God's Standards for You!

Introduction

In every relationship and in every situation, you are to exhibit the character of Jesus Christ through your obedience to God’s Word (based on Matthew 5:13-16; John 15:1-10; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17; Colossians 2:6-7; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Peter 1:2-10).

What You are TO DO (a sample list)

As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are to:

Love God wholeheartedly by responding in loving obedience to His Word, regardless of how you feel (based on 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Matthew 22:37-40; John 14:15, 21; Galatians 5:16-17; 1 John 5:3);

Worship the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:13; Psalm 2:11, 29:2; Matthew 4:10), both individually and with other believers (Psalm 1; Psalm 47; Acts 2:42-46, 5:42; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 10:23-25);

Preserve the unity of the local church which is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:10, 12:22-26; Ephesians 4:1-3; Philippians 2:1-4);

Study and memorize God’s Word (Psalm 1:1-3, 119:11; 2 Timothy 2:13);

Receive (accept) and heed (take seriously) reproof and instruction (Proverbs 1:2-5, 3:11-12, 9:7-9; Hebrews 12:5-6);

Be an example to others (Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Timothy 4:12);

Be faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2; Galatians 5:22);

Be gentle in correcting others (Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:24-26) and restore those caught up in sin to the Lord, to others, and to usefulness in the local church (Matthew 18:15-20; Luke 17:3-4; Romans 15:14; Galatians 6:1-5);

Be honest/truthful (Ephesians 4:15, 25) and speak in an edifying manner (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6), which includes returning a blessing when reviled (Romans 12:14; 1 Peter 3:8-9);

Be a peacemaker/live at peace with others (Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18) and reconcile with anyone who has something against you (Matthew 5:23-24);

Deny yourself and consider others as more important than yourself (Luke 9:23-25; Philippians 2:3-8), serving them as Jesus did (Matthew 20:26-28; John 13:12-17; Ephesians 6:7-8);

Do your own work and whatever you do, do it heartily as for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12);

Exercise self-control/discipline (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Galatians 5:23; 1 Timothy 4:7-8);

Forgive from the heart (before the Lord) anyone who has sinned against you and be ready to grant forgiveness to anyone who asks you (Matthew 18:21-22, 35; Mark 11:25-26; Luke 17:3-);

Practice Biblical love in all your relationships (Matthew 5:44; John 13:34-35; Romans 13:8, 10; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Ephesians 5:25; Titus 2:3-4);

Practice good stewardship of:

Your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20);

Your time (Ephesians 5:15-17);

Material goods (2 Corinthians 9:6-12; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; James 2:15-16);

Your abilities, talents, and spiritual gifts (based on Matthew 25:14-30; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:11-12, 15-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11); and

Rejoice, always, even in the midst of trials (Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; James 1:2-4).

As a believing husband, you are to:

Love your wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25-33),

Live with your wife in an understanding way (1 Peter 3:7), and

Provide for your household (1 Timothy 5:8).

As a believing wife, you are to:

Be a helper fir (suitable) for your husband (Genesis 2:18);

Respect, love, and be submissive to your husband (Ephesians 5:22-24, 31, 33; Titus 2:4-5; 1 Peter 3:1-6); and

Take care of needs in your household (Proverbs 31:10-27; 1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:5).

As a believing husband/wife team, you are to:

Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21) and

Maintain unity in your relationship with one another; that is, act as one flesh (Genesis 2:22-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:31).

As a believing parent, you are to:

Lovingly train your children through instruction, discipline, and example (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:4) and

Avoid exasperating (provoking) your children (Ephesians 6:4).

As a believing child, you are to:

Obey your parents while under their authority and training (Ephesians 6:1);

Honor your parents (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:2); and

Heed and remember (listen to and take seriously) the teachings of your parents (Proverbs 1:8-9).

As a believing employee, you are to:

Be obedient and submissive to your employer (based on Ephesians 6:5-8; Colossians 3:22; 1 Timothy 6:1-2; Titus 2:9; 1 Peter 2:18);

Honor your employer (1 Timothy 6:1-2); and

Be honorable in all your dealings with your employer (1 Timothy 6:2; Titus 2:10).

As a believing employer, you are to:

Act in fairness and with justice toward your employees (Colossians 4:1) and

Give up threatening your employees (Ephesians 6:9).

As a Scripturally qualified church leader, you are to:

Be worthy of the trust placed in you (based on 1 Timothy 3:1-15; Titus 1:6-9, 2:7-8; 1 Peter 5:1-3), discipling others so that they will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2) and

Correct (admonish, instruct) others in gentleness, always seeking to restore them to the Lord (based on Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:24-26).

How You are to Obey God’s Standards

Do all things heartily as for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24), with good will (Ephesians 6:7-8) and zeal (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 3:13).

Be unselfish (Philippians 2:3) and do not grumble, dispute, or argue (Philippians 2:14-16; 2 Timothy 2:24; Titus 2:9, 3:9).

Respond with tenderness (based on Ephesians 4:32; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8) and wisdom (Ephesians 5:15; Colossians 4:5; James 3:15-18).

Reverence the Lord with fear (awe) and trembling (based on 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Philippians 2:12-13).

Respond with joy (based on Philippians 2:17-18), giving glory to God and not offending anyone (based on 1 Corinthians 10:31-33).

Incorporating God’s Standards into Your Life

Record all your typical weekly activities by using MY PRESENT SCHEDULE (attached).

Place a line through every activity that should not be continued. Use the following questions to determine what activities need to be eliminated:

Is this profitable (1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:32)?

Am I controlled by this in any way (1 Corinthians 6:12)?

Is this a stumbling block in my life (Matthew 5:29-30, 18:8-9)?

Could this lead another believer to stumble (Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 8:9-13)?

Does this edify (build up) others (Romans 14:19; 1 Corinthians 10:23-24)?

Does this glorify God (Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31)?

List on a separate sheet all activities and responsibilities that should be started. Refer back to the beginning of this handout under the heading “What You are TO DO.”

Develop a plan to live in a manner that please the Lord and record your new schedule on MY PROPOSED SCHEDULE (attached).