Week 8 Flashlights and Lanterns
10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Romans 13:10-14 (NASB)
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Background
Quote- Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 2013. Francis is the first pope to be a member of the Society of Jesus, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since Gregory III, a Syrian who reigned in the 8th century.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked for a time as a bouncer and a janitor as a young man before training to be a chemist and working as a technician in a food science laboratory. After recovering from a severe illness, he was inspired to join the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1958. Throughout his public life, Francis has been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, international visibility as pope, concern for the poor and commitment to interreligious dialogue.
Passage- The book of Romans is a Pauline Epistle (letter from Paul). The Apostle Paul wrote it roughly about 56-57 A.D. He wrote it to give them a concrete theological foundation on which to construct their faith and to live for and serve God effectively.
The book of Romans reveals the answers to important questions and supplies information on many topics, such as salvation, the sovereignty of God, judgment, spiritual growth, and the righteousness of God. Many scholars also describe it as The Gospel and the Righteousness of God, which can be received only by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ. The focus of the “righteousness of God” is foundational throughout the book of Romans.
Lesson
Opening Statement
Jesus came to save all the world, not just a portion of it. Sadly, not everyone will hear or listen to His message. Understanding the things of the world does not mean Christians have to become part of the world. We can be in the world and not of the world. Knowing where the divide is between light and darkness is important so we can ensure we aren’t spreading the wrong thing.
Ask: Why are people in darkness?
Point: There are as many reasons for this as there are people but generally some choose to be in darkness, some are put there by other people, and still others are there unknowingly.
Ask: What can we do to help people in darkness?
Point: Shine a light for them into that darkness so they can see a way out.
Ask: What does shining a light look like?
Point: First Reading (Matthew 5:14-16 (NASB)
Ask: What kinds of light are there?
Point: For purposes of this discussion the question centers really on how your light shines and not the color-composition of that light.
Ask: Are you shinning a flashlight or a lantern and what is the difference?
Point: A flashlight creates a beam that essentially defines a line from the person holding the light to whatever the light is shone upon. It is directional, purposeful, and intentionally aimed at something. A lantern casts light in all directions illuminating a location revealing everything around it. It is omni-directional, hides nothing save what is in the shadow of something else in the area, and is intentional.
Ask: Why/when do we want to shine flashlights vs. lanterns?
Point: The answer lies in a discussion about what the two types of light sources do. Keep in mind the person is the light source in this discussion so it follows that the actions of the person should be defined also.
Ask: Is shining a light into the darkness judgment?
Point: Yes.
Second Reading (Matthew 7:1-2 (NASB)
Ask: Are we commanded to not judge things as right and wrong?
Point: No.
Third Reading (1 Corinthians 6:1-4 (NASB)
Ask: How then do we shine the light into the darkness clearly delineating between right and wrong and reconcile the passage that says not to judge with the passage that tells us we are to judge?
Point: Re-read verse 2 of the second reading and verse 2 of the third reading.
Ask: How do these two verses relate to judgment?
Point: In each case, we need to look within ourselves first recognizing we are guilty of sin just as much as anyone else. It may be different from theirs but it is still breaking God’s laws. We must ensure we are not hypocritically judging another first. We also must be diligent in our personal studies to make sure we are as educated as we can be on the totality of scripture because it all works together for the benefit of the one who studies it.
Ask: How does this understanding of judgment relate to how we shine our light?
Point: A better understanding of ourselves as fallen human beings, as sinners in the world shifts how we approach others and try to shine light on a path back to the light or create a beacon of hope with our light in the midst of the darkness.
Closing Statement
16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NASB) You are the lamp. Your actions and the things you do, the works, are the light. Let them shine in such a way as to be counted glory to God, a better way of living, and a path out of the darkness. Many will see the light and decry it as something it is not; intolerance, hate, jealousy, hypocrisy, or a myriad of other labels. They do this because fear what they do not understand, and they do not understand you. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:5 (NASB). For those that have ears, let them hear and let them see your light so that you, with your unique life-experiences and wisdom can show them a better way, a city on a hill.
Questions for the Week
Contemplate deeply what kind of light you are capable of shining into various situations.
Does the light have to be either/or the flashlight or the lantern or can it be both?
Consider the Greek definition for the word shine how it encompasses both to beam like a flashlight and to radiate like a lantern.
Does that definition change how you view what kind of light you have to shine?
Consider what your reaction and response should be to someone who misunderstands both why you shine your light and what your intentions are when you shine that light.
Scripture
First Reading
14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NASB)
Second Reading
1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:1-2 (NASB)
Third Reading
1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?
2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?
3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church?
1 Corinthians 6:1-4 (NASB)
Definitions
Greek Strong's Number: 2989
Greek Word: λάμπω
Transliteration: lampō
Phonetic Pronunciation:lam'-po
Root: a primary verb
Cross Reference: TDNT - 4:16,497
Part of Speech: v
Vine's Words: Light (bring to; give), Lighten, Shine, Shining
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
shine 6
give light 1
[Total Count: 7]
a primary verb; to beam, i.e. radiate brilliancy (literal or figurative) :- give light, shine.