The eNews Week of May 23 2004
If you would like to contribute to the YAM eNews, send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com.
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IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
COLLEGE BRIEFING!!! September 3-6
HOLY WORLDLINESS—The Input Principle
SUNDAY SERMON NOTES--Do Not Judge Others
CONCERTS IN SO-CAL
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REGULAR HAPPENINGS
WORSHIP @ 8:45 am—Main Worship Center
EAT, Last Sunday @ 11:45 am
Next EAT is May 30
Meet in the TFB patio
SUNDAY GATHERING @ 10 am on Sundays—TFB College Room
BIBLE STUDY @ 7:15-9:00 pm on Tuesdays— TFB College Room
Current Study: Learning Jesus in the Gospel According to Mark
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COLLEGE BRIEFING!!! September 3-6
Cost: $160
Place: Forest Home (we’re staying in Main Camp this year!!)
Speaker: Bryan Loritts
Host: Jason Djang
Band: Plumbline
Sign-ups begin June 6
For details click here.
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HOLY WORLDLINESS—The Input Principle
What's the point of being a light in a lighted room when there is so much darkness outside?
In Philippians 4:1-9, Paul tells the believers at Philippi to stand firm (v. 1). He then specifies three ways to stand firm. (1) Live in harmony (v. 2-3)—Pastor Charlie’s sermon series on relationship has been covering this issue. (2) Bring your needs to the near God so you’re free to rejoice, to be gentle with people, and to live without anxiety (v. 4-7). (3) Have an interior life that concentrates on excellent, praiseworthy things and an exterior life that does excellent, praiseworthy things (v. 8-9).
Verses 8 and 9 are of particular interest in our study of holy worldliness. Verse 8 is the Input Principle and verse 9 is the Output Principle. May 23, we looked at the Input Principle. How do we go about figuring out whether something is good input or harmful input? In Philippians 4:8, Paul gives the Christians at Philippi a list of valuable things to think about.
The simple rule: be careful what you put in your mind because it tends to stay there.
To be a bit more specific, use the following ratings to practice the skill of discernment as you take in stuff/junk from our culture)
Rate the following 1 to 5 (1 being right next to Satan and 5 being right next to Jesus)
This is true. It conforms to reality and is reliable.
This is honorable. It is worth my respect.
This is right. It shows me what God is really like.
This is pure. It’s not mixes with moral junk.
This is lovely. It promotes peace rather than conflict.
This is of good repute. It is positive and constructive not negative and destructive.
This is excellent. It has authenticity and moral integrity.
This is praiseworthy. I’d recommend it to anyone, even grandma.
On a regular basis, take time to think over your media input. How does it rate? If it falls in the 1 to 2 range on anything, you may want to consider whether you really want that stuff in your brain.
May 30, we’ll start looking at how we can be influencers rather than just influenced. That day we’ll begin putting together some summer ministry plans (if you think of any options, send an email).
You have to make the choice. Will you influence your culture or just be influenced by it. The choice is yours.
For more specifics, there’s a good resource at Ransom Fellowship: http://www.ransomfellowship.org/
http://www.ransomfellowship.org/Discernment.html
Discernment Training
Christian Discernment 101 will give you a general overview of what we mean by discernment and introduce you to the key questions a discerning Christian asks.
Discernment 102: How to Disagree Agreeably Learning how to think clearly and charitably is key.
Discernment 201: A Guide to Reading Fiction Christianly Bring discernment to the pleasure of reading.
Discernment 202: Pop Culture: Why Bother? Sometimes the problems with culture can be so overwhelming, Christians decide it would be best to withdraw from it. Denis Haack gives four reasons not to.
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Wanna think some more? Check out these articles at Relevant Magazine
Holy Worldliness, Part One
Holy Worldliness, Part Two
Relevant Magazine's progressive culture page
Mueller on culture
Faith and Culture links
Ransom Fellowship (discernment training)
questions to ask about film/tv/etc
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SUNDAY SERMON NOTES—Do Not Judge Others
Relationship Principles of Jesus, part 4
Matthew 7:1-5
Pastor Charlie
May 23, 2004
“Judge”
Dictionary: To act as a judge and pass judgment, to form an opinion, to make a careful guess.
Bible: To evaluate, decide, assess, distinguish between, pronounce judgment, select, prefer, condemn.
Society: To tell others what is right or wrong, to legislate a moral code of conduct
When Jesus says “DO NOT JUDGE,” He is using the meaning of pronouncing judgment, to condemn. It means to act as the final determiner of right and wrong for others and condemning them when they are wrong.
PRINCIPLES OF JUDGING FROM MATTHEW 7
The Principle of SAMENESS.
The standard you use to judge others will be the standard God uses to judge you. Galatians 6:1
The Principle of HYPOCRISY.
Pointing out the wrong in others without first assessing the wrong in you.
The Principle of INTEGRITY.
Consistently confronting and dealing with your own faults by allowing the faults of others to remind you of yours.
The Principle of MERCY.
Helping others overcome their faults
So what is ‘judging’?
It is thinking and or acting as if you are not accountable to God in the same way others are.
It is pointing out someone else’s faults without first dealing with your own.
It is considering other people’s faults as bigger than your own.
It is condemning others for their faults instead of helping them overcome their faults.
INSIGHTS ABOUT GOD AND JUDGING
God alone is competent to judge people, so we are not! James 4:12; 1 Corinthians 4:4-5
“When you see a brother or sister in sin, you have to realize there are three things you don’t know. First, you don’t know how hard he or she tried not to sin, so don’t judge them. Second, you don’t know the power of the forces that assailed him or her, so don’t judge them. And third, you don’t know what you would have done in the same circumstances, so don’t judge them.” F.B. Myers
God is reluctant to judge, so we should be too. John 3:16-17
God will justly judge everyone, so we don’t need to. Psalm 96:10,12; Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:16; Matthew 13:24-30, wheat and tares
Some areas of life clearly indicated in scripture in which we are not to judge:
We are not to judge people’s faithfulness and motives in serving their Lord. (1 Corinthians 4:2-5)
We are not to judge people’s appearances. (James 2:1-4)
We are not to judge people’s personal convictions in matters that are biblically neither right nor wrong. (Romans 14:1-5)
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CONCERTS IN SO-CAL
POD, June 16 at the Wiltern Theater & June 20 at Soma
Fish Fest, July 25 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Information courtesy of Transparent Productions
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