Let’s Get Excited Emotions are Important May 2 - PM.

Let’s Get ExcitedLet’s Get Excited

Emotions are Emotions are ImportantImportant

May 2 - PMMay 2 - PM

Two ViewsTwo Views•Some remove emotion Some remove emotion

from religionfrom religion– Just cold, hard studyJust cold, hard study– Decide to obey or notDecide to obey or not

•Some make religion ALL Some make religion ALL emotionemotion– No facts – just feelingsNo facts – just feelings

EnthusiasmEnthusiasm•Origin of the wordOrigin of the word

– ““God in us”God in us”– Faith leads to “God inside us”Faith leads to “God inside us”

•Some go to an extremeSome go to an extreme– Jim Jones – Guyana – mass suicideJim Jones – Guyana – mass suicide– Cult groups – radical extremistsCult groups – radical extremists– Muslim invasions – Crusades / Muslim invasions – Crusades /

InquisitionsInquisitions

EnthusiasmEnthusiasm•Our enthusiasm must be Our enthusiasm must be

founded in the truthfounded in the truth•Without a firm grounding, Without a firm grounding,

enthusiasm is destructiveenthusiasm is destructive

MotivationMotivation•Motivation leads to changeMotivation leads to change• Jesus motivated people to Jesus motivated people to

turn their lives aroundturn their lives around•Paul did the same in our textPaul did the same in our text

– Stop worshipping DianaStop worshipping Diana– Worship the true, living GodWorship the true, living God

MotivationMotivation•The mark of a church is its The mark of a church is its

impact on peopleimpact on people– Multitudes of programs often mask Multitudes of programs often mask

spiritual emptinessspiritual emptiness– Are people being changed?Are people being changed?– Is there evidence of repentance?Is there evidence of repentance?

DisturbingDisturbing•Those who don’t change – Those who don’t change –

reactreact•SilversmithsSilversmiths

– Worshipped a chunk of a meteoriteWorshipped a chunk of a meteorite– Thought it was a goddess of fertilityThought it was a goddess of fertility– Built a temple – wonder of ancient Built a temple – wonder of ancient

worldworld

DisturbingDisturbing•They resisted the idea of They resisted the idea of

changechange– They wanted to stay the sameThey wanted to stay the same– Don’t rock the boatDon’t rock the boat– We have a good thing goingWe have a good thing going

•As we grow – some As we grow – some relationships might have to relationships might have to changechange

EmotionsEmotions•Emotions are God’s gift to usEmotions are God’s gift to us

– They make us humanThey make us human– No emotions = a machineNo emotions = a machine

•Emotions are important to Emotions are important to faithfaith– Salvation should be a JOY!Salvation should be a JOY!– NT places emphasis on joy, love, glad, NT places emphasis on joy, love, glad,

control anger, not hate, do goodcontrol anger, not hate, do good

EmotionsEmotions•There is a drawback to being There is a drawback to being

extreme either directionextreme either direction– Emphasis on knowledge – lose the feelingEmphasis on knowledge – lose the feeling– Emphasis on emotions – lose Emphasis on emotions – lose

understandingunderstanding

•The place of emotionsThe place of emotions– Not the caboose – the end of the processNot the caboose – the end of the process– Actually – coal car – the fuel for the engineActually – coal car – the fuel for the engine

Is God alive in you?Is God alive in you?•Early Christians were known Early Christians were known

for their excitementfor their excitement• If you had a cause – How If you had a cause – How

would you raise a million would you raise a million dollars for it?dollars for it?

Ignorant or Ignorant or Excited?Excited?

• Jesus had a zeal for God’s Jesus had a zeal for God’s househouse

• John 2:17 - John 2:17 - Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”


• Paul was zealous for the JewsPaul was zealous for the Jews• Acts 22:3 - Acts 22:3 - “I am indeed a Jew,

born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.


•Paul was zealous for the JewsPaul was zealous for the Jews•Galatians 1:14 - Galatians 1:14 - And I advanced

in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.


• Jews were zealous but Jews were zealous but lacked knowledgelacked knowledge

•Romans 10:2 - Romans 10:2 - For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.


•Zeal is good – if consistent Zeal is good – if consistent with knowledgewith knowledge

•Galatians 4:18 - Galatians 4:18 - But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.


•Are you excited about your Are you excited about your faith?faith?

• Is your excitement based on Is your excitement based on knowledge of the knowledge of the Scriptures?Scriptures?

•Are you full of enthusiasm?Are you full of enthusiasm?

Let’s Get Excited Emotions are Important May 2 - PM.

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