Here’s what we know that the average person has missed:

I. The root of our financial crisis is not financial.

A. The financial crisis is a symptom.

B. The two things that really get a person’s attention the quickest are

financial problems and health

problems.

C. Bottom line: We are reaping what we have sown.

II. Our problems stem from an abuse of prosperity.

We don’t have financial problems . . .

A. We have a discipline problem.

• Debt: We can’t tell ourselves no.

B. We have an entitlement problem.

C. At a personal level, we have a greed problem

D. At the leadership level, we have a failure of nerve problem.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own

eye? (Matthew 7:3)

How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? (Matthew

7:4)

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you

will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

(Matthew 7:5)

III. The road to recovery begins with WE not THEY.

IV. For the church to SEE CLEARLY to point the way

forward, we must remove the speck from our own eyes.

A. Are you undisciplined with your money?

B. Are you greedy?

C. Are you paying your taxes?

D. Are you fulfilling your responsibility to your children from a previous

relationship/marriage?

E. Are you on disability, but you could work?

F. Are there things in your family you need to confront, but you fear the

consequences? Work? Community?

G. Are you stealing from your employer by mismanaging your

time? Exaggerating expense reports?

H. Are you using illegal drugs?