Living in the World, Not of the World: Finding the Line Between Worldliness and Freedom

2. Please Turn To:Romans 3:10-18

3. Where do we Draw the Line between ? Living Like the World & Being Free From Worldliness from Head to Toe

4. Worldliness Comes Down To Our Behavior Day by Day in Front of Those Who Are Lost • Our Place – IN the world, but not OF it • Determined not to be influenced by its sinfulness or be drug down into its destruction • Determined to influence IT instead – to challenge it and transform it! • Worldliness is when we lost sight of our place in the world

5. Worldliness Shows Itself In The Mouth – What it Says • We Must be Distinct because of what we DO NOT SAY • James 1:19 “slow to speak” • Profanity – Ephesians 4:29 “no corrupt word out of your mouth” • Why do people use it? • Intimidation – sound “mature,” forceful • Frustration – can’t handle it • Lewdness – expression of evil heart

6. Worldliness Shows Itself In The Mouth – What it Says • Unloving Talk About Other People – Ephesians 4:31 • “Reviling” & “Railing” characteristic of our sinful world – 1 Corinthians 6:10; 5:11 • Focus of James Chapter 3: • V.2 “anyone does not stumble in Word… able to bridle the whole body.” • Vss. 5,6 “a fire, world of iniquity…defiles the whole body…set on fire by hell.” • V. 8 “no man can tame…deadly poison.” • V.10 “these things ought not to be so.”

7. Worldliness Shows Itself In The Mouth – What it Says • Romans 1:29-31 “…filled with all unrighteousness,…, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, …unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; • Strife – altercation, contentiousness • Deceit – fraud, guile • Whispering – secret detractors • Backbiting – false accusers

8. We Must be Distinct Because of What We Do Say Ephesians 4:29 “…, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” What Kind of Words Might Fit Into This Category? Kind and Gentle Words Helping and Healing Words Edifying – instruct, comfort, etc. Peacemaking – Proverbs 15:1 Honest & Truthful – Ephesians 4:25

9. Worldliness Shows Itself in The Feet – Where They Go • How we DO NOT Occupy Ourselves- • Not as the world: sensuality, gluttony & drunkenness; lasciviousness and Fornication • Feet will not carry us into certain places – bars, liquor stores, certain movie theaters, video stores & some book stores; etc. • We do Not Occupy Ourselves with Winning the “Rat Race” – beating out, harming others

10. Worldliness Shows Itself in The Feet – Where They Go • How DO We Occupy Ourselves? • Feet Swift to do Good Works – Titus 2:14; Ephesians 2:10 • Giving God the Worship & Obedience Due Him • Fulfilling responsibilities faithfully • Noticing & Helping Neighbors Need

11. Are We Free of Worldliness? • Distinct from the World in: • 1. The Things we Say with our Mouths • 2. The Ways we Occupy Ourselves

12. IF we are not Free From Worldliness from Head to Toe – Righteousness to Worldliness Galatians 5:21 “will not inherit the kingdom of God”