Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

1. Grace Bible ChurchGlorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. A reminder to consider others Please: Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate only Turn off sound to all electronic devices Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early)

3. What Influences You? Selected Scriptures Exodus 20:12 - It is a joy to honor a godly father, and an obligation to honor an ungodly one

4. The Influence of Friends Friendships exist at various levels of closeness and therefore also influence Christians are to be a godly influence on others while avoiding the influence of the ungodly upon themselves

5. The Danger of the Ungodly Psalm 1:1 & various Proverbs Psalm 1:1 - it is not enough to have godly counsel, you must also avoid ungodly influences - Proverbs 1:8f Avoid the influence of the fool (kesil) or you will become like him - Proverbs 13:20; 14:7

6. The Danger of the Ungodly Psalm 1:1 & various Proverbs Avoid the hot tempered, gossips & slanderers, the immoral and the wicked for they are cursed College students often develop friends who lead them astray from their upbringing

7. The Danger of the Ungodly Psalm 1:1 & various Proverbs Business associates can lead to materialism and worldly enticements to hedonism False and careless teachers lead people into aberration and heresy

8. The Scriptures and Godliness Psalm 1:2-3; Psalm 19:7-11 Psalm 1:2-3 - The blessed man actively pursues righteousness which is found in the word of God The word of God and the Holy Spirit are sufficient to produce righteousness - Psalm 19:7-11

9. The Scriptures and Godliness Psalm 1:2-3; Psalm 19:7-11 The promises of Scripture are true even when we must stand alone - 1 Cor. 10:13; Eph. 6:10-17; 1 Pet 3:15 We can stand alone when necessary, but God has made us to stand together with other godly people

10. The Importance of Christian Community Unity is founded in the humility and quest for truth that is produced by the Holy Spirit - Eph. 4:2-6 Every believer is gifted by God to serve Him, and Evangelists and Pastor / Teachers equip the saints to serve

11. The Importance of Christian Community The people in the church are used by God to build each other up to maturity - Ephesians 4:13-16 The interaction of the body occurs on multiple levels as the “one another” commands are carried out

12. The Impact of Mentors Luke 6:40, 1 Corinthians 11:1 The less mature gain maturity with the help of the more mature - that we should all be imitators of Christ The younger humble themselves to be taught by their elders - 1 Peter 5:5 Titus 2:3-5 - this principle is ignored to the detriment of the younger

13. The Impact of Mentors Luke 6:40, 1 Corinthians 11:1 The wise seek out wisdom from the wise while the foolish seek out folly from the foolish Both the younger and the older need to be proactive in establishing mentor relationships

14. Standing Firm with ChristProverbs 13:20; Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26 Who you choose as friends has far reaching consequences - Proverbs 13:20 The purpose of the life of a Christian is to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ by obedience and love

15. Standing Firm with ChristProverbs 13:20; Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26 Your love for Jesus Christ must be greater than your love for anything else (Matt. 10:37; Luke 14:26) Genesis 3 - The fall of mankind into sin - Adam did not protect Eve from Satan and then joined her in sin

16. Commands in MarriageEphesians 5:22-33 Ephesians 5:22-33 gives clear commands concerning roles in marriage and reveals its greater purpose

17. Commands in MarriageEphesians 5:22-33 Ephesians 5:22-24 - the wife’s role is to submit to her husband in reflection of Christ as head of the church This command is independent of anything the husband does - 1 Peter 3:1-6

18. Commands in MarriageEphesians 5:22-33 Eph. 5:25-30 - the husband’s role is to love his wife in reflection of Christ’s sacrificial love for the church The purpose of his sacrificial love is the sanctification of his wife - he must promote & protect her holiness

19. Commands in MarriageEphesians 5:22-33 The husband must also love his wife in reflection of how Christ cherishes the church Eph. 5:31-33 - The purpose of marriage is to be a reflection of Christ and the church

20. Commands in MarriageEphesians 5:22-33 There is no room for selfishness in Christian marriage, and God cares more about it that humans The husband is commanded again to love his wife and she is commanded to respect him

21. Standing Firm with Christ in Marriage It is evil to twist this passage to require one spouse to act before the other. Both must obey regardless Wives, fulfill God’s commands even when your husband is ungodly - your first allegiance is to God

22. Standing Firm with Christ in Marriage Husband, fulfill God’s commands even when your wife is unlovable - your first allegiance is to God Pursue godly love with the purpose to make her holy even if she rejects it and leaves (1 Cor. 7:15)

23. Standing Firm with Christ in Marriage Pay the high price to preserve your marriage, but compromise with sin is too high of a price to pay If a marriage fails, let be only because of your pursuit of righteousness and your spouse’s pursuit of sin

24. Conclusions Godly counsel promotes godly lives while ungodly counsel promotes sin and the consequences are serious Stand firm in Christ. Never yield. Pursue holiness in the company of the saints

25. Grace Bible ChurchGlorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ