“Christian or ______________: Your Spiritual Label”

Lessons and Class Discussion + Extra Slides

October 11th, 2009

By Christopher Gallagherwww.preacherspen.org

Sources Cited

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you,

O God.”

—Psalm 42.1

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your

steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse

me from my sin!

-Psalm 51.1,2

Back to the BasicsWhat We Believe and Why?

Labels:

Your Good Name

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches…” (English Standard Version)

“A good name is more desirable than great riches…” (NIV)

“A good name is to be more desired than great wealth…” (NASB)

Our Religious Labels

Ultra-conservative

Conservative

Mainstream

Liberal

Ultra-Liberal

John 17.20-21

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father are in me, and I in You, that they may be in us, so that the world may believe you have sent me.”

Labels of Jesus’ Day

1. Pharisees

2. Sadducees

3. Scribes

Pharisees

• Their name means separatists

• They lived in strict obedience to the written law.

Pharisees

• Many times elevating the oral law above or equal to the written law.

• According to Josephus they were the largest group of Jews, even surviving the A.D. 70 destruction.

Pharisees

• “Then the Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said…” (Matthew 15.1; ESV)

• “He answered them, ‘And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your own tradition?’” (Matthew 15.3; ESV)

Sadducees

• They were the “liberals” of the day.

• Known as the followers of Zadok

• They rejected the oral traditions, angels, spirits, resurrection and immortality.*

• * H. B. Frank, A Study of the Life of Christ

• Page14

Sadducees

• “The same day Sadducees came to him, who say there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question…” (Matthew 22.23; ESV)

• “But Jesus answered them, ‘You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22.29; ESV)

Scribes

• They were professional copyists of the law.

• Herod called the chief priests and scribes to ask them the location of the baby Jesus. (Matthew 2.4)

• Found close to the Pharisees in Scripture

Scribes

• “And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’” (Luke 20. 45, 46; ESV)

Final Thoughts!

CHRISTIAN

Final Thoughts

• “And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” (Acts 11:16; ESV)

• They were added to the Lord. (Acts 11.24)

• How is one added to the Lord?

• Acts 2:37-47

CHRISTIAN

Back to the BasicsPart #6

“He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.”

-Psalm 62.2

Trumpets, Pitches and Torches

Judges 7.15-18

Trumpets, Pitches and Torches

1. Why did God shrink the army of Gideon? (Judges 7.2)

2. How many times did God command Gideon to shrink the army? (Judges 7.1-8)

3. Was Gideon fearful of the Midianites? (Judges 7.10)

Trumpets, Pitches and Torches

4. What were the weapons of Gideon and his men? (Judges 7.16)

5. Who played the greater part in the battle: Gideon, Gideon’s men or God? (Judges 7.22)

Trumpets, Pitches and Torches

6. Are we (Christians) a small army fighting in a large world?

7. Will we be successful like Gideon?