The Safest Course: Guidance for Keeping Hearts and Minds Focused on the Word

2. Neither To The Right Nor The Left • Keep hearts and minds focused on the Word • Prov. 4:20-27 • Life & health • Consider your path Do not turn to the right or the left

3. Neither To The Right Nor The Left • Society has almost completely abandoned this • Not focused on the Word • Majority turn to the left • Some overreact to the right

4. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Warnings Sinful To Loose or Bind “Safest Course”

5. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Warnings • God warned men in the Old Testament • Moses to Israel, Deut. 5:23-33 • Kings, Deut. 17:18-20 • Blessing, cursing, Deut. 28:1-14 • Joshua to Israel, Josh. 23:6-8 • Not to add or remove, Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:5, 6

6. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Warnings • God warns men in the New Testament – • remain in the strait and narrow • Way of truth & righteousness, 2 Pt. 2:2, 21 • Narrow VS. Broad, Mt. 7:13, 14 • To be a disciple, Jn. 8:31 • For fellowship, 2 Jn. 9 • Not to add or remove, Rev. 22:8, 9

7. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Warnings Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law… do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. - Josh. 1:7

8. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Sinful To Loose or Bind • Loose: Dishonor God & violate law • Priests not from Levi, 1 Kgs. 12:31 • Not honor parents, Mt. 15:1-9 • Sexual immorality, Rev. 2:14

9. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Sinful To Loose or Bind • Bind: Dishonor God & violate law • Portion for priests, 1 Sam. 2:12-17; Lev. 7:29-34 • Wash hands, Mt. 15:1-9 • Circumcision, Phil. 3:1, 2

10. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Sinful To Loose or Bind Shipwreck faith Divorce & remarriage for any cause VS. Remarry only after death of spouse Matt. 19:9

11. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Sinful To Loose or Bind Shipwreck faith Dad, Pal, Dude VS. Thee, Thou, Thy, Thine Matt. 6:9

12. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Sinful To Loose or Bind Shipwreck faith Exposure of too much flesh VS. Cover every inch of flesh 1 Tim. 2:9, 10

13. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Sinful To Loose or Bind Shipwreck faith Women teach mixed audience VS. Not speak at all 1 Tim. 2:11, 12

14. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Sinful To Loose or Bind Shipwreck faith Woman work, man stays home VS. Sinful for woman to work outside home Titus 2:4, 5

15. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Bind The “Safest Course”? • What is the “safest course”? • To the left? • To the right? • In the path of truth

16. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Bind The “Safest Course”? • First century • Do not marry or eat meat, 1 Tim. 4:1-5 • Be circumcised, Gal. 2:3-5 • Sabbath rest, Col. 2:16

17. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Bind The “Safest Course”? • Elders, 1 Tim. 3:1-7 • Married once • Multiple children • All children believers • All children faithful • Weekly guests in house

18. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Bind The “Safest Course”? • Church • No classes • No literature • No Sunday PM communion • One cup • Women wear covering • Women not teach male children

19. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Bind The “Safest Course”? • How should we view the “safest course”? • May choose personally, Rom. 14:1-6 • Cannot bind it Most restrictive view Not always The most spiritually mature view

20. Neither To The Right Nor The Left Warnings Sinful To Loose or Bind “Safest Course”

21. Neither To The Right Nor The Left • Keep hearts and minds focused on the Word • Prov. 4:20-27 • Life & health • Consider your path Do not turn to the right or the left

22. Neither To The Right Nor The Left • Society has almost completely abandoned this • Not focused on the Word • Majority turn to the left • Some overreact to the right