Wisdom from the Word: A Reference With 700 Unique Topics to Enhance Bible Study for Students and Teachers

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ABIDING-

Christianity is abiding by biblical standards of personal holiness and in turn seeking to bring holiness into the society in which we live.--Charles Colson, Loving God

John 10:1-21 In these verses about Jesus as the Good Shepherd, and we as sheep, there is focus on abiding, and the relationship that Jesus has with us. See Sheep/Shepherd.

John 15:1-17 Abiding is the key fundamental for believers! Purpose, steps to abiding, and 10 benefits of abiding. See Jesus.

John 15 God is the gardener, Jesus is the vine, and we disciples are the branches. Two things that make us branches significant: 1) Fruit- a) Shows people you are a disciple of Jesus- vs. 8. b) Amount- vs. 2,5,8. He wants a bumper crop c) Attributes- fruit that will las tattitude/ character 2) Abiding on the vine- a) why? Glorifies God b) what? Live with humility c) How? Live with humility- vs. 7,9. Connecting, Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ indwell you.

2 John 2-9 John’s spiritual children were: Vs. 4- living in the truth. Vs.6- they were walking in the truth, and Vs.9- they were abiding in the truth.

ABRAHAM-

Genesis 11:26,29 Abram (Abraham) was the son of Terah, a descendent of Shem. Abram married his half-sister Sarai. There were 9 generations from Shem to Abraham.

Genesis 11:27 Lot was Abraham’s nephew (son of Haran, Abraham’s brother)

Genesis 17 Believe in God’s Power. Vs. 1-8, 15-19 Walk in holiness. We are responsible. Vs. 9-14, 23-27 Abraham’s life.

Genesis 18,19 From Abraham’s concern, we learn to pray (18:16-33). From God’s character we are challenged to a holy fear (19:1-13, 24-29). From Lot’s consequences we are warned to leave any involvement we might have with the world (19:12-26, 30-38)

Genesis 22 Story of Abraham’s faith being tested by God regarding his loved son Isaac. Analogous to God and His Son, Jesus. God examines are faith and makes sure it is real. Obedience can’t be conditional. The Lord will provide: Jehovah Jireh.

ABUNDANCE-

Proverbs 11:28 Whoever trust in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

Proverbs 14:4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.

Proverbs 20:13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.

Proverbs 20:15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

Proverbs 28:19 He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Proverbs 28:27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

Abundance is an ample or overflowing quantity. Abundance in our lives is certainly a double-edged sword. For example, in the worldly sense, with their abundance of goods, the wealthy can bless the poor. Bill and Melinda Gates have been wonderful philanthropists in our generation. America has helped out poorer countries ever since I can remember. However, on the other hand, abundance can lead to inward looking, self-seeking and conceit. Satan uses it to tempt us to be more greedy. Living in America is living in a land of abundance. We are the land of the free. There is not only an abundance of food, but also technology, money, education, power, and most importantly freedom. Somehow, Americans still find ways to misuse this abundance. Tainted with pride, abundance can become a problem. When we build a house, or anything else, out of the abundance that God has given us, we have to have it bigger, wider, newer, and the updated version. We take the abundance of food, and we spoil it. Think about how much food is consumed by Americans in our restaurants every year. Then think about how much food is spoiled and thrown in the garbage from those same restaurants every year. It’s mind boggling. That wasted food could be used to feed millions of starving children all over the world. Technology is a wonderful thing flowing with abundance.

We have new kinds of digital cameras, cars, computers, televisions, ipods, electronics and even golf clubs. And what do we do? We go out and buy more. Somehow, we have been fooled that we have to have the latest. Think about how many basements and attics are filled with cast-away goods that have been barely used.

We have an over-abundance of entertainment, recreation, sports, and music activities for the children. American parents spend countless hours taking their children to activities such as soccer games (started at age 4), football, baseball, music recitals. How can too much freedom be a problem? Simple, men and women abuse the privileges that freedom affords them. We take a country like America which was founded on Christian principles.

Over the decades we have wonderfully become a melting pot of a multitude of ethnic, and cultural peoples. Unfortunately, in the process, our Christian roots have become adulterated, compromised with other world religions. By the way, this religious tolerance could only happen in a Christian society. There would be inner-country war if our country was based on Islam. Look at Iraq as an example where the Sunnis and Shiites fight each other who should govern the country.

God teaches us in the Scripture five important principles on abundance. First, He wants us to realize that He is the author of abundance. He is abounding in love (Nehemiah 9:17), peace (Psalm 37:11), security (Jeremiah 33:6), faithfulness (Exodus 34:6), and grace (Romans 5:17) and many other attributes. He wants us to enjoy these abundant gifts from Him. Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that He came to give us not just life, but abundant life! He wants our lives filled with abundance, but an abundance of the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) God loves abundance, if we keep it in the right perspective. Gold and rubies and the natural riches of earth are nothing compared to having and speaking the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which is described like a rare jewel. (Proverbs 20:15) The pagan world is more interested in wealth and power than in knowing God. Second, He gives to us all that we have, and all of our gifts come from Him (children, in Genesis 9:17, food in Nehemiah 9:25, gifts in James 1:17). We are able to do immeasurably more because of Holy Spirit power (Ephesians 3:20) We have direct access to this power. He gives us abundant joy, in spite of suffering that we might and will experience for His sake. (Philippians 1:26)

Third, God wants us to keep our abundance in perspective. We should be willing and want to give out of our abundance. In the story of the poor widow in Mark 12:41-44 (also Luke 21:1-4), Jesus teaches us the importance of giving until it hurts. The wealthy put in large amounts of money into the offering plate, but they didn’t feel it, as they had large amounts left over. The poor widow gave a much smaller amount, but a higher percentage of her net worth, in fact, all she had to live on. That’s the model for us. Humbling, isn’t it? In the Old Testament, the building of the Lord’s temple is richly described. Prior to David’s death, he provided abundantly for the building of the temple (1 Chronicles 22:3) He didn’t skimp at all; rather, he went all out, just as we should as we do things for the Lord. The first church sold their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. (Acts 2:45) Fourth, our lives are not judged by God on the abundance of possessions that He gives us. Rather, our possessions are a test for us as to what we are going to do with them. (Proverbs 11:28)

Just like green leaves, God wants us to trust in Him, rather than riches. The deciduous trees of the Midwest are green in the summer. Their leaves are drenched with chlorophyll. The leaves soak in sun and rain in the warm months. It is then that they grow. As autumn comes, their leaves turn yellow and red, only to be lost for the hibernation of winter. Jesus teaches this important concept in the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21. The rich fool busied himself with storing up riches for himself, forgetting about those in need around him. In Luke 12:33, Jesus tells us to sell our possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. Ignoring the plight of the poor in our communities, nation, and world may be a major sin of omission. (Proverbs 28:27) God does not take our attitude towards the poor lightly. God shouts to us, Share the abundance that I have given to you! Fifth, the Scripture teaches us to work (labor) abundantly for the Lord. (Proverbs 20:13, 28:19) Paul had this perspective on his work in 1 Corinthians 15:9-11. 1 Thessalonians 2:9 says that Paul and his co-workers worked hard; they worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while they preached the Gospel of God to the Thessalonians. Paul, of course, worked as a tentmaker. (see Acts 18:3) In 2 Thessalonians 3:8-10, Paul and the other missionaries did not eat anyone’s food without paying for it. They wanted to be role models. Their rule was, If a man will not work, he shall not eat.

In 1 Timothy 4:15, Paul encourages Timothy to be diligent in: 1) Being an example for other believers in speech, life, love, faith, and purity. 2) preaching and teaching 3) not neglecting his spiritual gifts and 4) working for the Lord wholeheartedly. Why? So that everyone may see him progress. We are not talking about being a work-a-holic here. Just like Timothy, it’s more about going the extra mile at your work place, and doing it for the example so that you might be a shining witness for the Lord. We are implored to do our work whole-heartedly, as for the Lord, not for man. It is the Lord Christ that you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24) We do our work with the right attitude (without complaining also) because God honors our attitude about our work more than the work itself. You aren’t going to impress your boss about the Lord at work by doing a lousy job while taking time away from work to hold a Bible study for fellow employees.

Proverbs 14:4 is not simply a lesson in agriculture. In Solomon’s day, many oxen were necessary for an abundant harvest. Not having oxen kept one’s manger (feeding trough) empty and clean, but it deprived you of a plentiful harvest because oxen did the work of the tilling and plowing. There are two principles taught. The first is that the costs of the right tool is well worth it and the second is to have the right tools for the job you need to do. There may be a sizeable investment of time, money and energy, but in order to have an abundant harvest, one can’t cut corners. For example, in order to be a physician, it took years (seven years after college) of preparatory work and learning in order to treat patients. The same is true for countless other professions. If you are going to be the best that you can be for the Lord, it is going to take some sacrifice. Christians can reap an abundant spiritual harvest by preparing in the same manner. Spending valuable time getting to know God in the Scripture, studying other good Christian books, going to seminars, small group Bible Study are invaluable to our lives and winning lives to Jesus Christ and growing in Him. Good tools pay off handsomely.

Study questions-

1) Are you blessed in any way with an abundance? Talents? Spiritual gifts? Finances? Name them.

2) In what ways are you using your gifts for the Lord?

3) How are you sharing your provisions with the poor?

4) Even though you may have a secular job, do you have the attitude that you work for the Lord?

5) Are you reaping the joy of the abundant life that Jesus came to give to you?

Bible teaching- Matthew 6:1-4, Acts 11:29, Romans 15:27, 1 Corinthians 4:7, 1 Timothy 1:13

John 10:10 Jesus said, I came that you might have life abundantly.

1 Timothy 1:13 Paul was shown mercy by God because he acted in ignorance and unbelief. Grace was then poured out on him abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

ABUSE-

Proverbs 9:7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.

Many mockers enjoy their sins, and don‘t want to perceive that they aren‘t good enough, according to biblical standards. They are in love with the world’s view of success. Their world is run by the credo, Me first. They don’t want to be told what is right and wrong. They don’t want the Scriptures to point them to submission to the cross and to the rebuke of their folly. They are happy living day to day, duped into thinking that their swearing, body worship, loose sex mores, power, greed, love of money, prejudice, and outright rebellion are the only things that are important. The world is filled with these pagans. When these people are rebuked, or corrected, watch out! You are going to see some major verbal diatribes, like, Get out my face, you holy-roller! Or, I’m perfectly happy where I am at in my life, and I don’t need your religion. They may not know it, but they need God too!

In places like the USA and Europe, Christians are protected from martyrdom. But go to China, Muslim countries like Turkey or Iran, their governments are the mockers. Get out of line in those places from the party standard, and you may die for it. (for example, read the book Safely Home by Randy Alcorn) But thank goodness for missionaries going into these countries and showing the love of God. These missionaries are modern day Jeremiahs, Isaiahs, and Paul’s. Ray Comfort, a not-so-popular modern day, street evangelist, is frequently reviled for standing up for the Lord. As he explains that the wages of sin is death to the public using Scriptural references, he is cursed at, shouted at, and verbally abused often by young people who hate the values of Christianity or his approach to evangelism. Church-going Christians tell him to preach the love of God and not the wrath of God according to Romans. You are turning too many people off, they say. Is his approach helpful? He certainly is right on regarding the truth. Many would find his approach caustic, but I don’t. The fact that Christ said that He was the ONLY way to have salvation really gets mockers angry, and this shows on some of the Ray Comfort videos when he or his staff are doing evangelism in area shopping malls. You know what? We can be missionaries right here in the US. Beware of persecution.

In 1 Corinthians 4:6-13, Paul describes ways that he and his fellow preachers of the Gospel have been abused: 1) vs. 9- we are like men condemned to die in the arena. 2) vs. 11- we go hungry, thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 3) vs. 12- We are cursed. We are persecuted. We are slandered. 4) vs. 12- We have become the scum of the earth, and the refuse of the world. He goes on to say in 2 Corinthians 7:5 that he and his co-workers were harassed at every turn--having conflicts on the outside, and fears within. But God comforted them. So the simple pagan tends to be open to listening to the Word, whereas the willful scorner rebels against it. Scorners generally aren’t going to be showing up at your local church on Sundays, whereas seekers will.

Seekers are at least open to God’s word. The world is filled with both type of sinners. God wants us to still sow the seed on both types, but seems to draw the line in the sand regarding the element of abuse from the mocker. It’s one thing for a missionary to be abused, but when the plan of salvation is abused, that’s blasphemy! Jesus teaches us in Matthew 7:6 that it is a waste of time to teach holy, Christian principles to dogs. Dogs are people who don’t want to listen to what we have to say and will tear apart the Gospel. If more harm than good comes from an interaction, what good is it? When Jesus sent out the disciples, He gave them important advice in Matthew 10:14 (also Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5, Luke 10:15, Acts 13:51) If anyone in a town or village will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Mockers can be like wolves! They can be vicious attackers of the Word of God Beware! Jesus wants us to bold proclaimers of the Word, but also shrewd in our approach to unbelievers.

Bible study questions-

1) How are you at handling abuse directed at you by a mocking unbeliever?

2) One of our calling as Christians is to boldly rebuke sin. Do ever compromise yourself for fear of insults or abuse? How can you uphold Christian standards in a loving way?

3) In 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, Paul lists many abuses that he and his co-missionaries went through. Name some of these, and imagine yourself as one of Paul’s co-workers.

Bible teaching- Matthew 14:3-4, 2 Corinthians 7:4, Ephesians 5:11, 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:3-7, Jude 10

Jude 10 False teachers and unbelievers will verbally abuse believers, like unreasoning animals; these things will destroy them.

ACCEPT-

Proverbs 1:25-27 Since you ignored all my advice (Wisdom) and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock you when calamity overtakes you--when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

Proverbs 1:29-31 To those who rejected wisdom, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if you accept my words (Wisdom) and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:9 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, then you will understand what is right and just and fair--every good path.

Proverbs 4:10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.

Proverbs 6:32-35 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away; for jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.

Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.

To accept means to receive favorably. Fortunately, Jehovah God does not show favoritism towards us, but accepts people from every nation who fear him and who do what is right (Acts 10:34). Look at the motley group of people that Jesus called to be his disciples. Jesus loves us first! He wants all people to get into His heaven, but He knows that the road to heaven is narrow. Through His Spirit, He wants to draw all people to Himself, so that they might be blessed with a life of abundant gifts, live a life that is pleasing to Him, and in the end, have no fear of death. And yet men and women still reject Him.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He went about preaching, teaching, and healing with great authority. (Mark 1:21-28) One day, when He was in the thick of his ministry, He went back to his home town of Nazareth in the Galilee region. Luke 2:51-52 says that Jesus grew up into adulthood for 18 years (from age12) in Nazareth… growing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. By going back home, likely He was hoping to be able to encourage His hometown friends and family to accept the true Gospel News. But what did He find? Doubters! When Jesus told them that He was God, they said, Isn’t this Joseph the carpenter’s son? (Luke 4:22) Isn’t this just a local carpenter in the area gone mad? They took offense at Jesus and could not accept Him as Messiah; and Jesus’ response to them was, Only is his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor. He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. (Matthew 13:57-58)

In Matthew 13:55-56, Jesus’ brothers were noted to be James, Joseph , Jude, and Simon and He also had several sisters. Jesus’ own brothers did not believe in him initially! They ridiculed his approach to a public ministry. (Mark 3:20-21) Fortunately, later, after his resurrection, many of them came around. (John 7:5) It was hard to accept this Jesus. Others thought that He was a drunkard and glutton (Matthew 11:16-19). Some thought He was a deceiver (John 7:12), some thought that He actually was the devil (Matthew 12:24), and some thought He was demon-possessed (John 7:20)

Today, people are skeptical about accepting Jesus. They are also skeptical about accepting the Bible as the infallible Word of God. It was no different in Jesus’ day. And they had Him actually in their midst! Even the disciples at times found to hard to accept that Jesus was the miracle worker that He proclaimed to be. In Matthew 14:15-21, the disciples doubted that Jesus could feed the thousands of people, saying, We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish. After the miracle, they were all able to eat, and there was left-overs. There were 5000 men, as well as women and children (probably over 8000 total).

In Matthew 28:17, when the disciples first saw Jesus after He was resurrected, they worshipped Him, but some doubted. Wow, even after all the time they spent with Him! C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, says this: I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Jesus: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on a level with the man who says he is poached egg or else he would be the Devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great moral teacher. He has no left that open to us. He did not intend to.

From the worldly view, it is hard for people to be told that there is only ONE way to heaven, and that’s solely through Jesus Christ. People want to have their cake and eat it too. They want the wide gate. It’s hard for people to grasp HELL. After all, they say, only people like Adolph Hitler should go to hell. Orthey don’t want to believe that there is such a place. In a recent Gallop poll (2003), 47% of Americans don’t believe in hell. This percent goes down dramatically when the people are highly educated or wealthy. In Sweden, only 17% believe in hell; France-22%, Netherlands- 28%, Great Britain-23%. How can a loving God send men and women to hell? Talk to Jesus Christ about it, not me. Jesus talked about the real place of hell, and that people would be there, at least 18 times in the New Testament. ( see Matthew 8:12, Matthew 18:7-9 for example) People want to be able to sin and go to heaven without Jesus. It’s hard for people understand that they NEED Jesus Christ. It’s hard for them to accept the fact that they are unworthy. Many people actually think that they are morally and ethically good. I’m not a bad as that rapist, murderer, or child molester, they say.

The Bible teaches that any good that we have comes from God. The sooner that we realizes that our hearts are deceptively wicked, the better! (Jeremiah 17:9) It’s only God who can change our hearts. These proverbs on accept focus on the importance of us being teachable. Being teachable means that we first accept what is being taught. The teachable carefully listen to their teacher and apply to their lives what they learn. They don’t ignore the advice of their teacher (Proverbs 19:20) There may be a rebuke in store for the student, (Proverbs 1:25-27) and humble believers don’t reject and rebel against that rebuke. (Proverbs 1:29-31) Rebellion is an outward sign of pride. It’s saying, I don’t like your way, I’m going to do it my way. There is a danger in that attitude.

I love to teach medical students and physician assistant students the pearls of medicine that have taken me 20 years to learn. Some of my students are brilliantly intellectual , and are fast learners, others are more average. I really don’t care about their intellectual prowess. What is important to me is their attitudes about learning. Are they yearning to learn? Are they putting the needed time in? Are they moldable? Are they searching for understanding and knowledge like it was silver or a hidden treasure? (Proverbs 2:1-5) How do they accept constructive criticism? I can imagine God’s view towards us as we learn and accept His precepts as being similar to mine regarding my students.

A worthwhile goal for us in our lives should be to be teachable and accepting of not only Jesus, but also His wisdom. What are 5 benefits of accepting the words of Proverbs (wisdom) into your heart? 1) They will bolster you in times of seemingly overwhelming trouble and calamity (Proverbs 1:25-27) 2) You can partake of the fruit of the Lord rather than your own fruit, which leads to selfishness. (Proverbs 1:29-31) 3) You will understand what the fear of the Lord is and find out what knowing God is all about (Proverbs 2:1-5, 19:20) 4) You will understand righteousness and justice (Proverbs 2:9) 5) The years of your life will be many. (Proverbs 4:10) Indeed, the years of your life will be eternal! Death will be but a comma, not a period. This proverbs does not promise a long earthly life, but a very full life. Reggie White, a Christian preacher and professional football player, recently died while only in his thirties. In an interview with his wife after his death, she said, He may have been young, but he lived such a full life, it was as if he was 100. We know from Proverbs 1:7 that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. Before we have a fear of the Lord, however, we must first accept in our minds and hearts the validity of the Scripture, that the Bible is absolutely true. We can’t just pick and chose what we want to believe, and then say that some of the other Old Testament stories are just that, just stories! Every bit of Scripture is there for the picking, it’s ripe for taking into our being for application. To believe in Jesus Christ and have faith in His Gospel, we must first mentally accept as facts the truths of creation and the Bible. Otherwise, it’s all foolishness.

Bible study questions-

1) How are you at accepting the truth of Scriptures, and it’s promises?

2) What are four main reasons that people in the world think they can’t accept Jesus Christ?

3) Of the five benefits of accepting the truth of wisdom of the Scripture, which is most important to you?

4) Explain the difference between accepting Jesus and trusting in Him with faith.

Bible teaching- Ezekiel 36:22-32, John 4:39-42, John 20:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18

ACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD-

Proverbs 21:3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

This proverb hits hypocrisy right between the eyes. The Lord sees through our sacrifices to Him. If they are not accompanied by life of righteousness and justice, they aren’t as acceptable. God wants us to sacrifice for Him, but with the right attitude. Solomon loved to sacrifice for the Lord. Look at when he built the temple for God. In 1 Kings 5-6, we learn how he built the Temple of the Lord, using 30,000 laborers, 70,000 carriers, 80,000 stonecutters, 3300 foremen. It took 7 years to complete it. Huram-Abi was the skilled designer in charge, who came from Tyre. 1 Kings 7:1 says that it took 13 years to build his own palace. When Solomon did something, he did it with gusto! He went the extra mile. 1 Kings 8:63 says that Solomon dedicated the new Temple by sacrificing 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep/goats over a 2 week period. Incredible! People must have been impressed. But this was more of a devotion to the Lord rather than a show of sacrifice for sins. Later, in 1 Kings 11:3, we see Solomon’s commitment to the Lord wane. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and they led him astray into worshipping other gods as he got older (Ashtoreth, goddess of the Sidonians; Molech, god of the Ammonites who practiced child sacrifice, and Chemosh, the god of the Moabites) When sacrificing an animal according to God’s law, a priest would kill the animal and place it on the altar.

Sacrifice was without question a prominent part of life, but in the Old Testament, God made it loud and clear that He wanted total submission to Him. (1 Samuel 15:22) Never was the sacrificing of animals, that external show, meant to replace moral obedience. God wanted it to reflect the humble, repentant heart. The nation of Israel from early on began to struggle with outward appearances, while indulging in the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19) External show that stands in the place of the heart is a delusion of Satan that you are impressing God. God, through his prophets, continually tried to hold His chosen people accountable to righteous living in Isaiah 1:11and Jeremiah 7:22 for example.

In Jesus’ day, the religious teachers of the Law got so wound up in the external observances of the minutia, that they lost their proper focus. Jesus has stern warnings for them in Matthew 23:1-36 and in the gospels of Mark and Luke also. They didn’t practice what they preached, and they neglected the most important things--judgment, mercy, and faith. Not all of the religious leaders were numb to Jesus’ teaching, however. In Mark 12:32-34, one of the Jewish, theological leaders nails it on the head when he says, "You are right (Jesus) in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him. To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offering and sacrifices."

Jesus’ greatest desire for us to live lives full of mercy and love. He wants us to love God first before all the observances. This is what He tells the Pharisees in Matthew 12:1-8 when they accused the disciples of working on the Sabbath. (they had picked some heads of grain and ate them) Paul brings the point home in Romans 12:1-2, when he says, Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. God wants us to submit ourselves, our entire being, rather than our material sacrifices to Him. We should wantto do this out of sincere thankfulness for Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us. God doesn’t just want our tithe and a written check on Sundays, He wants the person giving the tithe. How easy it can be for Christians to compartmentalize their faith. Sunday church, a tithe, helping out on Wednesday nights teaching the junior-highers, are fine in themselves, but all together, they represent a very small part of your activities in a weeks’ time. How are you in the other 95% of your time? For example, are you showing God’s love to the unlovable to the people you contact daily? Are our hearts filled with things of God, or are they cluttered with the busy-ness of this earthly life? Are we just friendly to Christians and unfriendly to pagans? May it never be! Jesus addresses this in Matthew 5:46-48. God wants our whole life, so that the Holy Spirit can permeate it through and through. He wants us to give Him glory in all aspects of our lives! He wants our lives to permeate godliness and holiness so that others will be attracted to Him through our lives. He requires us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him through our lives. (Micah 6:6-8)

Bible study questions

1) In what ways have you compartmentalized your Christian walk?

2) Why is there a disconnect sometimes between what you say and what you do?

3) Name some righteous things you have done for the Lord in the last week that are acceptable to Him.

4) In what areas of your life do you need to be more holy?

Bible teaching- Psalm 1:13-14, Amos 5:21, Acts 7:42, Hebrews 10:12,

ACCESS-

Ephesians 2:18 For through Jesus Christ we have access to the Father by one Spirit.

ACCOUNTABILITY-

God will hold us accountable for the use of our spiritual gifts. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.-1 Peter 4:10 Bill Hybels, Honest to God?

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Accountability is a big deal these days. There is corporate accountability, governmental accountability, educational accountability, personal accountability, and social accountability, to name a few. There is also accountability in the work environment. It’s called quality and assurance. There is even an organization called AccountAbility which is an international membership committed to enhancing the performance of organizations and to developing the competencies of individuals in social and ethical accountability and sustainable development. Simply stated, people perform to a greater degree when they are held accountable. They do better when there is someone around them asking them the hard questions. In psychology, it’s called the Hawthorne Effect.

Stu Weber, the pastor of Good Shepherd Community Church in Boring, Oregon tells a story of accountability in Men of Integrity. (Vol. 1, no. 1) It was 1967, and there I was, at the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia. It was brutal. I can still hear the raspy voice of the sergeant: ‘We are here to save your lives. We’re going to see to it that you over come all your natural fears. We’re going to show you just how much incredible stress the human mind and body can endure. And when we’re finished with you, you will be the U.S. Army’s best!’ Then, before he dismissed the formation, he announced our first assignment. We’d steeled ourselves for something really tough--like running 10 miles in full battle gear or rappelling down a sheer cliff. Instead, he told us to--find a buddy. ‘Find yourself a Ranger buddy,’ he growled. ‘You will stick together. You will never leave each other. You will encourage each other, and, as necessary, you will carry each other.’ It was the army’s way of saying, ‘Difficult assignments require a friend. Together is better.’ The army uses the buddy system. Your buddy system is an accountability partner who may be your spouse or your good friend. It is somebody that you must trust completely with your secrets.

God knew about the importance of accountability from the beginning. In Genesis 2:18, He says, It is not good for the man to live alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Man’s nature if he is left alone in the fishbowl of life is to get lonely. Not only does loneliness occur, but also a tendency towards isolationism, straying and rebellion. Job was an accountability partner to many. Eliphaz the Temanite in Job 4:3-4 tells him, Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands. Your words have supported those who stumbled: you have strengthened faltering knees. A true friend is an encourager and supporter in the hard times. (see 2 Samuel 10:11-12, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) When Jesus sent out his disciples to spread the Gospel, take notice that he sent them out not alone, but in groups of two. This was not only for edification in times of persecution, but likely also for accountability (Luke 10:1-3).

Four years after Minnesota Viking offensive lineman Korey Stringer died from a heatstroke during football conditioning drills in 108 degree heat, three NFL teams are offering their players a radio pill. Teams pay between $30 and $40 apiece for the pills, which last 24 to 36 hours. A crystal sensor in each pill has a frequency geared to the player’s body temperature. When the player’s body temperature rises, so does the frequency. A trainer punches in a player’s jersey number and waves a digital device in front of him to determine if the player is getting too hot and needs intervention. Like athletes who don’t know they have overextended themselves and need intervention, Christians can stray from god and by oblivious to their spiritual condition. We need others to keep us accountable." (Jim Corbett, "Core Matter," USAToday.com (8-10-2005)

External laws in our society are placed there by our governments to help hold us accountable. Remove them and there’s a danger of anarchy. Look what happened to a group of boys on a deserted island in the book Lord of the Flies written by William Golding in 1954. The book describes the horrific exploits of a band of young children who make a transition from civilized to barbaric. The book shows that people are inherently tied to society and its laws, and without it, would turn to savagery. Heart of Darkness ( by Joseph Conrad, 1902) and Apocalypse Now are other books which have similar messages: mankind needs civilization of some kind with its law and order to help them restrain them from becoming animal-like in their behavior.

In his book, "Everybody’s Normal ‘Till You Get to Know Them, John Ortberg writes: In the movement associated with John Wesley, people met together in little communities to help hold each other accountable for their deepest values and most important decisions. Before someone entered into this community, they would be asked the following six questions to see if they were serious about living in mutual accountability. 1) Does any sin, inward or outward, have dominion over you? 2) Do you desire to be told of your faults? 3) Repeat, do you desire to told of all your faults--and that plain and clear? 4) Do you desire that we should tell you whatsoever we think, whatsoever we fear, whatsoever we hear concerning you? 5) Do you desire that in doing this we should come as close as possible, that we should cut to the quick, and search your heart to the bottom? 6) Is it your desire and design to be on this and all other occasions entirely open, so as to speak everything that is in your hear, without exception, without disguise, and without reserve? When John Ortberg speaks on the topic of community, he will read these questions to church leaders, and ask them to imagine these questions being posed to attendees at their churches.

In 1 Samuel 13, Israel under King Saul was in no state to conquer their enemies. They had no system to change iron tools to weapons. They had a dearth of blacksmiths. If an Israelite wanted to put a sharper edge on his tools, he had to pay Philistine blacksmiths a handsome wage. They were at a serious disadvantage to their enemies because they had dull weapons. 1 Samuel 13:22 says that: So on the day of the battle (with the Philistines) not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only King Saul and his son Jonathan had them! Talk about going into battle with a serious downside. Of course, God was trying to show the Israelites that He didn’t need them to have sharpened weapons to be victorious; all they needed was Him. When two dull metals meet in the hands of a blacksmith, something more brilliant can be produced. Likewise, when two or more minds are brought together, incredible discoveries can be made and conclusions can be formed.

For example, scientists will frequently work as a team to figure out a perplexing problem. Most great scientists have worked in collaboration with others. CEOs and Presidents don’ t work in a vacuum either. They surround themselves with others that can help to solve the major predicaments of the day. They are also there for accountability. John F. Kennedy called these people his brain trust. The church is God’s idea, He designed it from the very beginning to bring us courage and confidence. The Church is Good News for many reasons, but consider these five: 1) You needn’t be born into the church 2) You don’t have to be from a particular race, gender, or nationality 3) You don’t have to wear yourself out, trying to become good enough 4) You don’t have to be in some holy, remote place to connect with God. 5) You don’t need human intermediaries to connect with God (taken from The Merciful God of Prophecy, by Tim Lahaye, Chapter 9) Small groups and Bible studies serve in this role also.

In Acts 2:42-47, there is the first mention of fellowship regarding the church in the New Testament. These are the principles: 1) The people devoted themselves to learning by listening to the teaching of the apostles 2) They devoted themselves to fellowship 3) They broke bread together 4) They were devoted to prayer. 5) They were filled with awe. 6) There were miracles performed by the apostles 7) They stayed unified; they had everything in common 8) They sold their possessions and goods, and they gave to anyone as he had need. 9) They met together everyday in the temple courts. 10) They fellowshipped in homes 11) They had glad and sincere hearts. 12) The praised God and enjoyed the favor of all the people. 13) The Lord added to their number daily who were being saved. Hebrews 10:24-25 says that we should not give up meeting together as fellow Christians and that we should consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. So let’s face the facts, sometimes we need to be kicked in the pants to move towards righteousness in our lives.

Bible study questions-

1) What is the ultimate purpose of accountability?

2) Do you have an accountability partner(s)? If not, why not?

3) Are you ready to answer the hard questions that John Wesley’s accountability groups asked?

Bible teaching- Ecclesiastes 10:10 Ezekiel 3:16-21, Luke 12:48, Acts 13:2-4, 1 Corinthians 5:12-13

Ezra 7-8 Be devoted to the Word (vs. 10), Take courage (vs. 28), Don’t be complacent (8:15), Fast and pray (8:23), Live with accountability (8:34).

Ezekiel 3:16-21 We have a responsibility to warn non-believing sinners of their sin, or we may be held accountable for them!! This is repeated in Ezekiel 33:7-9.

Luke 12:48 We will be held accountable for our responsibilities!

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 Must discern the wrong of sin. (1 Cor. 5:1-13) Must confront the issue- Galatians 6:1-4. Must carry-through- Matthew 18:15-17. The purpose of all of this is God’s reputation- 1 Corinth. 5:7 and to restore the believer- 2 Corinth 2:5-11.

ACCUSE-

Proverbs 3:30 Do not accuse a man for no reason--when he has done you no harm.

To accuse means to charge with a fault, crime or offense; to blame. If you accuse someone, you better be real sure that the accusation has validity, and that it is true. This proverb is a stern warning to those who blame others without substantial evidence. The Bible is generally very negative on the topic of accusing. Jesus tells us that before we judge someone, we better take the plank out of our own eye first. Similarly, before we accuse someone, have we thought it through? Are we correct about the accusation? Have we thought about the consequences if our accusations aren’t true?

In Luke 3:14, John the Baptist gives advice to some soldiers: Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely--be content with your pay. God knows human nature. He knows there is a tendency to play the blame game. Watch out. It’s not healthy. Jude 9 says, But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, The Lord rebuke you!" Jesus spent His entire life being accused wrongly. Matthew 12:9-10 (Luke 6:7) says, Going on from that place, he (Jesus) went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason(the Pharisees) to accuse Jesus, they asked him, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" Look how Jesus responded to the accusations. Matthew 27:12 says, When Jesus was accused by the chief priests and elders (of the Jewish synagogue), He gave no answer. When Jesus was brought before his persecutors, Pilate said to the crowd, What accusations are you bringing against this man Jesus? (John 18:29) Likewise, Paul faced similar accusations. Ananias and the Jewish religious leaders accused Paul before the Roman government in Acts 24:5-6. We have found this man Paul to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple. Anything to get Paul in trouble!

The Christian church can by undermined with gossip and accusations. Satan loves this, as the consequential actions might be the root cause of a church split. Titus 2:3 says, Likewise, teach the older women in the church to be reverent in the way they live, not to be false accusers or addicted to much wine,but to teach what is good. Generally, this is a lesson for all of us, not just the older women in the church. Ephesians 6:12 says, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Satan is our main adversary, and one of his principle goals is to make God look bad. He continually accuses us before God, telling Him of our failings. Satan is seen in one of Zechariah’s vision sat the Angel’s right hand, accusing Joshua of many things. (Zechariah 3:1) Also, Job sees Satan is always accusing people of their sins- (Job 1:6). Satan is our accuser before God, but Jesus’ death on the cross mercifully makes us without blemish and free from accusation. (Colossians 1:22, Revelation 12:10)You might be accused of being goody two shoes or a holy roller. Don’t worry about that! Do you want to live like Jesus? Then expect people to falsely accuse you! God wants us to stand away from the crowd as a non-conformer and as a hater of world values. Keep a clear conscience, so that those who accuse you against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Peter 3:16) The world accuses. Jesus says, Don’t be of the world.

Bible study questions-

1) Have you wrongly accused someone lately? What were the consequences?

2) Is there a difference between confronting and accusing?

3) What is the remedy for accusing and blaming others?

4) Why does the world pagan accuse Jesus Christ?

Bible teaching- John 8:10, 2 Timothy 3:3, 2 Peter 2:4-12

ACQUIRE-

Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.

Knowledge is the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association. God wants us to fill our lives from childhood onward of a deeper knowledge of who He is. One of the most common statements to be found in the Bible is some form of Then they will know. God does not want the world to remain ignorant of either His will or His love. The most important thing in life is knowing God and that He is Lord of justice and righteousness whose love is steadfast! This beats man’s wisdom , power, and wealth, hands down! (Jeremiah 9:23-24) In Hosea 4:6, God says, My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because they had rejected knowledge, God rejected their priests. Through the prophet Isaiah, God reminded the nation Israel that only He could accurately foretell the future and reveal the truth about the past. Why did He make such a declaration? He Himself explained, "That you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He."--Isaiah 43:10. He did the same with Jeremiah in 16:21, Daniel in 8:16,19, and Ezekiel 38:16,23.

Charles Swindoll, in Growing Deep in the Seasons of Life, goes one step further and says, You never really begin the process of coming to know yourself until you begin the process of coming to know God. The by-product of such a process is discovering the peace you long for so desperately. Gaining or acquiring knowledge of God is the key, but the battle rages on for our allegiance as we live day to day . We can spend countless hours acquiring knowledge that has nothing to do with Christianity. A secular education that leads to a 20, 30, or 40 year job career in business, accounting, plumbing, construction, or medicine, can certainly divert our minds from the Lord. We have to remember daily that a Christian perspective in needed in any knowledge that we may gain. Take your talents in your job and make it come alive for Christ.

In Colossians 1:10, Paul prayed that the Colossians would live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in knowledge of the Lord, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that they would have great endurance and patience……. Remember that Paul was a Christian who happened to be a tentmaker. Put your Christianity before your vocation. Knowledge with action and experience equals godly wisdom. Knowing God is followed by obedience- We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. God works in the world through His obedient children. The man who says, I know Him, but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did. (1 John 2:3-6)

Obedience requires a softened heart. The hardened heart can not discern the importance of knowing God. Erik Weihenmayer is blind, yet on May 25, 2001 (Nepal time), he reached the peak of Mt. Everest. Suffering from a degenerative eye disease, he lost his sight when he was thirteen, but that didn’t stop him. On a mountain where 90 percent of climbers never make it to the top--and 165 have died trying since1953--Erik succeeded, in large measure because he listened well. He listened to the little bell tied to the back of the climber in front of him, so he would know what direction to go. He listened to the voice of teammates who would shout back to him, Death fall two feet to your right! so he would know what direction not to go. He listened to the sound of his pick jabbing the ice, so he would know whether the ice was safe to cross. When we take a perilous journey, listening well can make all the difference. (from Bill White, Paramount, California; source: Time (6-18-2001)

Are you listening to God for the knowledge He has for you? Remember, our ears do the hearing, but our brains do the listening. Often, we may not listen to what God wants us to learn in a given situation. Going to church may be lip-service. For example, you hear a great sermon but don’t really listen. You don’t apply the principles to your life. Take time to look at the big picture as life presents its circumstances to you. What is God teaching you? That is why a quiet time is so important each day, a time of pursuing God. It’s a special reconnecting time to reflect on day to day activities as well as look to God through the Bible and for guidance in prayer in the busy-ness of one’s life. If you have important decisions to make, listening to what God has to tell you just might save your life. The book of Second Peter was written by the disciple Peter in about 64-66 AD while in Rome. In his first letter, Peter taught his readers to endure external enemies with hope; 2 Peter teaches the same audience to oppose internal enemies with knowledge of the truth.

Apostasy within the church can be much more devastating than persecution against the church. Peter warns against the moral perversions and denial of Christ’s return that false teachers propagate, and exhorts his readers to resist errors by growing in grace. and knowledge. Knowledge of the truths of the Bible is the prominent theme of the this letter and is the best antidote for heresies. Seek first the kingdom of God in your life! Everything else is secondary to this guiding principle. (Matthew 6:33) We must be wise in our application of knowledge towards love and justice. This is so we can walk wisely before God in a perfect way." (Psalm 101:2)

Bible study questions-

1) Why is it so hard to obey God’s commands if we know Him?

2) How are you seeking to know God better in your life today? 3)When can knowledge lead to spiritual pride? How can this cause division in a church?

Bible teaching- 1 Corinthians 8:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, Hebrews 4:2-3, 2 Peter 1:3-4

ACQUIT-

Proverbs 17:15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent--the Lord detests them both.

This verse reiterates Exodus 23:7 where God tells his people, Have nothing to do with a false charge, and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. God wants us to be fair in our dealings with people. In Micah 6:8, it says that God has showed us what is good and what He requires of us. The first guiding principle is to act in a just manner as we interact with those around us. The second and third principles are to love mercy and to walk humbly before God. To show justice is to show impartiality from a basis of unprejudiced, absolute righteousness. Absolute justice is innate to God’s character. He rules absolutely from His throne in heaven . God hates anything less. Unfortunately, in the imperfect world of sinners, our tendency can sometimes be towards bias in our judgments. We miss the mark. The minor prophet Amos notes this fact in Amos 5:7, 10 when he says to his fellow Jews, O evil men, you make justice a bitter pill for the poor and oppressed. How you hate honest judges! King Ahab’s son was ruined because of Ahab’s indictment of the innocent man Naboth, who happened to own a vineyard that Ahab coveted. (see 1 Kings 21) Poor Naboth. Ahab’s evil wife Jezebel actually suggested the injustice manner on how to get Naboth killed innocently. All because of greed. God, in retribution, and through his prophet Elijah the Tishbite, tells Ahab that in the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs would lick up Ahab’s blood! Elijah told Ahab, "I have found you because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord" And so concerning Jezebel, dogs would devour her by the wall of Jezreel. (1 Kings 21:23)

Romans 13 imparts to us the importance of submitting to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. God has chosen those who are to judge. The judge is a minister of God for good. How very unfortunate that corrupt judges and lawyers have infiltrated governments from the beginning of mankind, whether it be in the local town, city, state, or nation.

As an example, numerous crooked judges were found throughout the Chicago judicial system in the Greylord trials of the 1980s. Why does this dishonesty occur? Usually on the basis of bribery, power, or money. In the movie Changing Lanes, after being told to steal from a client, lawyer Gavin (Ben Affleck) asks his boss how he can live that way. His boss responds: I can live with myself because at the end of the day I think I do more good than harm. What other standard have I got to judge by? (Paramount Pictures, 2002) Obviously, this lawyer boss doesn’t live his life by Christian principles. Like much of our society, he guides his decision-making in a relative way. He has no absolutes. He suppresses the overall wrongs. How can a lawyer who steals from his client represent our justice system? Think about the many people in prisons today because they were innocently convicted. They happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and a flawed judicial system sentenced them to death or long prison sentences. They were convicted of rape, imprisoned, and then set free later after DNA testing revealed their innocence. Then, think about the many countless criminals in our society who are still free (not because God doesn’t know they are guilty) but because they haven’t been caught!

The worst atrocity in the Bible, of course, regarding this proverb is the crucifixion of Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. The Roman governor Pilate, who was