ASSOCIATING: the kind of company you keep

2 Pet. 2:6-9 (Gen. 18:20; 19:1, 12-16, 24) What was God’s attitude toward Lot living in a city where everyone was wicked, except for him? And what did God do to Lot and then to the city?

Have you ever been surrounded by (dwelt amongst) overt, gross sinners where you’ve lived or are living?

Did you or are you moving? Why?

Ex 23:23-33; 34:12-15 Why did God want the different groups of people to live nowhere near His people (the Israelites – vs. 33)?

[“snare” – trap; deep trouble].

How did God describe these inhabitants as being to the Israelites (Num. 33:55)?

Has your dwelling amongst people who worship (give supreme allegiance/devotion to and honor for) other gods (e.g., materialism, position, cars, music, computers, career, sex, sports, possessions, wealth, power, college, etc.) influenced you in any way, to likewise go after these gods? In what way, how, and why?

If so, what can and should you do about it?

1 Sam. 23:15-17 What value was there in David’s association or friendship with Jonathan, and why?

Do your friendships or the people you associate with direct your thoughts toward God or toward sin and self?

Do they encourage you or pull you down morally?

Which do you want, and how can you insure that that is what you get?

2 Chron. 20:35-37 What did God say about Jehoshaphat’s association with Ahaziah?

As a result, what did God do to his ships?

Psa. 1:1, 2 Who is blessed (happy)?

What progression or degree of involvement do the verbs: “walk, stand, and sit” take?

Does your association with the wicked lead you into greater involvement with evil? How, and why?

Psa. 26:4, 5 What doesn’t David do?

What does “sitting with” represent?

Do you sit or get involved with these kind of people?

Psa. 119:63 Who was the Psalmist a companion to?

Who are you a companion to, and why?

Psa. 119:115 Who did the Psalmist want to depart from him, and why?

Is there anyone who you want to depart from you, and why?

Psa. 139:19-22 What feelings did David have, and why?

What feelings do you have toward the wicked, men of bloodshed, those who hate God, and take His name in vain, and why?

Is hate always wrong/sinful (Psa. 5:4-6)? Why?

[Heb. “sane” and Gk. “miseo” is to detest and reject, and want no contact or relation with. It’s an attitude more than an emotion in moral issues. Used in this sense, it’s a value judgment that guides us to have no contact with the evil. This is in contrast to hate as an emotional reaction to people that spills over into antagonistic acts that are wrong for us.].

Psa. 141:4 Who didn’t David want to do what with?

Are these your desires too? Why?

Prov. 5:3-11 Who should we keep our way far from (vs. 8) and not go near this person’s house?

And why (vss. 9-11)?

[“vigor” – sexual, physical energy due to intercourse. “years” – long life. “flesh…consumed” – by venereal diseases].

Have the lips and speech (vs. 3) of an adulterous woman (or if you are a girl, has that of an adulterer) drawn you, so as for you to want to associate with such a person? Why, or for what reason?

Prov. 14:7; 17:12 What does this passage instruct us to do regarding fools (one who is rash, crazy, senseless, or unreasonable), and why?

[“words of knowledge” – e.g., right from wrong, wise from unwise, good from best, valuable from not valuable].

Would it be hard for you to abide by this instruction, and why?

Prov. 13:20 What two principles are taught here?

Are you involved in either of these principles? Which one, and why?

Prov. 20:19 Who are we told not to associate (bring into relationship with yourself as a companion, partner, friend, etc. or keep company) with, and why?

[“revealing secrets” – divulging information that should be kept confidential].

Have you ever obeyed this instruction (carried it out)? Why?

Prov. 22:5 What action should we take toward the perverse (wicked, stubbornly contrary; persisting in error; obstinately disobedient), and why?

[“thorns and snares” – pain and trouble].

Have you ever guarded yourself in this way? Why?

Prov. 22:10 What are we told to do to the scorner (a person who mocks with contempt, scorns, or makes fun of a person or thing in a rude, sarcastic manner)?

What will happen when we do this?

[“contention” – arguing/debating/quarreling].

Have you ever done this with or to anyone? Why?

Prov. 22:24, 25 Who aren’t we to associate (keep company) with or go (hang around) with?

And why? Do you?

Prov. 23:6-8 Whose bread (food) should we not eat or desire his delicacies, and why?

If you know that a person is selfish, do you accept his/her offers of food to you, and why?

Prov. 23:20, 21 Who should we not be with, and why?

[“poverty” – waste their money, time, mind, energy, and body].

Do you keep company or hang around these kind of people? When, and why?

Prov. 24:1, 2 Who shouldn’t we either be envious of or desire to be with, and why?

Do you ever desire to be with evil (i.e., morally bad or wicked) people? Why?

Prov. 24:21 What should our relation and/or attitude be toward those who are given to change (seek change for changes sake, either because they are restless, rebellious, factious, fond of novelty, or mischievous)?

Why?

Are you hanging around anybody like this? Why?

If you are, what will you do now?

Lk. 5:27-32; Mk. 2:15; Matt. 21:32 Why was Jesus eating and drinking with the tax-gatherers and sinners?

[“repentance” – a change of thinking. Here, to change their thinking about themselves, that they’re sinners, not righteous, and in need of a Savior, Jesus, not their religiosity.].

Is this the only legitimate reason for keeping company with ungodly people? Why?

If not, then for what other reason(s)?

[Notice that the environment that Jesus was in was controlled by Him – the house they were using, who Jesus brought with Him, and the topic of conversation.].

Rom. 16:17, 18 Who are we to turn away from, and why?

Is it hard for you to not fellowship with false teachers (those who promote wrong doctrine) and turn away from them because you don’t like to be unpopular or receive criticism for your hard stand? Why?

Does this passage contradict Eph. 4:2-3 or Lk. 17:3-4? Why?

1 Cor. 5:9-13 Who should we not associate or even eat with?

[“idolatrous” – one who worships (is devoted to and honors) anything above the Lord – Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5].

[“covetous” – desire to have what belongs to another; desire for what one doesn’t have because of discontent with what one does have]. [“greed” – wanting something that you don’t really need for purely selfish reasons].

[“reviler” – one who uses abusive language].

How was this church group to deal with this unrepentant immoral person (vss. 1, 13), and why (vs. 6)?

Are you associating, even to the extent of eating, with any Christian(s) who is (are) living in unrepentant sin, and why?

Does this passage contradict Lk. 7:37-39, 44-48, 50? Why?

2 Cor. 6:14-17 Who shouldn’t be bound (unequally yoked; united by legal or oath agreement; etc.) together, and why?

What are some examples of different binding relationships?

Would you ever marry an unbeliever; go into a business partnership with an unbeliever; or join a fraternity, sorority, or lodge?

1 Cor. 15:33 What shouldn’t we be deceived about?

Why do you think that this is so?

Does this mean that we can’t be employed by unbelievers or attend a non-Christian school? Why?

How does this passage relate to 1 Cor. 5:9-10?

2 Thes. 3:6 Who should we keep aloof (personally separate or withdraw) from?

[“unruly” – undisciplined, uncontrolled. “tradition” – the inspired teachings of the apostle Paul].

Have you ever done this? Why?

Do you know of other Christians who have obeyed this instruction?

If so, what was the Christian community’s attitude toward you or other Christians who follow this instruction?

Why do they have the attitude that they do?

2 Thes. 3:14, 15 If anyone didn’t obey Paul’s instruction in this letter (Bible portion), what were these Christians to do, and why?

Yet how is he to be regarded?

Are these the attitudes and actions that you have toward the Christians you work, minister, and worship with, and why?

2 Tim. 2:22 What should we pursue, and with whom?

[“call on the Lord” – acknowledge God /Jesus Christ for who He is].

Are you pursuing these things and with these kind of people? Why, and how?

2 Tim. 3:1-5 Who (or what kind of people) should we avoid?

[This section isn’t talking about occasional offenses in these areas, for none of us are perfect, but of lifestyles, persistent attitudes and actions of this kind.].

Now that you know what it says, what do you plan to do about your relationships and your spending time with these people, and why?

2 Jn. 1:9-11 What shouldn’t we do with anyone (a false teacher) who doesn’t abide/remain in the teaching of Christ (i.e., denies Jesus Christ as the only Savior), and that He’s God in the flesh ( i.e., in a human body), and why?

Have you ever supported or encouraged a false teacher or cultist by your hospitality (i.e., inviting him to spend the night or feed him) or wishing him well as he leaves, and why?

Titus 3:10, 11 What are we to do with a factious (self-seeking; seeking to win followers out of pride or jealousy) person, and why?

Have you ever had to do this? If so, how did you feel about doing it?

If not, and you should have, why didn’t you?

2 Tim. 3:10 Because Timothy hung around Paul, what happened to Timothy?

Are you making Christ-like Christians your closest friends, and why?

If not, what do plan to do about it, and how soon?