The purpose of this lesson: To stress the importance of every individual Christians spiritual influence. The congregation can be a helpful light in the community only if Christians are light through taking their influence seriously.
The lesson will focus primarily on the two texts. You are encouraged to read both texts before we begin our thinking.
Again, we want to tie the concepts directly to scripture.
Begin by examining your religious foundation for your thoughts/actions. As a Christian, do you believe two worlds actually exist simultaneously? What two worlds? The physical and the spiritual worlds are the two worlds. Do you believe one is temporary and one is continual? The physical world as we know it is temporary. The physical world as we know it had a beginning and will have an end. The physical world as we know it contains two powerful influencesthe influences of good and the influences of evil. It was the influences of evil that perverted the existence and purpose of the physical world.
Stress that your personal spiritual understandings greatly impact the principles you act on and the devotion you have to your actions.
The spiritual world existed before the physical world existed. The spiritual world exists now. The spiritual world will continue to exist after the physical world as we know it ceases. In fact, the spiritual world challenges our thinkingit is without beginning or end, and we do not experience things in our physical world without beginning or end.
The spiritual world and the physical world are radically different, yet both are real. To us, it seems the physical world is permanent, even though everything in it (including us) is temporary. We are so accustomed to thinking of beginnings and ends that we find it difficult to impossible to think of a reality that has no beginning or end. One of our major challenges is to be a part of the physical world but think of and accept the realities of the spiritual world.
Gods intention for the physical world was that it would exist in genuine compatibility with the spiritual world (Genesis 1:31; 3:8). Evil perverted the intent of God in the physical creation. The physical world as you and I know it is not the physical world God brought into being.
The ability of evil to deceive people makes the physical world and the spiritual world radically different. What God created was good and suitable for the companionship of humans with God. It was evils ability to deceive people that transformed the physical world in fundamental ways.
The issue or question is this: should we invest ourselves and our lives in a world that is temporary or a world that is continuing? As 2 Peter 3:11, 12 states it, . . . (W)hat sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God . . . (NASV)? Please notice that the issue is not them (those who do not place their trust in what God did and does through Jesus Christ). The issue is us (those who trust what God did and does through Jesus Christ by entering Jesus Christ). In words we use more frequently, if we Christians understand this physical world is temporary, do we truly exist for the coming reality that will not end?
The fundamentalist approach to Christianity has so focused the objective of Christianity on the conversion of people who are not Christians that it has a huge out there emphasis and a minimal on us emphasis. One result of this focus is to become fractured as congregations to the point that those out there do not wish to be like us because we too often fail to respect each other or work together. Thus our influence is not what we wish it to be.
How do Christians live for the reality of the spiritual world? How will we live if we understand this physical world is temporary? Some of these answers are given in todays texts.
This is not as simple of a question as we often declare it to be.
The first text (Matthew 5:14-16) is in Jesus words. Jesus said Gods followers realize the example of their lives and priorities are essential. The illustration Jesus used was light. In our society, we often take light for granted. Not so in their world! Life and work began at sunup and ended at sundown. Why? They could see what they were doing! They had light!
As much as is possible, illustrate two things. (1) Illustrate how small first-century lamps were. It would be quite necessary to elevate the lamp without obstructions to provide even a dim light in a dark room. (2) Illustrate how important light isalways!
Even in developing countries today, sunlight is an extremely valuable asset. If you find yourself in a place that has little or no power resources available or affordable, sunlight is extremely importantthe rising and setting of the sun regulates most activities. Illustrate how much we could not do if we did not have artificial lightingfrom driving vehicles at night to having multiple shifts for work.
We of today in this society would regard their artificial lighting of little value. The typical lamp of that time would fit in the palm of a hand. Oil (often olive oil) and a crude wick provided a dim light in darkness. If the light was elevated, people could see how to get about a room without stumbling. Because most people were extremely poor and artificial lights were regarded to be expensive, such light was welcomed but used sparingly. Darkness was for sleeping until the sun shone again.
We are so accustomed to artificial lighting that is bright enough to allow daylight activities to continue at night that we may not grasp dim lighting. Bad things happen when a person cannot see!
Jesus used the obvious to form his illustration. People light a lamp to be able to see. It is being able to see that allowed people to avoid injury. Do good works so people can see the value of doing good. Do good works in rightful ways that make it obvious that your good exists because God directs your life. Your good is done to glorify God.
While Jesus illustration would be a good, quickly understood illustration then to declare the essential nature of godly works, the illustration needs explanation today to be powerful. We forget how dependent we are on light.
The Christian example of how to live for God is an essential function of people who belong to and follow the living God. Jesus gave this emphasis before he gave his life and was resurrected. This example always has been true of people who belong to and follow the living God in every age. Such people serve the essential function of reflecting Gods light in a world darkened by evil. Never assume that people automatically understand how to distinguish good from evil. People who do not know God also do not see or understand evil.
Stress that the example of godly people is essential if ungodly people are to understand godliness. Stress this has been true in all ages. The further a people are removed from God, the more likely those people will consider evil to be good.
Following God by trusting what God did in Jesus death and resurrection increasingly grew more difficult as the first century ended. 1 Peter 2:11, 12 spoke to Christians who endured opposition. They found it difficult to be godly people because evil thinking and actions opposed their efforts in numerous ways. They received these admonitions:
1. See yourselves as aliens and strangers in this physical world. The values and principles that direct your lives are not the values and principles of evil people. It is true that you do not belong to physical existence. Physical existence never will be a friendly force to those who belong to Jesus Christ. If you see yourselves as belonging to physical existence, this is horrible for you!
2. Know there is an internal war being waged within you. Satan attacks your choice to belong to God. He appeals to your physical desires in ways that limit Gods influence in you. Compare this statement to Pauls earlier statements in Galatians 5:16-24 and Ephesians 6:10-18.
3. Satan is serious and determined in his desire to destroy you spiritually!
4. Be a consistent example of godliness among people who misunderstand who God is and what God values. They may cause you all types of difficulty, but represent God well to them.
a. They will misunderstand who you are by considering your godly values to be a morally undesirable weaknessdo not expect them to understand or respect the whys of what you do.
b. Just know they cannot deny the good effect of what you do in your forgiveness, grace, and mercy. The good results of your values and principles in Christ cannot be denied!
c. The eventual effect of the example of your consistent lifestyle will cause them to honor the God you servethe God who at first they despised.
d. Your consistent actions will result in the salvation of those who refused to listen to your messages.
Stress how practical these insights are if a person devotes his (her) life to godliness. Make a choice between the influences of the two worlds on your life. Know that Satan will attack youdo not be caught off guard. Be consistent in your example for God.
Never forget that serving God includes the way Christians look at physical life, physical existence, and divine purpose. Never forget that consistent godly examples reach godless people who reject godly messages. If Christians are small lamps for God, Gods church should be a beacon of light for people lost in the darkness.
Stress the two nevers. Stress our individual small lights should result in the congregation being a helpful beacon of light in a dark and dangerous world.
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For Thought and Discussion
1. Contrast the spiritual world and the physical world.
The contrast should include (a) the temporary versus the continuing, (b) a beginning and an end, and (c) the role of evil in physical existence.
2. State and discuss the issue question.
The discussion should include that Christianity is as much for us (believers) as it is for them (people who have not embraced belief in Jesus Christ). The issue or question: Should we invest ourselves in a temporary world or a continuing world?
3. Describe a first-century lamp. How did Jesus illustrate the value of Christian example?
Focus on the lamps smallness and the lights dimness.
4. Discuss the essential function of Christians being a godly example.
The discussion should include (a) bringing Gods light into a physical existence which has been darkened by evil, and (b) being an example of the distinction between good and evil.
5. Enumerate the admonitions of 1 Peter 2:11, 12.
a. See yourself as a person who does not belong to this physical world.
b. Know there is an internal war being waged within you.
c. Satan is serious in his attempts to destroy you spiritually.
d. Be a consistent example of godliness among people who do not know God.
6. What two things should Christians never forget?
Christians should never forget:
a. Serving God includes the way a Christian looks at physical life, physical purpose, and divine purpose.
b. Consistent godly examples reach people who reject godly messages.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 8