Monday, November 30, 2009

"How We Live": Parents and Children

Deut 6:1-9 is a theology of living life and building Godly families
Vrs 1-3 The What
1. Keep commands
2. Fear the Lord
3. Pass that down to the next generation
Vrs 4-6 This needs to be your hearts purpose GOSPEL
Vrs 7-9 This is how it needs to be done, life lived for the Lord is how we teach others, close to your minds and the work of your hands.

Colossian 3:20-21

At face value if I were talking to a group of people under the age of 18 I would simply say “obey” your parents and there is connection with Ephesians 6 and Exodus 20, the promise is you will live long.

But the under 18 crowd only makes up a slice of our fellowship and I believe God has a Word for us adult children. By way of “honor” to our parents.

Obey- to comply or follow commands of.

Honor-high respect or rank and distinction. they have a special position in your life and they are generally be a people that look out for you and have your best interests in mind.

This was a concept that Jesus taught
Matthew 15:1-7 A Pharisee’s tradition was to dedicate their possessions to God in order to keep them for themselves. Jesus challenged this practice because they were using it is a loophole in order to not help their parents in which case they were not honoring their parents and acting like the dedication to God was more important.

Vrs 20 As an adult child of your parents how are you being pleasing to the Lord? ,

How to bring honor to your parents as an adult.
-Help them Matt 15:1-7
-Be a blessing, children are a blessing Psalm 127:3-5
Your life, decisions, helping them, calling them, including them etc..
-Listen to their wisdom Pro 4:1, 5:7, 7:24, & 8:32
-Have kids and raise them to be Godly men and women Pro 17:6
-Respect them 1 Tim 5:3-5 showing piety sense of worth excellenceG

The transition years of college, not under 18 but not fully self sufficient. This is when it gets a little dicey because it is not God’s intention for an adult to live off their parents and it is not God’s intention for Parents to rule over their adult child.

Helpful steps to figure this out…

Childs responsibility is to..
-Seek out independence (be responsible)
-Listen to wisdom
-Make decisions that encourage parents
-Know when it is time to make the decision


Vrs 21 “provoke” sometime parents have a tough time letting go of their childrens decisions and allowing them to be a functioning adult this frustrates and provokes their children to anger.

During the transition years
Parents responsibility is to…
-Push toward independence
-Guide with wisdom not force or manipulation
-Source of encouragement
-Know when to back off
-Teach them the things of the Lord Deut 6:1-9

As a parent of a child under 18 in specific Fathers
How not to provoke
1. Be fair in discipline
2. Encourage them
3. Spend time with them
4. Pray for them and with them
5. Teach them things of the Lord

Many or most of you did not or do not have parents like this which makes it hard to be a parent like this. The good news is that we all have a Heavenly Father whose love runs deep for us and sets an example for us.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

"How We Live" Marriage Part 3

Lovable Woman www.proverbs31.org

1. Good Character
Works on her character 1 Peter 3:3-4
3 types
-Concerned about outward
-Looks outwardly disheveled (which could indicate problems)
-Concerned about Character and therefore it comes out in her appearance.

2. Good wife Proverbs 31:10-12
3. Devotion to her household 31:13-19 & 21-24
4. Generous 31:20
5. Impacts the next generation 31:25-26
6. Good mother 31:27-29
7. Loves Jesus 31:30-31


Respectable men

1. Loves his wife: GOSPEL
2. Self control
Doesn’t lose his cool Pro. 12:16
Watches what he says Pro 16:23 (Nabal was a fool)
3. Works 2 Thess 3:10-11
4. Perseveres Pro 24:16
5. Is Generous Pro 11:25
6. Is humble Pro 29:23
7. Impacts the next generation Pro 20:7 (integrity) 1 Tim 5
8. Righteous Isaiah 1:16-17
9. Loves Jesus

Sunday, November 15, 2009

"How We Live" Marriage Part 2

As we see from last week we looked through the theology of marriage and how before the fall God put Adam in the garden and Eve as his “Comparable Helper” simply meaning that they were equals in dignity, value, worth and Salvation but have differing roles, neither is greater or lesser but different.

Sin enters in and the problems start, husbands drop the ball, they fail to lead, serve and love their wives and families which negatively affects the women and their capability to respect and trust their husbands.

Then we come to these passages in New Testament about husbands and wives.

Col 3:18-19
Eph 5:22-33
1st Peter 3:1-7
Really these passages are not just talking about the family structure but they are in essence telling men and women what the makeup of their spouse is and how to deal with them.

When we look at the Biblical commands we have to see there are at least three reasons why God gives us these
1. Glorify God
2. Glorify my spouse
3. Have a Christ centered marriage that can be an example to others

To sum it we have Eph 5:33 Unconditional love Men are commanded to love because it is not their tendency and women are commanded to unconditionally respect because it is not their tendency.

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs wrote a book with this being the main topic, called Love and Respect
Men’s deepest need is to be respected, and women’s deepest need is to be loved.

Without Love the wife reacts in disrespect without respect the husband reacts unloving. Calls this the Crazy Cycle (Eggerichs)

Respect- Esteem for or a sense of worth or excellence of a person.
Wives are called to respect their husband due to the position they hold

Love-affection for another person
Husbands are called to respect their wives due to the position they hold.

Unconditional love Unconditional respect

This is misunderstood, because we feel that respect is something earned and love is something owed.
We do not accuse women as being prim donnas for wanting to loved but men are accuse of being arrogant if they want respect.


What if the man is not respectable?
Two Choices. 1. Find things to respect or 2. Continue the cycle and nothing will change.
Same if your wife is not lovable?

Be a student of your spouse. What makes your spouse tick?
Painting the living room ill Love and respect
Its all in communication “Can you live with this color”


How to disrespect your husband…
1. Compare him to other guys (guys hate the Chick Flick movie guy) Eph 5:33
2. Remind him of his faults and correct him 1 Peter 3:1

Wives see the correction of their husbands as an act of love to help them be more loving, husbands see it as an belittling and treating him like a child. The two responses of a man can either be he puts up walls (whatever attitude, nothing is good enough) or he starts to act like one of the kids. Both of these options leave the wife feeling like she is doing everything alone. (unloved)

3. Nag him to change.

Wives will complain and criticize and husbands will “stonewall” in an attempt to keep from losing it and dishonoring himself. Women feel this “stonewalling” is an unloving act.
Contentious women Proverbs 21:9, 21:19, 25:24 Dripping 19:13, 27:15

4. Ridicule him to other people (if he is a dope what does that make you for marrying him?) Pro 12:4

This is why men seek to be respected outside the home.
Ill pg 68 (photo copy) extreme situation


How to be unloving toward your wife…
1. Don’t listen to her when she is sharing her feelings. 1Peter 3:7 “understanding” “weaker vessel” emotional
2. Stonewall her when you have a disagreement or yell. 1 Sam 25:3 Nabal the Lord condemns a harsh man Malachi 2:14-15
3. Make her in charge of everything from raising the kids to your schedule (women will do this and first think it is great, because they feel in charge, but eventually they feel alone)
Illustration A husband who makes his wife work. What is your problem.

4. Don’t do anything special for her Proverbs 5:18 Rejoice in wife

Who should go first? To the men I say men, to the women I say women
Phil 2 The mature one

Story of love and a husband going first on page 98 (photocopy)
Some may say that is humiliating (what about what Jesus did for you) GOSPEL

What if you don’t get the love? What if you don’t get the respect
Matt. 5:38-46 sentiment of Christ is go the extra mile.

An important aspect of this change in the relationship is see things from your spouses perspective.

The sentiment of Christ’s teaching is concentrate on yourself and your responses and your short comings, don’t play the blame game.

It is not your job to change your spouse it is just your job to be obedient to Jesus.

Forgiveness Matt 18:22, Eph 4:32
John 8:7 remember that you have sinned against your spouse as well

Next week being a respectable man, and being a lovable women

Monday, November 9, 2009

"How We Live" Marriage Part 1

Intro, What the Bible says about men’s and women’s roles in marriage are. Why the God teaches us this, the deepest needs of women and man. How… being a respectable husband and being a lovable wife (interview with John and Joan)

Single people, either plan life or react to life. If you plan life you will give an attentive ear.

Tonight we are going to examine the Biblical foundation for marriage.
Read Col. 3:18-19


Lets do a crash course overview of Biblical marriage

Gen 1:27-29
Men and womens purpose is to rule, and procreate

Gen 2:18 “Helper Comparable” someone to rule with, collaborate with, enjoy with and celebrate with

Gen 2:22-23 Creation of women was out of man “one flesh” issue. First marriage.

Gen 2:24-25 This could be one of the most important verses for a married couple. You have a new life, you are the new family, you have new commitments and new responsibility .

The Fall Gen 3:16-19

If man had not sinned, he would always have ruled with wisdom and love; and, if the woman had not sinned, she would always respected her husband with humility and meekness; and then the dominion would have been no grievance: but our own sin and folly make our yoke heavy.

Then Old Testament issues due to the Fall
Biblical history of Israel records.
Polygamy, Adultery, Divorce, Homosexuality, Dilution of gender distinctions,

Which leads to a denigration and abuse of women, men thinking they are in charge of women and treating them like property and second class citizens. This was not God’s intention but a direct result of sin.

And Satan will continue to attack the marriage relationship.

Now we Fast forward to the New Testament

Eph 5:22-24

The parallel with man and Jesus is not putting men on an equal plain as Jesus but it is saying a husband should treat his wife like Jesus treats the church.
So rightly when a husband is emulating Jesus a wife will follow that lead.

Headship means to go first and pursuer you wife. Like Christ pursued the church

The Husband should be the first to lay down his life, the first to say they are sorry and forgive, the first to take spiritual leadership, the first show unconditional love. First to take responsibility.





Cultural argument
Some have said this was to go along with a patriarch society and Christianity would not look good if wives were not treated as property like the rest of the culture did. But that is false.

Culturally speaking men at this time period would have a harem of women and then when they got older would take a young wife so his name would go forth.

Paul is teaching here is no no no, this should not be, husbands should have one wife and treat her like Jesus treats the church.

Vrs 25-31 Husband love as Christ loved GOSPEL

Vrs 32 The mystery of Marriage is that foreshadows What Jesus did for the church. We are the bride of Christ and look forward to the day of the wedding supper of the Lamb.

Vrs 33 Respect and love is how you glorify spouse

Over the next two weeks we are going to talk about how to do this.

"How We Live" :Be Good to One Another

Vrs 12-Elect You are chosen, God called you, you did not call Him

Paul is saying here now that you understand that Jesus is over, mans philosophy, religion and our old self you need to live to the new self and the next passage is what we need to do to live to that new self.

Put on…these things don’t come naturally so we have to put them on. Action
Compassion- A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another that is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. A way to alleviate that is through…kindness
Kindness-
***Show operation cc video, because of the compassion & kindness of a person another person met Jesus.
Humility- test,
1. How often do you talk about yourself and your accomplishments?
2. How often do you think or know you are right?
3. Do you ask other people for their opinion or advice?

Gentleness- The way we handle issues and problems in the church and in our relationships, compliant
Patience- Waiting on God in situations and also dealing with people that may not get it yet.

When people do not put these things on it has a negative and many times sinful effect on other people.

When you choose to not put these things on it can and will cause others to sin as well.
But in the church and as followers of Jesus we need Be Good to One another and not help the cycle of sinful responses in our fellow believers life.

Vrs 13
Bear with each other. This is where it counts and where it is hard as a Pastor and that is why the body of Christ needs to step up certain things. When people are in a time of need they need others to be there for them.

Outworking of the church “Pastor Dad model in a negative sense”
Paint the picture of this model…
Problems, Not Biblical, Not enough of him to go around, people become closed to new comers, when the Pastor dies or morally fails the people are lost.

Forgiving one another, even if someone has a complaint. Why? Christ forgave you.

Jesus’ response to sin against Him, “I will die for you” “You have sinned against Me and I will pay for it” GOSPEL

Vrs 14 Love binds it all together
Galatians 5:14-15 (bite and devour)
Luke 10:25-37 Vertical & Horizontal

Before dealing with people ask yourself…

1. Is this deed showing love to the people around me? You may be doing something that you think is right and good but it may be unloving toward others.

2. Is what I am saying loving toward others? Know when to say what needs to be said, sometimes Christians are so dumb on this point.
3. Did I ask Jesus to help me love?


A Benefit asking these questions is that it leads to love that is perfected
1 John 4:18 Perfect love casts out fear (children feel love of their parents, they feel security) if you know someone who has not experienced that it is our job as followers of Jesus to try our best to give them that type of love.

Back to Luke 10:28 “You will Live”
You may be the agent of change in that persons life that helps them bring more functionality to their family.
Impact their future biological family. (find illustration about someone who took someone else in)

Vrs 15 One of the best expressions of love that we can live by as a body of believers is peace with one another. Keeping the peace is actually applying all of the things that Paul tells us to “Put On”

So now Paul’s counsel on how we should be encouraged to “Put On” these things. Vrs 16

The Word teaching and admonishing (caution advise or counsel against)
Songs and Hymns

So we come together…This is how learn and worship together, the Word, hymns and spiritual songs.

Vrs 17 Whatever you do…so in all your dealing with people in and out of the church do it view of the Lord and give thanks to the Lord that he allows and calls you to do it.

"How We Live" :Jesus Over Old Self

Paul here exhorts the Colossians to meditation upon the heavenly life.

Vrs 1 If you are a Christian your focus should be on the things that Jesus loves, will they always be? No, and that is why Paul needs to remind them and us. “Ascension of our mind”

Vrs 2 Man’s Philosophy and Religion will always distract from a Jesus centered life.

“Why do we have a problem with setting our mind on things above?”

Many times in life when our needs are met we do not seek out what we truly need.

The more we get our needs met by this world the less we feel the need for God
These ar not only sinful things…Good things can distract us from focusing in on Jesus and His purpose for us. “Hug Quota”???

“I don’t know what I would do, with no Christian friends?”

Vrs 3 Your Old self died, you are no longer the same person now that you trust in Christ.

“Hidden” two issues

Issue 1. If you think this is really life you are sadly mistaken (connects to verse 4)

Vrs 4 But when Christ, our life, shall appear. This will be the manifestation of our life. John Calvin

Issue 2 The inner change is invisible to others, no one can see what happens on the inside. So living a life that is obedient to Jesus shows others the inward change.

Therefore because this inner change is invisible…
Vrs 5 Mortify (Kill off) Puritian John Owen wrote an entire book called “The Mortification of Sin”

Why? “which is idolatry” much of our sin is wrapped up in what we worship. We are putting these things before Jesus (talk about each)

Vrs 6 “You love the things that are bringing about God’s Wrath” We a Christians escape the wrath but Paul is saying that it should be a constant reminder in our lives that sin is serious business to God and we should also take sin in our lives seriously and be concerned about it. Remember who took that wrath GOSPEL

Vrs 7 that was who you were so don’t act like that anymore, you are new.

Some things that bring out the old self…
1. Stress
2. Suffering
3. Pride
4. Feeding the sin (the more you sin the more you desire sin)
5. Identity crisis, We are damaged goods so we act like damaged goods,
Three reasons
1. Wallow in past sins … alcoholic, drug user, temper issues, honesty,
2. Think they can’t have victory over it. Its too hard, its who I am…
3. Others will not let them out of it… You are…abused

Remember Jesus is our Expiation means to cleanse, that means when He paid the price He washed all that stuff away. Whether it was a sin committed by you are something that happed to you.

A result of pursuing a sinful things is that our speech and attitudes are affected.
Vrs 8-9 Speech and attitudes that Christians should not have, because it is not pleasing to the Lord.
Anger-
Wrath-
Malice-
Blasphemy-
Filthy Language-
Lying-
These are attitudes that the world has or things the world says.

Vrs 10 We are new so act like new, we treat new things different don’t we? New Car ill ill

The New-When you have Jesus in your life, what happens is that this New Life starts to break out of the old one. Things that were appealing become disgusting and things you though you would never want to do you desire to do.
I want to…help people, read God’s Word, go to church or a bible study, volunteer for a ministry
We should be taking on the character of Jesus, He is our role model, hero and master


Vrs 11 therefore treat one another like something new, Jesus saves marriages, relationships, financial situations. Because as He has made us new we should treat one another in new way. When you get a new car.
Barbarian- person who did not speak Greek
Scythian-uncultured person from region around the Black Sea

Jesus has to be over Mans Philosophy, Religion and our Old Self in order to be Master of our lives.