Howard Noone -- Philosopher Theologian

Considerations in a Basic Theology of Discipleship for Church Leaders, and Members

Deuteronomy 5:6-15 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 7 you shall have no other gods before me.
8 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me, 10 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
12 Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.
13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work.
14 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work--you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you.
15 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day.

Questions for answering:
1. What exceptions are there in life to these commandments?  Do you feel this is only for the Hebrew people and not for people of faith today?

2. Are there things or people or responsibilities that we should honor more than God? If so, where do we find that in the scriptures? If not, then what changes need to be made in order to give God the honor and worship that God is due?

3. Too often, when people answer these kinds of questions, they will say one thing and then say, “But . . .” as though some exception is acceptable. What are your “buts” and what makes them acceptable to you? Do you think they are acceptable to God? What lessons does your lifestyle choices teach to those you should be helping to worship and honor God?

Galatians 5:16-25 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Questions for answering:

1. The Apostle Paul cites the difference between a sinful attitude and a spiritual one. How is your attitude – thoughts, choices, response to others, and faithfulness to God and family– a spiritual one rather than a sinful one?

2. What challenges do you personally face in your growth to spiritual maturity? What needs changing in your life? To whom are you accountable for your spiritual behavior and how are you held accountable, or in other words, what person or mentor is your spiritual advisor and how well to accept and implement spiritual advice in your life?

3. How are you leading others with your words, your choices, your priorities, and your attitude to a deeper spiritual life and a meaningful life of discipleship in Jesus Christ?

4. What are the idols in your life, the things that you have let take the rightful place of God because of intentional choices you have made?

5.  How can a person be spiritual or lead others when their prayers are few, brief, and empty,  "I think/wish you should/would do this, God," kinds of prayers?