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Pacific Waves

Volume 1, Issue 8

Bible Study by Juanita Simpson

Sermon on the Mount -
Part 8
Matthew 7:12-14

The whole Sermon on the Mount is about righteousness.  In the key verse (Matt. 5:20) Jesus said that unless our righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, we will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Again and again in this sermon Jesus referred to "our Father in heaven", making it clear that we can only be righteous through a relationship with God in which we become His children and He becomes our Father. God Himself has made this possible by sending His Son to die in our place.

Around the world one of the

best known verses in the Bible is Matt. 7:12 which we call "The Golden Rule". Other religions have had a "Golden Rule" similar to this even before the coming of Christ. But Confucius and others always stated it in a negative way: "Don't do bad things to others that you don't want them to do to you." The "Golden Rule" of Jesus refers

Testing Music In The Church cont.

as they allow the song to repeat in their minds and on their lips. Music teaches things much more subtly yet sometimes far more effectively.

THE SOLUTION

That's why the lyrical content of music in the church, as well as its effect on the spiritual lives of those who perform and listen, should be vigorously examined by the leaders of the church. I am not suggesting that it should be done in a legalistic way. Church leaders do not want to discourage youth, for example, from leading singing in church. But discernment in the area of music must be used  nonetheless.

Shepherds have an obligation from the Lord to protect their flocks. It should be established by the church leaders that any