2. Principles for living to last a life time #5 The Silence Principle #1 The Pattern Principle #2 The Command Principle #3 The Example Principle #4 The Necessary Conclusion Principle

3.  So often used and so natural that we take it for granted and don’t think about it. The honor of your presence is requested at the home of Mr. & Mrs. John Smith At 7:00 PM For their retirement dinner Saturday, December 21st In the category of… Date, Time, And location it is specified Silence Principle # 1- If an option in an area is specified, then silence about other options EXCLUDES them.

4. The honor of your presence is requested at the home of Mr. & Mrs. John Smith At 7:00 PM For their retirement dinner Saturday, December 21st What if items in a category are NOT specified? Such as… attire gifts Then most choices are right

5. As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God… 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Commanded to get along with different viewpoints

6. Romans 14:5 5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. Another example of special “days”- both sides can be right

7. The honor of your presence is requested at the home of Mr. & Mrs. John Smith At 7:00 PM For their retirement dinner Saturday, December 21st What if items in a category are NOT specified? Such as… attire gifts Then most choices are right If God is specific then His silence exclude any other options. If God is silent on a matter then it is left to our judgment and includes different options. Silence Principle # 2- If an area is left open with nothing is specified then our judgment may include any expedient option.

8.  The day for the Lord’s Supper is specified…  All other days are excluded  But the time of day is NOT specified. All expedient times would be right Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

9.  Singing, as music, is specified…  But the type of singing is NOT specified  Responsive  Chants  Unison  Harmony  Etc., etc. Ephesians 5:19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

10. Assembled worship is specified… But NOT…  The order  The length  Number of times  The place  Etc., etc. Hebrews 10:25 …not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

11. Baptism as immersion or a burial is specified… But NOT the place…  Creek  Sea  Watering hole  Baptistry  Etc., etc. Colossians 2:12 … having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

12.  God has given us a Pattern to imitate & follow  God speaks to us by way of Command/Example  God speaks to us by way of Necessary Conclusion  God speaks in His Silence, and expects respect  When He is specific we can add/change nothing  When He is not specific we can use our judgment  God reveals His will using ordinary, understandable language that we can understand in ordinary fashion and obey

13. Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Revelation 2:10 … Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.