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What is a "belief"? What is a "value"?
How are our beliefs and values connected?
Valuing What I Believe, Believing What I Value
Read Jm. 4:17. Does James connect beliefs with values?
Explain.
Read Rom. 12:2. What does Paul say must change before
we can know God’s will?
Read Phil. 4:8. Do you spend time focusing on these
things? Why or Why not?
Read Ps. 14:1. How do wrong beliefs result in wrong
values?
Read Jer. 17:10; Mt. 5:27-30; 12:33-37. Does God
see a connection between beliefs, values, and behavior?
Explain.
Is it possible to hold a belief, but not really value
that belief? Illustrate or explain.
Sometimes "believing" is not enough. We
must "value" what we believe as well. In
other words, while believing something to be true
is important, commitment to that truth is where real
maturity begins.
Read Jn. 8:31-59 and notice that those who "believed"
Jesus (v. 31) did not commit to him. In fact, they
ended up wanting to murder Jesus (v. 59).
Read Acts 8:9-23 and notice that Simon the Sorcerer
"believed and was baptized"
(v. 13), but was only committed to making a profit;
not to the gospel message.
Reflection on My Values and Beliefs
Think of a situation when you knew the right thing
to do, but didn’t do it. Could you say at that
moment that you were committed to your beliefs?
According to Mt. 6:21, our most important values
("treasure") reveal how we spend the majority
of our time, energy, and resources. Whatever you value
the most determines the whole direction of your life.
Spend time looking at the 1st chart below.
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Total hours each week
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24 hrs. X 7 days = 168 hrs.
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| Average
hrs. spent sleeping |
7
hrs. X 7 days = 49 hrs. |
| Average
hrs. spent in school |
8 hrs.
X 5 days = 40 hrs. |
| Average
hrs. spent with homework |
1.5 hrs.
X 5 days + 4 weekend hrs. = 11.5 hrs. |
| Average
hrs. spent with church |
2 weekend
hrs. + 3 weekday hrs. = 5 hrs. |
| Average
hrs. spent eating |
1.5 weekday
hrs. X 5 days + 4.5 weekend hrs. = 12 hrs. |
| Average
hrs. of free time |
1.5 weekday
hrs. X 5 days + 12 weekend hrs. = 19.5 hrs. |
| Hrs.
remaining from total |
31
hrs. |
List your top 3 values in order of importance, and
write down how much time you spend on them (Note:
You do not have to share your list with anyone, but
you do have to be honest!).
- What does this tell you about your values and how
you spend your time developing them?
- How much time do you spend reading the Bible?
- How much time do you spend praying?
- How much time do you spend thinking about God?
- How much time do you spend talking to others about
God?
- What beliefs or values of your life do you plan to
change?
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