Give Me One Good Reason 1 Peter 3:15, “…always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…”

A Few Reasons Offered Matthew 7:24 2 John 4 “…it’s the right thing to do” “…it’s the true way to live” 2 Corinthians 1:3 Philippians 4:4 “…for strength in trials” “to experience joy” Galatians 6:10 Romans 12:17 “…it will help me be a better person” “…it will help make me a success” Ephesians 6:1-4 Matthew 5:16 “…it will help my family” “to be an influence for good” Joshua Welch 20122

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The World’s View of Death They deny death’s reality – Hebrews 9:27 – Job 30:23 – Psalm 89:48 – Ecclesiastes 8:8 – Genesis 5:5,8,14,17,20,27,31 Joshua Welch 20124

The World’s View of Death They consider death a loss. – Philippians 1:20-21 – 2 Corinthians 5:8-10 – Revelation 14:13 – Psalm 23:4-6 Joshua Welch 20125

The World’s View of Death They fear death. – 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 – Revelation 1:18 – Hebrews 2:14-15 Joshua Welch 20126

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Death Does Not Have to Be Feared Luke 19:10 “…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” James 5: “…if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” Joshua Welch 20128

Christ Changes Death From Bad News to Good News! The “gospel” is “good news” because it moves death from the loss column to the gain column! – Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” Death is a blessing if we die in the Lord! – Revelation 14:13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors…” To be “in the Lord” requires obeying the gospel. – “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). Joshua Welch 20129

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