Theme: Integrity in Friendship with God
Scriptures:
Genesis 5:1-24
Psalm 26:1-2
Proverbs 20:7
Luke 3:37
Hebrews 11:5-6
Jude 1:14-15
Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Book)
Know: Enoch’s life models integrity as an example for us.
Think: I allow integrity to determine my lifestyle in spite of the ungodly culture around me.
Do: Live for God with integrity each day.
Notes and questions:
B1 Introduction
C1 Integrity = moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty (Webster 1828)
C2 Who do we think of when hear the word integrity?
C3 Whose values do we follow and why?
C4 Name occupations and duties that require integrity?
C5 Can atheists have integrity?
B2 Genesis 5:18-25 GW When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch. (19) After he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. (20) Jared lived a total of 962 years; then he died. (21) When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. (22) After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years and had other sons and daughters. (23) Enoch lived a total of 365 years. (24) Enoch walked with God; then he was gone because God took him. (25) When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech.
C1 These are the descendents of Seth.
C2 The phrase walked with God
D1 Enoch--Genesis 5:22 GW After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Also Genesis 5:24.
D2 Noah--Genesis 6:9 GW This is the account of Noah and his descendants. Noah had God's approval and was a man of integrity among the people of his time. He walked with God.
D3 David, but different--2 Chronicles 6:16 NKJV Therefore, LORD God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, 'You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk in My law as you have walked before Me.'
D4 What about our name?
C3 The opposite phrase
D1 John 6:66 NKJV From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
D2 John 11:54 NKJV Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
D3 Luke 20:46 NRSV "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets.
D4 What about our name?
C4 The basic idea of walk in these and many verses is our day-to-day life. It is our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.
D1 Psalms 82:5 GW Wicked people do not know or understand anything. As they walk around in the dark, all the foundations of the earth shake.
D2 Psalms 89:15 GW Blessed are the people who know how to praise you. They walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.
C5 Walk related to integrity
D1 Proverbs 2:7 GW He has reserved priceless wisdom for decent people. He is a shield for those who walk in integrity.
D2 Proverbs 2:20 GW So walk in the way of good people and stay on the paths of righteous people.
B2 Enoch
C1 Characteristics
D1 His father was Jared (Genesis 5:18).
D2 Became a father at 65 (Genesis 5:21).
D3 His firstborn was Methuselah. (Genesis 5:21).
D4 After Methuselah was born, Enoch walked with God for 300 years. Genesis 5:22 GW After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years and had other sons and daughters. This doesn’t mean he did not walk with God before Methuselah was born, but we must accept what the Scriptures say.
D5 He lived a total of 365 years. He did see the birth of his grandson, Lamech , but not his great grandson, Noah (Genesis 5:23).
D6 He did not die. God took him (Genesis 5:24).
E1 The word took is לקח lâqach.
E2 It means snatch away in a wide variety of context from marriage to rapture (Enoch being taken away).
E3 Some examples:
F1 Genesis 2:21 NKJV And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
F2 Exodus 13:19 NKJV And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you."
F3 Numbers 12:1 NKJV Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
F4 2 Kings 15:29 NKJV In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.
F5 Psalms 6:9 NKJV The LORD has heard my supplication; The LORD will receive my prayer.
F6 Psalms 68:18 NKJV You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the LORD God might dwell there.
G1 (Ephesians 4:8 (NKJV) Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”
G2 The Greek word is αἰχμαλωτεύω aichmaloteuo and it means to capture by war.
F7 Psalms 73:24 NKJV You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
F8 Proverbs 11:30 NKJV The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.
D7 He did not die. His departing was because of faith. Hebrews 11:5 NRSV By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and "he was not found, because God had taken him." For it was attested before he was taken away that "he had pleased God."
D8 He was a prophet. Jude 1:14 NRSV It was also about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "See, the Lord is coming with ten thousands of his holy ones.
C2 Enoch did not die but was taken by God. Why doesn’t that happen today?
C3 It is said he had faith and pleased God. Is our faith weak, or is it not God’s will for us to be taken directly to heaven?
D1 The Greek word for pleased is εὐαρεστέω euaresteo. It means to please well, that is, made God happy by what he was doing.
D2 The word is used 2 times in the New Testament.
E1 (Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him,] for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
E2 (Hebrews 13:16 (NKJV) But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
C4 Some cross references:
D1 (Romans 8:8-9 (NKJV) So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
D2 (1 John 3:22 (NKJV) And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
B3 Faith + Truth = God’s view of integrity. We have to believe God (faith) and know that His words are truth.
C1 Do God’s standards change with culture?
C2 Does God’s theology change with time?
C3 How do we measure success? How can we be successful Christians?
D1 Joshua 1:8 NKJV This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
D2 This passage refers to Israel and specially to Joshua. How can we apply this to the Christian life?
D3 Why does a Christian have to read and study God’s word every day?
B4 Commandments
Ten Commandments
- You shall have no other gods before Me.
- You shall make no idols.
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
- Keep the Sabbath day holy.
- Honor your father and your mother.
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- You shall not covet.
Source: Bible
USA Commandments
- I don’t see the point in observing the Sabbath (77 percent).
- I will steal from those who won’t really miss it (74 percent).
- I will lie when it suits me, so long as it doesn’t cause any real damage (64 percent).
- I will cheat on my spouse; after all, given the chance, he or she will do the same (53 percent).
- I will procrastinate at work and do absolutely nothing about one full day in every five (50 percent).
- Source: The Day America Told the Truth
Which list of rules helps society and why?
B5 Psalms 26:1-2 NKJV A Psalm of David. Vindicate me, O LORD, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip. (2) Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart. Another translation: NLT 1 Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. 2 Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.Test my motives and my heart.
C1 What are 3 things in this passage the David asks God to do?
C2 How can we remain living in integrity and faith?
B6 Proverbs 20:7 NKJV The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.
C1 Why are the children blessed?
C2 Were Job’s children blessed?
B7 Next week:
C1 Noah, the blameless man who needed grace
C2 Theme: Integrity in a Corrupt World
C3 Scriptures:
- Genesis 5:32-6:22
- Genesis 8:1-9:29
- Isaiah 54:9-10
- Ezekiel 14:14-20
- 2 Peter 2:5
