4-6-25 “Wake Up” Scriptures

Genesis 1:1; In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:27; God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

John 1:1 ~ 4; I he beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

Colossians 1:16 ~ 17; For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Genesis 1:1 could be read this way: In the beginning God, through Jesus, created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:27 in the same way: God, through Jesus, created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Luke 22:19; And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

1^st Corinthians 1:23 ~ 26; For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

John 14:15; “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Matthew 26:36 ~ 40; Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” 39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour”?

Let's jump through the next few verses: 42 He went away again a second time and prayed … 43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time … 45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting”?

Hebrews 10:23 ~ 25; Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Revelation 3:15 ~ 16; ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

Revelation 3:17A; Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing … 17B and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked

Q: In a poll, the question was asked what's the #1 reason people don't go to church?

A: Overall, the single most common answer cited for not attending religious services is “I practice my faith in other ways,” which is offered as a very important reason by 56% of people who rarely or never attend religious services.

Q: Why are people leaving churches?

A: They don't see a direct benefit, because there isn't much value in church teachings anymore and activities are not relevant to the real-world issues. They don't see the value in being there week after week, leading to a sense of discontent and disconnect. Also having busy lifestyles, makes it difficult to engage with traditional church settings and schedules with many having a desire for more personal and flexible spiritual practices outside of the church setting. Because of the decline in attendance about a third of the country's 350,000 Christian congregations are “on the brink of extinction.” People who identify as Christian has decreased from 78% in 2007 to 62% in 2024 citing issues like LGBTQ rights and gender equality

Ephesians 5:13; But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

Ephesians 5:14 ~ 15; For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 2:10; For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.