Part Two: Thinking Biblically

Part Two: Thinking Biblically

You are a church kid if: your parents are Christians you have attended church most of your life you regularly attended youth-group or other church ministries you often read the bible you know most of the bible s stories your family had family bible study most of your friends are Christians you attend a Christian school or were homeschooled

Cultivating a humble heart: Our Tendency: -to be self-righteous -to list the good things we have recently done -prideful preoccupation -redirecting conversation to ourselves -desiring that others would think highly of us

The Battle between Pride and Humility: -Pride is thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to. -Humility is having an accurate, low view of ourselves and seeing ourselves as God sees us.

London Baptist Confession 1689: Chapter 11, Section 1 Those whom God effectually calleth, He also freely justifieth, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ s sake alone; not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ s active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in His death for their whole and sole righteousness, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith, which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God.

How can we grow in humility? 1) Pray for more humility 2) Understand the immense difference between God and us 3) Be aware of your weaknesses and limitations 4) Study God s promises to the humble 5) Study creation 6) Spend time with people who are more gifted than you are 7) Learn a new skill 8) Spend time with humble people 9) Spend time with people who are honest with you about yourself 10) Serve others

Developing Personal Biblical Convictions: Church kids tend to live according to the standards of the authorities around them, especially their parents Church kids need to learn not to just live as a Christian should, but how to think as a Christian should think Church kids need convictions based on the Word of God

Three important principles in developing biblical values: 1) Love and study the Word of God 2) Pray that your love for God will increase 3) Put yourself in positions in which God can work in your heart and mind Philippians 1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to glory and praise of God.

Four tips for developing personal, biblical convictions: 1) Study the lives of godly adults around you 2) Go to the Word of God 3) Apply the truth of the Word 4) Pray

Growing In Gratefulness For Blessings From God: Our Tendency To be ungrateful Not expressing gratitude Take God s kindness for granted Underestimate the importance of God s Word

Paul s Example of Gratefulness in Scripture I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Phil. 1: 3-5) We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints (Col. 1:3-4) But we out always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. (2 Thess. 2:13)

Seven tips for growing in gratitude: 1) Ask God for help 2) Build a strong relationship with Christ 3) Recount the undeserved blessings from God 4) Study specific passages of Scripture 5) Regularly communicate thanks 6) Seek to develop stronger relationships with Mom and Dad 7) Get more involved at church

Loving The Truths Of Scripture: But properly understood, biblical truths are guardrails that protect us from plunging off the cliff. A smart traveler doesn t curse the guardrails. He doesn t whine, That guardrail dented my fender! He looks over the cliff, sees demolished autos below, and is grateful for the guardrails. Randy Alcorn Watch your life and doctrine closely. 1 Timothy 4:16

Doctrine: Our Tendency To learn about doctrine, but not internalize it To think of doctrine as stories and facts To separate doctrine from God To think doctrine doesn t grow our relationship with God

J.C. Ryle Children of religious parents often grow up professing a religion without knowing why, or without ever having thought seriously about it. And then when the realities of grown-up life begin to press upon them, they often astound everyone by dropping all their religion, and plunging right into the world. And why? They had never thoroughly understood the sacrifices which Christianity entails. They had never been taught to count the cost.

Four tips to consider for growing in knowledge: 1) Start with the right motive 2) Seek to have knowledge with passion 3) Focus on the doctrines of God, man, and salvation 4) Use helpful tools as you study

Learning To Trust God: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. J.I. Packer The Christian s instincts of trust and worship are stimulated very powerfully by knowledge of the greatness of God.

A God We Can Trust: 1) He is perfectly wise and all-powerful 2) His love never fails 3) He is completely in control of everything 4) He never changes Our Response: 1) We need to trust God instead of ourselves 2) We need to trust God and do our part 3) We need to trust God in trials 4) We need to trust God for the future

Tips for trusting God: 1) Pray for faith and greater trust 2) Study Scripture to learn how trustworthy God is 3) Study Scripture to learn how weak you are 4) Talk with Christians who have endured significant trials 5) Read books about trusting God