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LESSON 10

SOCIAL MEDIA CAN MUTILATE CHRISTIAN VALUES AND VIRTUES

Devotional Reading: Prov. 4:20-27
Topic For Adults: Stand Against Mutilation Of Christian Values
Topic For Youths: Do Not Mutilate Christian Virtues
Topic For Intermediates: Embrace Christian Values And Virtues
Lesson Scriptures: 1 Tim. 3:14-15; Col. 3:1-2; Prov. 4:20-27

Memory Verse

“You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and just and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:10) NKJV.

BACKGROUND

Social media has been a fundamental source of power, domination and social change since its inception. This is so because information sharing is the vehicle of fulfilling the Church mandate of propagating the gospel. Effective dissemination of information requires effective social media. The misuse, misdirection and mismanagement of social media in the globe and especially among Christians calls for attention and remedy.

NOTES ON THE LESSON

PART 1: GLOBALISATION NOT A MEANS TO ERASE CHRISTIAN VALUES AND VIRTUES - 1 TIM. 3:14-15

Globalisation generally refers to the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of countries, economies, cultures and societies across the world. In the context of the Church which is our basic concern, it is interconnectedness of Christians’ communities and institutions across the globe with evidences in global outreach and evangelism, cross-cultural exchange, resource sharing and global missions among others. This generation must be grateful for this development.

As Apostle Paul succinctly instructed Timothy and the entire Church in the above text on maintaining values and virtues expected of Christians, we must also intentionally uphold Christian values and virtues in the face of globalisation.

Some of these values and virtues are:

  • Love: Love God and others, demonstrate compassion and kindness (Matt. 22:37).

  • Forgiveness: Letting go of grudges and forgiving others (Matt. 6:12; Col.
3:13).

  • Humility: Recognising one’s limitations and dependence on God (Jam. 4:10):

  • Integrity: Living with honesty, ethics and moral/Biblical principles (Prov.
10:9; 11:3).

  • Self-Control: Mastering one’s desires and emotions (Gal. 5:22-23).

These and many more values and virtues of Christians are not meant to be erased by globalisation but to entrench them.

PART 2: PAY ATTENTION TO THE THINGS OF GOD - COL. 3:1-2

Paying attention to the things of God or seeking the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God is a pivotal message to the believers who strongly desire to make it to heaven. The above passage (Col. 3; 1-2) emphasises the believers’ identity in Christ and the importance of setting their focus on heavenly things which include:

  • Eternal Life: Jesus promised believers eternal life with Him known as Zoe (Jn. 3:16; 1Jn. 5:11-13).

  • Heaven as Home: Believers’ true home is heaven (2 Cor. 5:1-8; Phil. 3:20), hence, believers are passersby in the world.


  • Glorified Bodies: Believers will receive new, glorified bodies free from sin and imperfections (1Cor.
15:35-49; Phil. 3:20-21).


  • Rewards and Crowns: Believers will receive rewards for their faithfulness.


  • Christ’s Return: Jesus will return to take believers to heaven and establish His kingdom (1Thess. 4:13-18).

To pay attention to all these things, believers must daily study the Scripture, pray and worship with a heavenly perspective, evangelise Christ to others, live with eternal mindset and never ignore fellowship with other believers.

PART 3: TRANSFORM AND RENEW YOUR HEART - PROV. 4:20-27

For a believer to maintain Christian values and virtues in this corrupt age and pay keen attention to the things of God, transformation and renewal of the heart is a sine-qua-non. In this context, to transform and renew the heart is to continually keep God’s word in one’s heart to live above sin (Ps. 119:11); it is to desire and apply God’s word for unadulterated growth (1 Pet. 2:2); it’s to be strong in the inner-man, rooted and grounded in the faith of Jesus Christ.

The heart is the enemy’s (Satan) battleground and his target is to win a believer from within. But continuous transformation and renewal of the heart by believers through the word of God and prayer will make them victorious and conquerors over all the antics of the devil. Therefore, be transformed and renewed in your heart daily to be and remain an overcomer till Christ comes.

CONCLUSION

Christians must be circumspect in everything they do, having the mind resolution that both in word and deed, they must give glory to God. No believer must be a victim of mutilation of social vices and virtues, Biblical cultures and courtesies, rather, they must promote and proclaim the values with clarity.

SENTENCE SERMON

You are obligated to keep up the flag of Christian values and virtues.

MORAL LESSON

FOR ADULTS: You are the light to shine in the dark age.

FOR YOUTHS: You are the salt in this morally corrupt age.

FOR INTERMEDIATES: Don’t be contaminated

QUESTIONS

  1. Define globalisation in the context of the Church.

  2. Mention two or three Biblical values and virtues.

  3. State any three heavenly things a believer must be seeking.

  4. What does it mean to transform the heart?