Developing a Biblical Worldview:
Making Moral Decisions
1. How do you typically evaluate opportunities and make moral decisions?
2. Why is it sometimes difficult to make good moral decisions?
3. Give two examples of characters in the Bible making good moral choices and two Bible characters making bad moral choices.
4. The following eight questions suggest a model for making moral decisions. Read each question and the verses that accompany it. Under each question, give an example of a one moral issue that is affected by that Biblical principle.
a.
Motivation – Why do I want to do this?
1Samuel 15:23; Isaiah 65:2; Proverbs 14:2
b.
Example – Will this damage my identity and example as a Christian?
Matthew 5:16; Romans 12:1-2; 1Peter 2:11-12
c.
Conscience – Do I doubt this is acceptable to God; will I violate my conscience?
Romans 14:23
d.
Influence – Will this cause others to become weak or sin?
1Corinthians 8:9-13; 10:23-24, 31-33; Matthew 18:6-7
e.
Stewardship – Is this destructive to my body or addictive?
1Corinthians 6:19-20; Galatians 5:16-17; Proverbs 23:29-35
f.
Duty
– Will this conflict with my obligations as a Christian?
Matthew 6:33; 2Timothy 2:3-4
g.
Control – Will this cultivate an inappropriate or excessive fleshly desire?
Colossians 3:5-7; Titus 2:11-14
h.
Association – Will this create negative associations that might weaken me
spiritually?
1Corinthians 15:33-34; 2Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Proverbs 13:20
5. What principles, if any, would you add to the above list? What modifications would you suggest for any of the questions above?
6. Discuss the following issues in light of the above principles.
a. Modest apparel
b. Swimming, Sunbathing, and Summertime activities
c. Missing church assemblies for regularly scheduled work