2. The Circles of Christian Life

3. The Three Circles of (Spiritual) Life

4. 1 Timothy 4:13-16
Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don't stop preaching and teaching. Use the gift you were given when the prophets spoke and the group of church leaders blessed you by placing their hands on you. Remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing. Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you.
Paul and Timothy

5. 1 Timothy 4:13-16 1
Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don't stop preaching and teaching. Use the gift you were given when the prophets spoke and the group of church leaders blessed you by placing their hands on you. Remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing. Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you. 2 3

6. Paul advises Timothy to follow three priorities in his spiritual life
keep on reading the Scriptures in worship
don't stop preaching and teaching
Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach
Study/Doctrine
Witness
Behavior/Character
The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.

7. The Three Circles of Christian Life 1. Study/Doctrine
Correct Theological
Position
True Bible Orthodoxy maintains purity

8. Colossians 3:16 Rotherham
Let the word of Christ dwell within you richly—in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with gratitude raising song with your hearts unto God
Our experiences and our studies give us wisdom based on our knowledge of God through study, meditation, prayer
Our knowledge makes us effective witnesses to others
Our study and witnessing transforms us
2006 International Seminar, Baia Mare, Romania

9. Studying the scriptures gives you theological framework
John 5:39
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me
2006 International Seminar, Baia Mare, Romania

10. Doctrine provides nourishment Original foreward, Volume 6
Our Lord…promised that he would send forth to his people meat in due season (Luke 12:37-42)…at a time, when without it, their spiritual growth would have been stunted, if not entirely checked…even the old things of God’s Word, the old truths, may have a new and appetizing flavor, and be appropriated to their still further spiritual health and strength.

11. Ephesians 4:11-12
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Volumes, writings shouldn’t be rejected because written by man—this is the way God said would instruct Church

12. The Three Circles of Christian Life 1. Study/Doctrine
Correct Theological
Position
True Bible Orthodoxy maintains purity
Comes first, but if all there is, becomes seedbed of spiritual pride

13. The Three Circles of Christian Life 2. Witnessing
Ability to discuss
Reasoning ability based on
Knowledge of Truth—
sharing with others why God
acts as He does

14. What Does Truth Mean To Us?
Remove focus of life from ourselves
Focus of life becomes knowledge of plan

15. What Does Truth Mean For Us?
Responsibility to knowledge
Two choices: act on it or reject it
Create theme in life other than self-gratification
Desire to live and preach
Giving of talents and time
Willingness to forgo pleasures of life

16. Witnessing from the scriptures gives opportunity to find others interested
Acts 17:1, 2
Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures. . .
Acts 18:4
And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Witness Workshop, 2006 Seminar

17. Why Must We Become Students and Teachers?
Learning and teaching is God’s greatest endowment to His children
Study alone is insufficient
Must spur action, action spurs training
Moved by study, to change our lives and lives of others
“In the dust of the Rabbi”
Knowledge not ultimate goal, study transforms into apt teachers—now for our brethren and for world in Millennial Age

18. First understand, then become teacher
Hebrews 5:11-14
Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Home of the Achims in Baia Mare, sponsors of seminar

19. Ecclesiastes 12:9-12
In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.
The Judgment of Solomon by de Boulogne

20. October 20 Manna “Be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matt. 10:16
“Oh, that all of the Lord’s dear people could learn the value of wisdom in connection with their endeavors to serve the Truth!...We should learn that there are opportune and inopportune times for mentioning certain truths, and that there are wise and unwise methods of presenting them…it is not enough that we speak the truth…we should see to it that we speak the truth in love, and love that is trained uses wisdom that it may accomplish good.”

21. The Three Circles of Christian Life 2. Witnessing
Ability to discuss
Reasoning ability based on
Knowledge of Truth—
sharing with others why God
acts as He does
If all there is leads to self promotion
And provides seedbed for spiritual pride

22. The Three Circles of Christian Life 3. Behavior/Character
Humble heart
Devotional attitude
Daily practice of the reality of God in your life

23. Doctrine produces discipline to exercise senses to discern what is right conduct
Hebrews 5:11-14
Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
'Saint Paul writing his Epistles’ by Valentin de Boulogne

24. Z5080, The Mark of Crystallization of Character
God’s standard of character is perfection, which must be maintained by loyalty and obedience under whatever tests he permits to come to individuals upon any plane of life. No one will get the prize of everlasting life unless he successfully passes those tests.

25. Reprint 1840
“According to the Scriptural standard, the elect Church of Christ should be the most polished, the most refined, the most polite, the most generous, the most kind, of all the people in the world;-and should be all these in the most absolute sense;
“not in the mere sense of an outward form and appearance of kindness, gentleness, etc., so common in the world; but a gentleness, a kindness, proceeding from the heart, proceeding from an appreciation of the Lord’s spirit…”

26. What God seeks in character Paul’s advice
Teachableness (humility)
Desire, dedication, determination
A will to obey
Deliberate choices, not something into which one drifts
Joshua 24:15: “..choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..”

27. Although character is third circle, it is not tertiary
Great Wall of China
In ancient China, people desired security from the barbaric hordes to the north
Built the great Chinese wall so high that knew no one could climb over it, so thick that nothing could break it down
Settled back to enjoy security
During first hundred years of wall, China invaded three times
Never did barbaric hordes break down wall or climb over top
Each time they bribed a gatekeeper and then marched through the gates
Chinese were so busy relying upon walls of stone they forgot to teach integrity to children
Proverbs 2:6, 7
For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity

28. What’s Inside Your Sponge?
Under pressure, what’s inside comes out—what comes out of your sponge?

29. The Three Circles of Christian Life
Study and doctrine
Witnessing and harvesting
Behavior and Character
Circles must be properly established, emphasized, related

30. Philippians 3:13, 14
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you…
Rembrandt’s Apostle Paul

31. Paul’s summary 1 Timothy 6:20-21
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"-- which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.
Scriptures aren’t a technical book or a legal guideline
They are our source for the Circles of Life!

32. Characteristics of those driven by The Circles of Life
Study and doctrine
1.Brings together whole being—new mind and old body--into harmony
2.Gives every day experiences new meaning--aimed at improving and exercising God-like qualities
3. Focuses us on the transforming work of consecration
Witnessing and harvesting
Behavior and character

33. Circle of Life Characteristics of… 1. Study/Doctrine
loyal rather than sectarian
steadfast rather than stubborn
unmovable rather than stationary
discerning rather than critical
authoritative rather than autocratic
True Bible Orthodoxy maintains purity

34. Circle of Life Characteristics of… 2. Witnessing
energetic rather than self-seeking
tactful rather than timid
humorous rather than hilarious
meek rather than weak
holy rather than holier-than-thou
Reasoning ability based on Knowledge of Truth—
sharing with others why God acts as He does

35. Circle of Life Characteristics of… 3. Behavior/Character
self-efficacy rather than self-esteem
tender-hearted rather than touchy
gentle rather than hypersensitive
generous rather than gullible
serious rather than sullen
Self-efficacy is an impression that one is capable of performing in a certain manner or attaining certain goals.
[1] It is a belief that one has the capabilities to execute the courses of actions required to manage prospective situations. Unlike efficacy, which is the power to produce an effect (in essence, competence), self-efficacy is the belief (whether or not accurate) that one has the power to produce that effect. For example, a person with high self efficacy may engage in a more health related activity when an illness occurs, whereas a person with low self efficacy would result in feelings of hopelessness.
[2]It is important here to understand the distinction between self-esteem and self-efficacy. Self-esteem relates to a person’s sense of self-worth, whereas self-efficacy relates to a person’s perception of their ability to reach a goal. For example, say a person is a terrible rock climber. They would likely have a poor self-efficacy in regard to rock climbing, but this wouldn’t need to affect their self-esteem; most people don’t invest much of their self-esteem in this activity.
Character qualities

36. 1 Timothy 4:13-16 The Code for Life
Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don't stop preaching and teaching. Use the gift you were given when the prophets spoke and the group of church leaders blessed you by placing their hands on you. Remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing. Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you.
Paul and Timothy

37. Witnessing and harvesting
Study and doctrine
Witnessing and harvesting
Behavior/ Character
Circles must be properly established, emphasized, related

38. Amen
1992 Hurricane Andrew destroyed thousands of homes in South Florida
One area looked like a war zone was one house standing, anchored on foundation
Reporter asked homeowner why house hadn’t been blown away
Replied, “I built this house myself. I also built it according to the Florida state building code. Whatever the code called for, I used. I was told that a house built according to code could withstand a hurricane—and it did.”
Illustrates Jesus’ message of building a life (character) according to code (doctrine)
If build according to code, won’t be swept away when crises hit with hurricane-force wind
Temptation and storms of suffering will not be able to sweep us off foundation of faith
Adversity comes, yet building according to code means character strengthened, example assured
Hurricane Andrew 1992