BIBLICAL VIRTUE GROUP

Because I value God's teaching in the Bible, I choose to believe and follow its teachings.

 

What To Believe

Christian Behavior

The Bible teaches that we should represent Christ in the way we speak, dress, and act. Therefore I will consider carefully my behavior so others will see Jesus in me.

I choose to believe the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior

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Definition

Christian Behavior related virtue: Adventist lifestyle.

Christian behavior means: Acting out God's law. We are given the power to be godly people, thinking, feeling, and acting according to the principles of God's law and love. The way we dress, speak, act, and care for ourselves and others should reflect these principles: loyalty, worship, reverence, spiritual maturity, respect, love, purity, honesty, truthfulness, and contentment. (See Exodus 20).
Artwork Music

See flipchart

 

 

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, SDAH 522

Student Life Applications

Using my words carefully not to hurt people's feelings.
Choosing my clothes carefully to avoid costly, or sexy or fads.
Carefully selecting what I watch on TV, computer or internet, VCR or CD
Carefully deciding where I should go and what to do to represent God in the best way.
Avoiding gambling or dancing or wild music that does not show people what God's people are like.
Looking for ways to demonstrate unselfish, loving, kindness to people in and outside the church.
Taking care of my body by choosing good food according to God's direction in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy.
 

Bible, E.G. White


Behavior and Salvation -- Galations 5:4 -- "You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace"
Temples of the Holy Spirit -- 1 Corinthians 6:19 -- "your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you...and you are not your own?
God's Blessings for Total Health -- 2 Corinthians 3:18 -- "by beholding we are becomeing transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory"
Principles of Christian Standards -- Philippians 2:5 -- "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus"
Requirements and guidelines -- 1 Corinthians 10:13 -- 'whatever you do, do all to the glory of God"

6T 224; 9T 178

Reinforcing Stories

"A Touch Felt 'Round the World", "Once too often", "Strong as Atlas", "Faithful and True", "Not for me!", "Why Rolly Wouldn't Eat", Volume One, Uncle Arthur's Stories.
"Choosing Our Path", Treasury of Devotional Aids for Home and School
January 16, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 29, March 11, June 5, Sure as the Dawn by Mansell and Mansell

Student Activities

Discuss and develop guidelines for one's relationship to the various aspects of behavior for Christians such as:
Health practices; e.g. exercise, fresh air, sunlight, drugs, stimulants, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, rest, nutritious foods, vegetarianism, meat preparation, cleanliness.
Entertainments, e.g. TV, videos, radio, music, books, magazines.
Appearance, e.g. dress, simplicity, expenses, jewelry, hair, make-up.
Speech, e.g. gossip, slang, joking, teasing, put downs.

 

Links to the Curriculum
Biology: Plants produce fruits, Christians should produce fruits of the Spirit.
English: As the dictionary shows us correct pronunciation so the Bible shows correct behavior.
Health: Physical growth involves changes in the way we think. Spiritual growth involves changes in the way we act.
Math: When a shape is folded in two, the parts have symmetry so Christian Behavior should have symmetry with Jesus.
Music: Good band performance takes practice so Christian lifestyle takes practice.
Social Studies: When Christianity came to Japan, notice how the behavior changed the nation.


Resources

Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories by Arthur Maxwell. R&H. 1964
Treasury of Devotional Aids for Home and School by Department of Education of General Conference of SDA. 1951
Sure as the Dawn by Mansell and Mansell. R&H. 1993

We are called to be a godly people who think, feel, and act in harmony with the principles of heaven. For the Spirit to recreate in us the character of our Lord we involve ourselves only in those things which will produce Christlike purity, health,a nd joy in our lives. This means that our amusement and entertainment would meet the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty. While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit. It also means that because our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we are to care for them intelligently. Along with adequate exercise and rest, we are to adopt themost healthful diet possible and abstain from the unclean foods identified in the Scriptures. Since alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics and harmful to our bodies, we are to abstain from them as well, instead, we are to engage in whatever brings our thoughts and bodies into the discipline of Christ, who desires our wholesomeness, joy, and goodness.---Fundamental Beliefs, 21

 

Evaluation

Primary:
Tell or write two ways that show what it means to believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior.
Tell or write about a time when you saw someone show they believed and followed Bible teaching of Christian Behavior.
Tell or write about when you showed that you believed and followed the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior.
Tell or write about when you saw the hurt and unhappiness when someone didn’t believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior.
How do you think God feels when He sees people who believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior?
How do you feel or act when you follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior?
Tell two ways that you can show you believe the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior.
What makes you want to follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior?
What is the opposite of believing and following the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior? Who makes us act or believe that way?
Finish the sentence: We can show we believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior when we..........

Middle:
Why does God care if I believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior?
What difference does it make whether I believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior or not?
What effect would it have on my future if I did not believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior?
How would people treat me differently if I did or didn’t believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior?
How would I feel about myself if I did or did not believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior?
Give some reasons why you think it is best to believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior.
Why would someone do differently?
What makes choosing to believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior better than the opposite?
List some ways that a person might believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior without anyone noticing?
List 3 situations where a person could believe the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior and show it in his work, home, or at the shopping mall.
Is it possible for a person to get better at believing and following the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior? Explain.
Can you think of someone who seems good at believing and following the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior? What makes them better at it?
How could you learn to be better at believing and following the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior?
How often do you show that you believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior? Think of the last three times and tell me.
Do you like to join in when people believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior? How have you joined in?

High school:
Would you practice believing and following the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior if no one were checking on you? Your parents, school, or the law?
What is the alternative to believing and following the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior and what do you see as the results of that choice?
Would you recognize it if someone were not fully believing and following the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior? How?
Would you keep quiet if someone paid you a lot of money not to believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior?
Are you proud to believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior and willing to tell others how you feel?
If someone in a group spoke out against believing and following the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior would you speak up to give the other side?
Are you willing to put some of your money toward helping people believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior, in your city, class, work?
Can you say that believing and following the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior has become a habit? How often do you show your belief?
What effect do you think believing and following the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior will have on your future life?
Do you see your family believing and following the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior? How about your church, city, or nation?
What do you think should be done to promote believing and following the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior in your family, friends, church, city, nation?
Does it make much difference if they believe and follow the Bible teaching of Christian Behavior or not?