Low-Key Religion: Zealous, Half-Hearted, or Lukewarm?

A young lady described her prayer as low-key. Many people have low-key religion in worship, Bible study, devotion, and morality. Is this zealous religion or lukewarm religion?

A young woman once told our son-in-law that she and her boyfriend had fled from the police in a high-speed chase. She said she was praying for their safety, but it was a “low-key prayer.”

How do you define a “low-key prayer”? It sounds like prayer from someone with little commitment to God. They know they are wrong yet still hope God will help them in an emergency.

I suspect that many people are “low-key,” not just in prayer, but in religion in general, though they may not admit it as honestly as this young lady did. Consider some examples:

Bible Teaching Is Important and Relevant to You

Are you seeking spiritual guidance and direction in your life? Do you have serious questions about spiritual teaching and issues? This free study provides relevant Bible answers! 

Christian doctrine offers true answers to questions such as: Does God exist? What is the purpose and meaning of life? What is the origin of the human race? Can we receive eternal life after death? How can we be forgiven of our sins and receive the favor and blessings of God?

This material is also available in print as part of our book on Bible Inspiration and Preservation. For more information, go to www .gospelway.com/sales/books. 

Proper Time and Frequency for the Lord's Supper

The Significance of the First Day of the Week

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When and how often should Christians remember Jesus' death in the Lord's Supper (communion)? Should we commune on the first day of the week (Sunday) or on the seventh-day Sabbath? Denominations may have the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually. This study examines the teaching of Christ regarding the time and frequency for partaking of the Lord's Table.

Roast Lamb (and Instrumental Music) in Worship?

Should we eat roast lamb in the Lord's Supper? What if people say it was done in the Old Testament and would aid our worship? There is a Lamb in Revelation and people can honor God with their talent in cooking the lamb. And where does the Bible say not to? But all these same reasons are used to justify instrumental music in worship. If we can see why not to eat roast lamb, then why use instruments?

Truth Matters: The Importance of Truth

Our society increasingly belittles the importance of truth in spiritual and moral Issues. Some say there is no absolute truth or truth for you is whatever you believe it to be. How essential is truth regarding the existence of God and the truth of His word. Do we need the truth regarding salvation, morals, the church, worship, and doctrine? Is truth essential in government, business, the family, education, and science?

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Fellowship with Error: Encouragement, Support, Assistance, Justification, Acceptance

Fellowship is sharing or being part of an activity. Is it possible to be guilty of a wrong act even if we do not actually commit the act? What about encouragement or tempting others to sin? Is it wrong to support, assist, or cooperate with those who do evil acts? What if we defend, protect, or justify those who sin? What does the Bible say?

Glory and Honor to the Lord Our God

Why does God deserve to receive glory and honor? How should we express honor for God? Should we honor God for His majesty, character, and works? Are we expressing proper honor by our worship and our lives?

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Introduction:

If someone asked why you should serve God, what reasons would you list?

It is possible to have improper reasons, but here are some good reasons:

* Salvation from sin

* Heaven and hell

* Spiritual blessings (peace, hope, guidance for life, etc.)

* Better life (moral uprightness, good family relations, etc.)

* Love of God

We want to discuss a reason that I fear our lists would often omit.

Emotions in Religion: What Standard Should Guide Us?

How much should we emphasize feelings in religion? Are emotions good or bad? Can we trust our feelings to tell us right from wrong or do we need a better standard in religion? Should our worship seek primarily to honor and praise God or to produce feelings that satisfy the people?

“He Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear”

In Matthew 11:15 and other passages Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” What does it mean to hear the teachings of Jesus?

What should we learn from Jesus’ statement that those who have ears to hear, should hear?

Every Part Doing His Share

Introduction:

Ephesians 4:16 – The body works effectively when every part does its share. This causes growth of the body, so it can edify itself in love.

Every Christian is responsible to do his best to accomplish the work of the local church and fulfill his individual responsibilities before God.

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In nearly every congregation, some members do most of the work while others do relatively little. Sometimes we become comfortable with allowing other people to do the work when we really should be helping.

From time to time events in a congregation remind us that each Christian must consider whether there are ways he/she can improve and accomplish more in the work of the congregation. We should always be willing to examine ourselves, but some events especially challenge us to consider our work.

The purpose of this study is to consider the work of this congregation and urge each of us to examine himself or herself to see if we can step up and do more.

Be Ready: The Importance of Preparation

Introduction:

God believes in the importance of good preparation.

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Proverbs 30:24,25 – God praised ants for their wisdom, because they provide food in the summer and so are prepared for winter. Preparation is a sign of wisdom.

God Himself prepared for many of His works.

Psalms 9:7 – He prepares judgment for the wicked.

Psalms 31:19 – He prepares goodness for His people.

Isaiah 40:3; Luke 1:17 – He sent John the Baptist to prepare for the coming of Jesus.

Involvement and Participation in Bible Teaching

We remember ten percent of what we read, twenty percent of what we hear, but thirty percent of what we see.

But of what we see and hear, we remember fifty percent. We remember seventy percent of what we say, and ninety percent of what we say if we also do what we are talking about. (I have forgotten the source of the chart, but have seen this kind of thing several times.)

For example, after Bible class ends, would you be more likely to remember a comment or question you made, or would you remember as well the same question or comment if someone else made it?

The purpose of this lesson is to consider the importance of personal participation and involvement in Bible teaching.

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The Passover and the Language of Memorials

Understanding the Lord’s Supper properly requires us to recognize that much of the language used is not meant to be taken literally. This happens often in certain kinds of Bible teaching, especially in memorials such as the Lord’s Supper.

In order to help us understand the nature of the language, let us consider the Old Testament memorial feast which itself was a symbol of the Lord’s Supper.

What Kind of Church Is This?

Suppose a man in the emergency room of a hospital is overheard to say: "You don’t sell tires, change oil, or wash cars? What kind of hospital is this?" Or, "What you mean you don’t have trapeze artists, or lion tamers? What kind of hospital is this?"

Most of us would immediately realize his mistake. Doctors and nurses are skilled and trained to help people with health issues, but repairing automobiles and operating a circus are not the purposes of a hospital. And any hospital that would involve itself in those activities would be neglecting the real purpose for which they exist. If you want someone to repair your car or entertain you, you must go elsewhere.

Few people would make this kind of mistake regarding a hospital, but I once read an article that illustrated that people frequently make this mistake regarding the church. For example, consider the people who think:

The Lord's Table

The Bible uses different terms to describe practices and institutions that God has ordained. These different terms are intended to help us understand and appreciate God's will regarding these activities. Specifically, we can gain a deeper understanding of the Lord's Supper by considering the terms the Bible uses to refer to it. Let us consider one such expression.

1 Corinthians 10:19-22 - What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

This passage refers to the Lord's Supper as the "Lord's table." Consider lessons we can learn.

Religious Emotionalism

Introduction:

Human emotions play important roles in our lives. This is natural and may be quite wholesome. But we all realize that sometimes emotions cloud people's thinking, so they do things they should not. Emotions can be confusing, uncertain, even dangerous.

The purpose of this study is to consider the role emotions have in religion and to consider some ways that emotions cloud people's thinking in religion.

Jesus Deserves the Worship and Glory That Are Uniquely God's

Just as only God deserves to wear certain unique names, possesses certain unique characteristics, and do certain unique works, so there are certain unique forms of worship and honor that belong only to God. Because God created and rules the whole creation, it follows that all created things must honor and worship Him. No man or other created being may rightly receive such worship. To give such honor to men or created beings constitutes blasphemy or idolatry.

In this study we consider the Bible evidence about the worship and honor Jesus deserves to receive.

Does the End Justify the Means?

Introduction

 

Romans 3:8 - Paul had been falsely accused of teaching, "let us do evil that good may come."

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Paul here denied believing this doctrine, but many people today do believe it, or they reason as though they do. The idea is that we evaluate the goal or end result that we hope to achieve, and if the goal seems honorable or upright, then we conclude that whatever means or methods we might use to achieve that goal would also be honorable or upright.

The idea has several names: "Situation Ethics," "Moral Relativity," "end justifies the means," "practicality," and other terms. One man called it "using the devil's tools to do God's work."

The purpose of this study is to consider what the Bible says about the idea that the end justifies the means.

Women's Role in Preaching and Church Leadership

Introduction:

Consider some changes that have occurred in church leadership roles in recent years.

* Some believe that women should be allowed to preach or lead prayer or singing in public worship assemblies.

* Some claim that women should be allowed to serve as elders/bishops or deacons.

* Some claim that women should be allowed to attend and speak in church business or decision-making meetings. Some claim women should have equal voice with men in such meetings.

* Some claim that churches must have "congregational meetings" in which all members, including women, discuss and make decisions. Some claim that such meetings must ratify or reject decisions made by the elders or men.

The purpose of this study is to examine the teaching of the New Testament about the role of women in such activities of church leadership and decision making.

Transubstantiation, the Mass, and Holy Eucharist

Introduction: 

Suppose I show you a picture of Abraham Lincoln from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, then I say, "This is Abraham Lincoln, President of the USA." How would you react?

Most would understand that I meant this is a statue of Abraham Lincoln that serves as a memorial that reminds us of him. But suppose someone responds, "You said, 'This is Abraham Lincoln.' You mean Abraham Lincoln is a statue? How can you say our president is made of stone?"

That illustrates the issue in this study.

This study considers whether or not the elements of communion literally and physically become Jesus' body and blood.