Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 11/6/2005 1 Hebrews 5:12-14

Don McClain W. 65th St. church of Christ - 11/6/2005

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Hebrews 5:12-14Hebrews 5:12-14


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Hebrews 5:12-14 (NKJV) Hebrews 5:12-14 (NKJV)

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first you need someone to teach you again the first

principles of the oracles of God; and you have come principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. [13] For everyone to need milk and not solid food. [13] For everyone

who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. [14] But solid food righteousness, for he is a babe. [14] But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those

who by reason of use have their senses exercised to who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. discern both good and evil.


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Due to a lack of spiritual growth, Due to a lack of spiritual growth, some lacked the ability to “Discern.” some lacked the ability to “Discern.” (cf. Eph. 4:18,19)(cf. Eph. 4:18,19)

The Bible specifies many sins – The Bible specifies many sins – 1 Cor. 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Ephes. 5:3-5; 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Ephes. 5:3-5; etc.etc.

However - the Bible does not However - the Bible does not “specifically” list each individual sin “specifically” list each individual sin one might commit,one might commit,

The Bible provides the principles by The Bible provides the principles by which one CAN “Discern” good from which one CAN “Discern” good from evil!!evil!!


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The things we allow The things we allow into our mind will into our mind will preserve or destroy US! preserve or destroy US! Mat 6:22; Luke 11:34; 2 Mat 6:22; Luke 11:34; 2 Cor. 11:3; Phili 4:8Cor. 11:3; Phili 4:8

If something leads my If something leads my heart away from Christ, heart away from Christ, is it good or evil?is it good or evil?


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Pornography?Pornography? Nudity, Filthy & Suggestive Nudity, Filthy & Suggestive

Language & Pictures on TV & Language & Pictures on TV & in Movies?in Movies?

Filthy & Suggestive Language Filthy & Suggestive Language in Music?in Music?

Dancing, Immodest Apparel, Dancing, Immodest Apparel, Mixed Swimming?Mixed Swimming?

Gambling?Gambling? Have you done things that will Have you done things that will

lead your heart away from lead your heart away from Christ??Christ??


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The Christian is to The Christian is to glorify God with his/her glorify God with his/her body!! - I body!! - I Corinthians 6:19-20 Corinthians 6:19-20

If we do anything that If we do anything that would unnecessarily would unnecessarily weaken and destroy our weaken and destroy our body – we limit and body – we limit and destroy our ability to destroy our ability to serve the Lord and fail serve the Lord and fail to glorify God!! - to glorify God!! - Romans 12:1,2 Romans 12:1,2


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Fornication? - 1 Cor. 6:18Fornication? - 1 Cor. 6:18 Recreational drug use? Recreational drug use? Drinking Alcohol?Drinking Alcohol? Using Tobacco?Using Tobacco? Overeating?Overeating? Are you doing things that Are you doing things that

unnecessarily weaken and unnecessarily weaken and destroy your body ??destroy your body ??


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Some things may be Some things may be “RIGHT” in and of “RIGHT” in and of themselves, but if I allow themselves, but if I allow them to so occupy my time them to so occupy my time and energy so that I do not and energy so that I do not grow spiritually, and serve grow spiritually, and serve the Lord – Then it is evil - the Lord – Then it is evil - Matthew 10:37; Luke 8:14Matthew 10:37; Luke 8:14

We MUST put the Lord and We MUST put the Lord and His church FIRST!! - Matthew His church FIRST!! - Matthew 6:336:33

We Must put off anything We Must put off anything that hinders our progress in that hinders our progress in the kingdom – Hebrews the kingdom – Hebrews 12:1,212:1,2


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Activities of choice that Activities of choice that prevent me from attending prevent me from attending ANY worship service or Bible ANY worship service or Bible class?class?

Activities of choice that Activities of choice that prevent me from studying My prevent me from studying My Bible?Bible?

Activities of choice that Activities of choice that prevent me from praying as I prevent me from praying as I should?should?

Activities of choice that Activities of choice that prevent me from teaching prevent me from teaching others?others?

Are you choosing to do things Are you choosing to do things that hinder your spiritual that hinder your spiritual growth?growth?


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None of us live to None of us live to ourselves – Rom. 14:7ourselves – Rom. 14:7

The Christian is to The Christian is to influence others for influence others for good!! Matthew 5:13-good!! Matthew 5:13-16; Phili 2:15,1616; Phili 2:15,16

Anything that Anything that destroys that destroys that influence is evil – influence is evil – Luke 14:34,35Luke 14:34,35


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Attendance Habits?Attendance Habits? Bad attitudes – Rudeness, Bad attitudes – Rudeness,

Hatefulness . . . Hatefulness . . . Dishonesty & Hypocrisy?Dishonesty & Hypocrisy? Cursing – Dirty Jokes?Cursing – Dirty Jokes? Immodest Apparel?Immodest Apparel? Smoking & Social Drinking?Smoking & Social Drinking? Damaged influence is almost Damaged influence is almost

impossible to repair!! – Are impossible to repair!! – Are you doing things that damage you doing things that damage your influence??your influence??


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Anything that would Anything that would bring harm to another bring harm to another person “unjustly” is person “unjustly” is evil!! - Matthew 7:12; ; evil!! - Matthew 7:12; ; Gal 6:10; James 4:17Gal 6:10; James 4:17

Anything that we may Anything that we may do that would lead do that would lead another person into another person into sin is evil - Rom 14:16sin is evil - Rom 14:16


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Parental neglect?Parental neglect? Gossiping?Gossiping? False Accusations?False Accusations? Hypocrisy - turning others Hypocrisy - turning others

away from the truth?away from the truth? Immodest Clothing?Immodest Clothing? Social Drinking?Social Drinking? Smoking?Smoking? Gambling?Gambling? Are you engaging in behavior Are you engaging in behavior

that can cause harm to that can cause harm to others? others?


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Most assume that if Most assume that if the Bible doesn’t the Bible doesn’t explicitly condemn a explicitly condemn a thing – then it can be thing – then it can be done!! – But . . . done!! – But . . .

The Bible teaches that The Bible teaches that whatever is done whatever is done MUST be done in the MUST be done in the name of Christ & by name of Christ & by faith!! – Col. 3:17; 2 faith!! – Col. 3:17; 2 Cor. 5:7Cor. 5:7


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True doctrine can be proven True doctrine can be proven from the scriptures!!from the scriptures!!

True worship can be True worship can be established by finding book, established by finding book, chapter & versechapter & verse

Authorized practices can be Authorized practices can be supported with scripture!supported with scripture!

Whether doctrine, worship, or Whether doctrine, worship, or practice – if scriptural practice – if scriptural authority cannot be found – it authority cannot be found – it is evil!!is evil!!

Do you have authority for all Do you have authority for all you teach, believe and you teach, believe and practice?practice?


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Proverbs 2:1-9 (KJV) Proverbs 2:1-9 (KJV)

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; [2] So that thou incline my commandments with thee; [2] So that thou incline

thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; [3] Yea, if thou criest after understanding; [3] Yea, if thou criest after

knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; [4] If thou seekest her as silver, and understanding; [4] If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; [5] Then shalt searchest for her as for hid treasures; [5] Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the

knowledge of God. knowledge of God.


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Proverbs 2:1-9 (KJV) Proverbs 2:1-9 (KJV)

. . . [6] For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth . . . [6] For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. [7] He layeth cometh knowledge and understanding. [7] He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. [8] He keepeth the paths of them that walk uprightly. [8] He keepeth the paths of

judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. [9] judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. [9] Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.


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Does It Corrupt My Heart?Does It Corrupt My Heart?

Does It Harm My Body?Does It Harm My Body?

Does It Hinder My Spiritual Does It Hinder My Spiritual Growth?Growth?

Does It Damage My Influence?Does It Damage My Influence?

Does It Endanger Others?Does It Endanger Others?

Can I Establish Authority For It? Can I Establish Authority For It?


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You will destroy your relationship with God, family

& friends - & destroy yourself

You will preserve & enhance your

relationship with God, family &

friends - & save yourself


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Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 11/6/2005 1 Hebrews 5:12-14