REAL Men Bible Study
Tough Minded – Tender Hearted
3/18/10
Matthew 10: 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
I. Living within the opposites – finding the vital dynamics to Godly power
Ø Realistic; yet idealistic
Ø Peace filled; yet willing to stand up for the truth and the needy &downtrodden
Ø Strong willed; yet open to thoughts of others
Ø Confident; yet, humble
Ø Trusting God for results; yet, doing our best
Ø Very aware of society and the world; yet, not really not shaped or guided by it
Ø Intellectually rigorous; yet, capable of deep, appropriate emotions
Ø Positive, joyful spirit; yet, not a Pollyanna
Ø So Willing to help; yet, unwilling to enable dysfunctional behavior
Ø Possessing eternal wisdom; yet, not being a know-it-all, wise guy, put down artist
II. Tough Minded vs. Soft Minded
A. Soft minded Christian
Ø Fears change/loves the status quo
Ø Gullible to false teaching and errors from society
Ø Goes with the flow of the crowd
Ø Differing points of view create anger and insecurity
Ø Looks to others to discover truth and the right path
Ø Fears scientific facts as if they threaten the faith
Ø Jumps to conclusions before facts are examined
Ø Tends toward mindless prejudices/judgments about others – looks at externals only
Ø Reluctant to think deeply and go hard after the truth
Ø Does not learn from mistakes – keeps repeating them
Ø Blames others and sometimes, God, for problems
Ø Practices self defeating behavior
B. Tough minded Christians are the exact opposites of the above
Proverbs 1: 1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; 3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young-- 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-- 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
III. Soft Hearted vs. Hard Hearted Christians
A. Hard Hearted Christians
Ø Cold and detached from people
Ø Care only about the “facts”; not the people affected
Ø Have little to no compassion
Ø Believes problems of others are their fault and thus, do not deserve help
Ø Has little need for friends unless they benefit him
Ø Sees people as tools to be utilized
Ø Incapable of true love
Ø Faith is a means to achieving personal goals
B. Soft hearted Christians are the exact opposites of the above
Matthew 25: 44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Philippians 2: 1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
IV. The Ideal Christian is Tough Minded and Tender Hearted – A Tender Warrior
2 Corinthians 11: 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ…. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.
James 2: 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! 14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Do you feel secure before God with a dead faith?
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