This morning we are going to examine “3 Things Not Preached The Bible Way In Churches Today.” Of course in this message we are not necessarily referring to every church because I believe there are still some churches where the pure, unvarnished truth of God’s Word is declared without any attempt to “round the corners” or “soften the edges” of it. And, I want to believe that this is one of those churches. But we live in a day when many preachers have become a lot like politicians and have learned the art of speaking without really saying anything. Now, I have shared with you before that part of the reason this happens is because some are afraid of the people they preach to. It’s called “job security.” “If I ‘tell it like it is’ (better yet, like God wants it told) I might be fired, or lose popularity, or offend someone of “importance” in the church. And, yes, I confess that I have been guilty of “softening” the message to some to “keep from being run off. (Also, “If I’m not here the next pastor might not love the truth as much as I do,etc.”) But listen, if we preachers don’t tell it like it is, like God wants it told, we WILL offend someone in the church . . . and His name is JESUS! The Bible is the Word of God, and it cuts to the heart. What did we read last week from Hebrews 4:12? “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Word of God is divisive! It will divide our real motives from the pretense we use to convince ourselves we are doing O.K. James (1:23-25) compares it to a mirror. Did you ever look into the mirror and not like what you saw looking back at you? If you will seriously and honestly look into the mirror of God’s Word, it may well be that what you see looking back is not the person you thought was standing there. Let me give you a brief example from the book of I John. I John 2:4 -- The Claim: “He that saith, I know him . . . ” The Condition: “. . . and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” I John 2:9 -- The Claim: “He that saith he is in the light . . .” The Condition: “. . . and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.” I John 2:6 -- The Claim: “He that saith he abideth in him . . . ” The Condition: “. . . ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” One’s claim to be something or do something is examined and revealed by God’s Word. One more example. Matthew 7:21 -- The Claim: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven . . . ” These are “religious” people trying to claim Heaven by their works. Who will enter the kingdom of heaven? The Condition: “but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” There is a lot of preaching going on today. There is probably more access to the Word of God today than ever before - even in the midst of the moral decay of this nation - but much of the preaching is merely rhetoric. Much of it is “nice little talks,” “religious performances,” and “fair speeches (which) deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:18). And you don’t have to go to the “religious channel” on TV, or to YouTube or Facebook, or somewhere else on the internet to find it. It is going on right here, right now in this town today. And they are drawing the masses because they would rather hear soft words and comforting phrases, to hear how “good” they are, and to get a “warm fuzzy” so they can go away saying, “My what a wonderful child of God I am. He is so lucky to have me on His side.” To those who do not preach like that some will say, “I don’t like what you preach. It is too plain. I’ll go down the street and listen to Dr. Sounding Brass, or Dr. Tinkling cymbal. And much of that type of preaching is taking place is in these three areas I will mention today.

I. SIN IS NOT BEING PREACHED THE BIBLE WAY IN MANY CHURCHES TODAY!

II. SALVATION IS NOT BEING PREACHED THE BIBLE WAY IN CHURCHES TODAY!

III. SANCTIFICATION IS NOT BEING PREACHED THE BIBLE WAY IN CHURCHES TODAY!