Powered by Squarespace

Navigation
Tuesday
09Mar2010

BSFL Life Truths Sunday School commentary for the week of March 14, 2010

Poisoned?    1 Corinthians 5,6

"It says something about our times that we rarely use the word sinful, except to describe a really good dessert." - Willard D. Ferrell

How do you view sin? Most believers would respond to that question with the standard Sunday School answer. "It is bad"; "I stay away from it all I can"; or maybe "Mine is forgiven...". We cannot answer the question accurately unless we understand the definition of sin, and can define sin. Let's consider some personal questions: Is obesity sin? Is racism sin? Is swearing sin? What about sporadic church attendance? Coarse joking? Complaining? Not tithing? Are these big sins or little sins?

How did you answer these questions? What makes a sin a sin? Are there big sins and little sins? Sins that God will punish and sins what God will overlook? Many believers certainly act that way, as if God will excuse our sins because they are 'small' and 'unimportant'. Would you drink a quart of water if it had only a drop of strychnine in it? A church member said to me once, "Pastor Mike, you know that sin in the life of a believer is different than sin in the life of an unbeliever." I said to them, "Yes it is; its WORSE!"

In 1 Corinthians 5 & 6 the Apostle Paul talks about sexual sin. But his instructions and warnings are applicable to all sin; and there is one central truth we MUST embrace: There is no such thing as a little sin! We fail to be grieved by sin when we view it as insignificant or not as bad as something else. We tend to categorize sin according to what seems bad to us. What I habitually overlook in my own life isn't as bad as what I tend to see in the lives of others. This attitude reflects a skewed and thoroughly unbiblical view of sin.

We read of the sexual sin being tolerated in the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 and are shocked. But our abhorrence of sin should be parallel to God's; He is shocked and sickened by ALL sin. Any sin left to grow will lead to suffering, destruction, and death. It is the nature of sin to produce these things. This is what Jesus came to rescue us from, to provide deliverance from the power of sin, the punishment of sin, and one day from the very presence of sin. When we who are redeemed from sin choose to return and wallow in it, or passively allow it to remain in our midst, God is grieved and Kingdom work is stifled.

As disciples of Jesus Christ we are to emulate Him in all we do and say. He, the Sinless One, is our role model. Do not let sin gain a foothold! Wage war by the power of the Spirit in your mind. Flee from every hint of sexual immorality. Exercise the spiritual man by practicing the spiritual disciplines of bible study, prayer, meditation, worship, and witnessing. The believer should view sin as a serious allergy: even a hint of it is harmful! It must not be allowed to remain in our lives, or in our local faith community.

In 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 the Apostle Paul gives instructions the forbid fellowshipping with a fellow-believer that openly practices sin. The best-known process for dealing with sinful brethren is Jesus' own words in Matthew 18:15-17. Revulsion over sin and remorse over our brother should motivate us to rebuke their sin and seek to restore them to right fellowship with God and the church. Their own good, and the work of the Kingdom demands it.

 

Tuesday
02Mar2010

BSFL Life Truths Sunday School commentary for the week of March 7, 2010

Fractured?     1 Corinthians 1,3

I remember first discussing the options for writing this latest Sunday School material assignment for Bible Studies for Life - Life Truths. The Life Truths editor and I discussed writing on marriage or church conflict. We laughed at the similarities between the two! Although my wife and I will soon be celebrating 19 glorious and wonderful years of marriage, I still consider myself to be in a serious learning curve when it comes to marriage. Considering my past years of ministry, I really have more experience with church conflict!

That is not to say, however, that I have learned to deal effectively with every conflict that may arise in the local church. Sometimes churches can act and react in ways that defy rational explanation. Many of you reading this could supply examples from your own painful experiences. It is not my intention to air dirty laundry from the past or to tear down any local church. With the material I was privileged to author, and with these blog posts, it is my firm purpose to direct our attention to the Scriptures as our guide for healing from church hurts, and prevention from more of the same.

Paul wrote this first letter to a troubled church at Corinth. It is evident that he had received troubled news from this church that he had founded earlier, and so wrote to offer much-needed instruction to guide them through these rough spiritual and relational shoals. This week as we examine 1 Corinthians 1:10-15,26-29 it becomes clear that there were serious fractures in the Corinthian church. Misplaced loyalties and rotten human pride were evident in their words and actions. However, the crux of the problem is found in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. Paul accuses the Corinthian believers as being "fleshly" and "living like ordinary people" (vs. 3). He uses a bit of creative word play to capture his readers' attention in verses 1 and 3. In 3:1 "flesh" (Greek sarkinos) is literally 'made of flesh'. In 3:3 "fleshly" (Greek sarkikos) is more accurately 'characterized by the flesh'. What is the difference?  There is no blame attached to those who are babes in Christ (3:1) when they act like babes. It is expected. But when those who have been Christians for years still act like babes, "characterized by the flesh" (3:3) and not the Spirit, this is scandalous.

Earlier in 1 Corinthians 1:10 Paul expressed his desire that the Corinthians be "united". This is a word that means to restore something to its rightful condition. It is used of James and John in Matthew 4:21 when they are "mending" their nets after a night of fishing. He also expresses in verse 10 his desire that there be no "divisions" among them. This word is the Greek schisma, and is the origin of our word "schism", which means a division. In John 21:11 when the disciples caught an enormous amount of fish, the text says there were no "schisms" in the net; no divisions, tears, or fractures that would allow fish to fall through and be lost.

What a picture of what church conflict does to our efforts for Christ's Kingdom! When churches fight and divide, a rift is made in our witness and precious souls needing Christ are turned off by us and slip through the gaps. How important is it, then, to heal these fractures in the fellowship? It is vital!

 

Tuesday
23Feb2010

Growing Love That Lasts a Lifetime

Due to the positive response following the recent message series "Making Love Last for a Lifetime", and for those who have requested more help in the area of relationships, I have written down some of the teachings from the series, plus some extra help with each topic. A link is provided at the end of this material where it can be downloaded and printed in its entirety for easier usage. Review each topic, its basic truths, and then complete the assignments, including the scriptures for memorization. The key to realizing lasting and positive change in your relationships is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. He will work through prayer, God's Word, and our efforts to transform us and fill our relationships with love that lasts a lifetime!

Section Three: Growing Love That Lasts a Lifetime

"Love....bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."

1 Corinthians 13:7-8 (NKJV)

In the movie 'Fireproof', Caleb Holt's friend Michael Simmons makes the following statement: "Do you know what that ring on your finger means? It means that you made a lifelong covenant. The sad part about it is when most people say 'for better or for worse', they really only mean for the better."

    I.        Love 'Bears All Things'

The word 'bears' literally means 'to cover silently or protectively'. When our spouse or child makes a blunder we are faced with three choices:

  • Express our disappointment to the point of demeaning their character and deflating their spirit.
  • Belittle them for embarrassing us, thereby transferring your shame to them.
  • Minimize their hurt, shame, embarrassment, and pain by lovingly protecting them and supporting them.

"And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)

 II.        Love 'Believes All Things'

Love is always eager to believe the best. Love gives the benefit of the doubt.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

 III.       Love 'Hopes All Things'

We must embrace hope in our relationships! In 1 Corinthians 13:13 hope is linked to faith and love as the greatest Christian virtues. Hope allows us to love someone in the present while banking on a better future with them tomorrow.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

 IV.        Love 'Endures All Things'

This phrase literally means 'to remain under the load'. Take a look at the most common wedding vows:

  • Love
  • Honor
  • Cherish
  • Forsaking All Others
  • Richer or Poorer
  • Better or Worse
  • Sickness and Health
  • Until death do you Part

These vows are bristling with commitment. Love that lasts a lifetime means commitment. Commitment means you never leave your partner, especially in a fire.

Suggested Actions:

  • PRAY - Pray for the strength of the Holy Spirit to confess all negative actions toward your spouse or children as SIN. Ask God to grow a greater love in you for your spouse. Choose one of the four attributes above and focus on it for a week.
  • MEMORIZE - Memorize all of the Scriptures printed above. Saturate your mind with the Scriptures. Find additional verses to memorize that deal with sacrificial love, particularly Christ's love for the church that is the model for our marriage relationships.
  • ACT - Choose one of the four attributes above and focus on it for a week. Share these truths with your spouse and tell them of your commitment to love them for the long haul.

Suggested Resources:

The 5 Love languages, by Dr. Gary Chapman. Northfield Publishing. ISBN - 0802473156.

This material in a downloadable file (Microsoft Word 1997-2003)

Thursday
18Feb2010

Defending Against Love Assassins

Due to the positive response following the recent message series "Making Love Last for a Lifetime", and for those who have requested more help in the area of relationships, I have written down some of the teachings from the series, plus some extra help with each topic. A link is provided at the end of this material where it can be downloaded and printed in its entirety for easier usage. Review each topic, its basic truths, and then complete the assignments, including the scriptures for memorization. The key to realizing lasting and positive change in your relationships is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. He will work through prayer, God's Word, and our efforts to transform us and fill our relationships with love that lasts a lifetime!

Section Two: Defending Against Love Assassins

"Love....does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil."

1 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

The Bible is full of shady characters. One of those was an assassin named Ehud. You can find his story tucked away in Judges 3:12-30. 

After 18 years of serving Eglon, the King of Moab, the Israelites prayed for a deliverer. And God answered their prayers by raising up Ehud, a southpaw from the tribe of Benjamin. As his first official act he led a delegation of Jews to deliver the tribute tax, to King Eglon. Unknown to his traveling companions, Ehud had made a two-edge dagger and concealed it under his clothes on his right thigh.

Once he had delivered the tribute, Ehud returned to Eglon's palace pretending to have a secret message from God for the King. King Eglon sent everyone from the room and locked the door. When the King stood up Ehud plunged the dagger under Eglon's ribs, striking a fatal blow. Ehud then escaped through the back window. By the time anyone knows what has happened, Ehud has brought an army back to defeat the Moabites and free the Israelites.

Now you may be wandering what that story has to do with "Making Love Last a Lifetime." Not much, except this - today we will learn about assassins. With a quick stroke of his pen, Paul identifies four assassins. We call them "love assassins" because of the damage they inflict on loving relationships. Chances are, you have felt the pain of one of these attacks on your relationships.

  • Love Assassin #1: Rudeness - The word 'rude' literally means 'ugly', or 'shapeless'. Love doesn't embarrass others publicly, behave shamefully, act tactless or disgraceful, or treat others rudely.

Love's Defense Against Rudeness - Courtesy. Love acts with grace and respect toward others, especially those in our closest relationships. "Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12 (HCSB)

  • Love Assassin #2: Rivalry - "...does not seek its own" is literally 'not seeking one's self', or 'not seeking to advance one's self'. Love doesn't insist on its own way or engage in unhealthy competition.

Love's Defense Against Rivalry - Humility. It is simply putting others first. "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV)

  • Love Assassin #3: Rage - Rage literally means 'to sharpen alongside'. The sharp anger of rage is the rage of the day. We see it displayed everywhere. Truly our culture is easily 'provoked'.

Love's Defense Against Rage - Self-Control. Love assumes the best and does not make rash judgments. When we are under control we demonstrate love and consideration. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is now law." Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

  • Love Assassin #4: Resentment - "Thinks no evil" in verse 5 is literally 'keeps no record of injuries'. Love doesn't keep a diary of disappointment or the threat of retaliation. When we relive the hurts from others, we are keeping them fresh in our memory and cultivating resentment and anger.

Love's Defense Against Resentment - Forgiveness. Forgiving means forgetting! Forgiveness includes choosing not to allow hurts that have been forgiven to affect our decision-making, attitudes, or actions. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear." Psalm 66:18 (NKJV)

Suggested Actions:

  • PRAY - Pray for the strength of the Holy Spirit to confess these love assassins as SIN. Ask Him to grow a greater love in you for your spouse. Choose one defense a week and pray for that attribute to bloom.
  • MEMORIZE - Memorize all five of the Scriptures printed above. Saturate your mind with the Scriptures. Find additional verses to memorize that deal with courtesy, humility, self-control, and forgiveness.
  • ACT - Take any actions necessary to eliminate these assassins from your relationship.

Suggested Resources:

Boundaries in Marriage: Understanding the Choices that Make or Break Loving Relationships, by Henry Cloud & John Townsend. Zondervan Publishing Company. ISBN - 0310278139

This material in a downloadable file (Microsoft Word 1997-2003)

 

Wednesday
17Feb2010

Content With Your House & With Your Spouse

Due to the positive response following the recent message series "Making Love Last for a Lifetime", and for those who have requested more help in the area of relationships, I have written down some of the teachings from the series, plus some extra help with each topic. A link is provided at the end of this material where it can be downloaded and printed in its entirety for easier usage. Review each topic, its basic truths, and then complete the assignments, including the scriptures for memorization. The key to realizing lasting and positive change in your relationships is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. He will work through prayer, God's Word, and our efforts to transform us and fill our relationships with love that lasts a lifetime!

Section One: Battling Envy & Cultivating Contentment

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up."

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV)

Envy has a long and sordid past with its origin in the very heart of Satan. Isaiah 14:12-15 records Satan's jealousy of God's throne and deity, and his desire to steal them away. Ever since envy became his own downfall, Satan has realized its power for the destruction of human relationships. From Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to the present day, mankind boils with envy for what belongs to another. In fact, the Greek word for envy is 'zelo', literally meaning "to boil".

Envy does not just grow overnight, like dandelions. It develops over time.

  • Stage One: Discontentment

We become discontent with unfulfilled expectations. Never mind that our expectations are unreasonable or even impossible. We have made unequal and unfair comparisons to which no one can measure up.

  • Stage Two: Disillusionment

Confusion sets in due to our unfulfilled expectations. "I never thought it would be like this..." We become negative toward that which does not measure up.

  • Stage Three: Deception

The unfair comparisons intensify. We deceive ourselves into thinking that something or someone else is better. But we cannot see the whole picture, only the outer facade. We become infatuated with an illusion.

  • Stage Four: Desire

We become convinced that the illusion can bring happiness or significance. We fool ourselves into thinking that we cannot live without it.

  • Stage Five: Destruction

We chase the illusion no matter what the cost to our current relationship. And then we discover that it is just an illusion. No one could possibly be as perfect as we had thought. Our relationship is now severely damaged. We have crashed and burned.

The music video "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns gives a poignant illustration to this process.

 

How can we battle envy and cultivate contentment?

  1. Confess the SIN of Envy - It is a brutal sin that made God's TOP TEN list! (Ten Commandments - Number 10: "You shall not covet" [envy] Exodus 20:17) Confession must be followed by repentance! Turn away in sorrow from envy and ask God's help to defeat it completely! "For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." James 3:16 (NKJV)
  2. Control Your Thoughts - Your mind is the front line of the battleground for your relationship. Build adequate defenses! We cannot always control or avoid temptation, but we can control our mind. Eliminate whatever tempts you to compare and envy. "Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV)
  3. Cultivate Contentment - Love is content with the object of its affection. Love is a decision, not a ficle emotion. Choose to love your spouse unconditionally and choose to be content. Stop looking to others and making comparisons. Choose to be satisfied with what (and who) you have. "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have." Hebrews 13:5a (NKJV)

 

Suggested Actions:

  • PRAY - Pray for the strength of the Holy Spirit to control your thoughts and resist temptation. Ask Him to grow a greater love in you for your spouse. Confess your struggle to him or her and ask them to agree in prayer with you.
  • MEMORIZE - Memorize all four of the Scriptures printed above. Saturate your mind with the Scriptures. Find additional verses to memorize that deal with envy, covetousness, and contentment.
  • ACT - Take any actions necessary to remove the temptation to compare (let Philippians 4:8 be your guide).

Suggested Resources:

The Love Dare, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick. B&H Publishing Group. ISBN - 0805448853

The Secret to the Marriage You Want, by Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott. Lifeway Church Resources. ISBN - 1415868166 (member book)

This material in a downloadable file (Microsoft Word 1997-2003)