Every Act Counts

Introduction:
In the world, there are good people and bad people. There are those who lovingly obey their God and those who stubbornly reject Him. See Rom. 2:5-10; 6:16. Our age tends to blur distinctions and place everything into a “gray area” - but in the Scriptures, matters are more clear-cut. How do people get to be the way they are?

I. Our ______________ are the accumulation of the ________________ we have made.
    A. We are each the _________________ of decisions we have made in the freedom of our wills.
        1. Our characters are not built from external circumstances, but from what we have ____________ to do with those circumstances.
        2. Contrast __________ with _____________. 1 Sam. 13:14; 15:28
    B. David was better than Saul because he had made better ___________; not because he had better ____________________!
    C. We must accept responsibility for what we have made of ourselves. We are what we have chosen to be.
        1. Gal. 6:7—we reap what we sow!
    D. None of us is standing still—spiritually.
        1. We’re either becoming more like __________ or ________
        2. John 8:44, 47; Eph. 4:17-19; Heb. 5:14

II. It is __________________ to think that every act counts.
    A. God will take ________ ________ into account for judgment.
        1. Mt. 12:36. Choices are eternal—and we are responsible!
    B. Hell will be the end...goal...outcome of the actions we chose.
        1. See Rom. 6:21
    C. Those who inhabit hell will be there by the __________ they made.
        1. Few of those will set out to be wicked.
        2. It is dangerous to say “no” to God—Even once.

III. It is also ________________________ to think that every act counts.
    A. We can never say our lives are helpless or ______________.
        1. We can alter our situation for better!
    B. Small and seemingly ___________ steps do make a difference!
        1. Mk. 12:41-44
        2. God requires ________ _______ taken in faith!
        3. God is looking for people who are willing to do what they ____!
    C. Heaven will be the outcome if we choose actions that tend in _______’s direction. See again Rom. 6:21-23

Conclusion:
    A. Life is serious business—it pays to live carefully! Eph. 5:15
    B. Each action reaches into eternity—we must take responsibility for the bad choices we’ve made.
    C. Let’s be encouraged knowing that we can made a difference for good even in “small” acts of faith.
    D. Let’s be grateful for the opportunity to make better choices today! 1 Cor. 15:9-10.



Every Act Counts Introduction: In the world, there are good people and bad people. There are those who lovingly obey their God and those who stubbornly reject Him. See Rom. 2:5-10; 6:16. Our age tends to blur distinctions and place everything into a “gray area” - but in the Scriptures, matters are more clear-cut. How do people get to be the way they are? I. Our ______________ are the accumulation of the ________________ we have made. A. We are each the _________________ of decisions we have made in the freedom of our wills. 1. Our characters are not built from external circumstances, but from what we have ____________ to do with those circumstances. 2. Contrast __________ with _____________. 1 Sam. 13:14; 15:28 B. David was better than Saul because he had made better ___________; not because he had better ____________________! C. We must accept responsibility for what we have made of ourselves. We are what we have chosen to be. 1. Gal. 6:7—we reap what we sow! D. None of us is standing still—spiritually. 1. We’re either becoming more like __________ or ________ 2. John 8:44, 47; Eph. 4:17-19; Heb. 5:14 II. It is __________________ to think that every act counts. A. God will take ________ ________ into account for judgment. 1. Mt. 12:36. Choices are eternal—and we are responsible! B. Hell will be the end...goal...outcome of the actions we chose. 1. See Rom. 6:21 C. Those who inhabit hell will be there by the __________ they made. 1. Few of those will set out to be wicked. 2. It is dangerous to say “no” to God—Even once. III. It is also ________________________ to think that every act counts. A. We can never say our lives are helpless or ______________. 1. We can alter our situation for better! B. Small and seemingly ___________ steps do make a difference! 1. Mk. 12:41-44 2. God requires ________ _______ taken in faith! 3. God is looking for people who are willing to do what they ____! C. Heaven will be the outcome if we choose actions that tend in _______’s direction. See again Rom. 6:21-23 Conclusion: A. Life is serious business—it pays to live carefully! Eph. 5:15 B. Each action reaches into eternity—we must take responsibility for the bad choices we’ve made. C. Let’s be encouraged knowing that we can made a difference for good even in “small” acts of faith. D. Let’s be grateful for the opportunity to make better choices today! 1 Cor. 15:9-10.