1. Or so they thought. Proverbs 14:12

2. The Serpent Offered a Better Way One Simple Command – Gen. 2:15-17 Serpent’s Better Way – Gen. 3:1-5 Eve Chose Poorly – Gen. 3:6-7 Punishment – Gen. 3:14-19

3. Cain Found a Better Way Cain and Abel Offered to God – Gen. 4:3-5 Abel Offered by Faith – Heb. 11:4; Rom. 10:17 God Accepted His Offering – Gen. 4:4 Cain Didn’t Follow the Pattern – Gen. 4:7 God Did Not Accept His Offering – Gen. 4:5 Cain Killed Abel – Gen. 4:8 God cursed Cain – Gen. 4:9-16

4. Noah Did It God’s Way God was grieved by sin – Gen. 6:1-7 Noah was righteous – Gen. 6:8 God gave Noah a pattern – Gen. 6:14-21 Noah followed God’s pattern – Gen. 6:22 Noah and his family were saved – Gen. 8:1-22

5. Sarah Found a Better Way Three promises to Abraham – Gen. 12:1-3 Sarah was barren – Gen. 11:30 Ten years passed – Gen. 16:3; 16 Sarah “helped” God – Gen. 16:1-6 God repeated his plan – Gen. 17:1-22 Isaac was the son of promise – Gen. 17:21

6. Moses Did It God’s Way God specified how the Tabernacle was to be built – Exodus Chapters 25 - 31 Moses followed God’s pattern – Ex. Ch. 36 – 39 Ex. 39:42-43

7. Nadab & Abihu Found a Better Way Aaron and his sons to be priests – Ex. 28:41 Rules given – Lev. Chapters 1 – 7 Nadab & Abihu’s better way: Offered profane fire – Lev. 10:1 Fire consumed them – Lev. 10:2

8. Moses Found a Better Way People complained that they had no water – Num. 20:1-5 God said “speak to the rock” – Num. 20:7-8 Previously told “strike the rock” – Ex. 17:1-7 Moses struck again – Num. 20:9-11 Punishment – Num. 20:12; Deut. 34:4-5

9. Joshua Did It God’s Way God’s Plan to take Jericho – Josh. 6:3-5 March around once for six days March around seven times on seventh day Walls fell down – Josh. 6:20

10. King David Found a Better Way Ark of God captured – 1 Sam. 4:1-11 David went to get it – 2 Sam. 6:2 God’s Pattern – carry it on poles – Ex. 25:14; Num. 4:1-15 David’s better way – a new cart – 2 Sam. 6:3-5 Uzzah touched the Ark - 2 Sam. 6:6 Uzzah was struck dead - 2 Sam. 6:7

11. Solomon Found a Better Way Wisdom of Solomon – 1 Ki. 3:5-12; 2 Ch. 9:23 God’s pattern for wives – Deu. 17:17; 7:3 Solomon’s better way – 1 Ki. 11:1-3 Turned away from God – 1 Ki. 11:3-4 Punishment – kingdom split – 1 Ki. 11:9-13

12. What Must We Do? Follow God’s Pattern – 2 Tim. 1:13; Titus 2:6-8 Follow good examples – Phil. 3:17; 1 Tim. 4:12 Learn from others’ mistakes – Rom. 15:4 Avoid man’s ways – Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23

13. God’s Plan of Salvation Hear – Romans 10:17 Believe – Hebrews 11:6 Repent – Luke 13:3 Confess – Romans 10:10 Be Baptized – Mark 16:16 Remain Faithful – Repent and Pray – Acts 8:22