Introduction to Ephesians (Ephesians 1:1)
As we begin to study Ephesians we must make sure that we interpret it correctly. The golden rule of interpretation is “What did the original hearers hear?” In order to know this we must know something of the author, his audience, and the circumstances surrounding his writing. Paul is the human author When God inspired the Bible the men He used were not robots. The Holy Spirit used these men’s experiences, personalities, and vocabularies to communicate His truth. Understanding who…
Fruits of True Repentance (Matthew 3:7-8)
As we end our study on abuse, we now want to address how to help an abuser repent and be restored. Because such sins require very personalized counseling our focus is going to be how our church as a whole should approach the process. Pure but not Deceived As believers we have changed hearts and renewed minds; because of this our minds do not naturally fathom or understand the impulses, urges, and deception that engulf the minds of abusers. This…
Forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35)
Abuse affects a lot more people than just the one who is abused. Family, friends, churches, etc. are all affected by a single instance of abuse. How can we bring healing to these situations and stop the pain from continuing? Forgiveness. Forgiveness defined Forgiveness has been used to cover up and continue the perpetration of abuse. This happens because forgiveness has been wrongly defined. Forgiveness is not a refusal to call the police. Forgiveness is not reconciliation and restoration. Forgiveness…
How to Handle Abuse (Jeremiah 23:1-6)
Main thoughts: Does the Bible give any examples of how to handle abuse? In Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34 we have two examples to follow. In both cases the prophets are confronting other prophets who have used their positions to take advantage of the weak people of God. Part of this abuse is sexual. In these passages God gives us clear direction for how to proceed. Confront the abuser The first thing Jeremiah and Ezekiel do is confront the abusers.…
Mandated by God to Report (Ecclesiastes 8:11)
Religious organizations are constantly being caught covering up abuse. Most of these organizations follow the same line of reasoning. Jesus taught us to forgive not seek vengeance. Christians shouldn’t take each other to court. The church should handle this privately and not get the pagans (police, government, etc.) involved. Christians should handle abuse privately behind closed doors. Is this a correct understanding of Scripture? Right use of the law First and foremost, God’s Law is used to bring conviction of…
Authority is Limited by God (Matthew 20:25-28)
Abuse is always someone in a position of authority, trust, or power ABUSING that position. This position may not come with an official title, but it may be a position that someone holds because of age or physical size and strength. The Bible talks a lot about authority. Many sermons have been preached about authority, and we all have memorized passages of Scripture that command us to submit to authority. The question then becomes, does the Bible place any limits…
Why Study Abuse? (Matthew 18:6-10)
Abuse is one of the most painful things that a human being can endure. Most people do not want to talk about their painful experiences, much less spend time studying it. Why should we study abuse? Abuse defined There is much evil in our world. There is sexual sin and physical violence. Abuse is something quite different. Abuse is when a person in power, trust, and authority ABUSES their position and causes physical, sexual, emotional, or spiritual harm upon a…
Is Church Membership Biblical? (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
Before we can look at a Church Covenant, we must first ask ourselves the question, “Is Church Membership Biblical?” Definite number of sheep in the flock Peter admonishes elders to watch over the flock (people of the church.) Jesus teaches us that a shepherd knows how many sheep he has and keeps track of each one. In the early church, there was a clear keeping track of how many sheep there were. The book of Acts refers repeatedly to the…
The Plumb Line (Amos 7:1-9)
God’s judgment and mercy Amos watches as God begins to judge with grasshoppers and fire. He begs God to be merciful, and God stops the judgment. No man can accuse God of being harsh or unjust. He is merciful, gracious, and kind. Even though the people of Amos’ day deserve judgment, God in His mercy stays the judgment at Amos’ request. The plumb line God tells Amos that He is simply going to use a plumb line with Israel. A…
Resentment or Repentance? (Amos 6:8-14)
Major destruction coming God abhors the violent oppression of the poor. Because of this He is going to utterly devastate the nation of Israel. There will be so much death that extended family members will have to bury their whole family because there will be no one left. Literally entire households will die in the coming judgment. Resentment instead of repentance The people are going to react to the judgment by refusing to mention God’s name. Even though God has…
Coveting Leads to Ingratitude (Exodus 20:17)
The purpose of God’s Law All of creation has been created to show forth the nature of God (Romans 1:18-20.) As such the natural world operates according to God’s decree and law. In the same vein, the Law that He has given to us reflects His nature. His Law shows us not just what is pleasing in His sight but what is in our best interest. Like a doctor who tells his patient not to eat certain foods for his…
Do You Care? (Amos 6:1-7)
All are guilty Amos is from Judah and has been addressing the sins of Israel. He now includes Zion (Jerusalem), the capital of Judah, in his judgment. He is showing several things, one, Israel is not the only one guilty; his own nation is guilty. Secondly, he is speaking out against those in Judah who are refusing to join him in speaking out against the sins happening around them. The certainty of judgment Jerusalem and Samaria were heaving fortified cities…