Understanding and Teaching the Bible

Understanding the Bible

'You are not your own; you were bought with a price. 1 Cor.6:19,20 'You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.' Roms. 6:18

7. THREE STUDIES ON THE CHRISTIAN'S USE OF TIME, GIFTS, POSSESSIONS AND MONEY

We are going to examine three ways in which the Bible describes our role as Christians.

See how Paul describes the Christians at Thessalonica in 1 Thess.1:7. What did they do to deserve that compliment ( v.9b,10)? What do you think had so captivated them that they had done that so convincingly?

How does Paul describe in Rom.6:22 what we have become? Do you think that might be over-stating it? Do we really acknowledge this idea in our lives, do you think?

In 1 Peter 2:16, Peter says 'live as servants of God'. What particular context or application does he have in mind here?

Discuss what it would mean to be truly a servant of God. Why is it such a struggle for us to fulfil this role as much as we know we should?

How should we serve one another? What does Peter mean in 1 Pet. 4:10? Discuss how this might happen. Is it happening in your group or fellowship? In what ways?

But just in case we've missed the point, what is the fundamental reason why we should be the servants of God and one another? See Mark 10:45 and John 13:12-17. What characteristics of what Jesus did challenge us most?

Do you find this idea of being a servant demeaning or exciting or what? There are two main ways in which we can serve one another (1) in person to person ways eg helping when someone is ill and (2) in impersonal ways but for the benefit of all eg in our financial giving. Do you feel differently about these two types of service? What part does each play in building up the church.

'Peter's declaration of our peoplehood in Christ has vast consequences for the life of the church. The church is not just a religious association formed by saved individuals to give united expression to the faith. Rather, the church is more a people than Israel was under the old covenant ....... scattered .......... but a people nonetheless, bound together in the community of those who are united to one another as surely as they are united to their Lord. Church fellowship is not an optional advantage to be chosen or ignored ... It is the calling of every Christian; Christians are blood relatives joined by the blood of Jesus Christ.' (my italics) from Edmund Clowney.

Read Is.41:8-10 and pick out the words that encourage you, and explain why. Now add Deut.7:6 - now how do you feel?

If you look up 'a people' or 'a nation' in the dictionary, you find the following types of characteristics given:

a community, a body of people held together by a belief in a common origin; linked by the acknowledgement of a common headship; near kindred, sharing in the same attitudes and rights; a common concern for and protective of fellow members; tied by feeling of brotherhood; kinship with those who have gone before and those who will follow; achievement and failure felt by all, sense of heritage.

* to what extent do we depend upon it and what are our responsibilities towards its welfare?

May we serve anything or anyone other than God? Please see Matt. 4:10 (notice the 'only'). What are the implications of that? (worship = everyday living - Rom.12:1)

How much is left for other things? So how can we accommodate other legitimate concerns? Only, presumably by including them within our dedication to God. Is that the right way to see it?

In the parable of the talents (Matt.25:14-30) is there a difference between the way the master praises the two men who began with 5 and 2 talents? What do you conclude from that? What does he condemn the third man for? What are we to use our gifts for - Rom.12:4-8? Why do we sometimes not exercise our gifts in the church - what stands in the way or puts us off?

All mixed up with the question of using our gifts is the question of time. There never seems to be enough of it. The Bible teaches (1) that our life is a gift from God and therefore all our time is God's time (2) That none of us knows the length of our lives, or when Christ will return (3) that we are accountable for the way we spend our life (1 Cor. 3:11-15). Could the parable of the talents be applied to how we use our time?

Most of us will agree that time is a valuable and scarce commodity, but could we do more to use it better? Are there some difficult choices to make? Many things may have a legitimate call on out time eg employment, family, relationships, reading, sport, prayer, church activities, gardening, holiday, managing a household, worship, going out, bible reading, relaxation, church duties .. and so on.

How can a Christian weigh up the importance of these these things (which, of course, may change with time) ?

It is sometimes said 'if you want something done ask someone who is already busy.' Why is this so often true - is it a question of temperament or commitment, or both, or what?

In 'Consistent Christianity' Michael Griffiths says 'Our life is to be an integrated unity, a harmony of praise to God in every part. Of those many constituents which make up our lives, all of which can be done to God's glory, some obviously have priority over others. It is not good to forsake essential duties for one's own pleasure, even if these can be done in a way which is pleasing to God. We grow in the Christian life as .... we learn to blend together all these different ingredients of living ...'

* Are our lives 'an integrated unity'? Are some parts of our lives in conflict with other parts? Why?

* Bearing in mind our responsibilities to one another and to our families (say), how do we work out our priorities?

Would you please turn to Matt. 6 and read vs. 19-34. What in this passage is Jesus teaching about our attitude to material things, thinking particularly perhaps of v.21?

How do the materialistic values of the world around us influence us as Christians? Do we recognise how it has already happened? On the other hand in view of 1 Tim. 4:3-5 and Ps. 104:10-15 to what extent may we enjoy the material world around us?

How do we strike a balance between enjoying God's gifts and not so indulging ourselves that they become a snare and a hindrance? What is 1 Tim. 6:17-19 about and note the parallel between v.19 and Matt. 6:21.

Two very different Christians from two very different generations have said ....

'I fear, whenever riches have increased, the essence of religion has decreased in the same proportion.' (John Wesley),

(2) Generosity For a fine example turn to 2 Cor.8:1-15. Pick out the lessons we can learn from this passage. And what does 2 Cor.9:1-8 teach us?

Turn back to an OT example in 1 Chronicles 29:9-20 when the people contributed to the building of the temple. What is the importance of v.14?

(3) Simplicity Here is a quotation from the Lausanne Covenant quoted by John Stott in his book 'Issues facing Christians today'.

'We also accept the distinction between necessities and luxuries, creative hobbies and empty status symbols, modesty and vanity, occasional celebrations and normal routine, and between the service of God and slavery to fashion.'

Try to list the factors which prevent or inhibit church members from giving as generously as they might. Is the giving of a tithe a reasonable basis for Christian giving? See Deut. 16:17 and 2 Cor. 9:6-15; reconcile the two.