Knowledge without Love

“If I have…all knowledge…but have not love,I am nothing.”

I Corinthians 13: 2

On the line for parishioners of St Mary's and several other parishes in Queensland and NSW are fundamental church doctrines such as who can celebrate Mass, whether Jesus Christ was God, whether Mary had as many as six children, the bodily Resurrection, and the need for sacramental celebrations for same-sex marriages. A NSW priest, Peter Dresser of Coonamble in the Diocese of Bathurst, insists Jesus was not God and did not think he was God.

In “God is Big. Real Big!” Father Dresser says:"This whole matter regarding Jesus being God ... not only does violence to my own intelligence,but must be a sticking point for millions of people trying to make some kind of sense of the Christian religion ... No human being can ever be God, and Jesus was a human being. It is as simple as that." Father Dresser said he found his own rural flock "very conservative" and admitted that many of them found his theology difficult to accept.

He said he had rethought his approach after taking an interest in science. "I'm delighted they're opening up the debate at St Mary's," he said. In his book, Father Dresser claims Mary had as many as six children, Joseph was the father of Jesus and the bodily Resurrection is not to be taken literally.

The Australian OnlineOctober 29, 2008

O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…

The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire Sunday, January 18, 2009

“The situation in the churches is characterized byweariness with the struggle, by uncertainty of purposeand by lack of courage.”

“The situation in the churches is characterized byweariness with the struggle, by uncertainty of purposeand by lack of courage.”

Reinhard Heydrich Head of the GestapoNazi Germany, 1938

Poll in response to December 24, 2008radio talk show statement:

"the Bible Go-to Guy" declared:“the Bible says Jesus is not God.”

Posted: January 18, 20092:10 pm Eastern

© 2009 WorldNetDaily

5300 responses200 person discussion forum85% - Jesus is God

Knowledge without Love“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!”

Hebrews 5: 11-14

Knowledge without Love

“If I have…all knowledge…but have not love,I am nothing.”

I Corinthians 13: 2

Knowledge without Love

“Love the LORD your Godwith all your heartand with all your souland with all your strength.”

Deuteronomy 6: 4-9Matthew 22: 35-40Luke 10: 25-28

Knowledge without Love

“Love the LORD your Godwith all your heartand with all your souland with all your strength.”

Deuteronomy 6: 4-9Matthew 22: 35-40Luke 10: 25-28

Emotion over Intellect

“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge.”

Proverbs 19: 2Romans 10: 1-2

Emotion over Intellect

“My people are destroyedfor lack of knowledge.”

Hosea 4: 6

Intellect over emotion

I Corinthians 13: 2I Corinthians 8: 2

“If I have…all knowledge…but have not love,I am nothing.”

Intellect over emotion

John 5: 39-40Luke 11: 52

“You diligently study the Scripturesbecause you think that by themyou possess eternal life.”

II Peter 3: 17

“be on your guard so that you may not be carried away...”

What Kind of Knowledge?

Titus 1: 1-3Hebrews 6: 18-19

“We have this hope as an anchorfor the soul, firm and secure.”

What Kind of Knowledge?

II Peter 3: 18

“But grow in the grace and knowledgeof our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

What Kind of Knowledge?

Proverbs 1: 7Proverbs 2: 1-6

Fear the Lord

Where does this Knowledge Begin?

I Corinthians 1: 20-25

“Has not God made foolishthe wisdom of the world?”

Proper Knowledge & Improper Knowledge

Proverbs 1: 24-33Romans 1: 21-32

“Since they hated knowledgeand did not choose to fear the LORD…”

Hate knowledge?

Matthew 16: 15-17Luke 10: 21

“…for this was not revealed to you by man…”

Source of knowledge?

Ephesians 1: 15-17

“…so that you may know Him better…”

Source of knowledge?

Watchman NeeThe Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation

“Thus many Christians lean upon their feeling;and as soon as their feelingis missing, they waver.”

Source of knowledge?

Watchman NeeThe Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation

“There is a big problemin the church today because of thosewhose knowledge of Christ comes only from instruction.”

Source of knowledge?

I John 2: 24-27

“…you do not need anyone to teach you…”

Source of knowledge?

Fear of the LORD

Revealed by GodSpirit of wisdom & revelationKnow Christ = secure positionLife Change

Knowledge

“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.”

You are forewarned! - be on your guard - don’t be carried away - lest you fall from your

secure position

Using this Knowledge

II Peter 3: 17-18

Leaders appointed… - prepare the Body - build up the Body - unity, maturity

Using this Knowledge

Ephesians 4: 11-15

IF NOT? … - infants - tossed - blown - deceived

Using this Knowledge

Ephesians 4: 11-15

MATURE- Unity in faith- Unity in knowledge- Growth

Using this Knowledge

Ephesians 4: 11-15

INFANTS- tossed & blown- various teachings- deceived

Growth Path of Knowledge

II Peter 1: 1-11

…add to your faith goodness;and to goodness, knowledge;and to knowledge…”

Growth Path of Knowledge

II Peter 1: 1-11

…effective, productive in knowledge of Christ

…nearsighted, blind,forgetful of cleansing of sin

OR

Growth Path of Knowledge

II Peter 1: 1-11

Make calling & election sure

If you do these things, you will never fall

Knowledge to Stand Firm

Colossians 2: 1-5

Complete understandingKnow the mystery of GodTreasures of wisdom

& knowledgeNo deceptionOrderlinessFirm faith

Knowledge to Stand Firm

II Corinthians 10: 3-5

Demolish argumentsDemolish pretensions

“…take every thought captiveand make it obedient to Christ.”

In recent years, when it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values. In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research – and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly.

I can also promise that we will never undertake this research lightly. We will support it only when it is both scientifically worthy and responsibly conducted. We will develop strict guidelines, which we will rigorously enforce, because we cannot ever tolerate misuse or abuse. And we will ensure that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction. It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society.

And that's why today I'm also signing a Presidential Memorandum directing the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a strategy for restoring scientific integrity to government decision-making – to ensure that in this new administration, we base our public policies on the soundest science; that we appoint scientific advisors based on their credentials and experience, not their politics or ideology; and that we are open and honest with the American people about the science behind our decisions. That's how we'll harness the power of science to achieve our goals -- to preserve our environment and protect our national security; to create the jobs of the future, and live longer, healthier lives.

President Barack ObamaMarch 9, 2009

“Science has everything to say about what is possible.Science has nothing to say about what is permissible.”

Charles KrauthammerMarch 13, 2009

Knowledge to Stand Firm

Titus 1: 1-3, 9

“… a faith and knowledge restingon the hope of eternal life…”

“encourage others by sound doctrineand refute those who oppose it.”

Knowledge to Stand Firm

I Timothy 6: 20-21

Guard the message

False knowledge = wandering from the faith

Knowledge to Contend for the Faith

Philippians1: 27-28

Stand firmOne spiritOne manUnafraid

Knowledge to Contend for the Faith

Jude 3-4

Call to action!Defend the faith!

This is True Knowledge

John 17: 1-3

Eternal Life =1)Know God2)Know Jesus Christ

This is True Knowledge

John 14: 15-17John 15: 26-27

Spirit of Truth living in youHe testifies about MeYou, too must testify

This is True Knowledge

John 16: 1-4II Peter 3: 17-18

You are forewarnedso that

You will not go astray

This is True Knowledge

John 16: 12-15John 14: 6-7John 17: 1-3

The Spirit of Truthwill guide you into all truth

Source of True Knowledge

Matthew 10: 17-20Luke 12: 10Luke 21: 10-19

“…at that time you will be given what to say…”

Knowledge, with Love

Our emotions give heart to our knowledge

Our knowledge gives stability to our emotions

Knowledge, with Love

“…but the results of neglectingthe mind are uniform;Christian faith degenerates,lapses into gross error,or simply passes out of existence.”

The Scandal of the Evangelical MindMark A. Noll