Don't Be Ignorant

INTRO.- ILL.- During a board meeting in a small mountain church one of the deacons said, "Preacher, I think we need a chandelier in this church."

"No, I’m against it," said another deacon. The preacher asked, "Well, why don’t you think we need a chandelier in this church?"

The deacon said, "First, nobody in this church can spell it. Second, nobody in this church can play it. And third, what this church needs above all else is more light."

Don’t be ignorant. We’re all ignorant about some things. I don’t know how to wire a house, but I know how to prepare a Bible lesson or sermon. We all have knowledge of some things, but what about spiritual ignorance? Our world and country live in ignorance of God and His will for their lives.

The worst ignorance of all is to be ignorant of the message of God’s Word. And of course, God’s supreme message in His Word is that Jesus is the Messiah and the only Savior of the world. Above all, people need to understand that message and accept that Christ in order to be saved eternally.

But there are other things in God’s Word that we should know. We all should have a basic knowledge of scripture. Should we take a quiz? It depends on the quiz or the subject.

- In what language was the Old Testament written?

Answer: Hebrew

- In what language was the New Testament written?

Answer: Greek

- Where was Jesus Born?

Answer: Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1)

- Who laid their head on Jesus chest at the last supper?

Answer: John (John 13:22-25)

- Who was caught in the belly of a fish for 3 days?

Answer: Jonah (Jonah 1:17)

- Who was taken from this life without experiencing death?

Answer: Enoch (Hebrews 11:5)

- Who was used by God to divide the Red Sea?

Answer: Moses (Exodus 15:22)

- Who did God test that was willing to sacrifice their child?

Answer: Abraham (Genesis 22:2-3)

- Who did Jesus speak to on the road to Damascus?

Answer: Saul (Act 9:3-4, Act 13:9)

- How long did Jesus fast in the desert?

Answer: 40 Days and Nights

- In what book does Jesus say he has the keys to death and hades? Answer: Revelation (Rev 1:18)

- Who felt the holes in Jesus’ hands from the nails after His resurrection? Answer: Thomas (John 20:24-28)

- Who was bit by a venomous snake and unharmed?

Answer: Paul (Act 28:3-5)

Our text tells us what we should not be ignorant. And these are very important matters.

PROP.- What is it that we are not to be ignorant about?

1- Don’t be ignorant about the deceased

2- Don’t be ignorant about the resurrection

3- Don’t be ignorant about the return of Christ

I. DON’T BE IGNORANT ABOUT THE DECEASED

13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

ILL.- A man died and went to The Judgment. St. Peter met him at the Gates of Heaven and said, "Before you meet with God, I thought I should tell you -- we’ve looked at your life, and your really didn’t do anything particularly good or bad. We’re not at all sure what to do with you. Can you tell us anything you did that can help us make a decision?"

The newly arrived soul thought for a moment and replied, "Yeah, once I was driving along and came upon a woman who was being harassed by a group of bikers. So I pulled over, got out my tire iron, and went up to the leader of the bikers. He was a big, muscular, hairy guy with tattoos all over his body and a ring pierced through his nose. Well, I tore the nose ring out of his nose, and told him he and his gang had better stop bothering the woman or they would have to deal with me!"

"I’m impressed," St. Peter responded, "When did this happen?" "About two minutes ago," came the reply.

We must not be ignorant about death and about what could cause an early death! Don’t do dumb things that could lead you to an early grave. Some people do, which astounds me. Bungee Jumping and other such crazy stuff.

Now to the matter of death itself, what’s the biggest ignorance that people have? Simply this. THAT DEATH ENDS ALL! Of course, if you don’t believe in the existence of Almighty God, creation, the Bible, Jesus, etc. then you will believe that death ends all.

And what’s wrong with that kind of thinking? WE KNOW IT’S WRONG. And there’s a judgment coming and people need to be warned. They need to come to faith in God and Christ. And having faith in God alone is not enough!