Dr. Willis Newman, Esmeralda Newman, bible-teaching-about.com
QUESTION:
I have been asked to speak to a group of Youth at a local non-demo national church. The theme is relationships. I would like to teach on Worship and Relationships. Your article on Bad Relationship will be integrated into the talk. If you don't mind. If you have any thoughts on how important it is to maintain a heavenly focus so that earthly relationship can flourish please let me know. I enjoy integrated the Puritans into my talks as well as truths that our grounded on the Reformed Faith. Your input will be greatly appreciated. The talk will be next Friday the Feb. 19.
Peter
Peter:
Thank you for your interest. Yes, please integrate any of my articles into your talk.
As I understand your question, you are asking how our "heavenly focus" can help in our personal relationships. Here is what comes to mind.
1. The nature of our heavenly focus comes from the Bible, which explains what our earthly relationships are to be like.
2. Our personal relationship with God also influences our personal relationships. If we walk in fellowship with Him, that will be reflected in how we think about and treat others (Cf. 1 John 1:1-10). If we walk in fellowship with the world, then our thoughts and actions will reflect those of the world around us - which centers greatly around greed, hostility, lust, violence, deceit, etc (Eph. 2:1-6; Gal. 5:13-26).
3. The chief quality of our relationship with God is love. He loves us, and has instructed us to love one another (John 3:16; 1 John 4:7-12). Of course, that love is defined for us in 1 Corinthians 13, and is grounded in truth and holiness.
4. You might want to browse over Romans chapter 12 to extract many more principles of relating to one another.
Peter, I hope this helps. This will keep you busy for your youth group talk. Remember to use illustrations they can identify with as you set forth the principles.
Dr. Newman
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