Our religious teachings play a part in our decision making.  This may be something that has been repeated to us many times from our youth or it may be a lesson from a recent teaching.  No matter where the teaching has come from, it is our responsibility to check the validity of its truth.  We will be held responsible for our beliefs.  We need to make sure that they are biblically sound.  When our beliefs are in conflict with Scripture, what do we do?  Do we trust God and the Word or do we trust the ways of the world and the wisdom of man?  It is easy to answer the question in discussion.  The true answer is revealed in our actions when we are facing hard times, even crisis moments.  How we act and live reveals our true beliefs.  Consider the command to go forth and make disciples in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  In fact, based on this passage, can we honestly teach others to do all that Christ commanded if we do not obey those commands?  Or would that be hypocritical?  We often look at this passage as being sent forth to evangelize.  But what of the reference to baptism?  Have we been baptized?  Do we fast and pray?  Which commands make us uncomfortable when comparing them to our lives?  Which commands would interrupt or change our lives as we currently live them?  It is our responsibility to seek God in an attitude of humility.  Our prayer should be that we can grow in faith and trust in God so we can live out the life to which He has called us.  To know His will and to have the grace to perform it, we need to draw close to Him in prayer and the Word.  Romans 12:2 instructs us, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  The only way to accomplish this is to spend time in the Word.  The way to maximize our understanding of the Word is to spend time in prayer.  This lesson should lead to self-evaluation that will fuel our prayer lives as we desire to grow closer to God with a stronger faith.

Following is the introduction to the lesson.

Part 3
Do my religious teachings apply to real life hardships?
Sunday School, Cornerstone Church of Blaine
February 22, 2009

In Part 1, Trust, we discussed the fundamental importance of trusting God fully.  We looked at the questions, "Do I fully trust God?" and   "Can I honestly and expectantly pray, Thy will be done?"  We discussed what Paul meant when he said, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am."  We looked at what was meant by "working out our salvation", which is speaking to our responsibility to walk obediently in the process of our sanctification.

In Part 2, Thanksgiving, we explored a two fold purpose for thanksgiving.  First, it will enable us to be better at trusting God as we focus on His blessings that we enjoy, and second, we must trust God to be truly thankful.  To the first point we can say that reviewing the blessings we enjoy will help us to reflect on the provider of those blessings.  As we do so, our confidence grows in God as our provider.  To the second point we can say that to give thanks to someone we don't trust, although we claim to, is a backhanded compliment.  It is saying, "Thank you, but..." How sincere is that kind of thanks?  Thanksgiving is a result of, as well as a support for, our loving, trusting relationship with God, our Creator.  The real questions in this lesson are, "Do I really have an attitude of thanksgiving?" and "Can I truly be thankful in all things?"

In Part 3, Religious Teachings, we will explore how we apply the teachings we receive to our daily lives.  I believe that we tend to receive teachings of many types and compartmentalize them, meaning, we see them as points of knowledge, but we don't apply them to our way of living.  As we face the pressures of living our lives, we sometimes give in to popular beliefs rather than doing what we know to be right.  Why do we do this?  Our culture can play a part, as well as the peer pressure we feel from others.  We also carry baggage in our decision-making based on how we were raised and what we were taught.  Sometimes we will claim to believe something, but our actions will bear out another story.  Our true beliefs will be seen in our actions.  An examination of this conflict is the three part series, Know vs. Believe.  It can be found in the Sunday School section of the forum at my web site, Truth Driven LLC.

This will be a 4-week Sunday school class: February 8, 15, 22, March 1.

Cornerstone Church of Blaine

• Part 1 -Thy will be done.  Do I truly trust God?
• Part 2 -Having an attitude of thanksgiving.  Can I truly be thankful in ALL things?
• Part 3 -Do my religious teachings apply to real life hardships?
• Part 4 -What is the source of my trials and why must I endure them?

The above lessons can be found online at my web site, www.truthdrivenllc.com .  Follow the forum link to the Spiritual section, Sunday School.

Perseverance - Overview
Perseverance - Part 1 - Trust
Perseverance - Part 2 - Thanksgiving
Perseverance - Part 3 - Religious Teachings
Perseverance - Part 4 - Why

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