The sins of the believer are addressed and culminate in the most shocking charge of all. Worldiness is adultery! And God is righteously jealous.

Those who attend a small church know the feeling. When a new family visits, the regular attenders are happy to welcome them to the church service. They are happy to see others who are seeking the Lord and hope that they stay longer than one service. That often depends on what the visitors are looking for. A small church can provide a family-like atmosphere, close friendships, and easy access to the pastor. However, some visitors are looking for what a larger church can provide. They want a youth group for the kids, classes dedicated to young couples, and programs that a smaller church can't provide. So, when the visitors come, the small church is cautiously optimistic while realizing the possibility that they might not be able to compete with what a larger church can offer. But there is another component that must be added to the situation. Regardless of the size of the church, there are other things that affect whether a visitor will stay. As Jesus mentioned in the Parable of the Soils (Matt. 13:18-23), three out of four seeds never take root. When God's truth is spoken, those who hear it are affected by Satan's influence, persecution, and worldliness. When the pastor preaches to the people, he is not just fighting for one person's attention, he is fighting against these others influences as well. As a result of these influences, the chances of reaching people is diminished quite a bit. While we are called to continue preaching the truth regardless of the results, there is still the question as to whether a visiting family will ever come back.

This class will carefully explore and equip regarding the constant Christian tension of being "in the world, but not of the world," by exploring core Scriptures, common temptations, and heart / habit protections given us in Christ.

Abiding in Christ is not merely a doctrine to explain, but a living relationship of faithfulness, love, and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus plainly taught that the branch which does not abide in Him will wither and be cast away, showing that no one can truly belong to Christ while continuing in unfaithfulness, worldliness, and sin. We learn that salvation is not earned by works, yet the grace of God that saves us also changes us, teaches us to deny ungodliness, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Therefore, we must look to the real Jesus of the Bible, give ourselves wholly to Him, walk in His light, and let His love loosen the hold this world has on our hearts.

When the Pharisees accuse Jesus' disciples of unlawful Sabbath-breaking, Christ answers from Scripture and declares His authority over the Sabbath. The controversy is not merely about grainfields or religious regulations. It reveals the identity and authority of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the greater David who defends and feeds His needy people. He is the faithful interpreter of God's law, correcting both careless worldliness and harsh legalism. The Sabbath was made for man as a gracious gift for worship, rest, mercy, sanctification, and spiritual refreshment. Yet man is not lord of the Sabbath. Jesus Christ is Lord even of the Sabbath. This sermon calls believers to receive the Christian Lord's Day as Christ's holy gift. We must not make it common through ordinary commerce, entertainment, recreation, and self-pleasing. Neither must we distort it through man-made rules, censoriousness, or neglect of mercy and necessity. In Christ, weary sinners find true rest, and every Lord's Day becomes a foretaste of the eternal Sabbath that remains for the people of God.

The sermon challenges believers to stop judging others while ignoring their own sin, using Romans chapter two to illustrate that God's word acts as a mirror for self-examination rather than a microscope for criticizing society. It emphasizes that God's kindness and forbearance are intended to lead individuals to genuine repentance, countering the human tendency to treasure up wrath through hardness of heart. The preacher argues that divine judgment is always fair and impartial, rendering to each person according to their deeds without partiality between Jew and Greek. By referencing Matthew seven, the message warns against the hypocrisy of focusing on minor faults in others while overlooking major sins within oneself. Ultimately, the text calls for a balanced Christian perspective that acknowledges worldliness but relies on faith in Jesus Christ for salvation and transformation.

The devotion critiques the superficiality of modern religious profession by contrasting it with the necessity of true spiritual mortification. It argues that despite the abundance of preaching and religious activity, there is a lack of genuine fruit indicating a transformed heart. The text highlights how sins such as pride, envy, and worldliness remain prevalent among those who claim faith but fail to exhibit spiritual discipline. A call is made for divine intervention to instill a spirit of mortification that cures these spiritual distempers. Ultimately, the message warns that without this inward work, the condition of believers remains dire despite outward appearances.

This is the final lesson on 1 Corinthians 7. It deals with worldliness in the church and its affect upon the marriage. Divided commitments, Dedications and distractions. Marriage and celibacy.

This class will carefully explore and equip regarding the constant Christian tension of being "in the world, but not of the world," by exploring core Scriptures, common temptations, and heart / habit protections given us in Christ.