Practical Christian Living Practical Incarnation – Imitating God’s Character in our lives.

Practical Christian LivingPractical Incarnation –

Imitating God’s Character in our lives

Before we start…

We hold to the doctrinal position of the Evangelical Free Church of America

1. We believe the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of man, and the Divine and final authority for Christian faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16. 2 Peter 1:21, John 6:63)

Review from Wk. 1

“So What” - From Week 1…

• God is far above us, and we will never be God – or even like God.

• God is worthy of our praise – every breath we take is because he allows it!

• We should be in CONSTANT awe of God’s might and power – it should be our waking thought, and our going to sleep prayer statement.

• We are responsible not only for ourselves – but for the children we are raising. And, we are called to be a light for the unbelievers in our families.

• We cannot hide our sin from God.

“So What” - From Week 2…

• We cannot, of ourselves, be good. It is only by the blood and sacrifice of Christ that we are able to offer ourselves to God, that He might do good things through us.

• All of us have areas in our lives that need to be molded and shaped by the Spirit of God.

• We are called to stand strong for the kingdom.

• There is truth!

• We can live out truth in our lives, by being real with each other, and being real with God.

Attributes of God…

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4Omnicsient Good JusticeOmnipresent Immutable WrathOmnipotent Truth Mercy

What is justice?

1 “Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness. 2 “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, 3 and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.

4 “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it.

Exodus 23

1 “Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness. 2 “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, 3 and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.

4 “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it.

Exodus 23

What strikes you, here, as we consider guidance as it relates to justice?Why are we commanded these things – they seem obvious?How do we apply verse 5 to our lives? None of us get around on donkeys…

6 “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. 7 Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.

8 “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.

Exodus 23

6 “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. 7 Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.

8 “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.

Exodus 23

What strikes you, here, as we consider guidance as it relates to justice?

Why are we commanded these things – they seem obvious?

8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.

Ecclesiastes 5

8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.

Ecclesiastes 5

What strikes you, here, as we consider guidance as it relates to justice?

Principles of Justice

Socially In our Work In our home

What are basic steps of securing social justice?How are the poor, or alien in our work, in our home?How do we make sure that the poor in our work and home get justice?

What is wrath?

Things that make us angry

1. Stupid people.

2. Bad drivers.

3. People we work with.

4. Parents.

5. Employees

Things that make God angry

1. Evil.

2. Immorality.

3. People who pretend.

4. Un-faithfulness

5. People who have no concern for others.

Injustice!!!

Things that make us angry

1. Stupid people.

2. Bad drivers.

3. People we work with.

4. Parents.

5. Employees

Things that make God angry

1. Evil.

2. Immorality.

3. People who pretend.

4. Un-faithfulness

5. People who have no concern for others.

Injustice!!!

Things that make us angry

1. Stupid people.

2. Bad drivers.

3. People we work with.

4. Parents.

5. Employees

Things that make God angry

1. Evil.

2. Immorality.

3. People who pretend.

4. Un-faithfulness

5. People who have no concern for others.

Injustice!!!

22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

Proverbs 29

22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

Proverbs 29

Why would an angry man stir up dissension?

Why would a hot temper lead to many sins?

What does this have to do with wrath?

11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 19

11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 19

What does it mean to overlook an offense?

What does it have to do with wrath?

27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

Proverbs 17

27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

Proverbs 17

What does this have to do with wrath?

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin"[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Ephesians 4:

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin"[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Ephesians 4:

What does this Scripture have to do with wrath?

The wise man The fool

• Slow to speak• Patient• Even-tempered• Seeks understanding• Over-looks offense• Glory to God• Guarded speech• Humble

• rash• impatient• angry/hot tempered• easily and often offended•Talks a lot• creates dissension/strife• seeks to drag others into the pit• exalts himself• self-righteous• know it all

So what???

So What?

• We are to look out for the widows, orphans and poor in our culture – and in our church family, and in our own families, and ensure that we are seeing justice.

So What?

• We are to look out for the widows, orphans and poor in our culture – and in our church family, and in our own families, and ensure that we are seeing justice.

• We should not be surprised that the culture allows the wicked to prevail – but the good news of Scripture is that in the end, the good guy wins!

So What?

• We are to look out for the widows, orphans and poor in our culture – and in our church family, and in our own families, and ensure that we are seeing justice.

• We should not be surprised that the culture allows the wicked to prevail – but the good news of Scripture is that in the end, the good guy wins!

• We should be angry about the things God is angry about. We should not sin in our anger. We can control our human wrath.