Practical Atheism

Lesson: Practical Atheism
By: Matt Atkins
Attendees: 11

What is Practical Atheism and what are some examples?
Saying you believe in God, but not doing what he says.

1 John 4:20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

Worrying about things God promises to take care of.(Matt 6:25-34)
You are basically saying, “God you don’t exist.” Or ,”You are not powerful enough.” By your actions even though you say God exist and he is powerful.
Let take a look at some example of “Practical Theism” or PROVING that you BELIEVE in GOD…
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: Explain backround of story from beginning of ch3.

Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O
Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

How must it have felt to be the only ones standing, to know that you were going to infuriate the king, then to stand before him as he went off knowing that he was going to send you to your death?

Galatians 6:12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Circumcision was the mark of a person who belonged to God back then, but after Christ, Paul says in v 15 "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.".
They were being circumcised to avoid persecution...
What do we do to avoid persecution?

2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

John 15:18-19 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Not everyone who is persecuted is a Godly person, but everyone who is Godly will be persecuted.
Are you willing to be Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? To stand out and be different than your classmates? That is what being a disciple of Jesus is. We don't blend in just like he didn't blend in. So don’t try to blend in!! Stand out and PROVE you BELIEVE and KNOW GOD by what you DO
If you want to know how to do that let’s set up a Bible study this week to figure it out.