The Christian In A Secular America discusses key issues facing Christians living in a secular culture. It reviews two recent news stories about the censorship of religious expression and a proposed hate crimes law. The class theme is about Christians serving as "salt and light" in the world by standing up for biblical values of marriage and human dignity. The document defines Christian ethics as being grounded in the gospel's transformation of people's hearts by the Holy Spirit. It asks questions about moral absolutes and relativism and whether morality can exist without God.

1. The Christian In A Secular America
Parkside Bible Fellowship
Adult Sunday School
June 21, 2009
1. WELCOME:
• Opening Prayer
• Happy Father’s Day
• Parkside Adult Sunday School Blog: http://pbfadultsundayschool.blogspot.com/
2. Christ and Culture
In the News
o School Censors Second Grader's Talent Show Performance in Oakley, CA June 10, 2009
http://www.pacificjustice.org/resources/news/focusdetails.cfm?ID=PR090610a
o June 16, 2009, Senate poised to vote at any time on "hate crimes" legislation. Punishing wrong
beliefs about homosexuality is its sole purpose
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.909:
3. Overview/Review
Key Verses: _____________________________________________________
36-38: The_______________________________is summarized in the two commands. We must
first understand our________________________________and its challenges because we are to be
faithful followers of Christ and faithful witnesses to the gospel.
36-38: We are called to________________________________, and faithfulness requires that we be
ready to think as Christians when confronted with the crucial issues of the day. This is all rooted in
our__________________________________________.
39-40: But Jesus also commanded_____________________________________, and Christians
must be driven by love of neighbor as we confront the issues of our day. We care for the well-being
of our neighbors, and we want to see them come to faith in Christ.
39-40: We care about marriage, sexuality, children, the dignity of human life, and a host of related
issues because we love God first and this leads directly to love
of_______________________________---and our neighborhood. In the end, the culture and its
challenges will pass away. Our Lord has left us here for a reason.
39-40: We are to be SALT AND LIGHT in a dying world.
Theme of Class: _________________________________________________
Matthew 5: 13-16:
You Are the Salt of the Earth
• Salt preserves, adds flavor, creates thirst, cements or seals and sustains life
You Are the Light of the World
• Light reveals, guides and reflects
Biblical Principle:
• WE, the CHURCH (Believers), are"the salt of the earth.“ God mandates all Believers to
serve as that which prevents the corruption of sin and wickedness from spreading in
culture.
• The CHURCH, (Christians, Believers) are the only "salt" He has provided for
its moral corruption, and the only "light“ He has provided for its spiritual darkness.
John Billett
Phone: 423-7938
Email: billybil@phonewave.net
Blog: http://pbfadultsundayschool.blogspot.com/

2. Christian Ethics
ETHOS: study of moral character. A list of “do’s and don’ts” or a moral standard.
The study of MORALITY or what is right, wrong, good and evil
The Bible does give us detailed instructions through Biblical principles and the study of
scripture defines how we should act and live as Christians.
Its principles give us the standards by which we must conduct ourselves in those situations
where there are no explicit instructions.
In John MacArthur’s book, Right Thinking In A World Gone Wrong, the heart of Christian Ethics is
the Gospel.
Why? Through the___________________________________________work of Holy Spirit,
the inner heart of man has been renewed!
How?
o Titus 3: 5-8:___________________________________________________
o Rom. 8: 13-14:_________________________________________________
o Gal. 5: 23:_____________________________________________________
o I Corn. 6: 9-11:_________________________________________________
o John 8:42:_____________________________________________________
o John 14: 15:____________________________________________________
o Eph. 2: 8-10:___________________________________________________
o Psalms 19: 7-9:_________________________________________________
o II Tim 3: 15-17:_________________________________________________
o Psalms: 12: 6:__________________________________________________
o John 8:31-32:___________________________________________________
4. Define Moral Absolutes or truth?
5. Where do we find moral absolutes or a moral code to live by?
6. What are Judeo Christian ethics?
7. What is moral relativism?
8. A Mohler Moment
• Can there be morality without God?
• Can we determine a moral code without God?
• Can we know right from wrong, good from evil without God?
John Billett
Phone: 423-7938
Email: billybil@phonewave.net
Blog: http://pbfadultsundayschool.blogspot.com/