October 12, 2017 | Act, Love, Walk

a call to virtuous living

Objective (what we hope to see God accomplish in us through the study):

That we do not grow weary in doing good.

Statements of the objective:

So follow the way of good people, and keep to the paths of the righteous. [Proverbs 2:20 HCSB]

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. [2 Thessalonians 3:13 NASB]

Fellow Elders, I think the church needs to follow Reformed (last year’s great theme), with a call to engage. We should focus on re-involvement in ministry, creation of new ministries, and putting our “money where our mouth is” in a general revival of volunteerism and growth in service. As we briefly covered in the Imagine series last year, we should concentrate on doing good in the congregation, in local politics, in our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces, with the needy and those who don’t yet know their need for Christ.

– Dan Cox

Premise (why we are studying this):

Christians were for centuries known for doing good things – so much so that the delightful pejorative term “do-gooder” was often applied to followers of Jesus. As Western culture began to decay, Christians and their churches began to pull away from their biblical calling to good works. The reasons are manifold and fascinating to consider, but the bottom line is that Jesus’ people need to once again rise up and use their considerable powers for good.

Statements of the premise:

Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. [Luke 12:48 ESB]

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. [Romans 12:21 ESB]

I think God sometimes uses completely inexplicable events in our lives to point us toward Him. We get to decide each time whether we will lean in toward what is unfolding or back away. The folks following Jesus in Galilee got to decide the same thing each day because there was no road map, no program, and no certainty. All they had was this person, an idea, and an invitation to come and see…God is always trying to save lives, and it seems like He usually uses the least likely people to do it. So the next time God asks you to do something that is completely inexplicable, something that you’re sure is a prank because it requires a decision or courage that’s way over your pay grade, something that might even save lives, say yes.

– Bob Goff, Love Does, 64-66.

Theme of the study (what the study is about):

Our default setting of selfishness combines with a world that craftily manipulates good intentions – and all the while Satan actively battles our discipleship. The result is that doing good is not always very easy. Thankfully, God’s Spirit makes us more than conquerors whose tombstones really can read, “This one used God’s empowerment for good.”

Statements of the theme:

Those who repay evil for good

attack me for pursuing good.

Lord, do not abandon me;

my God, do not be far from me.

Hurry to help me,

Lord, my Savior. [Psalm 38:20-22 HCSB]

I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me, and what the king had said to me. They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and they were encouraged to do this good work. [Nehemiah 2:18 HCSB]

Mankind, He has told you what is good

and what it is the Lord requires of you:

to act justly,

to love faithfulness,

and to walk humbly with your God. [Micah 6:8 HCSB]

[Micah 6:8 is] “the finest summary of the content of practical religion to be found in the OT.”

– J. M. P. Smith, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Books of Micah, ICC (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1911), 123.