1. The Danger of an Empty Heart Matthew 12:38-45 Luke 11:24-26

2. The Danger of an Empty Heart Our Heart is like a Home – What resides in it? Things that produce harm- Matthew 15:19 Things that produce good- Matthew 12:35

3. The Danger of an Empty Heart Our House can be Cleansed – Hebrews 10:22-23 – Acts 15:8-9 – Hebrews 9:14

4. The Danger of an Empty Heart We are expected to fill our home – Is Christ there? Eph. 3:14-19 – Peace & Grace? Col. 3:15-16 – God’s law? Hebrews 8:10

5. The Danger of an Empty Heart What happens when we do not fill our heart? – Consider nature – Consider the Corinthians: 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 12:20-21 – Consider False Teachers: 1 Peter 2:1, 20, 21-22

6. How Do Things Become Worse? Forsake the right way: 2 Peter 2:15 Hearts trained in Covetousness : 2 Peter 2:14 Denied the Lord: 2 Peter 2:1 Hardened Heart: Hebrews 3:12-13; Hebrews 10:26-29; Hebrews 6:4-6 Unwanted guests in our heart

7. Filling the Home of our Heart Fill it with PRINCIPLE – Sanctify your heart: 1 Peter 3:15 – Be selective Set your mind on things above: Col. 3:1-2 Let the word of Christ dwell richly: Col. 3:16 Psalm 101:3-4 Think on things good: Phil. 4:8 Transformation begins at the HEART!! Rom. 12:1-2

8. Filling the Home of our Heart Fill it with PRACTICE – Study at church and at home – Singing spiritual songs – Dwell on praiseworthy things – Be selective with TV, books, magazines, websites – Choose friends carefully – Choose to be HAPPY! – Choose to HELP others! – Choose to share the gospel!

9. This is vital to church growth because: No matter how well we verbalize the gospel, if people cannot observe the love of God as part of our character, they will not believe what we share.

10. What’s the Condition of your “Home”? Are you filling your home with good? Is your home in need of cleansing? Is your heart right with God?