Biblical Values: Part
D
Applying the Central Values of
the Sermon on the Mount
Values for Life
BRC-101 is an online course and require only Internet and email access. You may
study anytime, anywhere, 24/7. No textbooks are needed.
The course consists of 13 units in
four parts (Part A,
Part B,
Part C,
Part D), a course project, and a final examination. This course is for 3
semester units or 9 CEUs. Do not submit attachments and do not cut and past from
other sources. Plan to participate is online bulletin board discussions. More
details will be given in the online and telephone orientation after enrollment.
To enroll, click here.
Email to the instructor
the six answers to the Values Keyword Study and the 4 answers to the Discussion
Questions for each of the 13 units, one unit at a time. Use 400-800 words.
You will discover
that many of your troubles stem from the fact that you live by values that are
in conflict with those of the Sermon on the Mount.
The Sermon on the Mount is the center of a values-system that leads out of
trouble. Consider here 60 values such as caring, forgiveness, generosity,
service & trustworthiness.
| Part A: Unit 1. Out of Trouble, an Introduction | Matthew 4-8 |
| 2, 3. Eight Ways to the Good Life | Matthew 5:1-12, 13-20 |
| Part B: 4, 5. Living with Difficulties | Matthew 5:21-32, 33-48 |
| 6, 7. Giving, Praying and Fasting | Matthew 6:1-4, 5-18 |
| Part C: 8, 9. Priorities: The Good and the Best | Matthew 6: 19-24, 25-34 |
| 10, 11. Reaching out the Wrong & Right Way | Matthew 7:1-6, 7-14 |
| Part D: 12. Good Words versus Good Actions | Matthew 7:15-23 |
| 13. Toward a New Value-system | Matthew 7:24-27 & summary |
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course, you will
1. describe the values presented in the sections of the
Sermon on the Mount (SM),
2. find sources of empowerment for values-based living,
3. consider ways of bringing your values into harmony with SM values, and
4. avoid many of the troubles that come from harmful values.
Please continue here with Unit 12. There are 13 Units.
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12.
Good Words vs. Good Actions
12. Outer sheep, inner wolves,
Matt. 7:15-23
12.1
DECEPTION in CONTEXT
The outer man, unless there is a problem, is a realistic and true covering of the inner man. When that is not the case, there is a problem of deception. The outer man tries to appear as something that the inner man is not. The inside wolf wears sheep clothing. The person who appears innocent, is a wild beast. The Sermon on the Mount calls on men and women to let God mold a worthy inner life and to let their outer life match their worthy inner life.
The values of this section include honesty and integrity. Consider the company you keep. If you running with the wolves, you will soon act like a wolf. Seek the company of the honest.
12.2
DECEPTION
William talked like a Christian and in most ways acted as a Christian. But he was not at peace with himself nor with his God. He had that hate towards certain groups of people that just would not go away. He could not forgive. So while he was very nice to some 90% of the people, he had to play-act when it came to the remaining ones. Most the time he could control his hate, but every so often it broke out. William was deceiving himself and others. He wore the Christian sheep clothing, but when it came to that 10%, he was a wolf. Over time, he had become real proficient at his cover-up.
12.3
LAWLESSNESS
Real life has its limits. There are borders to what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. There are laws and ethics. There are God's laws and ethics. Some claim to be set free from laws. They thus accept lawlessness for themselves, but usually not for others. The Sermon on the Mount reconfirms the place of God's laws in real life. Those who reject these laws are said to follow lawlessness.
12.4
GOOD WORDS vs. GOOD ACTIONS
In a way, words are cheap. It is easy to say "Lord, Lord." However to accept the Lord as Lord of the inner and outer man may be another thing. The Lord of the inner man is the center of all relationships and values and surpasses any other priorities. In that case, the Lord of the outer man matches the inner man completely. Thus good thoughts lead to good words which lead to good actions. All this can only be possible through the empowerment of the Lord Himself.
Matt 7: 15-23. Beware of
false prophets,
who come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
You will know them by their fruit...
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the
kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of my Father in heaven....
Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.
The most common clash of values is between INTEGRITY and DECEPTION. Integrity has no degrees, either one has it or not. Sheep do not always look like sheep, and wolves often do not look like wolves. Things are not always what they appear to be. The fruit or RESULTS, rather than the appearance, certify the nature of the inner person.
In religion there is as much deception as in other fields of life. Words, prayers and appearances may be sincere or just a cover-up for a distorted inner self. The Lord discerns the heart and can tell the difference. He wants no part in any deception.
There is also much self-deception in the land. MacArthur (pp. 474-476) points out four kinds: 1) False and cheap assurance of salvation. 2) Failure of self-examination. 3) Inordinate concentration on religious activities. 4) Thinking that good deeds can balance bad ones.
VALUES
KEYWORD STUDY.
Keywords__________________________________________________________________
| 1. BIBLE TEXT: In-depth Word-study | 4. What results are expected? (Application) |
| 2. BIBLE CONTEXT: Cross-references | 5. How are these results achieved? |
| 3. BIBLE CONCEPTS: Meaning of texts | 6. How are these results verified? |
Look up Deception on the Internet: Not Everyone... | Quest for Integrity |
Look up Lawlessness on the Internet: The Law |
Respond to the True-and False questions. They may
also serve as basis for further thinking and discussion. The
questions are based on the above Bible passages.
1
Prophets come in sheep's clothing.
2
According to Matthew, some good trees bear bad fruit.
3 Some imposters successfully cast out
demons in Christ's name.
4
Doing God's will is independent of keeping the law.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Is there any room for rather innocent
deception or "white lies"?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. How does the inner man influence the outer man?
__________________________________________________________________________
3. How do you know when you do and do not do the will of God the Father?
__________________________________________________________________________
4. What are the laws associated with prophecy, exorcism and miracles?
__________________________________________________________________________
This ends Unit 12. Write out your comments to a discussion question. Then go to Unit 13.
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13. The Wise and the Foolish, Matt 7:24-29
13.1
WISDOM in CONTEXT
Wisdom is the understanding of the true, right or lasting. The Sermon on the Mount presents values that are true, right and lasting. These values are those of the inner man that are then to be lived out in everyday life. The person that hears and studies the Sermon on the Mount, integrates it into his inner man, and acts on the basis of these values, is truly wise.
The values of this section include excellence and faithfulness. In your thinking, treasure the wisdom expressed in the Sermon on the Mount. Consider and marvel at the love of God that makes these values a reality and enriches rather dull lives. Walk on in faith.
13.2 WISDOM
Percy loved to read and philosophize. He was fascinated with ideas. He had studied much and was what many considered part of the intelligencia. But he limited his explorations to his thought-life and his daily life was in shambles. He was on his third marriage, in debt, and fighting with his in-laws. He was not wise. He was foolish. His grandmother Mary, on the other hand, was a simple old woman. She knew the Lord that preached the Sermon on the Mount, and she appeared to demonstrate effortlessly the values espoused in that Sermon. She was wise.
13.3 TOWARD A NEW VALUE
SYSTEM
In the final analysis, people are separated as the wise and the foolish.
Matt 7:24-29. Therefore
whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them,
I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the
rock...it did not fall.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do
them,
will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand...and
it fell.
People may be
classified as wise or foolish. The sayings of Jesus in the Sermon
on the Mount teach the values of the wise inner man. The wise
outer man then acts on the basis of these values. That is wisdom.
Check
the values proposed in the Sermon on the Mount, and for each of
these values write out the value that contrasts to it.
| Caring___, cleanliness___, compassion___, confidence___,consideration___, courage___, courtesy___, creativity___, detachment___, determination___, development___, enthusiasm___, excellence___, faithfulness___, flexibility___, focusedness___, forgiveness___, friendliness___, generosity___, gentleness___, health___, helpfulness___, honesty___, honor___, humility___, integrity___, joyfulness___, justice___, kindness___, love___, loyalty___, mercy___, moderation___, modesty___, obedience___, orderliness___, patience___, peacefulness___, perserverance___, prayerfulness___, purity___, purposefulness___, reliability___, respect___, responsibility___, reverence___, safety___, self-discipline___, service___, sharing___, simplicity___, steadfastness___, thankfulness___, tolerance___, trust___, trustworthiness___, truthfulness___, understanding___, unity___, work ethics___. |
VALUES
KEYWORD STUDY.
Keywords__________________________________________________________________
| 1. BIBLE TEXT: In-depth Word-study | 4. What results are expected? (Application) |
| 2. BIBLE CONTEXT: Cross-references | 5. How are these results achieved? |
| 3. BIBLE CONCEPTS: Meaning of texts | 6. How are these results verified? |
Read about Wisdom on the Internet: Wisdom Resources | Virtues Project | 52 Virtues (the source of many of the 60 values above) Lifecraft |
Respond to the True-and False questions. They may
also serve as basis for further thinking and discussion. The
questions are based on the above Bible passages.
1 Time and adversity are the tests of a
person's value system and wisdom.
2 Doing your own thing is shown as the way
of the foolish .
3
Those who read & follow this Sermon will have the same
values.
4 Wise and foolish people build similar
houses.
DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS:
1. What are your
central values? Why are they central?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. How have your central values changed in the last year? month?
__________________________________________________________________________
3. What values are hardest to implement, and why?
__________________________________________________________________________
4. How does Christ change your value system when you recognize Him as Lord?
__________________________________________________________________________
HAND-INS
Email to the instructor
the six answers to the Values Keyword Study and the 4 answers to the Discussion
Questions for each of the 13 units, one at a time.
The TF answers are 12)tftf, 13)ttft.