Timely Topics, Timeless Truths

Transcription

1 Timely Topics, Timeless Truths (Set 2) A 45-Minute Bible Study by Mark H. Schewe Leader s Guide What s a Christian to Think? Lesson 1 Visiting Heaven... 4 Are these visits for real? Lesson 2 Haunted Houses Debunking the myths and deciphering the mysteries What s a Christian to Say? Lesson 3 Overweight or Overfit? The narrow Lutheran middle Lesson 4 They Posted WHAT?! Addressing inappropriate use of social media by Christians Lesson 5 I m Spiritual, Not Religious Responding correctly to critics and pundits What s a Christian to Do? Lesson 6 Tattoos Still Taboo? Should a Christian get a tattoo? Lesson 7 They ve Done WHAT?! Reacting properly when the sin of living together strikes close to home Lesson 8 A Christian s Use of Psychoactive Medication A crutch, a blessing, or a danger?

2 Copyrights and Permissions The material on this disk may be adapted, printed, and copied by the purchaser of this kit. However, the following notice must appear at the bottom of the first page of each lesson of the student lessons: 2017 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. Ownership of this material belongs to either a congregation or an individual, but not both. Purchase by a congregation: Purchase of this material by a congregation gives Bible study leaders of that congregation permission to adapt and copy this material for use in one or more groups within that congregation. (Dual parishes may purchase one copy for use in both congregations.) Purchase by a pastor or other Bible study leader: Purchase of this material by an individual gives the buyer permission to adapt and copy this material for Bible classes he or she teaches or supervises. Buyer has permission to use this material only in the congregation he or she is currently serving or attending. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www. zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI Northwestern Publishing House Published 2017 ISBN Timely Topics, Timeless Truths (Set 2) 45-Minute p.2

3 Lesson 5 I m Spiritual, Not Religious Responding correctly to critics and pundits Introduction A survey by The Pew Research Center/Religion & Ethics News Weekly asked respondents whether they consider themselves to be a religious person and, in a separate question, whether they consider themselves to be a spiritual person. Responses to these questions reveal people s ideas about how they perceive their own spirituality and religiosity. Respondents who indicated they are not affiliated with a church: Suggestion: Have the participants first write down their guesses of what they think the percentages are before the leader tells the correct percentage. percent said they are religious. 18 percent said they are spiritual. 37 percent said they are neither spiritual nor religious. 42 Respondents who indicated they are affiliated with a church: percent said they are religious. 75 percent said they are spiritual. 18 percent said they are neither spiritual nor religious What does this show? This shows there is some confusion over these terms today. Defining terms Have you ever heard people use the terms spiritual and religious in sarcastic or condescending ways, pitting them as opponents? Let s discuss this concept today and also talk about how to deal with this in our conversations. First, we ll begin with definitions: 2017 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

4 Religious From Latin religio: reverence, obligation Adjective = Relating to or believing in a religion Noun = A person bound by monastic vows Spiritual From Latin animus: spirit Adjective = Of, relating to, or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things 1. What does each word emphasize? Religion: Following a set of beliefs and guidelines (outward focus) Spirituality: Focusing on yourself and your perspective spiritually (inward focus) Therefore, we would say that it is proper to use both of these terms but that they view faith from different perspectives. Religiosity can be bad 2. Read the following passages. After doing so, explain in your own words how these verses describe bad religiosity. Listen to a number of participants respond. The point is that simply following rituals without a heart of faith is not pleasing to the Lord, no matter how closely you follow his laws. Isaiah 1:10-15 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! [God is actually speaking to his own people.] The multitude of your sacrifices what are they to me? says the Lord. I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! Timely Topics, Timeless Truths (Set 2) 45-Minute Lesson 5 p.28

5 Hosea 6:6 I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Bad religiosity = Following the. mere forms Even for Christians: If you just go through. the motions If you are a. hypocrite If you are. legalistic What does that mean? If you believe you are meriting God s forgiveness by your. actions 3. How might this shed light on why people around us in the world today view the Christian religion badly? It is true that the Lord has given us his laws and commands to follow. There certainly are many traditions and rituals in Christianity as well. The largest Christian church, the Roman Catholic church, which most people in the world are most familiar with, has even added many required man-made traditions. There are many hypocrites out there (perceived or real). Sins of believers have brought criticism on Christianity. Spirituality can be bad Timely Topics, Timeless Truths (Set 2) 45-Minute Lesson 5 p.29

6 4. How does this picture explain why the phrase being spiritual appeals to many in our world? You can have your own experience. You have control; you make your own rules and set your own values. 5. Read Acts 17: As you read the section of Scripture, underline where you think Paul s visit to Athens teaches us lessons about our topic today. Acts 17:16-23 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, What is this babbler trying to say? Others remarked, He seems to be advocating foreign gods. They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean. (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious [perhaps we should insert spiritual here?]. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. Listen to samples of what the participants underlined. The spirituality of the Athenians had them on the wrong track, since they had devised their own gods. Natural knowledge of God does not reveal who the true God is. Timely Topics, Timeless Truths (Set 2) 45-Minute Lesson 5 p.30

7 6. Read Proverbs 14:12 and complete the following sentences. Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. All spirituality needs. a guide Bad spirituality = I m led by. my own guide 7. List some guides of the world that have led many astray. List any world religion. Even those less formal ones, such as among the Native American Indians, are not sure guides because they are based on the natural knowledge of mankind. 8. How has God made every person spiritual? Why did he do this? Read Ecclesiastes 3:11,14 for help. Ecclesiastes 3:11,14 [God] has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.... God does it so that people will fear him. God has made us spiritual by planting in us that there is more to life than the here and now. He did this so people would seek him. More Scripture on both of these concepts 9. Write down what the following verses say about a Christian s spirituality. Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. A change must take place in a person s thinking to be properly spiritual. Timely Topics, Timeless Truths (Set 2) 45-Minute Lesson 5 p.31

8 Psalm 25:4,5 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. We need to submit and be shown, taught, and guided. John 8:31,32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Jesus said that a true follower follows his teaching (all of it!). 1 John 5:3 This is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. We find joy and fulfillment even in God s commands. Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. It is important to train children with scriptural truth from early on. Further discussion Break out into groups of three to four people (or on your own if you prefer). Do the following exercises, and then come back together as a large group to share your answers. We ll hear a sampling. 1. Make a list of at least four ways the concepts we ve talked about today are to your advantage as you look to share your faith with others. Possible answers: People have a natural knowledge of God inside them. People have a concept of eternity inside them. People naturally seek answers to spiritual things. People will notice your spirituality. Timely Topics, Timeless Truths (Set 2) 45-Minute Lesson 5 p.32

9 2. Make a list of at least four ways these concepts also produce challenges in your evangelizing. Possible answers: People will bring their own ideas to your discussion. People might find the foolishness of God to be foolishness to themselves. Submitting to God s commandments will be met with sinful nature s resistance. The built-in feeling of earning God s merit will be strong. Further reading Davchevski, Dejan. 7 Differences Between Religion and Spirituality. expandedconsciousness.com/2014/10/15/7-differences-between-religion-andspirituality/bsbcp2dumkxexqoz.32. The article explores the world s view on this topic. Deutschlander, Daniel. What Is Religion, in Grace Abounds. Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 2015 Pope, James F. I Don t Want Religion; I Want a Relationship. Forward in Christ (April 2016), Q & A. Timely Topics, Timeless Truths (Set 2) 45-Minute Lesson 5 p.33