February 5, 2023
COMPASS: A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIVING
February 05, 2023
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Today, we transition from the Beatitudes and the closing remarks of being Salt and Light in the midst of one’s generation to remarks by Jesus regarding specific ‘day to day’ topics that He knew needed clarifying—both in His day, and in ours. He began these subjects the same general way each time: “You have heard it said… but I say….” Still teaching at the Sermon on the Mount setting, Jesus now delivers short topics with a theme of what God’s ideal is, yet what the heart attitude needs to be. Join us as we look at marriage, truth, restraint, and love.
Focal Passage: Matthew 5:31-48.
The Value of Marriage
· Read Matt. 5:31-32. As Jesus opens the topic of divorce—probably no more popular then than it is today—He is teaching people who have been trained to believe divorce can be acceptable if it is one of two ways: does anyone recall those ways? Which view was significantly the same as ours is today? How do you infer “Irreconcilable Differences” other than “anything goes”? Which one did Jesus seem to specify?
· What is the only justifiable reason God’s law gave for divorce? What is God’s ideal? Read Genesis 2:24. In most cases, what interferes with God’s ideal?
· Read Gal. 5:19 and 1 Cor. 6:9-10. What was the main category that began each of these warnings? What can happen that will nullify the sin in these two passages?
· If you are divorced and remarried, does that mean you are an adulterer? It may be, but what can occur to give a fresh start to a marriage like this? Read 1 John 1:9. Is this it?
· In the Ten Commandments, why was adultery a sin that, in those times, could incur the death penalty? Do you see “divorce” listed with the other commandments? Why not?
The Value of Truth
· Read Matt. 5:33-37. As many people in the past few years have asked, “What is truth?” How much does God value Truth? What does Jesus mean when He says He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”?
· Is there really such thing as a “white lie”? Why were many of us raised to believe that we can tell those lies? Who are we aligning ourselves with when we lie? Why?
· Why is it imperative that we always tell the truth? How does our Christian testimony (reputation) hinge on what comes out of our mouth?
· Although we may find it difficult to work through the verses, what is the simplification of what Jesus is saying here? What does it mean to vow or promise something to someone? Why do we feel the need to confirm our vows with something holy? How can you word your emphatic statements so that you are meeting God’s ideal?
The Value of Restraint
· Read Matt. 5:38-42. At first glance, verses 39-42 seem quite radical! In looking at this from the standpoint of our church’s statement of love, how could you re-word this passage? Is that what Jesus means?
· If someone dishes out anger onto you, what is your natural response? Read Proverbs 15:1, 15:18. Have you ever tried this? How did it work? Could this be why God said to do this? Are you someone who truly desires to be holy? Read James 1:20. Does that help keep you on track?
· Did Jesus mean to endure someone beating on you? What is He saying? How does an altercation begin? With that first response, have you taken up the fight? What can you do instead of offering a rebuttal? Are you strong enough to resist an argument?
The Value of Love
· Read Matt. 5:43-48. What is the greatest example of perfect love that you can think of? Have you experienced it for yourself? What is a beautiful example in your own life of human love that you’ve experienced firsthand, even from a flawed, sinful person? Read John 3:16. Is anything greater?
· Why did Jesus say all the commandments in Scripture can be classified two ways: Love for God and love for people? How are you doing at both of those? Can you share?
APPLICATIONS:
1.) Recognize challenges within your marriage are not an opportunity to walk out, but opportunities to dig in!
2.) Being known as a man or woman who keeps your word is far more valuable than taking the easy way out.
3.) In any conflict, look for paths leading to reconciliation, not highways to revenge.
4.) Loving others will give you greater joy than you could ever imagine!
Close:
As we look at these examples that Jesus taught the common people, we see a commonality: they can all be seriously difficult, but without Christ, they all can trip us up badly, and we will sin. Even though we are a “new creation in Christ,” we have a sin nature that has not been completely eradicated, and it will plague us—to some extent—until the day God calls us home. Still, that is no excuse to try for anything less than Biblical holiness.
As we’ve read recently, both the Old and New Testaments asks us this question: are you desiring to live a quiet and peaceful life, that honors God and His commandments? Then God supplies the answer. “Keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” (Psalm 34:12-14, 1 Peter 3:10-11). In the end, it all comes back to Jesus’ answer to the young lawyer: if we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and spirit, and our neighbor as much as we love ourselves, our life will glorify the Risen Savior, Jesus Christ!
By Sandy Day February 05, 2023