ROMANS SYLLABUS “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37  Philosophy THE CALL “Here I am and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel form the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion” ( Is. 8:18). “Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace” (Ps. 144:12). Let’s believe these promises and walk in them, as we mature in Christ and become His dwelling place. “…My house is the house of prayer…” (Luk.19:46). THE DNA Our Father enlightens every person with His eternal truth (Jn. 1:12), and fashions every heart individually (Ps. 33:15 NKJ). He has planted within our spiritual DNA a quest for maturity. This maturation process requires nurturing our oneness with the Lord. Becoming one with Him is how we grow in love, and receive the instruction and Holy Spirit training required to walk away from the old nature, and toward the reality of our new nature. Walking with the Lord necessitates change. How can two walk together unless they agree? (Amos 3:3) Our thoughts are not always the same as His thought (Is. 55:8). While under grace we can acquire the mind of Christ. (1Cor. 2:16) True Christianity is a growth process. Christianity is not a doctrinal theory but a reality demonstrated by our transformed and renewed minds (Rom. 12:1-2, 2Cor. 3:18). Amen! THE PROOF Our attitudes and actions reveal who we are in the flesh and in the spirit. Regardless of where we are along this journey to Christ-likeness, our Lord honors our deep-rooted desire to be one with Him. Jesus’ high-priestly prayer will be answered: “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one” (Jn. 17:11).  romans – doctrinal and practical Exactly what is needed!  Doctrinal: God says in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because…” The remaining portion of this verse is scary. Read it and be blessed with a fresh fear of the Lord, which motivates us to gain doctrinal knowledge. Knowledge in itself is never enough. Knowledge puffs up a person, whereas godly love builds up everyone (1Cor. 8:2).  Practical: The proof of right doctrine is right living according to the biblical patterns of holiness in all relationships. What the law could never accomplish in the inner man, grace now empowers new life from the inside out – a changed mind and heart are evidence of our growing relationship with the Lord. Reality Christianity is the only Christianity HIGH VOLTAGE KEY VERSES Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Rom. 8:36-37 As it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  LEARNING experiences 1. Personal devotion 2. Memorization 3. Discussion 4. Journaling 5. Project Research 6. Project Presentation 7. Project Paper 8. Weekly Quiz  Curriculum 1. SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION ROMANS was penned by the Spirit-filled Apostle Paul. The same Holy Spirit likewise impassions us as we engraft the spiritual life fromHis living words. Remember, Jesus is the Word. Get the word – Get Jesus! Below are a few key verses from each chapter of Romans. Rom. 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Rom. 2:13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom. 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Rom. 4: 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. Rom. 5:8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him. Rom. 5: 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6:5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— Rom. 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Rom. 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 7: 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. Rom. 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Rom. 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Rom. 8: 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Rom. 9:1 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." Rom. 10:7 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Rom. 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. 22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. Rom. 11:29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Rom. 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rom. 13:13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Rom. 14:15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Rom. 14: 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. Rom. 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Rom. 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 2. Bible READING  ROMANS Proverb 4:20-22 is our road map to spiritually growth: “My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.” We will experience an engaging Bible study of ROMANS through the Inductive Bible Study Method - a treasure hunt for everlasting gold! INDUCTIVE BIBLE READING 1. Observation – Information - Who, What, When, Where, Why 2. Interpretation – Revelation - How does this word/truth impact my mind and heart 3. Application – Initiation - So What, Now What Observation - DIG SHEETS launch us into step one, Observation – a discovery journey where hidden treasures of truth come alive – a great way of connecting with God through His Word. Proverbs chapter 2 paints a clear picture of this: “My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, (prayer out loud) 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures…” Continue reading the rest of this Proverb and be blessed by knowing the results of this ultimate treasure hunt. Interpretation – Prayerfully seek God for His intended meaning of the inspired word. Mentally and spiritually discover the interpretation of the passage by processing the collective meaning of your Dig Sheet markings (circles, lines, colored and highlighted words). How was this message supposed to effect its audience then, and how does this message impact my thinking and my heart today? As we transition into step 3, the Application of truth, we must ask ourselves these questions: Do I have room in me for this truth, or will I make room in my mind and heart for this truth? Application – So what am I to do with this slice of truth? How will I think anew, and how will I behave differently? Will this new application of truth make me more pleasing to the Lord and others.? What will change in my life? Is there a personal price tag associated with integrating this truth into my life? We all know what we should do, but will we live up to it by grace? God always provides divine empowerment to DO His will, and therefore be justified hearers/doers of the Word. James makes this so clear.  PARALLEL BIBLE READINGS As we study the book of Romans, we’ll explore other portions of the Bible that parallel the Truth embodied in Romans. Thus, we’ll gain a more comprehensive understanding of the Lord’s heart and ways. To those who have eyes to see, He is unveiled throughout Scripture, the Old and New Testaments. To those who have eyes to see, He is waiting to be discovered in the routines and interruptions of daily life. Visit www.GodandGraphics.com Romans - Parallel Bible Reading for the list of reading challenges for each chapter of Romans. How crucial is it for us to understand biblical truths as they are woven throughout Scripture! We need the big picture of how truths flow and expand through the OT and into the NT. Therefore, we will search the Bible for stories and chapters that coincide with the topics Romans. Romans is one of the 66 books of the Bible. Where else in God’s Word do we find the truths of Romans? God illustrate these truths in various books of the Bible. For example, justification came by faith to Abraham in Genesis, and Habbakuk concurred hundreds of years later (Hab. 2:4). Why is this truth highlighted again in Romans 1:17, 3:24, 4:1-3, 18, 5:9, 8:30, Galatians 3:6-7, 10, John 8:31, James. 2:23, Acts 13:39… The list goes on. Furthermore, the Reformation exploded with this exact revelation under Martin Luther. God has to repeat Himself for two reasons: We are slow to hear and His love is obliging. He is patient and long-suffering with us. 3. personalized Romans project  From God’s heart to you, and through you, to Him and others Get the message, become the message, spread the message – this is how we live! MAN’S HOOPS: We all jump through educational hoops of some sort. Hoops represent the requirements for official certifications, transcripts, stamps of approval, restrictions and regulations determined by governments and institutions. Hoops are benchmark standards that can feel like a gauntlet of academic trials. We pass through them in order to get high paying jobs. (Please note: Some of the disciples were unlearned men who had received their spiritual credentials by being with Jesus – still possible today!) On a daily basis, students and teachers live by school bells and a variety of confinements that narrow us in good ways designed to actually broaden our intellect and maturation. Man’s hoops don’t hinder Christians. The point is, although educational routines, rules and graduation requirements are indispensable, it’s a good thing to see yourself taking future responsibilities, and freedoms that require Spirit-led choices. Let’s start now. You will ultimately choose your own hoops, such as college, course study, life partner and so on. Scary! “As many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). (DUI – Deciding Under the Influence). You see, there are man’s hoops and then there are the leadings of God’s Spirit, God’s hoops. The choice is yours. Let’s start now! GOD’S HOOPS: Believe God to reveal His plan, His hoop, for your personalized Romans Project. Your Roman’s Project should be born out of your deepening relationship with the Lord and your curiosity for transformational truth. 1Cor. 12:11 and Mat. 25:15 assure our hearts that God has gifted us individually. His delight is to see us happy and fully engaged in LIFE. He really has made us to enjoy life by using what we love (according to His design) for Him and His people. How cool is our God! How loving is His embrace from this simple thought! Enjoy. Details on this process are forthcoming. At this point it’s important for you to consider your favorite topic from the Book of Romans. Own the topic by building a great Romans Project to share with the class and others! Amen!  FIVE STEPS TO YOUR PERSONAL ROMANS PROJECT STEP 1 TOPIC SELECTION Ask yourself these four qkuestions to discover your Romans Project topic.  1) “What do I love about the Lord?” Your answer reveals your special relationship with Him. Your particular love of God, your admiration of Him is what you have to share with others.  2) Ask yourself which of the 16 chapters or subtopics of Romans attracts me the most? Pick one of the titles or subtitles as your Romans Project topic. There’s a God-reason for your attraction to a particular doctrinal topic.  3) What are my couriosities about the Book of Romans? Is it the collission of Roman culture versus Christian culture? Is it the global influence and domination of the Roman Empire, or the parallelling cutlural trends of then and now. History repeats itself.  4) What has God already placed in my heart. You have a unique relationship with the Lord and that is what God wants you to share and impart to the class. Matthew 13:12 establishes this operative principle of life: “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance. . .” An apple tree is a good thing. Although an unattended apple tree produces a few small bug invested apples. Nurture that same tree and it produces an abundance of excellent fruit. God promises to bless us with deeper, richer and broader truth. “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance...” We should never remain the same but alway be growing under the Lord’s nuruturing love. We’ll become His productive trees bearing His fruit on our branches. Your Romans Project must include fresh truth. Don’t feed us stale bread. Serve it up freshly baked and hot! God always amazed us with awesome truths as we earnestly dig for the truth He intends to give us. You will be blessed, and subsequently... you will bless the entire class. STEP 2 RESOURCES What resources will you use? (Internet, books, human resources - including parents, pastors, teachers, surveys, videos, life experiences, etc.) STEP 3 PACKAGE What will the final package of your message look like? Your project will be a fifteen to thirty minute presentation along with your product (written paper, slide show, power point, or video, commercial product, etc.). Think big, productive, multimedia, or simple, powerful, exportable, reproducible in the real world, practical, but above all anointed. Do not be distracted in the packaging process of your message. It’s all about the message, not the messenger or the packaging. Truth comes in many forms; above all, it is Truth, and Truth is a Person! Bring Him! STEP 4 CONSTRUCTION Dive into the Word and build your project! STEP 5 PRESENTATION Present your project! God has designed the church body to bless itself. As we grow into our oneness with Him we likewise grow closer to one another. As a united group of God’s students, we have fun loving one another and sharing our new discoveries with each other. The body of Christ builds itself up in this way. It’s a win-win event and way of life!  GRADING   Weekly Grade (Essays, quizzes, assignments, challenges) 33% of your grade  Romans Project 33% of your grade  Decorum/Contribution 33% of your grade TOTAL 100% Save your Dig Sheets, Verse Quizzes and handouts in your notebook. You may need them for tests. Attention to details like these earns the greatest rewards (Lk. 16:10). Likewise, little inconsistencies can contribute to major failures. All King David did was look at Bathsheba. You know the rest of the story.  GUIDANCE Ocs student handbook, the 10 commandments, and Jesus’ exposition on them (Ex. 20, and Mat. 5 in fine print BELOW). Always read the fine print. Exo 20:1 And God spake all these words, saying, Exo 20:2 I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them, for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, Exo 20:6 and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; Exo 20:10 but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: Exo 20:11 for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exo 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee. Exo 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. Exo 20:15 Thou shalt not steal. Exo 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Exo 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's. Exo 20:18 And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off. Exo 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die. Exo 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not. Exo 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. Exo 20:22 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. Exo 20:23 Ye shall not make other gods with me; gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you. Exo 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in every place where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee. Exo 20:25 And if thou make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. Exo 20:26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon. Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him: Mat 5:2 and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Mat 5:6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God. Mat 5:10 Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you. Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. Mat 5:16 Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Mat 5:17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: Mat 5:22 but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire. Mat 5:23 If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, Mat 5:24 leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Mat 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Mat 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing. Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: Mat 5:28 but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell. Mat 5:31 It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: Mat 5:32 but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery. Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: Mat 5:34 but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God; Mat 5:35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black. Mat 5:37 But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one. Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: Mat 5:39 but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Mat 5:40 And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two. Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy: Mat 5:44 but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; Mat 5:45 that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. Mat 5:46 For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same? BE ENGAGED to live above the rules! Wow! Dr. CILLUFFO’S ONE RULE OF LIBERTY BE ENGAGED  Always be guided by your pure conscience and the Word of God. You know right from wrong—the choice is yours, minute by minute. “BE GOOD” covers every thought, attitude, word, and action. This rule penetrates even our motives. God sees all and is all merciful, ready to equip you with abundant power (grace) to fulfill this all-encompassing rule. Get this… Jesus said, “You therefore shall BE PERFECT, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mat. 5:48). This is more than a rule; it’s a guaranteed promise of Jesus. Amen! He said, “You…shall be perfect.” It’s yours for the yielding. Let’s at least BE GOOD (bare minimum) while aiming for perfection. Psalm 138:8 promises, the Lord will perfect that which concerns us. Let’s enjoy the adventure of living this Way. (“Way” is a first century term used to identify Christians – people of the Way.)  YOU ARE FREE TO LIVE: “The law of life in Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death.” 1. Listen the first time instruction is given. Isaiah 65:12 says, “I will destine you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spoke, ye did not hear; but ye did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I did not delight.” Listening or not listening becomes an ingrained habit that determines your eternal destiny. 2. Be where I belong at all times. This is a matter of punctuality and your safety. 3. Demonstrate the highest standards of Christian love, character, and morality. 1 Timothy 4:12 (LB) encourages, “Don’t let anyone think little of you because you are young. Be their ideal; let them follow the way you teach and live; be a pattern for them in your love, your faith, and your clean thoughts.”  Respect yourself.  Respect others and their property.  Inappropriate inferences, vocabulary and behavior are violations of the Spirit of God’s law. 4. Discourage ungodliness in fellow students, confront them, and initiate intervention. Matthew 18 tells us to admonish a floundering Christian whom we’ve seen engaging in ungodly conversation or behavior. If he responds with repentance, Great! If he doesn’t, then two or more witnesses should address the issue with him. (Please refrain from gossip, inasmuch as love covers a multitude of sins, and always does what is best for others. Drop the drama.) If he still refuses, confidentially bring the matter to authorities. Factor in Leviticus 5:1: “If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible.” Ouch! It’s been said that the cruelest thing a person can do is to withhold Christian rebuke from a brother or sister whom you love. Love enough to truly help your friends.  LATE WORK Late work is a zero. Late work is any assignment turned in after the beginning or ending bell of the class period, as designated by the teacher. However, zeros can be upgraded to 75% credit if submitted after the due date, but two weeks before the exam date. In many ways Jesus was totally out of the conventional box, while at the same time He was in the perfect box of the Father’s will. How limiting - How liberating! Think outside of your box to think inside of His. Interestingly