The Sad Case of Vanishing Values

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: Judges 17:1-6Our nation is in a battle for values; the morals and ethics that made this nation great are eroding before us.Judges 17 shares an eerily similar sad case of vanishing values. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6).As a result, there were families without foundations.In America today, we are drowning in religion, but none of it is rooted in biblical truth. Our families are morally and spiritually bankrupt. The ethical standard we’ve liberated ourselves from is what’s held society together.There was also during the time of Judges a lack of principle in their pastors.Those who preach the Gospel must live the Gospel, and there is an especially high standard for those in vocational ministry.John 10:12 warns, “But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees...”Third, values vanish when the government separates itself from God.Our generation wants what belongs to somebody else; we believe we have the right to take what doesn’t belong to us. We are motivated by greed, materialism, and selfishness. We are biblically instructed to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. But the Bible is also against the misappropriation of other people’s goods through covetousness and dissatisfaction.Adrian Rogers says, “The Bible teaches that we are to worship God, love people, and use things. But what we do is worship things, use people, and forget God.”Romans 1 gives clear warning to the nation whose values begin to vanish. Substituting science for God, practicing idolatry, and developing uncontrollable lusts of the flesh will lead to a death of conscience. The mind becomes morally useless, as every man does that which is right in his own mind.We must know what the Bible says about values, be active members of a Bible-believing church, and pray for our nation.Apply it to your lifeWe are in desperate need of a moral and spiritual revival. Begin by building your family on biblical values; get plugged into the ministry of a God-appointed church and pray for our nation.