others • Are they ready to meet the Lord? • Have we prayed for them? • Have we lived a proper life in front of them?

25. Lessons learned from 911 • Life’s is a faltering (uncertain) future • We should be prepared to face the death (and life) of others • Are they ready to meet the Lord? • Have we prayed for them? • Have we lived a proper life in front of them? • Have we shared Jesus with them?

26. Lessons learned from 911 Life is futuristic (It goes on and on…or so it seems)

27. Lessons learned from 911 • Life is futuristic (It goes on and on…or so it seems) • We need to go forward (in the Lord) • Acts 20.22 22And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

28. Lessons learned from 911 • Life is futuristic (It goes on and on…or so it seems) • We need to go forward (in the Lord) • We will become part of that future

29. Lessons learned from 911 • Revelation 7:9-17 ( KJV ) 9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.  11And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,  12Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 

30. Lessons learned from 911 • 14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

31. Lessons learned from 911 • How will you face your future?

32. Lessons learned from 911 • How will you face your future? • We need to remember the future is important

33. Lessons learned from 911 • How will you face your future? • We need to remember the future is important • We need to know the One who holds the future • Colossians 1:16 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

34. Lessons learned from 911 This is more than just “hedging our bets.”

35. Lessons learned from 911 This is more than just “hedging our bets.” This is more than just knowing our need

36. Lessons learned from 911 This is more than just “hedging our bets.” This is more than just knowing our need This is more than being nice

37. Lessons learned from 911 This is more than just “hedging our bets.” This is more than just knowing our need This is more than being nice This is more than going to church

38. Lessons learned from 911 This is more than just “hedging our bets.” This is more than just knowing our need This is more than being nice This is more than going to church This involves trusting in the Lord, calling upon Him for forgiveness, and following Him

39. Lessons learned from 911 This is more than just “hedging our bets.” This is more than just knowing our need This is more than being nice This is more than going to church This involves trusting in the Lord, calling upon Him for forgiveness, and following Him What should we do?

40. Lessons learned from 911 • What should we do? • What has God done? • We need to understand we have sinned (in fact we all have sinned and fallen short) • Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

41. Lessons learned from 911 • What should we do? • What has God done? • Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Realize sin brings death

42. Lessons learned from 911 • What should we do? • What has God done? • Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Know God planned for this

43. Lessons learned from 911 • What should we do? • What has God done? • Ephesians 2:8-9 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  9Not of works, lest any man should boast.  • Have faith

44. Lessons learned from 911 • What should we do? • What has God done? • Romans 10:9-10 9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  • After accepting and believing… LIVE FOR HIM!