I Love Jesus but I cuss a lot Part II
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction:
Introduction:
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. 3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
eph 5:
„Å
As many as 80 percent of unmarried evangelical young adults have had sex, according to an analysis of a study on sexual activity in the upcoming October issue of Relevant, a Christian magazine.
Young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 who identify themselves as evangelicals are almost as sexually active as their non-Christian peers, according to the article “(Almost) Everyone’s Doing It.”
The article, which carries analysis of a study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy in December 2009, notes that of the unmarried non-Christian adults surveyed, 88 percent said they have had sex – only slightly higher than evangelicals.
Of those 80 percent of Christians who said they have had sex before marriage, 64 percent have done so within the last year and 42 percent are in a current sexual relationship, said Relevant writer Tyler Charles, analyzing the study that did not look into religious identification initially.
What’s perhaps even more disturbing, Charles noted, is that 65 percent of the women obtaining abortions identify themselves as either Protestant (37 percent) or Catholic (28 percent). “That’s 650,000 abortions obtained by Christians every year.”......The Christian Post
Review
(v.1) “Be a mimic of God”
(v.1) “As beloved Children” as children who have a father who cares about them and who is worthy of being followed
(v.2) “Walk in love” saturate everything you do “in love” everything you do even “rebuke” or “correct” should be done in a spirit of love
(v.2) “Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us” Use Christ example of self-sacrificing love as an example for you to follow.
(v.2) “an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” Just as Christ Death rose up to the nostrils of God as a fragrant aroma, so shall your acts of Self-Sacrificing love & obedience.
What does your life smell like to God??
Always-A life spent imitating Christ will naturally lead to a holy life that magnifies the Son.
I. Simon says Watch your Body
I. Simon says Watch your Body
3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
(v.3) “But” in contrast with “walking in love” Paul starts by giving you the do’s then he moves to the dont’s.
(v.3) Paul names three things in (v.3) these three things are a consistent couplet use throughout the NT. Let’s define them:
a. Immorality---porneia---fornication-sex with anyone that you are not married too
b. impurity---akatharsia---uncleanness; any behavior that is shameful or of ill-repute
c. greed---pleonexia-covetous---love of money; this is a hoarder; never having enough always needing more and willing to do shameful things to obtain. also these people tend to be stingy givers.
Sidenote: God in his foreknowledge knew that there would be many ways to engage in impure/unclean acts particularly in the internet era. Where folks could say “Well I am not committing fornication” that word “impure” encompasses not only Sexual activity but all things related too it. Surely God’s word is timeless.
-Paul used this couplet of sins with an added fourth sin(idolatry) in several of his other writings. Let’s dive in:
HELP
HELP
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
1 co
(v.9-10) Fornicators, Idolaters, Covetous
(Help)
(Help)
Galatians
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
(v.19) Immorality, Impurity(uncleanness), Idolatry
Galatians 5:
(v.19) Immorality, Impurity(uncleanness),
(Help)
(Help)
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
(v.19) Sensuality(Immorality), Impurity(uncleanness), with greediness(covetous)
(Help)
(Help)
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Thessalonians 4:
7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
1 Thessalonians 4:
(v.3,7) Sexual immorality, impurity
(Help)
(Help)
22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
1 Timothy 2:22
(v.22) Flee youthful lust(Sexual)
What do these consistent couplets teach us?
-There is an important part to Biblical interpretation that is key to understanding ancient text. You must try to immerse yourself into the historical world that Paul and the early disciples are moving in and out of. Paul consistent usage of this word should tell us some key things about the ancient world. He used these four consistent term; Sexual Immorality, Impurity, Greed, and Idolatry in his letters to the church of: Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Collosae, Thessalonika, and in the Pastoral Epistle to Timothy; who was ministering in Ephesus. So basically every church Paul wrote too he had to warn the Church not to allow this behavior to slip into the church. Now he probably said this because it was already an issue.
📷
Welcome to the online home of Tim Challies, blogger, author, and book reviewer.
📷 📷 📷 📷 TRENDING TOPICS #church #divorce #pornography📷
3 Awful Features of Roman Sexual Morality
written by Tim Challies
October 17, 2016 #current issues #homosexuality #sexSHARE
Roman Sexuality Was About Dominance
But this is hardly the first time Christians have lived out a sexual ethic that clashed with the world around them. In fact, the church was birthed and the New Testament delivered into a world utterly opposed to Christian morality. Almost all of the New Testament texts dealing with sexuality were written to Christians living in predominantly Roman cities. This Christian ethic did not come to a society that needed only a slight realignment or a society eager to hear its message. No, the Christian ethic clashed harshly with Roman sexual morality. Matthew Rueger writes about this in his fascinating work Sexual Morality in a Christless World and, based on his work, I want to point out 3 ugly features of Roman sexuality, how the Bible addressed them, and how this challenges us today.
Roman Sexuality Was About Dominance
Roman Sexuality Was About Dominance
Sexuality was tied to ideas of masculinity, male domination, and the adoption of the Greek pursuit of beauty.
Romans did not think in terms of sexual orientation. Rather, sexuality was tied to ideas of masculinity, male domination, and the adoption of the Greek pursuit of beauty. “In the Roman mind, the strong took what they wanted to take. It was socially acceptable for a strong Roman male to have intercourse with men or women alike, provided he was the aggressor. It was looked down upon to play the female ‘receptive’ role in homosexual liaisons.”
A real man dominated in the bedroom as he did on the battlefield. He would have sex with his slaves whether they were male or female; he would visit prostitutes; he would have homosexual encounters even while married; he would engage in pederasty (see below); even rape was generally acceptable as long as he only raped people of a lower status. “He was strong, muscular, and hard in both body and spirit. Society looked down on him only when he appeared weak or soft.” So Romans did not think of people as being oriented toward homosexuality or heterosexuality. Rather, they understood that a respectable man would express his dominance by having sex—consensual or forced—with men, women, and even children.
Roman Sexuality Accepted Pedophilia
The pursuit of beauty and the obsession with the masculine ideal led to the widespread practice of pederasty—a sexual relationship between an adult man and an adolescent boy. This had been a common feature of the Greek world and was adapted by the Romans who saw it as a natural expression of male privilege and domination. A Roman man would direct his sexual attention toward a slave boy or, at times, even a freeborn child, and would continue to do so until the boy reached puberty. These relationships were seen as an acceptable and even idealized form of love, the kind of love that expressed itself in poem, story, and song.
In the Roman world “a man’s wife was often seen as beneath him and less than him, but a sexual relationship with another male, boy or man, represented a higher form of intellectual love and engagement. It was a man joining with that which was his equal and who could therefore share experiences and ideas with him in a way he could not with a woman.” Pederasty—pedophilia—was understood to be good and acceptable.
Roman Sexuality Had a Low View of Womanhood
Women were not generally held in high regard in Roman culture. “Women were often seen as weak physically and mentally. They were inferior to men and existed to serve the men as little more than slaves at times.” A woman’s value was largely in her ability to bear children and if she could not do so, she was quickly cast off. Because lifespans were short and infant mortality high, women were often married off in their young teens to maximize the number of children they could bear.
When it came to sexual mores, women were held to a very different standard than men. Where men were free to carry on homosexual affairs and to commit adultery with slaves, prostitutes, and concubines, a woman caught in adultery could be charged with a crime. “The legal penalty for adultery allowed the husband to rape the male offender and then, if he desired, to kill his wife.” Under Augustus it even became illegal for a man to forgive his wife—he was forced to divorce her. “It is not enough to suggest that women were under-appreciated in Roman culture. There are many instances where they were treated as second-class human beings, slightly more honored than slaves.”
Sexual Promiscuity and Societal Stability
Rome was a culture of extreme promiscuity and inequality.
It becomes clear that Rome was a culture of extreme promiscuity and inequality. Those who had power—male citizens—were able to express their sexuality by taking who and what they wanted. Their culture’s brand of sexual morality was exemplified in the Caesars who, one after the other, “were living icons of immorality and cruelty,” using sex as a means of domination and self-gratification.
I am reading a book called “The Greco-Roman World of the NT; Exploring the background of the Early Christianity” One of the quotes in the book is:
Baths, Wine, and love-making destroy our bodies, yet love-making, wine, and baths make life worth living.....Common Roman Graffitto This is the Greco-Roman way of saying that I know this life is reckless and will do destruction to my mind, body and soul, but it is too good to stop.
-It is clear from Paul consistent use of this term to pretty much every church he wrote to this problem of promiscuity was widespread and pervasive. Paul was not just writing to warn, but he was attacking the worldview of the whole Greco-Roman society. He was asking to church to behave diametrically opposed to that which they say everyday in society. He is entreating the churches in these areas to live a life that is totally seperate spiritually and practically from Roman Communities to which they were located notice Paul’s last phrase:
3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
Theatrical performances also were popular but could not compete in popularity with the races and gladiators. The two main types of performances were comedies with
-This text reads the best out of the NIV:
(HELP)
(HELP)
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
(v.3) Look at how Paul phrases this text in the NIV. He tells the church of Ephesus “There should not be a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed” Let me take you back to what Momma would say when me and brother and sister were all in trouble “I betta not hear a word on the way home!!!” This is the same way Paul is talking about these sins.
(v.3) “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people” Notice this text this couplet list of sins Paul gives the reason Why we should not be engaging in these things “because these are improper for God’s Holy People” wonder why Paul did not just say “God’s people” but he put a descriptor “Holy” this is strategic by Paul adjectives describe nouns. We are God’s people and he expects us to act according to our calling. He are called to be his children, but most importantly we are called to be “Holy” and why because our Father in heaven is “Holy” Holiness first speaks to “Separateness” let’s reread this this last phrase with Separate in it “because these are improper for God’s Separate People”
Transition Statement—Paul says not only are you to watch your body because you are his temple, but you also need to watch your mouth for form it life & death come.
II. Simon Says Watch your Mouth
II. Simon Says Watch your Mouth
II. Watch your Mouth
II. Watch your Mouth
II. Watch your Mouth
II. Watch your Mouth
4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
-NIV has the best rendering of these verse. They make it easy to interpret correctly.
(Help)
(Help)
eph 5:
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
(v.4) “Nor should there be” this prepositional phrase connects us to the list in (v.3) Let me word this the way Momma would have word it. “I better not hear a hint of disrespect coming from your both, and by the you need to stop lying to me all the time as well” You notice how Momma when she was dealing with one issue begin to deal with several issues they she has been noticing, but decided it was time to deal with them all. let’s reread Paul in these two verses from the NIV
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
(v.3-4) Do you see how closely connected these two list are grammatically. That is why I made the two points of this sermon: Watch your Body & Your Mouth!!!
Lets define these words in (v.4)
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
a. Obscenity---aischrontos---obscene filthy or shameful
b. Foolish Talk---morologia---moronic talk---this is talk that lacks’ forethought and wisdom....We says this about those people “You just say whatever comes to your mind!!” This is foolish talking person. Listen to how Proverbs says to deal with folks like this:
(HELP)
(HELP)
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.
c. coarse Joking(Jesting)---Vulgar speech or indecent joking.
Theatrical Performances also were popular but could not compete in popularity with the races and gladiators. The Two main types of performances were comedies with sterotyped chracters and the mimus, a clown burlesque made up of songs and crude jokes laced with sexual comments. Open Sexual expression was a widespread them in plays dances, and art, and in the private lives of Rome’s leaders....Pg 33 of The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament
-This quote tells us that these Roman plays performances were noted for there crude jokes, sexual connotation, and sexual acts. Essentially these where ancient comedy and porn shows. Paul may have gotten word that some of the Saints where still attending these shows, and where bringing those behaviors into the church.
-One of the most common question folks always ask me is where does it say you can’t cuss in the Bible.
-I am so glad God did not reduce words we should not say to just Cuss Words. because most of us would just eliminate the Cuss Words but never deal with our hearts that the Cuss words come from “For the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”
Closing
-Rather than give you a list of words you can’t say let me give you a three question filter to determine if something falls into the three categories laid out in this verse
Is what I’m about to say obscene, foolish(not though out) or coarse(inappropriate) joking?
Examples: Man “She got a big Ass” Women “Tell me what he is working with”(Obscene), “I am going to go home and get drunk tonight(foolish talk), telling or laughing at innapropiate jokes is wrong in the site of God.
Do the words that I am about to say break down or build up?
Examples: “you are a stupid Ass” “you are a bitch” “You ain’t Shit”
Will my words ruin my testimony?
-I am sorry but in the Western World(That is the US) Cussing is considered worldly, so when you name the name of Christ and then use profanity, obscene words you have just made the person you talk too feel more comfortable about their language, because you as a Christian use the same vernacular. Remember one of our divine mandates is that “We are supposed to be lights to a dark world” you cannot be a light if you are as dim as the world.
-I refuse to reduce living Holy to a set of do’s and don’t Holiness is a commitment to live “Separate” from the World, so if the world is known by it’s filthy language “I want to be different” I want my Body and my Speech to be unique and different. One of the best conversation starters in my Christian walk has been that folks notice relatively quickly that I can express myself without using Cuss Words, even when I am mad I try not to be Profane.
-Parents if Cussing is wrong for your children, then it is also wrong for you....Nothing will turn your children quicker away from the Lord than to watch you on Sunday talking about how good God is but right after Church your language is like an R rated movie. You have become a stumblingblock for your child.
Illustration
The Builder versus the Wrecker
I watched them tearing a building down—
A gang of men in a busy town;
With a "ho heave ho" and a lusty yell
They swung a beam and the side war fell;
I asked the foreman, "Are these men skilled?
And the kind you would hire, if you were to build?"
He laughed and said, "Why, no indeed
Just common laborers is all I need;
They can easily wreck in a day or two
That which has taken builders years to do."
So I said to myself, as I went on my way,
What part in the game of life do I play?
Am I shaping my deeds to a well-made plan,
Carefully measuring with a rule and square,
Patiently doing the very best I can,
Or am I a wrecker, who walks the town,
Content with the labor of tearing down?—Selected.
"The most ferocious monster in the world lives just behind the teeth."
Open the Doors of the church
I watched them tearing a building down—
A gang of men in a busy town;
With a "ho heave ho" and a lusty yell
They swung a beam and the side war fell;
I asked the foreman, "Are these men skilled?
And the kind you would hire, if you were to build?"
He laughed and said, "Why, no indeed
Just common laborers is all I need;
They can easily wreck in a day or two
That which has taken builders years to do."
So I said to myself, as I went on my way,
What part in the game of life do I play?
Am I shaping my deeds to a well-made plan,
Carefully measuring with a rule and square,
Patiently doing the very best I can,
Or am I a wrecker, who walks the town,
Content with the labor of tearing down?—Selected.