A Life Worth Living

Outline arranged/adapted by M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

2000029

Subject: suicide

Preached Originally: 05/07/00 – Rapid City, SD

 

Introduction:

A.    This section by request.  If you have topic that you like to see preached – please drop it in suggestion box.

B.    Suicide = 9th leading cause of death in US.  1995 – ( latest figures from CDC) 31,204 suicides reported.\

1.     = 1 death by suicide every 17 minutes.  That means 2 people will commit suicide by time I complete this sermon.

2.     more suicides than homicides each year in US

3.     61% of all suicides involve firearms.  The second most common method of suicide is hanging.  Third = poisoning.

4.     # of suicides among teenagers/young adults has tripled between 1952 & 1992.

a)    It = 3rd leading cause of death in teenagers aged 15-19.

b)    It = increasing for those younger than 14 & older than 65.

c)    In all age groups men commit suicide more successfully than women – statistics pointing to around 4 times as much.

C.   Hundreds of thousands attempt suicide & fail.  Many more consider killing themselves – but never follow through.

1.     something is wrong!  The purpose of Christ’s coming is found in Jhn. 10:10.

2.     What wrong?  Why so many adults/teens concluding that life is not worth living?

D.   Some believe it is because Americans are pursuing the wrong goals.

1.     Material wealth

2.     Earthly fame – note # of rich/famous who commit suicide.

3.     Education – statistics say psychologists have highest suicide rate in US.

E.    What’s the reason?  How can we keep ourselves from getting to the point of committing suicide?

 

I.  A Life worth living is a life w/a guiltless past.

A.     Guilt = a terrible burden.  Sometimes it crushes people to pt. Where they feel only relief is to end life.

1.     Must seek to remove sin from our lives – so that life can become bearable again.

2.     Acts 2:36-38 – killed Jesus.  Imagine guilt here!

3.     Acts 16:22; 1 Tim. 1:12-13 – Paul persecuted innocent Christians. 

B.     Yet the Scriptures teach us we can get rid of the guilt through coming to Christ!

1.    Heb. 10:22; 1 Jhn. 1:7

2.    The blood of Christ is ever present to cleanse us when we ask for forgiveness.

3.    Guilt removed when we baptized into Christ.  Only way guilt returns if we allow sin to creep back into our lives.

C.    Jesus died on the cross for our sins – Jhn. 3:16; Rom. 8:1

 

II.  A Life worth living has a meaningful present.

A.        Common cause of suicide: One feels that he has accomplished nothing in this life & is worthless.

1.    Look only at their failures & shortcomings & problems.

2.    Must remember: we not living for ourselves – but for Christ!  1 Cor. 5:15.

B.        We must teach others & ourselves that living for Him is the way to go.

1.    Rom. 6:4; 1 Pet. 4:2

2.    1 Tim. 6:18-19; Titus 2:4

C.       When we get busy helping others – we have little time to think about ourselves & no excuse for feeling sorry for ourselves.

 

III.  A Life worth living is a life with a fearless future.

A.     Many consider suicide & some go through w/it b/c of what the fear the future will bring.

1.    Prospect of failing health, finances, other difficulties leave many feeling hopeless/helpless.

2.    Since we can’t know the future it is senseless to worry about it.

a)    pain we suffer today need not b/c unbearable tomorrow – it may diminish or go away altogether.

b)    Financial situation may improve.

c)    Family problems may improve in the future.

B.    Psa. 23:4

C.    Note Paul’s attitude – one of confidence/hope – 2 Tim. 4:6-8

D.    Look/consider our eternal future – Jhn. 14:2-3

 

Conclusion:

A.     Someone said: life w/o Christ has a hopeless end, life in Christ is an endless hope.

B.     Song – Because He Lives

C.    Is Your Life Worth Living?  What gives it worth?

D.    I N V I T A T I O N