Faithful Traditions
Notes
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Introduction:
In just a little over a week, we’ll all be celebrating Christmas with friends and family.
What Christmas traditions do you keep in your family?
Are they good traditions?
Do they give you a special feeling that you don’t get any other time of year?
Perhaps it’s a particular movie that you must see!
I have a favorite story that I must see every Christmas season, whether a live performance or movie; It’s “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.
For me there’s just something about it!
There are traditions that we were exposed to as children that we continue because they have a special place in our lives.
There are also traditions some have been exposed to that are anything but good. In fact, for them the holidays and yes Christmas are a most depressing time of year!
The good thing about being in the family of God, is that you can always make new traditions.
Background:
In this third chapter we find Ruth the Moabite to be the poster girl of faith and trust!
She honors her mother in law Naomi by doing everything Naomi asks of her.
She washes and anoints herself.
She puts on a celebratory dress, that would be appropriate for a wedding.
She lies down in submission at the feet of a considerably older man.
She challenges him to perform the tradition of the Kinsman Redeemer.
And in this chapter we find Boaz to be the perfect example of the Kinsman Redeemer!
He is a man of honor and principal.
He is a man that accepts responsibility.
And so Ruth is the perfect example of those who see their need and come to Christ in submission and faith.
And Boaz is the perfect example of the Lord Jesus Christ who does not turn away those who come to Him in faith.
I. Not all traditions are equal.
I. Not all traditions are equal.
In fact the Bible warns against traditions that are detrimental to our faith.
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Col.
Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
But, the Bible is equally clear that we should incorporate traditions that enhance our faith.
1 Cor
Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.
And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
We can see through these scriptures that there are traditions that are not only worthy of our consideration but necessary.
A. Traditions passed down to the Israelites.
A. Traditions passed down to the Israelites.
The observance of the passover.
The reading of the law as exhibited by Jesus in the synagogue as expressed in
B. Traditions passed down to children.
B. Traditions passed down to children.
The training of children in
You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
C. Traditions passed down in discipleship.
C. Traditions passed down in discipleship.
The last supper
Baptism
II. All traditions lead somewhere.
II. All traditions lead somewhere.
A. Traditions that lead to Hell.
A. Traditions that lead to Hell.
There is a cultural tradition that has been handed down to this generation. It is a tradition of neutrality.
There is a cultural tradition that has been handed down to this generation. It is a tradition of neutrality.
At least that’s what it’s called!
It really is anything but neutral, because it leads to a faithless existence, which is actually demonic!
In our quest to not force faith on our children, we have rather forced anti-faith upon them.
The result is a lack of foundational knowledge that leads to Christ.
Gal
Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
However, there is a remedy for this.
It is the teaching and instruction of the faith at the earliest possible time.
Here at New hope, it begins in the nursery!
B. Traditions that Lead to Christ.
B. Traditions that Lead to Christ.
B. Traditions that lead to Christ.
B. Traditions that lead to Christ.
Scripture memorization.
Scripture reading.
Scripture reading.
Why not reading first and then memorization?
Because children can memorize scripture before they read!
Respect for authority.
Respect for rules.
The Ten Commandments.
The laws of God.
Conclusion:
How different our culture is today!
And yet, Ruth could easily have found a younger husband, but she didn’t!
When we see these righteous traditions lived out in the lives of God’s people, we see honor and virtue displayed.
Does virtue have a place in this day and age?
I believe it does.
I believe it does.
I also believe that it is formed through righteous traditions!
I think when the world sees this kind of virtue displayed by Ruth, they are shocked and somewhat overwhelmed, but also tenderized by it.
This is what Jesus meant when He said that we are the Salt of the earth!
What if virtue and honor were the ornaments of grace that we as Christians were to wear every day?
What impact would that have on our witness for Christ?