March 31st – April 1st Guy Roberson Youth Lectureship 2017 March 31st – April 1st Guy Roberson Friday 7 PM: “If I Had Only One Sermon to Preach” Saturday 11 AM: “Decisions Determine Destiny” (break) 1:30 PM: Singing 2:30 PM: “Learning How to Apply God’s Word to Decisions” These lessons will edify hearers of any age. Come and invite someone!

Love Builds Up (edifies) Author: Chinmayisk Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up (edifies) 1 Cor. 8:1-3 Photo at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pseudophilautus_wynaadensis_croaking.JPG#filelinks Author Chinmayisk

Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up v1 We know that we all have knowledge Rom. 10:13; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 1:3 v1a We know (eido) that we all have knowledge (ginosko) 1. Eph. 3:3-4 No one can have knowledge without Scripture 2. Rom. 10:13 No one can have faith without knowledge 3. 1 Tim. 2:4 No one can be saved (a Christian) without knowledge 4. 2 Pet. 1:3 It is how God gives everything that pertains to life and godliness 5. You cannot replace the role of knowledge with anything and this explains-- a. the importance of preaching and the role of it in Jesus, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors b. why we have Bible classes--to aid growth in knowledge at each level and develop teachers c. why reading the Bible by yourself is essential—you set your own pace and choose your own topic d. knowledge is irreplaceable in God’s plan...but alone, it is insufficient and without love it is harmful

Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up but love edifies * more excellent way 1 Cor. 13:31 * cannot hide it Jer. 20:9 * produces humility 1 Tim. 1:12-14 Knowledge puffs up, . . . * inflate my importance 1 Cor. 12:21 * hide knowledge 1 Cor. 12:15-16 * unprepared to edify v1b Knowledge (ginosko) puffs up (a genuine threat 2 Cor. 12:7) but love edifies 1. 1 Cor. 13:1-3 miraculous gifts, generosity, knowledge, martyrdom were useless, even damaging, w/o love. 2. When my knowledge lacks love I am puffed up and the result may be-- A. I inflate my importance 1 Cor. 12:21 i. “I’m __ (a long-time member, new, young, old, preacher, elder, teacher), so I should get my way whether others like it or not” ii. with love, Christ and others are the focus—forget “my way v their way” for a more excellent way iii. 1 Cor. 8:8b-9 not only a knowledge of the truth but also of how my actions affect, influence others. B. I hide my knowledge 1 Cor. 12:15-16 (Mt. 25:25) the ear knows what it can do but does not participate i. a more subtle kind of “puffed up” to know that you can spiritually edify others but choose not to. ii. with love, I cannot hide it Jer. 20:9 … His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not. C. In either case, I am not prepared to help the lost or the saved i. The lost have so many misconceptions about God, His word, His ppl/church, etc and if I am arrogant in talking to them or so frustrated with them that I say nothing, I am nothing--- a. They lack knowledge, I lack love. b. We must preach the word (knowledge) with all longsuffering (love). ii. When differences in areas of liberty arise between saints, knowledge w/o love destroys the bond of peace. iii. Knowledge and love produce humility 1 Tim. 1:12-14 understanding God’s grace, faith, and love will humble us and prepare us to edify.

Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up v2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know

Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up v3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. - knowledge Rom. 2:18-20 - love Mt. 22:37-39

Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up Ways Paul does NOT apply this: “You are puffed up if you talk to others about their sin.” Preach the word . . . 2 Tim. 4:2 1. “You are puffed up if you identify the sins of others.” A. This passage is not as well-known as Mt. 7:1, but if it were, can’t you see people flippantly quoting and misrepresenting it---ignoring the fact that Paul is talking to these saints about this and other sins (ch 3,5,6. . .) and that we are reading what he said to them? B. Even Christians are sometimes tempted to imitate “this world” and think this way 1. “You catch more flies with vinegar than honey” or “Just preach the truth—there’s no need to id error” 2. 2 Tim. 4:2 The gospel catches souls with truth—speaking the truth in love with longsuffering and doctrine can taste bitter to the honest hearer at first (Acts 2:36). C. Knowledge and love compel me to fulfill the law and love of Christ, meaning. . . Gal. 4:16; 6:1-2 (Js.5:19) D. After this leaven works for a while, it will often lead to --   Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? Gal. 4:16 . . . fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. 6:1-2

Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up Ways Paul does NOT apply this: “doctrinal differences” or “matters of moral, doctrinal import” [1 Cor. 8:8; Rom. 14:3] “We have many potential members who were baptized by sprinkling, usually as infants. This paper will help you see why we baptize by immersion. . . If you choose not to be immersed at this time, we still welcome you as a member. We ask only that you respect this position and not be divisive.” -Max Lucado, “Baptism: The Demonstration of Devotion” 2. “Romans 14 permits us to disagree about matters of moral, doctrinal import” A. Romans 14 and 1 Cor. 8 deal with the same kind of matters—Rom. 14:3; 1 Cor. 8:8 matters which make us neither better, nor worse. B. Here are some ways that Christians are using this passage or topic “deals with doctrinal difference among baptized believers” not “mere matters of opinion” (applying inst music) “The issue of Romans 14 is precisely the establishment of the right of brethren to differ in matters of ‘faith’.” (3) “…in matters of considerable moral and doctrinal import”(4). (applying it to false teaching on MDR) Are we neither better, nor worse, in matters of morals and doctrine (teaching)? C. Here is where this thinking eventually leads: “We have many potential members who were baptized by sprinkling, usually as infants. This paper will help you see why we baptize by immersion. . . If you choose not to be immersed at this time, we still welcome you as a member. We ask only that you respect this position and not be divisive.” (receive someone who has never been baptized?! neither better, nor worse??) D. 1 Cor. 8 (and Rom. 14) are extremely important to the bond of peace among us, but equally important is that we first have the unity of the Spirit. Ed Harrell, Christianity Magazine, April,May 1989, article 3,4 in Fellowship series (16) https://maxlucado.com/baptism-the-demonstration-of-devotion/ (accessed 3-3-17)

Love Builds Up (edifies) Author: Chinmayisk Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up (edifies) 1 Cor. 8:1-3 Photo at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pseudophilautus_wynaadensis_croaking.JPG#filelinks Author Chinmayisk Turn to Christ Acts 2:38; Rom. 10:10 Return to Christ Acts 8:22; 1 Jn. 1:9 Abide in Christ John 15:7