Abe’s lessons today were an introspective look at himself, who he is, how he got to be that way, why he was raised as he was, and how it has impacted his life up to this point. Most of all, how has he measured up to what God demands of him?

Recordings are below, further down is the text outline of his PowerPoint lessons:

It’s All About Me – Martin, part 1

It’s All About Me – Martin, part 2

Jeremiah 6:9-17 – “Thus says the LORD of hosts: “They shall thoroughly glean as a vine the remnant of Israel; as a grape-gatherer, put your hand back into the branches.“ To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; they have no delight in it. Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD. I am weary of holding it in. “I will pour it out on the children outside, and on the assembly of young men together; for even the husband shall be taken with the wife, the aged with him who is full of days. And their houses shall be turned over to others, fields and wives together; for I will stretch out My hand Against the inhabitants of the land,” says the LORD. Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down,” says the LORD. Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.‘ Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.'”

• I am a conservative.
• As long as I can remember I have been a conservative.
• I was taught by my grandfather to be a conservative when it comes to politics.
• I was taught by my parents to be conservative when it comes to the bible.
• What does all that mean?
• From the beginning of time, when people did not take the word of God seriously and took liberties, they got in trouble with God.
• Today we are going to discuss me and how I come to conclusions about right and wrong.
• You will have to come to your own conclusions.

Some Meanings of the Word

• A cautious or discreet person.
• Marked by moderation or caution
• Disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc. or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change
• An adherent or advocate of political conservatism (Merriam-Webster)
• A person who is conservative in principles, actions, habits, etc.(Dictionary.com)

Why Preach On This?

• We have been studying “How to Study the Bible” in our class downstairs.
• We have been talking about various things in our class upstairs.
• I have been watching the directions of the morals of our nation.
• I am seeing churches practicing things they have no scriptural authority for.
• I know there is a way that is right and cannot be wrong!!

It Is All About Me!!!

My Everyday Approach

Politics

• Strict adherence of laws (unless they conflict with the bible)
• Based on constitution – more literal interpretation
• Three equal branches of government
• Unlike the bible, changes can be made through amendments as long as it does not do away with the constitution – Article 5
• Example: In 1787 – Senators were to be appointed by the legislatures of each state –amendment XI changed that. In 1912 the amendment was purposed and ratified in 1913 that Senators would be elected by the people of each state
• This does not mean one has authority to change the constitution as they want

Auto Repair (Andrew)

• Use an approved manual
• Look up the appropriate vehicle
• Follow the instructions
• Example: Installing a rear brake light bulb (does not say to not use a hammer)

Building (Philip)

• Follow a blueprint
• Get permits as needed
• Use approved materials
• Follow all appropriate codes
• Example: Building a shed (don’t use drywall nails instead of roofing nails on shingles)

Hunting (James)

• Hunt for animals during the proper hunting season
• Use only the approved weapons during the approved time
• Follow rules set for each area of the country
• Example: Cannot hunt 30 minutes before sunrise or 30 minutes after sunset – using an argument for using Maine for sunrise and California for sunset while hunting in Ohio

Cooking (Everyone who likes food)

• Follow a recipe
• Follow the order of the recipe
• Use all the ingredients
• Cook if necessary at the proper heat level
• Example: Substitute salt for sugar, cook certain meats below level needed to kill bacteria (can cause sickness and death)

Why Do I Follow These Rules?

• If we understand those things in everyday life, why do we struggle with that in the bible. I will use one example of that in this first lesson and we will continue that thought in the second lesson.

Lord’s Supper

• Are there specific instructions? – Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 (Statement or Command)
• Do we have a specific time early Christians partook of it? – Acts 20:7 (Example)
• Was it to be kept by every church & every Christian? – 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (Unavoidable conclusion)
• Was it sinful to partake of it in an incorrect manner? – 1 Corinthians 11:17-22
• Should we only use the unleavened bread and pure grape juice? – Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

We know the proper way to understand things in everyday life.

• Hermeneutics (the science of interpretation) is a system to understand the bible.
• It involves direct statements or commands, approved and unapproved examples and things that are unavoidable to conclude.
• I hope that I have given all of us some things to think about when trying to decide what we have authority for versus what we might want to do.
• If you are not a Christian, become one today. If you are a Christian, stay in the faith.

—-

It Is All About Me!!!

Why Preach On This?

• We have been studying “How to Study the Bible” in our class downstairs.
• We have been talking about various things in our class upstairs.
• I have been watching the directions of the morals of our nation.
• I am seeing churches practicing things they have no scriptural authority for.
• I know there is a way that is right and cannot be wrong!!
• It is all about me!!

A Look Back

• Constitution – should not establish a fourth branch of government
• Can I change the established government set by God?
• Auto Repair Manual – Do not use a Ford Focus manual to repair a Dodge Ram Truck
• How do I reconcile Matthew 18:15-18 with 1 Corinthians 5:1-6?
• Building – Do not use an Alaskan code book to build in Ohio
• Do I follow the Law of Moses, law before that law (ark), or Christ’s law?
• Hunting – Do not misuse the words sunrise and sunset
• I need to understand the meanings of words and the context they are used in.
• Cooking – Do not expect to get a cake following a lasagna recipe
• Is there a difference in how I first got my forgiveness and how I get my forgiveness as a Christian?

Approved Music

• Constitution (New Testament) – cannot establish anything new

Singing

• Acts 16:25 – “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”
• Romans 15:8-9 – “Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name.”
• 1 Corinthians 14:15 – “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.”
• Ephesians 5:18-20 – “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
• Colossians 3:16-17 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
• Hebrews 2:11-12 – “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
• James 5:13 – “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”

Approved Music

• Auto Repair Manual – use the proper manual for the proper vehicle
• How do I reconcile that with Revelation 14:2 and Revelation 15:2-3?
• Different setting. Figurative language about heavenly places.
• 144,000 only who were of Jewish descent in Revelation 14:2
• They sang song of Moses in Revelation 15:2 which was written for Jews only.

Building – do not use an Alaskan code book for Ohio

• What about before the Law of Moses? – Nothing is written about using instruments of music
• What about under the Law of Moses?
• The Law of Moses was given about 1450 BC.
• Nothing was commanded about using instruments of music in their assembled worship to God.
• About 1000 BC, instrumental music was instituted by David and other prophets with God’s approval.
• 2 Samuel 6:5;1 Chronicles 15:16; 2 Chronicles 29:25-27
• Since it was used during the time of the Law of Moses, then it was given to Jews only.
• If one part of any of the commandments given during the time of the Law of Moses, then all of it must be kept. Galatians 5:1-4; Colossians 2:13-14

Hunting – Do not misuse words like sunrise and sunset

• I must not misuse words in context.
• Ephesians 5:19 – Making melody – psallo (to twitch or twang)
• In context, the heart is the instrument that is twitched or twanged.

Cooking – Do not expect a cake by following a lasagna recipe

• How can I be pleasing to God if I do not follow the proper “recipe?”
• My singing must be edifying.
• Ephesians 5:19 – “speaking to one another”
• Colossians 3:16 – “teaching and admonishing one another”
• Colossians 3:17 – Therefore I should not sing things that are not found to be scriptural.
• We must be careful about taking liberties with the word of God.

Cooking – Do not expect a cake by following a lasagna recipe

• How can I be pleasing to God if I do not follow the proper “recipe?”
• My singing must be from the heart.
• Ephesians 5:19 – “singing and making melody in your heart”
• Colossians 3:16 – “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…”
• 1 Corinthians 14:15 – “I will sing with the spirit and… with understanding also”
• Colossians 3:16-17 – “do all in the name of the Lord”

How Serious Is This To Me?

• How serious is this to God?
• God expects to be obeyed – Deuteronomy 28:15
• How conservative must I be? – Matthew 7:21-23
• He killed Uzza for putting his hand on the ark of the covenant – 1 Chronicles 13:9-10
• One day I will give an account for myself – 2 Corinthians 5:10
• How “loose” can I interpret the Law of Christ?
• I must be very careful. – 1 Timothy 1:5-7
• Paul was amazed how soon some had left the authority of Christ. – Galatians 1:6-7
• If I can do one thing without proper authority, I can do anything.
• How careful must I be?
• Very careful, because I do not want to lose my salvation over my desire to do something just because I think it is okay.
• I must have scriptural authority to do anything.
• It is not because I am stubborn, but because I am afraid to disobey.
• Why take a chance when I can know what is right!

Have you obeyed Christ by believing on Him, repenting, confessing Him as the Christ and being baptized for the remission of sins?

As a Christian, are you living in sin?

Today, make things right with God.