150823 AM Are Christians Too Narrow Minded

Are We Too Narrow-Minded?   A.  To be narrow-minded is “to be unreceptive to new ideas; to have a closed mind.  ”B.  Is that an accurate description of us? If so, what should we do? If not, how should we respond?  I.  Are We Too Narrow-Minded? It Depends on Our__________A.  Is our goal to humbly acknowledge and follow our Creator’s revealed will? If so:  1. Hebrews 9:15-28-Jesus Christ died to mediate for us on the basis of a new covenant  2. Matthew 28:18-20-he possesses and commissions with all authority in heaven and on earth  3. John 8:31-32-the truth he has revealed and fulfilled can set his disciples free  4. John 14:15-if we love him, we will keep his commandments  5. Acts 2:37-47-the earliest Christians devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching  6. John 17:20-21-the prayer of Jesus is that all who believe through the apostles would be one  7. Ephesians 3:1-6-when we read the apostles’ letters, we can understand the will of Christ  8. Ephesians 4:1-6-we are called to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace  9. Galatians 1:6-9-we are strongly warned about those who would distort the gospel of Christ  10.1 Corinthians 4:6-we are clearly instructed to avoid going beyond what is written  11. Jude 3-we are charged with contending for the faith that was once for all delivered  12. 2 Timothy 3:16-17-God-breathed Scripture equips us for every good work  B.  Is our goal to design and construct a religious project of our own will? If so, consider Jeroboam:  1.  God had established a context with him through the prophet Ahijah (1 Kings 11:26-40)  2.  In response to Rehoboam’s pride, Jeroboam is made king over all Israel (1 Kings 12:1-20)  3.  Jeroboam designs and constructs a religious project of his own will:  a.  The source was his own__________(1 Kings 12:31-33)  b.  The motive was_______-centered (1 Kings 12:26-27)  c.  The appeal was to____________sensibilities (1 Kings 12:28-29)  d.  The consequences were devastating (1 Kings 12:30; 11:38; 13:33-34; 2 Kings 17:21-23)  C.  Question: was the man of God who confronted Jeroboam too narrow-minded? (1 Kings 13:1-10)  II.  The Aim of God’s People: To Build According to the Pattern and Restore What Has Been Lost  A. “Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah”(1 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 22:1-2, 13).  B. “This book that has been found”: the spirit of restoration in terms that all can understand.  C.  Our great privilege and responsibility: to align our minds with“the mind of_______”(1 Cor 2:16).