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Session Outline:
Men of character have three things in common:
1. They know God
intimately
2. They understand how
and why God made them
3. They are living out
His plan for their life
2Tim. 4:1-5 In the
presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and
in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach
the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage
—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men
will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they
will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching
ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside
to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do
the work of an
evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
In order to be responsible we need to do three things:
1. Understand our _______________ (2
Tim 4:1-5)
2. Know the _________________ (Mark
13:34-37)
3. Commit to being ______________ (2
Cor. 6:14-18)
"Today
our culture is having a greater influence upon the
church
than the church is having upon the culture."
Life Implication:
Until we understand our God given responsibility to be His
agent we will never be able to advance and make a difference in our world. The
world is desperate for Jesus and where will they find Him if not through those
who call Him Lord? We are called to be different--set apart--strangers in this
world.
Col. 4:5-6 Be wise in the way you
act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation
be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer
everyone.
Read and meditate on 1
Peter 2:12-3:17
Read Oswald Chambers,
October 24th.
1 Peter 2:12-3:17 Live such good
lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may
see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority
instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to
governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those
who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence
the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your
freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper
respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God,
honor the king.
Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect,
not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering
because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a
beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and
you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called,
because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should
follow in his steps.
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his
mouth."
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate;
when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who
judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we
might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been
healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to
the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that,
if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by
the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your
lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair
and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of
your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of
great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who
put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to
their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master.
You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with
your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs
with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be
sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do
not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because
to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
For, "Whoever would love life
and see good days must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech. He
must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and
pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the
righteous and his ears are attentive to
their prayer, but the face of
the Lord is against those who do evil."
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do
not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set
apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone
who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with
gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak
maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their
slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for
doing evil.
Discussion Question:
Am I up to the task? Will I commit to being different?
to listen to the audio of the Session.
2/1/2003