“A Life Worth Living ”

2. “A Life Worth Living” Phil. 4:6-9

3. A World Without Hope • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: • Suicide deaths: 38,364 reported (2010) • 1 person dies every 14 minutes in the U.S./105day (more than homicide) • 4th leading cause of death for adults 18-65 years of age in the United States; 3rd among people 15-24 • 4 male suicides for every female suicide; 3x as many female attempts • Estimated 8-25 attempted suicides for every death • Between 1950-1970 the suicide rate for males ages 15-24 tripled and doubled for females • Another study: 425,000+ self-inflicted injuries each year in emergency rooms

4. A World Without Hope • Domestic Violence: • Every 9 sec. in the U.S. a woman is assaulted or beaten • Around the world 1/3 of women have been physically or sexually abused, most often by a member of their own family • Domestic violence: leading cause of injury to women – more than car accidents, muggings & rapes combined • Studies suggest up to 10 mil. children witness these events annually; males who witness abuse as children are 2x more likely to become abusers themselves • Every day more than 3 women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends • 55-95% of women abused never contact anyone for help

5. God Wants us to be Happy • John 10:10 • "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

6. God Wants us to be Happy “All I could see was the fog.…I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it.”

7. God Wants us to be Happy “I have no option. I cannot live without hope.”

8. A Life Worth Living… …is a life with a guiltless past. • Psalms 25:11 • For Your name's sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

9. A Life Worth Living… …is a life with a guiltless past. • Acts 2:36-38 • "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

10. A Life Worth Living… …is a life with a guiltless past. • 1 Timothy 1:15 • This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

11. A Life Worth Living… …is a life with a guiltless past. • Hebrews 10:22 • let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

12. A Life Worth Living… …is a life with a guiltless past. • 1 John 1:7 • But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

13. A Life Worth Living… …is a life with a guiltless past. • John 8:36 • "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

14. A Life Worth Living… …is a life with a guiltless past. • Romans 8:1 • There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

15. A Life Worth Living… …is a life with a guiltless past. • Hebrews 8:12 • "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."

16. A Life Worth Living… -…is a life that has a meaningful present. • 1 Peter 4:2 • that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

17. A Life Worth Living… -…is a life that has a meaningful present. • Romans 6:4 • Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

18. A Life Worth Living… -…is a life that has a meaningful present. • Ephesians 2:10 • For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. • Ephesians 4:1 • I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, • Colossians 1:10 • that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

19. A Life Worth Living… -…is a life that has a meaningful present. • 1 Timothy 6:18-19 • Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. • Titus 2:14 • who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

20. A Life Worth Living… …is a life with a fearless future. • Matthew 6:34 • "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

21. A Life Worth Living… …is a life with a fearless future. • 2 Corinthians 5:10 • For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

22. A Life Worth Living… …is a life with a fearless future. • 1 Corinthians 10:13 • No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

23. A Life Worth Living… …is a life with a fearless future. • Psalms 23:4 • Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.