Notes on attitude

• Not a class on compliance

• No denial or need to comply – it’s necessary!

• Seeking motivating attitudes

  • Propel actions

  • Meditation and consideration

Last class

• Husband’s attitudes toward his wife

  • Rooted in:

    • Love

    • Purpose

    • Service

    • Steadfastness

    • Sacrifice

  • Jesus: the comparison and example (Ephesians 5:25-32)

    • John 3:13

    • Luke 9:21

    • I Timothy 2:5-6 – Jesus gave Himself for us.

• Husband’s role

  • Leader of his family – Ephesians 5:23

    • Position as head

    • Implies a following

Wife’s attitude toward husband

• Who is the best leader?

  • Great follower

  • In subjection to:

    • Government authority – Romans 13:1-5

    • Family leaders set over us – Luke 2:51

    • Fellow workers in Christ – I Corinthians 16:15-16; Ephesians 5:21 (Galatians 2:4-5)

    • Our employers – Titus 2:9-10

    • Relationships of this life not undone under Christ

• Qualities of a good follower

  • Strives for excellence – I Peter 2:12; Proverbs 31:10

  • Willing and eager to work – Proverbs 31:13

  • Ready to help – Proverbs 31:11

    • Trusted adviser

    • Assistant, aide

  • Optimistic toward the future – Proverbs 31:25

  • Accepts responsibility

  • Teaches from her experience to others – Titus 2:3-5

  • Respectful – Ephesians 5:33

• Respectful

  • Has purpose – I Peter 3:1-6

    • In action (I Peter 3:2)

    • In attitude (I Peter 3:4)

    • In speech (I Peter 3:5-6 – direct and indirect)

  • How is it shown?

    • Treatment of husband

    • Treatment of his family

    • Treatment of other people (reflects on husband)

• Doctrinal conflict

  • Underlying principal – God as ultimate authority

    • Supersedes all other considerations

      • Abigail and Nabal – I Samuel 25

      • Book of Daniel (Daniel 1, 3, 6)

      • Peter and John – Acts 5:29

    • Work with authority where able

    • Sway by behavior – I Peter 3:1-2

  • Husbands – lead gently

    • No conversions at the point of the sword
      • Don’t abuse your authority

Introduction

• Matthew 5:13-16

Ethics

• Definition: Moral principles that influence our behavior.
• Galatians 1:10
• Stick to God’s unchanging truths!
• Ephesians 6:5-8
• Psalms 15:1-5 – Would you want your employee to be like this? Your chief of police?
• What God is prescribing causes us to be good people in the world.
• Proverbs 23:23 – Hold to the truth!
• Romans 14:11

Service

• Mark 10:34-35
• “I’m not here for attention or glory.”
• “I’m here to work.”
• Luke 17:7-10
• What job is beneath a Christian?
• John 13

Joy

• Romans 12:15
• Philippians 3:1
• I Peter 4:13
• Deuteronomy 28:47
• Galatians 5:15-24
• Acts 16:22-25
• Philippians 1:1-5, 18-20
• Christians should be joyful people!

• Ecclesiastes 1:1-2:17

Writer

• The writer appears to be Solomon.
• Solomon (971-931 BC): I Kings 1-11; II Chronicles 1-9
  • Blessed with wisdom, riches, and honor (I Kings 3)
  • Built temple (I Kings 6-8)
  • Wrote Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
  • Women: 700 wives, 300 concubines, “turned his heart away” (I Kings 11:3)
  • Last king of the united kingdom

Themes

• Vanity / wind / evil / futility
• Under the sun
  • The scope of the book is life “under the sun.” That helps explain these strange statements (Ecclesiastes 4:2-3; 10:18).
• Nothing new / things go in circles (Ecclesiastes 1:3-11)
• Death (Ecclesiastes 2:14-16)
• Hard work / possessions (Ecclesiastes 2:18-26)
• Pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)
• Time / chance / random / unfair (Ecclesiastes 9:11)
• Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 9:13-18)

Tone

• Brutally realistic
• Contrast with Proverbs

Notes on the book

• Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 – Everything is circular and there is no progress.
  • Ecclesiastes 1:7 – This seems to be a reference to the water cycle, which may be an example of scientific foreknowledge in the Bible.
• Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 – Solomon did the experimentation, so we don’t have to. He explored by wisdom but found only vanity.
• Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 – Solomon tried all sorts of pleasure, but never found fulfillment.
• Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 – Wisdom is better than folly, but will not save you from death.

“Making melody with your heart to God”

• Ephesians 5:18-21
• Matthew 12:34 – Singing is speaking to God, and this starts in the heart.
• James 5:13
• Colossians 3:16
• Matthew 15:8-9
• Matthew 18:35
• Matthew 22:37
• Songs are a beautiful way to combine truth and emotion.

“Praise to God”

• Romans 15:7-12 – The unity all people have in singing praise to God.
• Hebrews 2:11-12
• Hebrews 13:10-16 – Through Jesus we can offer up praise to God.
• Philippians 4:!8
• Our singing is a sacrifice to God. Just like in the Old Testament, we must do it properly to be acceptable to Him.

“Sing with the mind”

• I Corinthians 14:11-16, 26 – Worship should be understandable to yourself and other people.

“One another”

• Colossians 3:15-17
• Acts 16:25 – The prisoners were listening to them sing!
• We have an effect on each other when we sing.

Truth

• Speaker: Jeremiah 6:13-14; II Timothy 4:1-5

  • Must speak the truth! Don’t cover up or ignore sin.

  • See also Galatians 1:6-10.

• Listener: Acts 17:11

  • Examine the scriptures to verify the truth of the teaching.

Attitude

• Speaker: Acts 20:18-24; Romans 10:1
  • Teach with humility and concern for the souls of the listeners.
• Listener: Nehemiah 8:1-8
  • Listen with respect for God’s word. Don’t take His teaching lightly.

Motivation

• Speaker: Ecclesiastes 12:11; I Corinthians 4:16-21
  • Motivate the listeners to seek and obey God.
• Listener: Acts 2:37; 17:21
  • Acts on this motivation – don’t just traffic in idle words and theories.