Recreational Drinking What about social drinking? Jesus made wine. Paul told Timothy to drink wine.

Introduction The Bible condemns being DRUNK. Is social drinking a sin? Does the place matter – tavern vs. at home? Does the Bible approve recreational drinking?

1 Timothy 5:23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities. Wine – In the New Testament means Juice from grape - In any form If Timothy were already drinking wine with every meal, this verse would not make sense. Alcohol in medication – not the issue

Jesus' Miracle Don't straddle the fence Did Jesus make 150 gallons of intoxicating wine for people who had already consumed all the fermented wine? Did Jesus violate Habakkuk 2:15?

Jesus' Miracle It was NOT intoxicating wine because: 1 – It would violate Habakkuk 2:15 "Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness! 2 – Jesus would not remain sinless – Hebrews 4:15

Jesus' Miracle It was NOT intoxicating wine because: 3 – People did preserve and drink grape juice Sapa – boil down to concentrate, seal Several methods of preserving the juice Seal – olive oil, wax Keep chilled in well or stream

Jesus' Miracle It was NOT intoxicating wine because: 4 – Purpose of miracles – to produce faith John 20: And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. Miracles produce faith through reason

Wineskins Matthew 9:17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

Wineskins This could NOT be fermented wine. 1 – It could not be unsealed. 2 – It could not have already been fermented. 3 – It could not have already started to ferment. 4 – The only reason for new wine skins was to AVOID having the dregs of the old skin CAUSE fermentation to start.

Jesus Drank Matthew 11: For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children."

Jesus Drank NOTICE: 1 - Luke 1:15 – John did not drink or eat ANYTHING from the grape, including juice or raisins 2 - “They say” - is gossip or slander – neither charge is true

Jesus Drank NOTICE: 3 – If Jesus was a recreational drinker, He was also a glutton. Proverbs 23: Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; 21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

Why wrong? Why is social drinking wrong? 1 - Leviticus 10:1-3, 8-11 – Know difference in right and wrong, holy and unholy 2 - Drunkeness is a matter of degree – When you have drunk one drink, you are one drink drunk. 3 – Temperance (self-control) – Acts 24:25; Galatians 5:23; 2 Peter 1:6; Titus 2:2

conclusion The Bible does not support, encourage or endorse the use of alcohol for social or recreational use. Jesus did not use or make alcohol for others. Jesus was not a drunk or a glutton.

conclusion Our challenge: Learn to follow the example of Jesus Learn to obey the commands of Jesus