Understanding Our Actions: Unveiling God's Expectations

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2. Why Do We Do It That Way? Tracy Moyers

3. Why Do “I” Do What “I” do? • “I” not Preacher, Teacher, Parents, etc… • We live in a society that says, anything goes as long as • It doesn’t hurt anyone • Makes someone feel better (uplifted) • Gives someone hope

4. What reasons/motivations have you heard from people when asked “Why” they do __ The Bible says so My preacher, church or parents do it that way God wants me to be happy “I” don’t see why God would have a problem with this. You can’t judge me --Judge not lest you be judged (Matt. 7:1) As long as I am sincere, God doesn’t care Why Do “I” Do What “I” do? Goal

5. Three Questions of the Hour • Does God care what I believe or do? • How did Jesus and the apostles answer questions about what one should believe or do? • How do I answer these questions today?

6. Did God Care During the Patriarchal Age? • Adam and Eve had one command to obey • Did God care if they kept it? • What happened? • What about the sacrifices of Cain and Abel? • Did God care how they offered their sacrifice? • What happened? • God commanded Lot and his family to flee Sodom and Gomorrah and not look back. • Did God mind when Lot’s wife lingered behind longing for what she was leaving?

7. Did God Care During the Mosaical Age? • God told Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock • Did God mind that Moses hit the rock instead? (Num. 20:12) • What happened? • Nadab and Abihu got excited and began to offer “new worship” • Did God care how they offered their sacrifice? (Lev. 10:2-3) • What happened? • Uzzah put his hand out to steady the Ark when it looked like it was going to fall from the cart. • Did God mind? (1 Chr 15:13) • What happened? • These were all religious and sincere people!

8. Does God Care During the Christian Age? • Jesus was asked the same question about authority for what he was teaching. Matt. 21:23 • Jesus didn’t reject the question. • John’s teaching – was it from heaven or man? • He was clear with them His authority was from heaven. • Peter and John are put in prison for preaching Christ • Acts 4:7 Jews asked, “By what power (authority) or by what name have you done this?” • Acts 4:8-12 Peter answered, “We do it in the name of Jesus Christ.” • The need for authority never goes away.

9. Does God Care During the Christian Age? • Col. 3:16-17 – Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord. • James 1:21-25 – Be ye a doer of the word and not a hearer only. • Rom. 2:16 – God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. • John 12:48 – We will be judged by the words Jesus spoke. • Matt. 7:21-ff – Not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom – only the ones who do the will of my Father.

10. Does God Care? • Is worship for the One being worshiped or for the worshiper? • If it is for the “One” being worshiped, then who should define how it is done? • How many decide how they worship based on what they will get out of the service? • Shouldn’t it be based on what we put into the worship?

11. How did Jesus answer questions • I am impressed with the number of times Jesus answered a question with • Have you not read … • It is written … • Jesus answered questions, by quoting scripture

12. Jesus Tempted by Satan (Matt. 4:1-10) • Satan: Command these stones to become bread • Jesus’ Response: It is written, man shall not live by bread alone • Satan: Throw yourself down • Jesus’ Response: It is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God • Satan: Worship me and I will give “the world” • Jesus’ Response: Away with you, it is written, you shall serve the Lord your God

13. Jesus Questioned by the Pharisees • Jesus and His disciples pluck grain to eat on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:1-8) • Pharisees: Look, your disciples sin, harvesting on the Sabbath. • Jesus: Have you not read what David did … • Pharisees question Jesus on marriage and divorce (Matt. 19:1-10) • Jesus: Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female ...

14. Jesus Questioned by the Leaders • By what authority are you doing these things? (Matt. 21) • Jesus is teaching about the Jew’s rejection of God’s plan: Have you not read the stone which the builders rejected became the chief cornerstone. • The Sadducees challenge Him concerning the resurrection from the dead (Matt. 22:23-34) • Jesus begins with “You are mistaken not knowing the scriptures …” • Then He continues in verse 31, “Have you not read, what was spoken to you by God, …”

15. The Scripture Can be Read and Understood • Many will try to teach the Bible is too hard for people to understand. • Do the following passages agree with this? • 2 Cor. 1:12-14 – We are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. • Eph. 3:1-5 – When you read you may understand my knowledge of the mystery …

16. The Scripture Can be Read and Understood • Many will try to teach the Bible is too hard for people to understand. • Do the following passages agree with this? • 1 Tim. 4:13 – Paul instructs Timothy to give attention to the reading, exhortation and doctrine. • 2 Tim. 2:15 – Be diligent to present yourself approved, … rightly dividing the word of truth. • 2 Tim. 3:14-17 – All Scripture are profitable for … which will make you complete thoroughly equipped for every good work.

17. Sometimes we need help • Remember the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:28-35) • He needed help understanding what he was reading • Notice Phillip started where he was “reading” and taught him Jesus • Peter admits that some of Paul’s writings were hard to understand (2 Peter 3:15-18) • Some even twisted and perverted his words

18. We must cultivate a “thus says the Lord” attitude toward any question. Why? His kingdom is not a democracy! (Eph. 1:22-23) We are to “Seek First the Kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33) We will be judged by the word (John 12:48) How do I answer these questions today?

19. How do I answer these questions today? • When faced with a question • Read scripture • Honestly look for what God has to say on the subject. • Obey commands • Mimic examples • When someone asks a question of you, can you answer with “thus says the Lord”

20. Can You Give Book, Chapter and Verse? • Acts of Worship • Singing ___________ • Praying ___________ • Giving ____________ • Teaching __________ • Lord’s Supper __________ Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 1 Tim. 2:1 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8 Can you give at least one passage for each act of worship you do each week? Acts 20 Acts 20:7 • Names Describing the Church • Church of God __________ • Church of Christ __________ • House of God __________ • Household of Faith _________ 1 Cor. 1:2 Rom. 16:16 1 Tim. 3:15 Gal. 6:10 • Names Describing the Church • Disciples __________ • Christians __________ • Saints __________ • Brethren __________ Acts 11:26 Acts 11:26 Romans 1:7 Galatians 6:1

21. We must respect God’s Silence • Silence is prohibitive not permissive. • 1 Cor. 4:6; Deut. 12:32; Josh. 1:7; Rev. 22:18-19 • When God tells us how to do something, it excludes everything else. • We must understand the laws of inclusion and exclusion. • Male lamb of the first year without blemish excludes all others. Ex. 12:5 • Unleavened bread and fruit of the vine excludes other things. Matt. 26:26-29

22. We must respect God’s Silence • Many seek authorization for their wrongful practices by asking, “Where did God say not do it?” • If this were true, we could practice about anything we wanted to and not be wrong • Nadab and Abihu offered fire, which the Lord “commanded them not” Lev. 10:1-2 • Moses struck the rock and did not enter the Promised Land. Num. 20:9-12 • We have outlined for us a pattern for worship to God when we assemble • Teaching, Giving, Lord’s Supper, Praying, Singing. Acts 2:42; Eph. 5:19; 2 Cor.16:1-2 • These things are given to the exclusion of all else • To add anything else to our worship would be intruding into the silence of God

23. Authority Bible Doctrine/Worship Is there Scripture? YES NO Respect God’s Silence! God’s Silence is not permission! Read/Study And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Col. 3:17 Understand Observe/Apply

24. Three Questions of the Hour • Does God care what I believe or do? • Yes! • How did Jesus answer questions about what one should believe or do? • Have you not read … • It is written … • How do I answer these questions today? • Thus says the Lord, …

25. Questions? Do You Have Any Questions? Tracy Moyers tmoyers@hiwaay.net

27. The following slides are extra information that will not be covered during the session. However, it is includes for your future studies. If we can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact us.

28. Types of Authority • Specific • God has given us commands in which we have no choices. • God has already made the choices and we simply comply • General • God has gives a command in which He has left us with choices as to how to carry the command out. • Let’s look at a few examples

29. Noah builds an Ark (Gen. 6) • Build an ark (box) • Given specific dimensions and type of wood to use, • Specific instructions for doors, windows and deck • Specific • Build an ark means Noah couldn’t build a car, plane, balloon, etc.. • Use gopher wood meant Noah couldn’t use oak, pine, steel, plastic, etc.. • General • No specific command as to tools • So Noah could use hammer and nails or glue to hold it together • He can use any type of saw. • God simply didn’t specify leaving this part up to Noah.

30. Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost • Specific • Go (where?) into all the world • Teach (what?) the gospel (Mark 16:15-16) • (To whom) all nations “every creature” • (Do what) baptize them (authority) in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit • General • Go (how?) by foot, boat, animal, car, plane, etc… • Baptize (in what type of water?) river, pool, sea, tub, etc..

31. Command to Assemble Heb. 10:25; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 5:4 ..not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another.. • Specific • Assemble • Give, pray, sing, Lord Supper and teach • Day (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:1-2) • General • Time of day is left to us (Morning or evening) • Number of times to assemble is up to us • Location of the assembly is up to us (upper room, home, synagogue, building, etc…) • The location is never central in the passages

32. How do we establish authority? • Command - Direct statement from God’s Word • Example - An inspired example set forth in the N.T. • Logical Conclusions – Necessary Inferences

33. How do we establish authority? • Command - Direct statement from God’s Word • These are simply commandments that must be heeded if we want to please God • “Go into ..” (Mark 16:15). • Illustration: Lord’s Supper, “This do...” (1 Cor.11:23-25) • Example - An inspired example set forth in the N.T. • Logical Conclusions – Necessary Inferences

34. How do we establish authority? • Command - Direct statement from God’s Word • Example - An inspired example set forth in the N.T. • Instead of directly telling us to do a thing, God sometimes tells us indirectly by giving us an example of first century Christians practicing it. • “Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor.11:1). • Illustration: Lord’s Supper, by example we learn what day it should be practiced, “on the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7). • We also learn of the need of a plurality of elders by example Acts 14:23. • Logical Conclusions – Necessary Inferences

35. How do we establish authority? • Command - Direct statement from God’s Word • Example of Jesus and Inspired apostles • Logical Conclusions – Necessary Inferences • These are truths which are not specifically, directly, or expressly stated, but which are nevertheless revealed, because they necessarily follow as a logical consequence of what is stated. • Jesus made use of logical conclusions Mt.22:23-32. • Illustration: Lord’s Supper, We learn how often we are to partake of the Lord’s Supper, how often does the first day of the week come? (You have to use the brain God gave you.) • The command to assemble (Heb.10:25) requires a place to assemble, conclusion: we have authority to provide a place.