STRIFE ABOUT WORDS AND HUMAN WISDOM IS DESTRUCTIVE I. TEXTUAL THOUGHTS 1. Romans 14:5,22-23 - Bible
study will lead to strong, personal convictions. 2. Romans 14:2-6 -
Strong, personal convictions, because they are unique to you, lead to strong
differences between people, differences of faith and opinion. 3. Jude 3; Romans 14:19-23 - Some convictions are
worth contending for and some are not. 4. Titus 3:9 - Some
things that we fight about are really of no value. 5. 2 Timothy 2:16 -
Quarreling can lead us into ungodliness. II. MAIN THEME - This lesson is designed
to help us see what God wants us to (and not to) focus on in
Bible study and discussion, because strife and human wisdom is destructive. 1. Jesus and the early
church leaders strongly discussed certain words and ideas, such as: a. Righteousness
- Matthew 5-7 b. Love -
Matthew 5:43-48; 1 Timothy 1:5 c. Compassion
versus sacrifice - Matthew 12:1-8 d. Commandments
of God versus traditions of men - Matthew 15:1-20 e. Resurrection
and eternal life - Matthew 22:23-33;
1 Corinthians 15:1f f. Justice,
Mercy, and Faithfulness - Matthew 23:23 g. Faith versus
works of law - Acts 11, 15; Romans
4; Galatians 3-5; James 2 h. God's wisdom
versus human wisdom - 1 Corinthians 2;
Colossians 2 2. Strife over certain
conversations or Bible studies should be avoided: a. Philosophy,
empty deceptions and traditions of men - Colossians 2:8 b. Self-made
religion, self-abasement, and self-imposed worship - Colossians 2:20-23 c. False
doctrines, myths, and endless genealogies - 1 Timothy 1:3-4 d. Prohibitive laws
and worldly fables - 1 Timothy 6:3-5 e. Controversial
questions and disputes about words - 1 Timothy 6:3-5 f. Worldly,
empty chatter and arguments of false knowledge - 1 Timothy 6:20-21 g. Foolish
controversies and fightings about law - Titus 3:9 3. This type of strife is
destructive because: a. It prevents
relying on Christ - Colossians 2:8 b. It does not
help fight against the flesh - Colossians 2:20-21 c. It promotes
controversies; therefore, separating brethren - 1 Timothy 1:3-4 d. It does not
nourish the soul or spirit; it is counterfeit food - 1 Timothy 4:1-7 e. It is
unhealthy, leading to envy and more strife - 1 Timothy 6:4-5,20-21 f. It leads to
more ungodliness which destroys people's faith - 2 Timothy 2:14-18 g. It ruins
whole households with useless, unprofitable words - Titus 1:9-11; 3:9-11 III. APPLICATION 1. Study to learn about
God, not to win debates and arguments - John 5:39-40; 17:3 2. Study to learn how to
love people, not to prove yourself smarter - 1 Timothy 1:5 3. Study to learn how to
imitate God, not to be praised by others - Colossians 1:9f 4. Do not avoid
discussions, but avoid strife about what you have studied - Romans 14 IV. MEMORY VERSE - Titus
3:9
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