 We face moral issues everyday  What are some examples?  Why is it important to make moral decisions?

 Child: relied on parents, teachers, or others we trusted  Obedience  Young adult: more freedom to make own decisions  May realize that parents and teachers are not free of mistakes

 How people ought to behave  Choosing to do the “good” and not the “bad”  How is this different from psychology/sociology?  Who should be concerned with morality?

 Moral: that which is good  Immoral: that which is bad  Amoral: morally neutral  Moral decision: a decision when the results might be good or bad for someone

 As Christians God has given us what is the good and what is not

 What God makes is perfect, no need to change?  Man is imperfect so what is made is imperfect  Examples: slavery

 Is wearing a uniform good or right?  Is stealing bad or wrong?  We are going to use good and bad to refer to God’s Commandments (moral)  Right and wrong to refer to rules and laws made by humans

Moral/Immoral Good/Bad Legal/Illegal Right/Wrong Who Decides?GodSociety/Man Why?Loves usOrder/Protect Examples Life, true love, honesty, justice, human dignity, equality, mercy, compassion, forgiveness Speed limit, uniforms, chewing gum Called Principles, values, absolutes Rules, Laws Can they change? NoYes

 All people are good.  Good people do bad things.  We may do bad things…  Judge actions not people

 All good things are also right  All right things are not also good  All people are good

 Why do we have such a problem seeing others and sometimes ourselves as good?  Do we think that we, or especially others are not good?  Why do we want to prove that others are bad?

 Why do people today not want us to say their action is bad?

 Read your scripture passage silently, listening for words or phrases that strike you.  Read it again out loud with your group.  Share your words or phrases.  What does your passage mean to you?  What does your passage say about truth?

 What is one thing you know to be absolutely true?  Why does our culture have a difficult time accepting absolute truths?  What truths do you think teens compromise on? Why?  What is one way you can protect and stand up for the truth Christ gave us this week?  Is the way you are living your life now a witness to the truth? Why or why not? If not, what needs to change?

 Not all cultures share the same sense of morality.  Should all moralities be viewed as equal?  How do we know what is truly good or bad?  Harmful to life and opposed to the good given to us by God

 Every person has God-given dignity and an immortal destiny  Created in God’s image, we all share in God’s own loving nature  Thus, we can find lasting happiness and harmony only by freely imitating God, and by walking in love and working together  Only happy when we help others too  Need wisdom in order to make moral decisions

 Exercising the freedom God has given us to do what’s right is the only humanly good and fulfilling thing to do, the only choice that leads to life.

 What makes you truly happy? When was the last time you felt truly happy?  Do you believe that morality is a hindrance to your life or a way to achieve happiness and joy? Why?  Do you believe that God desires more for you life than to just get by and be a good person? Do you believe that God wants you to be truly happy?  Do you want to be a part of the Kingdom of God? Do you live your life in a way that reflects that desire?

 Do you believe that God the Father gives us the moral law for our well-being? Why or why not?  What does the “Kingdom of God” mean? Why are laws and rules important?  What do you think of the worlds perception of morality is compared to the Christian perception of morality?  What is the goal of your life? What is God’s goal for your life?

 Goody-goodie  Does what they are ‘supposed’ to do  May be out of touch with others who face life’s difficult decisions  Good person  Struggles to understand why some things are good and bad and to do the right thing  Can empathize with human experience/struggle

 What reasons, other than those we have mentioned, might people have for choosing the bad? What is your response to these reasons?  What reasons can you think of for being good or moral? Which of these makes most sense to you? Why?

 We have the technology to do almost anything  Recognize changes in the world  Question has become should we  Once the technology exists it is there  Alfred Nobel  Our moral decisions effect others

 Copy bullet points from page 14 in your notes

 Choose 1 article that is related to a current moral issue today  Write  Why is the topic a moral issue?  Whose needs and rights are involved in the issue?  Whose needs and rights are most likely to be unmet and not respected?  What do you think should be done?  If you finish choose another.