Sunday in the Word Good Lessons from Bad Examples June 25, 2017 Unit 1, Study 4 Reject Ungodly Attitudes Study Texts: 1 Samuel 2:12-35; 4:17; Acts 5:1-11; 8:9-24

Acknowledgements Material adapted from Radiant Life: Adult Teacher Guide June-July-Aug 2017 Unit 1, Good Lessons from Bad Examples Unit 2, Good Lessons from Good Examples Volume 91 Number 4 Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO 65802 @2017 ISSN 1059-3233 All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International version @, NIV, Copyright 1973 Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com All Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version of the bible.

?Question? Why do you think attitudes matter to God? Attitudes are important to God because they reflect the desires and motives of the heart. Today’s study examines 3 examples of ungodly attitudes, and the consequences of allowing sinful desires to grow and mature Ungodly attitudes lead to ungodly actions While God condemns wrong attitudes, He restores those who repent

Reject Ungodly Attitudes Key Verse: Psalm 139:23-24 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (KJV) 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.(NIV) Focus: to identify and avoid attitudes that lead to ungodliness Central Truth: Motives of the heart lead to a lifestyle that either pleases God or rejects Him

Total Disregard for God 1 Samuel 2 Hophni and Phineas-The wicked sons of Eli Described as the sons of Belial (2:2) “Worthless” Contempt for the Holy 2:12-17 Sacrilegious-Immorality-Godlessness 2:22-35

Contempt for the Holy 1 Samuel 2:12-17 (NIV) 12 Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord. 13 Now it was the practice of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat was being boiled 14 and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. 15 But even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.” 16 If the person said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.” 17 This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.

Sacrilege Brings Judgment 1 Samuel 2:22-25 (NIV) 22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God[a] may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. [a] Or the judges

Sacrilege Brings Judgment 1 Samuel 2:34-35; 4:17 (NIV) 2:34 “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. 35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always. 4:17 The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”

?Question? What are some ways people (Christian and non-Christian) demonstrate a disregard for God today? Why is this so serious?

Motivated by Greed and Acclaim -Ananias & Sapphira What poses the greater danger to the Church: persecution from the outside, or sinful conduct from the inside?

Deception Exposed Acts 5:1-4(NIV) Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

?Question? What do you think Scripture means in saying that they lied to the Holy Spirit and to God (v3-4) By lying to the Apostles, they sought to deceive God’s representatives in ministry as well as their fellow members of the body of Christ This was not just a lie to others, but also a lie to God

Greed Brings Judgment Acts 5:5-11(NIV) 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

?Question? What was the judgment on Ananias? Why do you think it was so severe? How did the other Christians in the early Church respond to this tragic series of events?

Lust for Power and Fame Simon the Sorcerer Motivated by Arrogance Desire for power and fame

Motivated by Arrogance Acts 8:9-19 (NIV) 9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

?Question? What evidence was present when these Christians were baptized in the Holy Spirit? Why do you think Simon offered money for the power of the Spirit?

Restored through Repentance Acts 8:20-24 (NIV) 20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” 24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

?Question? Was Peter being too harsh in his rebuke of Simon? How did Simon respond? How was this different from Ananias & Sapphira? Why are fame and power so appealing, even to Christians? It goes to pride, lifting us up in the eyes of others, giving us a false sense of approval and worth

Practical Application “Attitude is everything” We may become preoccupied by actions, but we must not forget that our attitudes drive our actions Sinful deeds are often rooted in ungodly desires Unrighteousness begins in hearts that do not respect God Lets pray for God’s help in establishing attitudes that please Him, and align with His plans for our lives Lets value the things he values; holiness, compassion, love Identify attitudes that threaten these values, and seek His help in removing ungodly attitudes like greed and pride

Sunday in the Word Good Lessons from Bad Examples June 25, 2017 Unit 1, Study 4 Trust God’s Infinite Grace (Manasseh) Study Texts: 1 Samuel 2:12-35; 4:17; Acts 5:1-11; 8:9-24