The Circles of Christian LifeThe Circles of Christian Life

The Three Circles of (Spiritual) Life

1 Timothy 4:13-161 Timothy 4:13-16

Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don't stop preaching and teaching. Use the gift you were given when the prophets spoke and the group of church leaders blessed you by placing their hands on you. Remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing. Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you.

Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don't stop preaching and teaching. Use the gift you were given when the prophets spoke and the group of church leaders blessed you by placing their hands on you. Remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing. Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you.

Paul and Timothy

1 Timothy 4:13-161 Timothy 4:13-16

Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don't stop preaching and teaching. Use the gift you were given when the prophets spoke and the group of church leaders blessed you by placing their hands on you. Remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing. Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you.

Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don't stop preaching and teaching. Use the gift you were given when the prophets spoke and the group of church leaders blessed you by placing their hands on you. Remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing. Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you.

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Paul advises Timothy to follow three priorities in his spiritual life

Paul advises Timothy to follow three priorities in his spiritual life1. keep on reading the Scriptures in

worship

2. don't stop preaching and teaching

3. Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach

1. keep on reading the Scriptures in worship

2. don't stop preaching and teaching

3. Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach

Study/Doctrine

Witness

Behavior/Character

The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.

The Three Circles of Christian Life

1. Study/Doctrine

Correct TheologicalPosition

True Bible Orthodoxy maintains purity

Colossians 3:16Rotherham

Colossians 3:16Rotherham

Let the word of Christ dwell within you richly—in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with gratitude raising song with your hearts unto God

Let the word of Christ dwell within you richly—in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with gratitude raising song with your hearts unto God

1. Our experiences and our studies give us wisdom based on our knowledge of God through study, meditation, prayer

2. Our knowledge makes us effective witnesses to others3. Our study and witnessing transforms us

1. Our experiences and our studies give us wisdom based on our knowledge of God through study, meditation, prayer

2. Our knowledge makes us effective witnesses to others3. Our study and witnessing transforms us

2006 International Seminar, Baia Mare, Romania

Studying the scriptures gives you theological framework

Studying the scriptures gives you theological framework

John 5:39

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me

John 5:39

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me

2006 International Seminar, Baia Mare, Romania

Doctrine provides nourishmentOriginal foreward, Volume 6

Our Lord…promised that he would send forth to his people meat in due season (Luke 12:37-42)…at a time, when without it, their spiritual growth would have been stunted, if not entirely checked…even the old things of God’s Word, the old truths, may have a new and appetizing flavor, and be appropriated to their still further spiritual health and strength.

Ephesians 4:11-12

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Volumes, writings shouldn’t be rejected because written by man—this is the way God said would instruct Church

The Three Circles of Christian Life

1. Study/Doctrine

Correct TheologicalPosition

True Bible Orthodoxy maintains purity

Comes first, but if all there is, becomes seedbed of spiritual pride

The Three Circles of Christian Life

2. Witnessing

Ability to discuss

Reasoning ability based on Knowledge of Truth—sharing with others why God acts as He does

What Does Truth Mean To Us?

What Does Truth Mean To Us?

• Remove focus of life from ourselves

• Focus of life becomes knowledge of plan

• Remove focus of life from ourselves

• Focus of life becomes knowledge of plan

What Does Truth Mean For Us?

What Does Truth Mean For Us?

• Responsibility to knowledge– Two choices: act on it or reject it

• Create theme in life other than self-gratification– Desire to live and preach– Giving of talents and time– Willingness to forgo pleasures of life

• Responsibility to knowledge– Two choices: act on it or reject it

• Create theme in life other than self-gratification– Desire to live and preach– Giving of talents and time– Willingness to forgo pleasures of life

Witnessing from the scriptures gives opportunity to find

others interested

Witnessing from the scriptures gives opportunity to find

others interestedActs 17:1, 2

Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures. . .

Acts 18:4

And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Witness Workshop, 2006 Seminar

Why Must We Become Students

and Teachers?• Learning and teaching is God’s greatest

endowment to His children• Study alone is insufficient

– Must spur action, action spurs training– Moved by study, to change our lives and lives

of others

• “In the dust of the Rabbi”• Knowledge not ultimate goal, study

transforms into apt teachers—now for our brethren and for world in Millennial Age

• Learning and teaching is God’s greatest endowment to His children

• Study alone is insufficient– Must spur action, action spurs training– Moved by study, to change our lives and lives

of others

• “In the dust of the Rabbi”• Knowledge not ultimate goal, study

transforms into apt teachers—now for our brethren and for world in Millennial Age

First understand, then become teacher

First understand, then become teacher

Hebrews 5:11-14

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Hebrews 5:11-14

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Home of the Achims in Baia Mare, sponsors of seminar

Ecclesiastes 12:9-12

In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

The Judgment of Solomon by de Boulogne

October 20 Manna “Be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

Matt. 10:16

“Oh, that all of the Lord’s dear people could learn the value of wisdom in connection with their endeavors to serve the Truth!...We should learn that there are opportune and inopportune times for mentioning certain truths, and that there are wise and unwise methods of presenting them…it is not enough that we speak the truth…we should see to it that we speak the truth in love, and love that is trained uses wisdom that it may accomplish good.”

The Three Circles of Christian Life

2. Witnessing

Ability to discuss

Reasoning ability based on Knowledge of Truth—sharing with others why God acts as He does

If all there is leads to self promotionAnd provides seedbed for spiritual pride

The Three Circles of Christian Life

3. Behavior/Character

Humble heart

Devotional attitudeDaily practice of the reality of God in your life

Doctrine produces discipline to exercise senses to discern what is

right conductHebrews 5:11-14

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Hebrews 5:11-14

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

'Saint Paul writing his Epistles’ by Valentin de Boulogne

Z5080, The Mark of Crystallization of Character

God’s standard of character is perfection, which must be maintained by loyalty and obedience under whatever tests he permits to come to individuals upon any plane of life. No one will get the prize of everlasting life unless he successfully passes those tests.

Reprint 1840

“not in the mere sense of an outward form and appearance of kindness, gentleness, etc., so common in the world; but a gentleness, a kindness, proceeding from the heart, proceeding from an appreciation of the Lord’s spirit…”

“According to the Scriptural standard, the elect Church of Christ should be the most polished, the most refined, the most polite, the most generous, the most kind, of all the people in the world;-and should be all these in the most absolute sense;

What God seeks in character Paul’s advice

• Teachableness (humility)

• Desire, dedication, determination

• A will to obey

• Deliberate choices, not something into which one drifts– Joshua 24:15: “..choose for yourselves this

day whom you will serve..”

Although character is third circle, it is not tertiary

Great Wall of China

Proverbs 2:6, 7For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity

What’s Inside Your Sponge?

Under pressure, what’s inside comes out—what comes out of your sponge?

The Three Circles of Christian Life

Circles must be properly established, emphasized, related

Study and doctrine

Witnessing and harvesting

Behavior and Character

Philippians 3:13, 14 I press on toward the

goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you…

Rembrandt’s Apostle Paul

Paul’s summary

1 Timothy 6:20-21

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"-- which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.

Scriptures aren’t a technical book or a legal guidelineThey are our source for the Circles of Life!

Characteristics of those driven by The Circles of Life

Study and doctrine

Witnessing and harvesting

Behavior and character

1.Brings together whole being—new mind and old body--into harmony2.Gives every day experiences new meaning--aimed at improving and exercising God-like qualities3. Focuses us on the transforming work of consecration

Circle of Life Characteristics of…

1. Study/Doctrine

1. loyal rather than sectarian2. steadfast rather than stubborn3. unmovable rather than stationary4. discerning rather than critical5. authoritative rather than autocratic

True Bible Orthodoxy maintains purity

Circle of Life Characteristics of…

2. Witnessing

1. energetic rather than self-seeking2. tactful rather than timid3. humorous rather than hilarious4. meek rather than weak5. holy rather than holier-than-thou

Reasoning ability based on Knowledge of Truth—sharing with others why God acts as He does

Circle of Life Characteristics of…

3. Behavior/Character

Character qualities

1. self-efficacy rather than self-esteem2. tender-hearted rather than touchy3. gentle rather than hypersensitive4. generous rather than gullible5. serious rather than sullen

1 Timothy 4:13-16The Code for Life

1 Timothy 4:13-16The Code for Life

Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don't stop preaching and teaching. Use the gift you were given when the prophets spoke and the group of church leaders blessed you by placing their hands on you. Remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing. Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you.

Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don't stop preaching and teaching. Use the gift you were given when the prophets spoke and the group of church leaders blessed you by placing their hands on you. Remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing. Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you.

Paul and Timothy

Circles must be properly established, emphasized, related

Study and doctrine

Witnessing and harvesting

Behavior/ Character

Hurricane Andrew 1992

Amen