Reviewing Humble Orthodoxy, Week 1

Title: The Truth: Rediscovering Humble Orthodoxy
Speaker: Josh Harris
Session: Main Session #1 (Na06)
Na06Date: May 27, 2006

There are so many ways I could go about blogging through these teachings. I won’t, however, be attempting to provide a full transcript—not only because it would be a lot of work, but also because that simply isn’t my aim in doing these posts. I’m hoping that you will be able to listen for yourselves—and if not, that the pieces I do post will pique your interest, and encourage you to take the time to listen. Mainly, I want to facilitate discussion.

I may change the format if another one seems that it would be better, but my plan right now is to provide an outline of the main points and write out other key thoughts and application questions. One unique aspect of blogging now—one or two years after initially hearing the teachings—is that it affords the opportunity to look back at how these teachings have (or haven’t, but should have) had a lasting impact upon the way I think and live.

Main Text
2 Timothy 2:14-26

Some Opening Thoughts
Josh identified three common errors that we, as Christians, tend to make in our attitude toward God’s word.

• Mistake #1: We react, in our decisions, to something besides God’s Word (specifically, what the past generation didn’t do right).
• Mistake #2: We easily cross the line from trying to reach our culture to trying to impress our culture.
• Mistake #3: We totally ignore our culture.
  

A Brief Outline
What does it for us to be a generation approved by God?
1. We must handle the truth faithfully (v. 15)
2. We must live the truth personally (vv. 20-21)
3. We must represent the truth humbly (vv. 24-26)

Other Points

• The greatest temptation of every generation of Christians is to, often in subtle ways, move away from the central message, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• We must not only defend the truth from outward attack, but from inward apathy.
• We need to hold to the truth, not because of how it makes us feel, but because it is God’s truth.
• We too often treat truth more as a personal accessory, instead of as a life-defining reality.
• Truth that is divorced from personal practice is hypocrisy.
• If we want to be useful vessels, we must make sure that our lives are defined by truth from God’s Word.
• Truth must always be lived.
• If we represent the truth in pride, people will react to our attitude rather than to the truth itself.
• “It is not humble to be hesitant where God has been clear and plain.” (Mark Dever)
• We need a humble orthodoxy.

Some Application Questions

• Is my love of the truth because it’s God’s truth, and I want to see His truth transform people, or is it about me being right and proving myself right on any given issue?
• Do I treat the Gospel more as play-doh (something to be to be shaped in a cool new way), or a precious diamond (something to protect so that it’s truth can shine out for all to see)?
• Have I grown comfortable with my current level of godliness?
• Who’s approval am I living for?
  

One Thing That Has Stuck With Me
The emphasis on the truth being God’s truth. I like to study theology, and I know that truth is from God. Too often, however, I can be guilty of desiring to learn primarily for the furtherance of my own knowledge.

One Thing I Re-learned By Re-listening
The three mistakes that Josh outlined near the beginning of His message. As he said, it’s so easy to swing toward each of them.

Discussion

• What are one or two things that you learned in listening to this teaching?
• If you were re-listening to it, what are some ways that God has used this teaching in your life over the last two years?
• Also, feel free to give suggestions on the focus and format of these posts.
• Finally, as great as it is to be able to talk about this online, talk about it personally with people you know. Use it as an opportunity to share with each other what God is teaching you, and how He has given (and is giving) you the grace to apply it.

This was Week 1 in the fifteen weeks of reviewing humble orthodoxy, leading up to New Attitude 2008 in Louisville, Kentucky on May 24-27. Listen to “Rediscovering Humble Orthodoxy” for free.

Next Week: The Story: Understanding the Storyline of the Bible (Mark Dever)