Review/Preview Take a look back and then look ahead

     All this week, Feb. 19 through the 25th, I encourage you to take a breath from BELIEVE (the book not your faith) and review what we've studied. The first ten weeks, we studied theology of what we think about God, or "How to Think Like Jesus." 

    During the second ten weeks, we studied the practicality of how we put into action the things of God, or "How to Act Like Jesus." We studied last week how to tell others, and before that, we had a three week trilogy of how to give of our resources and of our time and of our giftednesses. We also saw how we need to be involved in a Biblical community, the church. That ten week series began with a focus first inwardly as we saw in week 11 how to worship, then pray, study our Bible, be single-minded on God and be totally surrendered to Him.

    This week, as you pause, reflect on how you can be a trinity within yourself. In MasterLife, Book 2, Avery Willis taught six sessions of five days a week on how our human tri-unity of Soul, Body and Spirit reflects God's Holy Trinity. We will study that human tri-unity every day here at this blogspot. 

     That is what BELIEVE is all about, our triple areas of concentration and orientation of what we believe. How to THINK, how to ACT, and (beginning next week as we enter into chapter 21 through the end of our study in chapter 30) how to BE like Jesus.

    Begin this week by meditating on 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, 

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Evangelism Conference is Today, Feb. 7th

Today is the Evangelism Conference at Taylor's Valley Baptist Church. It begins at 4:30 p.m. with Breakout sessions, a 5:30 meal ($7 for adults, free for kids) and worship with Randy Frazee and Rief Kessler at 6:30 p.m. 

    Today's devotional was originally posted on Aug. 31, the day we first distributed the BELIEVE books. 
     Today's devotional ends a trilogy of sorts about giving: giving of your time, giving of your resources, and today, giving of your faith story through evangelism. It also goes right along with Pastor Randy's message from Sunday, Aug. 28, "Lost or Found. "

     In fact, take a look at a portion of Randy Frazee's book Think, Act, Be Like Jesus (I know it is not until week 20, but take a sneak peak at it below from pages 152-153).

     The other Randy, Dr. Randy Wallace, said Sunday, "Which road are you on? If you keep going on the way you are going, where will you go?" Jesus did not say there was a traffic circle (reincarnation until you get it right), nor is there a road side stop (purgatory to pay for your own sins), nor is there a toll road (pay for the road to heaven by your good works). 

     There are only two roads, a broad road to destruction and a narrow road to eternal life. Let us share heaven's GPS -- God's Plan of Salvation-- with the world to get them in the right direction and on the right road. 

Today's devotional comes from Zondervan and is to help preview Believe, a 9 month Bible study curriculum which we will kick off with book distribution in LifeGroups this Sunday. 

KEY QUESTION:

How do I share my faith with those who don’t know God?

Catastrophically, the fall of humankind in the Garden of Eden shattered humanity’s connection with God — the connection he originally intended when he created people. So God unfolded a plan to provide the way for all people to come back into a relationship with him. His grand plan included the founding of a brand-new nation. Two thousand years before the arrival of Jesus, God called Abram (later renamed Abraham) to start this new nation, eventually known as Israel. People from all nations would come to know God through Abraham’s offspring. [See Genesis 12:1-2.]

In the two thousand years that followed, Israel was a living demonstration to the world of the lengths to which God would go to reestablish his relationship with his people. Then, with the ultimate sacrifice of his Son, the reconciliation with God that was formerly confined to Israel now became available to all humankind. What’s remarkable is that we can play a pivotal role in God’s restoration plan. By responding to the call to share our faith, we partner with God in his divine pursuit of broken souls.

The most powerful way to share our faith in God is through our life — being a positive example to all in how we live every day. When others see the faith, hope and love in our life, they are drawn to live the same way. After paying attention over time, they will notice our confidence in and relationship with the one true God.

In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used the metaphor of “salt and light” to express the power of a life lived in faith and obedience to God. [See Matthew 5:13-16.]

KEY VERSE

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:19–20)

KEY IDEA

I share my faith with others to fulfill God’s purposes.

KEY APPLICATION:

 What difference does this make in the way I live?

Can you recall the last time you shared Christ or at least told someone how important your faith is to you? When was the last time you invited someone to belief in Christ?

We must always keep in mind how much God wants to save people. The criminal on the cross said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom” — to which Jesus miraculously responded with, “Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:42-43). This two-sentence exchange shows the deep longing in the heart of God to rescue people from sin and eternal death. We must simply join him in his work by sharing what he has done for us.

YOUR TURN

What might be the reasons Christians lose their “saltiness”? (You may find some ideas in Matthew 5:13-14.) Join the discussion today and use the hashtag #BelieveTheStory.

19. From pillow to pillar

Imagine using a rock for a pillow. In Gen. 28:11, Jacob went to bed with a stone under his head, and then dreamed his famous “ladder to heaven” dream, realizing that he was at the “door to heaven.” When he awoke, he took the same stone that had been his pillow and made it a pillar for an offering to God, saying “Surely, the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.”

What is unusual about this story is not that Jacob made a stone into an altar. He did the same thing later in Gen. 31:45. But using a rock to rest his head? Now that is weird.

Is there something in your life that is bringing a poor comfort to yourself because God wants to use it to worship Him? Specifically, look at the tithe. Jacob was the first person who specifically said he would take one-tenth of his possessions to give to God and the rock pillow was his inspiration. “This stone which I set as a pillar shall be God’s house and all that You give me, I will surely give a tenth to you,” (Gen. 28:22).

Could God use your stone pillow as a pillar for worship? Are you trying to use 100 percent of your income to make your life more comfortable and yet finding yourself restless? Are you giving enough of your time for God? Pastor Randy said yesterday that a tithe of our waking time would be ten hours a week for Him. Like Jacob, we often are unaware we are at the very gateway to God’s presence because we are exchanging what should be a pillar of devotion and making it an uncomfortable pillow!

Believe Chapter 19 Giving of My Resources

     The broad road Jesus spoke about could easily describe the American Dream. People want to get more things, and yet they find the more they acquire, the less they are satisfied. When people give to a cause that they believe in, they receive the truest satisfaction. 

     Ask yourself this, “Have I made a purchase that immediately made me dissatisfied?” Was that restaurant meal with the family really worth $50? Think about the testimonies of people who gave of their time and money to go to on mission or to help the less fortunate. Think about people who gave to help missionaries go. Or those who helped give a backpack for a needy school student. Or sacrificially gave to the general offering, so that churches can keep going.

    As you think this week about Giving of Resources, remember that “God so loved the world He gave…”

The following devotional comes from Zondervan.

KEY QUESTION:

How do I best use my resources to serve God and others?

Jesus said more about money than the topics of heaven and hell combined. Our attitude toward money and personal resources says so much about our lives. Giving should flow from a pure heart desiring to meet a need. It should not be a way to draw attention to ourselves. We should also strive to think beyond our earthly life and share what we’ve been given in order to build God’s kingdom.

It’s easy to give when we know we will receive something in return. Jesus challenges us to remember that true giving has no strings attached.

Paul earned his living as a tent-maker during his missionary journeys, though he was grateful for the financial support he received from some churches, such as the church at Philippi. He preached the gospel sincerely and free of charge, taking care not to be a financial burden to believers. Regardless of his circumstances, Paul learned a vital lesson: Having enough doesn’t bring contentment; contentment makes what you have enough.

KEY VERSE

Since you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you — see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7)

KEY IDEA

I give my resources to fulfill God’s purposes.

KEY APPLICATION:

What difference does this make in the way I live?

As you lay your finances before the Lord, ask, “Am I using the resources you’ve given me to accomplish your purposes?” If the answer is yes, thank God for his wisdom and provision for you, and continue to grow in giving. If the answer is no, then self-condemnation and regret are not the proper responses. The very good news is that God, who is faithful and just, will forgive you, and he is ready to help you direct your energy to the transformation of how you use your money.

So where do we start?

We go back to the heart. There’s a decision to make. Whom will we serve? Ponder again these words of Jesus: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money" (Matthew 6:24).

YOUR TURN

Do you think it's more difficult for people to give when they are wealthy or when they have limited resources? Why? 

Chapter 18: Offering My Time

     Time is far more valuable than we think, especially to children … and to God. In fact, I think giving your time to God may be more important than giving your money. Why? Because you can always get more money, but you cannot get more time.

     Time and money invested in the kingdom will pay off in eternity, where time and money have no value. The souls of others, on the other hand, have immeasurable value for all of time and eternity.

     God even listed devoting your time (but not your money) in the Ten Commandments, in which he commanded us to give one-seventh of our days to Him, or more than 14 percent, compared to returning a tithe (or 10%) percent of our possessions and earnings.

    The next time you think about investments, consider what you are investing your time into.  

    Today’s devotional from Zondervan is on giving our time to the Lord. We will study Chapter 18 Sunday, February 5, at FBC Killeen.

KEY QUESTION:

KEY QUESTION: How do I best use my time to serve God and others?

The book of Proverbs in the Old Testament is a collection of brief words of wisdom loosely bound together to teach the reader skills for living, including time management. The last chapter in the book is unique. In detail, it describes the day-to-day workings of the “wife of noble character,” who is essentially a personification of wisdom. The way she juggled her responsibilities while keeping God’s purposes at the center of it all is an inspiration to every follower of God. [See Proverbs 31:10-31.]

When we give our time to serve the purposes of God, particularly to those who cannot reciprocate, God not only takes notice but may also reward us greatly. [See Matthew 25:31–46 .]

KEY VERSE

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

KEY IDEA

I offer my time to fulfill God’s purposes.

KEY APPLICATION:

 What difference does this make in the way I live?

Unite the practice of prayer with the practice of offering your time. Ask God to show you how to use your time wisely and in such a way that it brings glory to him.

Giving him full access to speak to you at any time regarding your calendar will make all the difference as you serve in his name in your little corner of the world.

The author of Job tells us, “A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed" (Job 14:5). Multiplying is completely up to God. You give; he multiplies. What if every morning or each night you prayed, Father, my time is yours. Show me, lead me, speak to me about what you want me to do, about how to use this precious gift wisely, and then you listened, trusted, and obeyed?

YOUR TURN

     In your own words, explain what this verse means to you: “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). Join the discussion today and use the hashtag #BelieveTheStory

17: Spiritual Gifts -- No Excuse To Not Share Your Story

     Last August FBC Killeen had “This Is My Story” month. Numerous people wrote down their salvation testimonies. Several deacon candidates shared the gospel story and how it changed their lives.

     I believe that month-long emphasis influenced the Bell Baptist Association, a group of nearly one hundred churches in our county, to title our evangelism conference “Sharing HIS Story In Our Story”. That conference will be February 7th at Taylor's Valley Baptist Church in Temple and will feature Randy Frazee who wrote both The Story and Believe curricula. Johnny Hunt, a pastor and soul winner from Georgia, will also come and preach us to use our gifts, our story, and God's love to reach the world.

You can register for the meal at the February 7th Conference by clicking here.

    You may not be gifted as a teacher, a speaker, even gifted in knowledge or wisdom. You may not be a deacon or a pastor or a writer of curriculum. But God has endowed you with at least one spiritual gift. God wants you to tell the story of salvation by using your unique gift.

     I look forward to Session 17 “Spiritual Gifts” because so many in our church do not know what their spiritual gifts are. Some people are especially gifted in mercy; God wants them to use that giftedness and love people enough to share the gospel. Others are gifted in hospitality; God wants them to use that gift and be hospitable so that others are built up in the faith. No, you may not have the spiritual gift of giving or have great knowledge on the deeper things of God and life; but still, God wants you do the best you can with what He has given you.

    Have you resisted writing your salvation story? Are afraid you may not share your testimony perfectly? There are two roads: One to eternal life; the other to eternal destruction. We should “do unto others as we would have them do unto us.”

     Are you glad someone shared with you the plan of salvation? Then write and tell your salvation story and be prepared to share the gospel with the lost, the saved, the world.

BELIEVE SESSION 17: SPRITUAL GIFTS

KEY QUESTION:

     What gifts and abilities has God given me to serve others?

     The term “spiritual gifts” originates from the Greek words pneumatika (spiritual or of the Spirit) and charisma (gift). Spiritual gifts are special abilities or functions given by the Holy Spirit that are meant to be used by God’s people to complete God’s work.

     Spiritual gifts are given with a purpose. God wants to redeem this broken world, and he has chosen to use us, the church, to do it. Whereas in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit temporarily came upon followers of God to enable them to fulfill specific tasks, the New Testament clearly indicates that the Holy Spirit indwells all believers and that all believers have spiritual gifts. And since the New Testament refers to specific gifts, it seems safe to assume that God wants us to identify our gifts in order to best use them.

     Spiritual gifts are tools that are meant to be used. The divine task of restoring broken people to God has been imparted to us, and we must put these tools to work. In this parable about the bags of gold, Jesus illustrated this principle for his disciples.

KEY VERSE

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. (Romans 12:4–6)

KEY IDEA

I know my spiritual gifts and use them to fulfill God’s purposes.

KEY APPLICATION:

 What difference does this make in the way I live?

     If you want to gain a better understanding of your own spiritual gifts, look for a number of excellent resources and tools online or in Christian bookstores. You can also simply ask people to help you discover your gifts. Use the story in this chapter and ask three folks to circle the role they see you playing. Your responsibility is to discover and develop God’s gifts, and then to find how each one fits into the world he wants to reach. You have been given a gift, and God plans to use your gift to change the world.

     When we are children, most of us pretend to have, or dream about having, some sort of superpower. The Creator has given you a divine gift. When it is used in and through your unique personality, abilities, and intellect, energized by his Holy Spirit, God will certainly produce supernatural results far above what you could ask for or imagine him to ever do.

YOUR TURN

     Why is it so important that people identify their spiritual gifts? (You’ll find some ideas in 1 Corinthians 12:1-20.) 

Session 16: Biblical Community -- Do I "have to" go to church?

This devotional and chapter when we go through Believe may seem similar to Belief #6 on the church. But Fellowship and Church is both a Belief and a Behavior. We need to not only know that the church is the bride of Christ. We need to practice fellowship. You may not "feel" like going to church, but if you really believe that Jesus loves the church, you are going to also put this love into practice by coming.       I love having my children with me. But almost as much as that, I love it when I hear my kids enjoy being around each other. And I especially love it when my kids tell me they have been to church, and are with their spiritual family. Now that they are adults, I can't make them go to church or want to hang around each other. But as a dad, I love it when they do and not because they "have to".             Someone said at church last week, "I don't want to leave this fellowship." That same night, another person said that they don't like being around people and always thought they didn't have to go to church to be a Christian. Today's devotional and Chapter 16 reminds us whether we are like the first person or the second, God gave us a belief and a behavior in having a Biblical Community. The following devotional is from Zondervan to help us prepare for the 30 part series of key lessons on how to believe, behave and be a Biblical Christian. KEY QUESTION:  How do I develop healthy relationships with others?      Community is not a “nice-to-have” addition, but an essential experience for living a godly and healthy life. God intended for humans to have rich, life-giving relationships with each other; relationships energized and motivated by the actual presence of God among them. Adam and Eve experienced this perfect ideal in the garden. But their rejection of God’s vision for life together caused humankind to be escorted from the garden and out of community with God. This separation from God and the presence of sin in every human being’s nature is a perpetual challenge to creating strong community. But it is clear from God’s Word that people were not meant for separation and isolation. (See Ecclesiastes 4:8–12.)     One of the marked differences between the church and the rest of society is the call to live for others. Throughout the New Testament, followers of Jesus were urged to look out for “one another.” When the early Christians did this in faith, it created an irresistible attraction for outsiders to belong to the family of God. KEY VERSE      All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:44–47) KEY IDEA     I fellowship with Christians to accomplish God’s purposes in my life, in the lives of others and in the world. KEY APPLICATION:  What difference does this make in the way I live?      If you were going to rescue a person who had fallen off a steep cliff, you would want to be tied to as many people up on the mountain as possible, supporting you and holding you as you attempt rescue. As we minister and reach out to those outside the community of faith, it is necessary to stay tethered together for optimum success, lest we also fall.      There are days we desperately need a good hug to keep going, and other days we need a swift kick in the pants to get back to where we should be. Friends who love God, and love us for who we are, know exactly when and how to do the right thing for us. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon writes, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6 NKJV). YOUR TURN      Would you have wanted to be a member of the early church after Pentecost? Why or why not? (You’ll find some ideas in Acts 2:44-47.) Join the discussion today and use the hashtag #BelieveTheStory.

15.5 Spiritual Unity Should Spring From One Faith

Part 5 (see part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4)

¹ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-5

We are a family of humanity and we should be at peace with other races, nationalities, ethnicities, and languages. The Bible says we are to be, as far as possible, at peace with all others, even other religions and lack of religion.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Romans 14:19

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

We should be at peace with people of different lifestyles, preferences, and orientations. Some of the strongest Christian witnesses I know of are testimonies of the Amish or the African American church members of faith who forgave and showed the love of God to those who actually murdered innocent family members. That is supernatural love and Christ-like forgiveness.

Obviously, being at peace and demonstrating love to others, “while they are still sinners” (Romans 5:8) is not condoning or accepting their sinful lifestyles or deviant behaviors, but it is extending to others the forgiveness and love that Christ showed and gave to us. Read Romans 5:6-8

⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Once a person has received the indwelling Christ, God’s redeeming and convicting Holy Spirit can give dunamas power and authority to become and live like a child of God. John 1:12-13 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born, not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Since Christ loved us when we were sinners, how much more should we live in love and harmony with our fellow believers who are saved. There are people in the world who are not believers that I have to ask God to help me to love. It is not in my nature, but in my nature there is sin. Now that I am a Christian, I have a new nature. The old nature has passed away. Read how the New Living Translation conveys the “new normal” of a born-again believer.

⁵ When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. ⁶ But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. (Romans 7:5-6, NLT)

²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. (Ephesians 4:21-24, NLT)

⁵ So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you… ⁷ You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. ⁸ But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. ⁹ Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. ¹⁰ Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. ¹¹ In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. (Colossians 3:5,7-11, NLT)

Are you truly a follower of Christ? Then extend love and peace to those who are also members of the family of God and who also seek to follow the Son. I know I do not follow Christ at all times and in every way. But knowing that others still love me and forgive me will help me stay on the path and return to it when I stray.

15.5 Racial Unity Should Spring From One "Blood"

The family of humanity and social order

Part 4 (see part 1, part 2, part 3)

     Some Christians are not very favorable to the “social

gospel.” It has come to mean of helping improve society to the exclusion of telling people about having a relationship with Christ. But as Pastor Randy Wallace preached on Sunday, our salvation must have some impact on this world, or otherwise God would send us directly to heaven. Our goal as Christians is not to merely “go to heaven,” and it is not to simply cease sinning. A “drug-induced coma” could stop us from committing sins, but not from the “omitting” sins. There are sins of commission (bad things we do) but there are also sins of omission (good things we don’t d0). 

     As a reflection of His light of the world are we going to hide it under a bushel? No. (You saw that one coming didn’t you?). “In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography,” so says the Baptist Faith and Message, Article 15, The Christian and the Social Order.

     While only those who have accepted Christ are truly adopted into God’s spiritual family, as members of the human race and a part of this world, we are also the direct objects of His divine love. The Apostle Paul spoke that even the pagan Greek world knew that we were His offspring, God’s children:

Read Acts 17:16-31*

What are some historical examples or people who have worked for racial harmony, based on Christianity?

What are some historical examples or people who have worked against racial harmony, based on their distorted view of religion? 

     As the family of humanity, and especially since we recognize that we are all from one blood (the actual word used in Acts 17:26 although NIV translates it as “man”) through Adam and Noah, the church of all people should be at the forefront of uniting the relations between races, nations, ethnicities, and cultures.

     God has always commanded His people to reach across the barriers to reach those who are different than we are. We who have the means should always work to provide for those without means; i.e., “the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick.” The story of the Good Samaritan was told to someone who was prejudiced against Samaritans. And we who have already been born (I think that pretty much applies to all of you are reading this) should “speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death.”

      In 1682 a persecuted Quaker Christian by the name of William Penn founded a city as a place where everyone would feel free to worship as he so chose, even if it were the religion of the native Americans or non-Christian. Even though he was given the land by King Charles II, Penn paid the local Lenape people and made a treaty of friendship with the Native American chief Tammany under an elm tree at what is now the city's Fishtown section. This degree was so much more than tolerance of others; it was a loving affirmation for the brotherhood of man (and sisterhood of women). Therefore, Penn (for whom the state of Pennsylvania is named) called the city Philadelphia, a city which still goes by its moniker of “the city of brotherly love.”

     The Baptist Faith & Message states, “Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.”

*Acts 17:16-31

¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. ¹⁸ A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹ Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? ²⁰ You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” ²¹ (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

²² Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. ²⁶From one BLOOD he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. ²⁷ God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ²⁸‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

²⁹ “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. ³⁰ In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ³¹ For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Acts 17:24-31

15.5 Beliefs About the Family at Home

Beliefs and the Social Order, part 3 (see Part 1 and Part 2)

The Family of Home

 

  Before there were governments, institutions, or even places of worship, God ordained the family as the foundation of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.

     According to the Baptist Faith and Message, which is a description of what our convention has agreed on that most of our denomination believes, it says the following: 

“Christians and the Bible define marriage as the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.

“The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. ”

     In the Scriptures of old and in society today, there are sadly few examples as role models for the ideal family of the home. Jesus described God’s ideal for the family in Matthew 19 after a question was brought up about the home and marriage.

Read Matthew 19:4-14*

Even the disciples often found Jesus' comments are hard to accept and practice. Do you see grace in the words of Jesus when He says,  “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given....The one who can accept this should accept it.” ?

How does Jesus' acceptance of children show His value and God's value of children in the home?

    Jesus referred back to the beginning as God’s ideal. But early on, marriages and families had dysfunctions and problems. 

     As early as Genesis 4:19, marriages had degenerated to include polygamy (more than one wife) in the family of Lamech, who was a descendant of godless line of Cain, who murdered his brother Able. 

     Lamech himself also murdered a man and self-proclaimed that no one was to avenge his wicked deeds. Within seven generations from Adam, the Bible records two murders and a departure from God’s ideal family of one husband and one wife for life. 

     As one person said, the Bible shows people as they are, warts and all.

What can we glean from the fact that the Bible does not record perfect people nor perfect families?

     Abraham, Jacob, David and Solomon all failed in various ways and not just in their home lives. Their failures are accurately descriptive but they are in no way prescriptive! They do give us hope that God uses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect plans.

    Although there are few examples in the Bible of godliness in the home, the Scriptures give us instructions for a godly home. Two short but powerful back-to-back chapters in Psalms speaks to the family of the home.

Read Psalms 127 and 128**

How does Psalm 127 put into proper perspective the balance God seeks in our time at work (verse 2a), home (verse 1) and rest (verse 2b).

What messages and insights can be seen for parents, husbands, wives, children and even grandparents and grandchildren in Psalm 128?

     By the time of the close of the Old Testament in 400 B.C., the people of God’s choosing, the nation of Israel, had almost come full circle in their families. Divorce, polygamy, marriages to spouses of pagan faiths, disobedient parents and children alike are all depicted in the pages of the first testament of the Scriptures.

    The final chapter of Ezra (Chapter 10) explained that the priests and people had married women of other faiths, thus diluting a godly heritage for future offspring. What’s worse, they tried to make two wrongs equal a right by prescribing divorce to “correct” the sin of pagan marriage! 

     In the final book before the New Testament, Malachi the prophet rebukes the priests and people alike for their deviant ways. Malachi, who was a contemporary of Ezra, calls God’s people back to God’s holiness and His plan for the home. He rebukes the priests, the people, and the pagan marriages. 

     Malachi chapter 2 reminds the people that the home is a partnership for life (verse 14), and parenting is for the protection for the children (verses 15-16).

Read Malachi chapter 2***

Have you ever heard the phrase "Mist in the pulpit will lead to fog in the pew"? How does that relate to the need for holiness in the spiritual leadership of the people? 

What do you find significant about the question "Why?" in Malachi 2:14? Perhaps the most significant thing is not the answer but that God allows us to ask questions of Himself and even gives us the question through the prophet! 

Read Malachi 2:16 in various translations. How does God separate the sin from the sinner without separating His love for His people?

*Matthew 19:4-14

⁴ “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ ⁵ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? ⁶ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

⁷ “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

⁸ Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. ⁹ I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

¹⁰ The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. ¹² For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

¹³ Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

¹⁴ Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ¹⁵ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

**Psalms 127 and 128 

¹ Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. ² In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.

³ Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. ⁵ Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

Psalm 127

¹ Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him.² You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. ⁴ Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the LORD. ⁵ May the LORD bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

⁶ May you live to see your children’s children— peace be on Israel.

Psalm 128

*** Malachi 2:1-17

¹ “And now, you priests, this warning is for you. ² If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.

³ “Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will smear on your faces the dung from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it. ⁴ And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD Almighty. ⁵ “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. ⁶ True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.

⁷ “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. ⁸ But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the LORD Almighty. ⁹ “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”

¹⁰ Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?

¹¹ Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the LORD loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god. ¹² As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the LORD remove him from the tents of Jacob—even though he brings an offering to the LORD Almighty.

¹³ Another thing you do: You flood the LORD’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. ¹⁴You ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.

¹⁵ Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.

¹⁶ “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the LORD Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.

¹⁷ You have wearied the LORD with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask. By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?”