Lesson 1: April 2026

Introduction & Overview

• Lecture: Second-quarter Bible study on "Avoiding Worldliness."
• Speaker: Brother Harris (oversight) with class discussion and participant input.
• Objective: Define worldliness, identify the devil’s role, list worldly practices, and plan to study them scripturally in upcoming sessions.

Key Points About Worldliness

• Definition and Characteristics:
  • Devotion to temporal pleasures, material gain, and selfish pride rather than God.
  • An attitude and lifestyle mirroring ungodly societal values, prioritizing earthly over eternal realities.
  • Concern with earthly things to the neglect of spiritual things; selfish ambition; conformity to worldly patterns.
  • Considered a form of idolatry elevating self-gratification above devotion to God.
• Biblical basis:
  • John 12:31; John 14:30 — “ruler of this world.”
  • 2 Corinthians 4:4 — “God of this age has blinded” unbelievers.
  • Ephesians 2:2 — “prince of the power of the air” working in disobedience.
  • 1 John 2:15 — “Do not love the world… if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
  • Romans 12:2 — “Do not be conformed to this world; be transformed.”
  • John 17:14–16 — Jesus: “They are not of the world.”
  • 2 Timothy 2:4 — Soldier not entangled with affairs of this life.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:1–3 — Carnal behavior (envy, strife, divisions) indicates worldliness.

The Devil’s Role

• Scripture identifies the devil as having influence and limited liberty in the present world:
  • Titles: ruler of this world, prince of the power of the air, God of this age.
• Worldliness aligns with the devil’s objective to draw people away from Christ and salvation.

Distinction: Earth vs. World

• Earth: the physical planet and God’s creation.
• World: a corrupt, intangible system of human values, societal structures, and spiritual rebellion operating on Earth.

Compiled List Of Worldly Practices (to be studied further)

• Purpose: identify specific acts (not just attitudes) that express worldliness.
• The class compiled these items for future, scripture-based analysis.

Notes On Method and Criteria

• Principle: An action is sinful if Scripture states it as sin, implies it within context, or provides an example in proper context.
• Caution: Avoid labeling practices sinful without scriptural support; examine each item under “grace and truth” (New Testament) context.
• Focus of next sessions: Take each compiled item and search “what thus saith the Lord” (scriptural teaching) about it.

Next Steps / Action Items

• Study assignment for participants:
  • Review the compiled list and gather relevant Bible passages for each item.
  • Consider specific manifestations of general items (e.g., “lust” → sexual immorality, covetousness).
• Next class:
  • Begin with the first item: Indifference to God.
  • Proceed down the list, discussing scriptural condemnation, examples, and corrective instruction.
• Ongoing:
  • Add or combine items as study progresses if warranted.
  • Apply scripture to identify practical ways to avoid worldliness in daily life.

Prayer Requests And Community Notes

• Pray for bereaved families, specific members named: Elizabeth Hurd (Life Care Center, Old Hickory), William (her brother), Thelma Vestal, Rose Wiseman, Katrina Glenn (flu & strep), Steve Spengler (recovering from flu), Brother & Sister Batson (post-surgery), Thornton family (Jimmy missing), new converts, and ladies attending lectureship.
• Investigation update: Jimmy Thornton’s whereabouts — investigation ongoing by Metropolitan PD and TBI; no public update at this time.

Closing Remarks From Class

• Worldliness is a major threat to the church; identifying specific acts helps protect against influence.
• Class will continue next week with scripture-based study of listed worldly practices, starting with indifference to God.