Lesson 5: Gambling, Lustfulness, Fornication, Boasting

Overview

• Continuing a multi-session study on worldly practices; finalizing gambling topic.
• Eldership consulted on specific questions; congregation autonomy respected.
• Class moved from gambling to topics: lustfulness, fornication, boasting.
• Emphasis on identifying worldliness and avoiding practices contrary to Scripture.

Gambling: Hope Scholarship Question

• Question: Is it wrong for a student to accept a Tennessee HOPE scholarship tied to the state lottery?
• Elders' conclusion: Accepting the scholarship is not considered sinful.
• Reasoning:
  • Gambling defined by three elements: uncertain arbitrary event; wager of value; winner gains at direct loss of a loser.
  • Scholarship award does not meet these three elements despite lottery origin.
• Clarifications:
  • Elders still do not endorse gambling generally.
  • Some members remain uneasy about accepting proceeds originating from gambling.
  • Further study or elder involvement may be pursued for clarity.

Worldliness: Purpose Of The Study

• Objective: Identify worldly practices and avoid them.
• Examples listed for future study:
  • Lustfulness, boasting, fornication, inappropriate clothing, bullying, gossiping, fighting, conniving, deception, drug abuse, idolatry, quarreling, denominationalism, racism, road rage, poor friendships, dancing, condoning abortion, smoking.
• Guiding principle: If a Bible principle is violated, repentance is required.

Lustfulness

• Definition: Intense, uncontrolled craving typically for sexual pleasure; also passionate craving for forbidden things.
• Relation to covetousness: Lust is a sexualized form of covetous desire.
• Characteristics:
  • Objectifies others; can apply beyond sexual contexts (sports figures, politicians).
  • Disregards God’s commands.
• Key Scriptures:
  • 1 John 2:16 — lust belongs to the world.
  • Matthew 5:28 — lustful looking equates to adultery in the heart.
  • Galatians 5:16 — walk in the Spirit to avoid fleshly lusts.
  • 2 Timothy 2:22 — flee youthful lusts; pursue righteousness.
  • 1 Peter 2:11 — abstain from fleshly lusts.
  • Romans 13:14 — make no provision for fleshly lusts.
• Conclusion: Lustfulness is a worldly practice Christians must resist.

Fornication (Sexual Immorality)

• Definition: From Greek porneia; umbrella term for illicit sexual activity outside scriptural marriage.
• Forms listed: premarital sex, prostitution, incest, homosexuality, adultery, bestiality, rape.
• Observations:
  • Fornication is widespread and normalized in the world.
  • God created sexual expression for good but confined to marriage.
  • Christians must guard hearts, minds, and bodies; avoid introducing fornication into the church.
• Key Scriptures:
  • 1 Thessalonians (sanctification): abstain from sexual immorality.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:18 — flee sexual immorality; it is a sin against one’s body.
  • Galatians 5:19–21 — sexual immorality is a work of the flesh.
  • Hebrews 13:4 — God will judge fornicators.
  • 1 Corinthians 7:2 — better to marry than to fornicate.
  • Matthew 15:19 — sexual immorality originates in the heart.
  • Colossians 3:5 — put fornication to death.
  • Revelation 21:8 — fornicators among those judged to the lake of fire.
• Conclusion: Fornication is a sinful worldly practice requiring practical avoidance and repentance.

Boasting

• Definition/Issue: Arrogant boasting rooted in pride and self-reliance rather than dependence on God.
• Biblical teaching:
  • James 4:16 — arrogant boasting is evil.
  • Ephesians 2:8–9 — salvation is a gift; not a basis for human boasting.
  • Jeremiah 9:23–24; 1 Corinthians 4:7; Proverbs 27:1–2; 2 Corinthians 10:17–18 — various warnings to boast only in the Lord.
• Practical points:
  • Boasting appears through speech, texts, emails, social posts, and behavior.
  • Distinguish righteous boasting (glorifying God, boasting in weakness) from arrogant self-boasting.
  • Meekness is not weakness; Christians may state achievements factually while giving glory to God.
  • Consider audience and context; boasting to those less fortunate can be hurtful.
  • Motive determines whether acknowledgment of accomplishment becomes sinful boasting.
• Application:
  • Redirect praise for achievements to God.
  • Maintain humility and gratitude while honestly recognizing personal contributions.

Action Items

• Eldership follow-up: Consider further study or clarification about accepting funds derived from gambling.
• Continued study schedule: Next session to resume with boasting discussion and additional worldly practices listed.

Decisions

• Elders’ decision recorded: Receiving the HOPE scholarship is not considered sinful by the local eldership.
• Congregational stance reinforced: Gambling as an activity is not endorsed by the elders, despite the scholarship ruling.

Structured Summary