LOVING GOD WITH ALL OF OUR MINDS
- A lesson for the Junior High School Students
Matthew 22:36-29 (see also Mk 12:30, Luke 10:27)
36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.'
- What is our mind?
- Do you sense that there is a battle for the minds and hearts of American youth? If so, describe this battle.
"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11: 14)
"We dare not ignore that in the battle for the mind, the forces of anti-supernaturalism, of humanism and of dualism have temporarily at least won a commanding victory... The danger of withdrawing even surreptitiously from previously occupied ground cannot be overestimated. For one thing, when we retreat we become irrelevant in the world environment in which we are to witness and testify to our creating and redeeming God." (General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, May 1999)
"If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity." (Daniel Webster)
Preparing Our Minds for Battle
- How do we prepare our minds for action (battle)?
- What does the "helmet of salvation protect", and what does it protect us from?
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3: 1)
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph 6:17 )
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
- How does God want us to think?
- How can we help our others think this way?
- What are we to think about?
- What satisfies the criteria of Philippians 4:8?
1 Thess 5: 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
- What are we to test?
- What important issues to we fail to test?
- What standards are we to use in our testing?
The Relevance of Isaiah’s message to American culture (Isaiah 5)
Context: Isaiah warned Judah that her sin would bring captivity at the hands of Babylon. Isaiah wrote this at approximately 700 B.C. Jerusalem fell in 586 BC
- Read Isaiah 5. As you read, look for the answers to the following questions.
- Why will the people go into exile?
- To whom are the "woes" pronounced, and for what reasons?
- Were the people deceived? If so, in what way(s)?
- Explain each of the following woes.
- Are these pronouncements relevant to us today? Explain each in modern context.
Isaiah 5:11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine.
Isaiah 5:18 Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes, 19 to those who say, "Let God hurry, let him hasten his work so that we may see it. Let it approach, let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come, so that we may know it."
Isaiah 5: 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
Isaiah 5: 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
Isaiah 5: 22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent.
The "Values Clarification" Movement
"… a teacher in Newton, Massachusetts who had attended numerous values clarification work-shops and was assiduously applying its techniques in her class. The day came when her class of sixth graders announced that they valued cheating and wanted to be free to do it on their test. The teacher was very uncomfortable. Her solution? She told the children that since it was her class, and since she was opposed to cheating, they were not free to cheat. "In my class you must be honest, for I value honesty. In other areas of your life you may be free to cheat." (Christina Hoff Sommers , ÒTeaching the VirtuesÓ hjttp://forerunner.com/forerunner/X0116_Teaching_the_Virtues.html)
"If we fail to instruct our children in justice, religion and liberty, we will be condemning them to a world without virtue, a life in the twilight of a civilization where the great truths have been forgotten." (Ronald Reagan)
Calling Good Evil and Evil Good
- Give examples of how our culture is guilty of calling good evil, and evil good.
- What messages are we exposed to from the media?
- Read the "Twenty-third Channel". Does this apply to anyone you know? Does it apply to you?
- Evaluate the attached TV statistics in light of Philippians 4:8
- What is the relative influence of church vs. the mass media in most American homes? In yours?
- What standards can we set in our homes regarding media intake?
| The Twenty-Third
Channel Author unknown |
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| The TV is my shepherd, I shall not want It makes me lie down on the sofa, It leads me away from the Scriptures, It destroys my soul. It leads me in the path of sex and violence for the sponsor's sake. Yea, though I walk in the shadow of my Christian responsibilities There will be no interruptions, For the TV is with me; |
It's cable, HBO, and remote control
They comfort me. It prepares a commercial before me In the presence of my worldliness; It anoints my head with humanism, My coveting runneth over. Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house watching TV forever. |
What is the Influence of our Culture on our thinking?
- What is the influence of the mass media (TV, Radio, Movies, Internet, Newspaper, etc.) on our thinking? On the normative thought pattern of our culture?
- What instructions to the following verses give us pertaining to use and abuse of the mass media?
I will set before my eyes no vile thing (Psalm 101:3: 3)
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Mt 5:28)
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matthew 6: 22)
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. (1Pe 2:11)
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2Ti 2:22)
Ro 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
- How is one’s mind renewed?
- What aspects of our culture mitigate against a renewal of our minds?
Eph 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ps 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Ps 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Ps 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Ps 119:15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
Ps 119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Prayer for each other and for the next generation
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9)
- When was the last time you prayed a prayer like this for your parents? For your siblings? For other believers?
- How do we gain insight into God’s will?
Statistics on Television Use in America
According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube. Compiled by TV-Free America; 1322 18th Street, NW; Washington, DC 20036 (202) 887-4036
I. Family Life
• Number of TV sets in the average U.S. household: 2.24
• Percentage of U.S. homes with three or more TV sets: 66
• Number of hours per day that TV is on in an average U.S. home: 6 hours, 47 minutes
• Percentage of Americans that regularly watch television while eating dinner: 66
• Number of hours of TV watched annually by Americans: 250 billion
• Value of that time assuming an average wage of S5/hour: S1.25 trillion
• Percentage of Americans who pay for cable TV: 56
• Number of videos rented daily in the U.S.: 6 million
• Number of public library items checked out daily: 3 million
• Percentage of Americans who say they watch too much TV: 49
II Children
• Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 3.5
• Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680
• Percentage of day care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70
• Percentage of parents who would like to limit their children's TV watching: 73
• Percentage of 4-6 year-olds who, when asked to choose between watching TV and spending time with their fathers, preferred television: 54
• Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours
• Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500
III Violence
• Number of violent acts seen on TV by age 18: 200,000
• Percentage of Americans who believe TV violence helps precipitate real life mayhem: 79
IV. Commercialism
• Number of TV commercials seen by the average person by age 65: 2 million
• Percentage of survey participants (1993) who said that TV commercials aimed at children make them too materialistic: 92
• Rank of food products/fast-food restaurants among TV advertisements to kids: 1
• Total spending by 100 leading TV advertisers in 1993: $15 billion
V. General
• Percentage devoted to stories about crime, disaster and war: 53.8
• Percentage devoted to public service announcements: 0.7
• Percentage of Americans who can name The Three Stooges: 59
• Percentage who can name at least three justices of the U.S. Supreme Court: 17
The Biblical Mandate of Discipleship
Genesis 18: 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."
De 6:6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
De 11:18-19 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
2Ti 3:15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Pr 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
see also (De 17:18, 19; 30:14, 31:11)
The Importance of the Scriptures in Discipleship
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." theopneustos, found only in 2 Timothy 3:16, where it is translated, "given by inspiration of God".
Ps 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.
Mt 7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Lu 11:28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
- Supreme love for God (Matt. 10:37-40)
- Study and devotion to God’s Word (John 8:31)
- Denial of self (Mark 8:34)
- Love for others (Matt. 22:39)
For details see: http://www.nadn.navy.mil/Navigators/wheel.htm
- What is your vision for you and your family?
- Joshua 24:15b "But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
"It is better to have vision and no sight than sight and no vision." -Helen Keller
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot loose -Jim Elliot
How can a dad or mom share his/her vision with his family in the following areas?
Teaching Through our Lifestyle
- How do we share our lives with others?
"Preach Jesus, and only when necessary, use words", Francis of Assisi.
"I wished I had realized earlier in my parenting career that children learn more from their parents than from teachers, preachers and all other sources of influence combined. I would have modeled several character qualities I overlooked as a young father." Chuck Swindoll
"Example is better than precept." (A British proverb)
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no-one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. (Psalm 145:3-5)
"Success without succession is failure." Attributed to John Stephens
- What were Hezekiah’s accomplishments?
- What were Hezekiah’s mistakes? (Isaiah 39:3) "They came to me from Babylon." (2 Kings 20:12-19) 16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD: 17 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. 18 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, that will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." 19 "The word of the LORD you have spoken is good," Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?"
- Characterize Paul and Timothy’s relationship.
- Is there a Timothy in your life?
- What is your greatest desire for your friends? What is the greatest desire that you have for your future children, if God should so bless you in the future with a family? What are you doing to see that this is accomplished?
- How many generations are listed or inferred in the following verses?
- How far back can you trace your spiritual heritage?
(Psalm 78) 1 O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-- 3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 6 so that the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. 8 They would not be like their forefathers--a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.
2Ti 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
- "Even if I knew with certainty that the world would end tomorrow, I would plant an apple tree today." — (attributed to Martin Luther
It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.
We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?
We have been recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.
But, we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied an enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father Who dwelleth in the Heavens.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN; 1863
