Introduction

• Acts 26:9-11 – Paul was sincere, but he was wrong.
• A journalist in New York City in the 1800s made up stories about an astronomer who saw all sorts of men and animals on the moon. He was successful in fooling many people before he was found out.

People become sincerely wrong by following false standards of authority.

Conscience

• Proverbs 14:12
• Galatians 5:20
• Acts 23:1
• I Corinthians 4:3

The wisdom of people

• I Corinthians 2:4-5; 1:20 – God makes foolish the wisdom of this world.
• Jeremiah 10:23

The majority

• Matthew 7:13-14 – The majority are likely to be wrong!
• II Peter 3:9

Family tradition

• 68% of people practice the same religion (or nearly so) that they did growing up.
• Matthew 10:37
• Galatians 1:13-14

People become sincerely right because of the Bible!

• Galatians 1:11-12, 1
• John 8:32 – The truth will make you free!
• The Bible seems to be the most sold, least read book in the world.
• I Timothy 4:1-7
• James 3:15
• I Timothy 6:3

First, I must WANT to listen.

• Proverbs 2:1-2 – “attentive … incline your heart”
• Matthew 13:15 – “with their ears they scarcely hear”
• Luke 8:15 – “heard the word in an honest and good heart”
• John 10:20 – “Why do you listen to Him?”
• It starts with the right heart.
• Listening does not mean you agree. But we must be courteous enough to listen.
• Things that prevent good listening.
  • Differing interests
  • Different personalities

Slow down to avoid “flooding.”

• James 1:19-20
• The “flooding” response in men is more reactive and slower to recover than in women. Men are more easily overwhelmed by marital conflict.
• Ecclesiastes 3:7 – “A time to be silent and a time to speak.”
• Showing down and controlling anger: Proverbs 15:28; 14:29; 16:32; 17:27; 19:11; 29:11
• Psalms 4:4 – In other words, “sleep on it.”
• Withdrawal – pursuit
  • Plan a time to talk

Focus on listening before figuring out your response.

• Proverbs 18:13 – “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.”
• Proverbs 17:14 – “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.”
• Proverbs 20:3 – “Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel.”
• Luke 2:46-47 – Jesus listening an asking questions.

The Speaker Listener technique

• From the book Fighting for your Marriage
• (This is a great way to apply James 1:19.)
• One person is the Speaker and the other is the Listener.
• Rules for both of you:
  • The Speaker has the floor.
  • Share the floor.
  • No problem-solving.
• Rules for the Speaker:
  • Speak for yourself. Don’t mind read.
  • Don’t go on and on.
  • Stop and let the Listener paraphrase.
• Rules for the Listener:
  • Paraphrase what you hear.
  • Don’t rebut. Focus on the Speaker’s message.

Introduction

• Exodus 12:24 – Who would think they could ever forget the tenth plague? But God set up a memorial for it right from the beginning.

Proclaim the Lord’s death to them.

• I Corinthians 11:23-26 – The Lord’s Supper
• Galatians 2:20

Show them how to benefit from a sermon.

• Acts 17:10-11 – The Bereans carefully considered Paul’s words.
• The real benefit is in our daily living.

Point out good Christians as role models for them.

• Philippians 3:17
• Acts 16:1-3

Pray with them all the time.

• II Kings 19:8-20
• II Kings 20:1-3 – When trouble came, Hezekiah turned to God.

Get them in the habit of reading the Bible.

• Luke 10:25-26
• Luke 16:30-31 – The scripture is more powerful than someone rising from the dead!
• Bible reading must become a habit.

Put down your device and have human interaction.

• Acts 2:44-47

Show them how to recover from a sin.

• II Samuel 12:7, 13 – We must be able to admit our sin.
• Psalms 51:1
• I John 2:1

[Due to technical difficulties, this class was not recorded. Sorry about that! —MRW]

Luke 6

Luke 6:1-11

• The Pharisees kept trying to catch Jesus doing something they considered illegal on the Sabbath. See also Luke 14:3; Matthew 12:9.
• See Mark 3:4-5 – Jesus knew there was hardness in their hearts.
• John 7:23
• Matthew 15:19
• Proverbs 4:23
• Compare the application in Luke 6:37-42. Clean up yourself first, then you can help another.
• Luke 6:43-45 – Out of a good heart comes good things.

Luke 6:12-19 – Jesus chooses His apostles, teaches, and works miracles

• John 20:30-31

Luke 6:20-26 – Beatitudes and woes

• Luke 6:21, 25 – See Ecclesiastes 3:4. What time is it?
  • II Corinthians 7:8-10
  • Psalms 32:1-5, 10-11
  • Jeremiah 6:15 – It is necessary that we sorrow over sin, but we must not sorrow for too long.
  • II Corinthians 7:11
  • Acts 2:37-38 – Godly sorrow led to repentance, baptism, and salvation.

Luke 6:46-48

Are people doing miracles today?

• I Corinthians 13:8-13 – Miraculous gifts would go away when the perfect came.
• Romans 8:24
• John 20:30-31

What about Mark 16?

• Mark 16:14-20 – Is verse 17 saying that signs would accompany everyone who believed?
• Even in the New Testament period, not all Christians could work miracles.
• Also, Jesus said that miraculous gifts would go away.
• Possible explanations:
  • Jesus was talking about some people being given spiritual gifts, speaking in a general sense.
  • Jesus was only referring to the apostles.

Is this conclusion falsifiable?

• Yes – if someone works a miracle!
• Acts 3:1-13

• I Corinthians 14:22
• We should at least be able to agree that if someone is claiming to do miracles and signs today, including speaking in tongues, they shouldn’t be contradicting anything taught in scripture. I Corinthians 14:37; I John 4:1-6; II Thessalonians 2:9-10
• I don’t know what God does in answer to prayer. James 5:16