Title: “Cultural Drift”
Series: Drifting
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. —Hebrews 2:1 (NIV)
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. —2 Timothy 4:3 (NIV)
When culture makes a
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. —Daniel 1:8 (NIV)
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies… —Daniel 1:8 (NKJV)
We are not to
We are not to be
Grace & Truth
Cultures greatest
Cultures greatest
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. —John 1:14 (NIV)
Christian’s greatest
How Do You Influence Culture with Grace and Truth?
1) Keep your standards of
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine… —Daniel 1:8 (NIV)
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. —Daniel 1:11-12 (NIV)
The
Your Word is truth… —John 17:17 (NIV)
Your Word is forever settled in heaven… —Psalm 119:89 (NIV)
We need to get our correct
2)
So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles brought from Judah by my predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar? 14 I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods within you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom. 15 My wise men and enchanters have tried to read the words on the wall and tell me their meaning, but they cannot do it. 16 I am told that you can give interpretations and solve difficult problems. If you can read these words and tell me their meaning, you will be clothed in purple robes of royal honor, and you will have a gold chain placed around your neck. You will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
17 Daniel answered the king, “Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means. —Daniel 5:13-17 (NLT)
3) Never let
When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. —Daniel 2:14 (NIV)
4) Represent Jesus with
Daniel proved himself to be a better supervisor than any of the others. He did this by his good character and great ability. The king was so impressed with Daniel that he planned to make him ruler over the whole kingdom. —Daniel 6:3 (ERV)
Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. —Daniel 6:3 (NKJV)
Remember: Your stance and how you take your stance reflect on Christ.
If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. —Romans 12:18 (CSB)
Closing Thought: The secret to influence is not what you say, it’s how you live.
Resources:
The Daniel Dilemma (Book by Chris Hodges)