https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Exactly-Who-Is-Influencing-Who.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: II Chronicles 13:4-12<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. Most Americans tend to have an independent streak.<\/p>\n
A. We would like to think that we think for ourselves.<\/p>\n
B. As Christians, we aim to influence those around to do good.<\/p>\n
C. But influence is not a one-way street.<\/p>\n
II. Our thoughts are shaped by many things<\/p>\n
A. Parents<\/p>\n
1. Seth was a son in the likeness of his father – Genesis 5:3<\/p>\n 2. Influencing for good through the teaching of God’s law – Proverbs 3:1-4;\n6:20-22\n
3. The bad influence of parents on their son – I Kings 22:51-53<\/p>\n
4. Such can flow from generation to generation – II Kings 17:41<\/p>\n 5. Young people, formulating their own ideas, are particularly vulnerable to\ninfluence. \n a. It was a contributing factor to the downfall of Rehoboam – II\nChronicles 13:6-7\n b. But it can build a lasting impression for good as well – Proverbs\n22:6\n c. We have to be careful how we influence the young, whether\nphysically young, or young in the faith – Matthew 18:6-7\n
B. Teachers then have influence on students – Luke 6:39-40<\/p>\n
1. Hence the care we must take in selecting who teaches our children<\/p>\n
2. And who teaches us<\/p>\n
3. It is why we must carefully consider ourselves when teaching – James 3:1<\/p>\n
C. Companions, those with whom we associate, influences us<\/p>\n
1. For good or evil – Proverbs 13:20<\/p>\n
2. We are influenced by our environment – I Corinthians 15:33<\/p>\n
3. Anger can be learned by influence – Proverbs 22:24-25<\/p>\n
4. And what closer companion is there than our spouse? – I Peter 3:1-2<\/p>\n
D. Our environment<\/p>\n
1. What we pursue influences us – Luke 11:33-36<\/p>\n a. “We know that some adolescents will initiate alcohol use, some\nadolescents will initiate tobacco use and some adolescents will\ninitiate sex’ based on what they see in entertainment.” [Most\npopular films portray risky behavior, study says.” The Los Angeles\nTimes, in the Omaha World-Herald, 10 December 2013].\n b. “TV may create the illusion that sex is more central to daily life\nthan it truly is and may promote sexual initiation as a result, a\nprocess known as media cultivation.” [Rebecca Collins, “Watching\nSex on Television Predicts Adolescent Initiation of Sexual\nBehavior”, Pediatrics, Vol. 114, No. 3, 1 September 2004]. \n
2. In turn we ought to influence those around us – Matthew 5:14-16<\/p>\n
3. A cheerful look and good news improves our outlook – Proverbs 15:30<\/p>\nIII. While we may be shaped by what is around us, some things must not be allowed to\ninfluence us\n A. The Jews were warned not to let the surrounding culture influence their worship –\nDeuteronomy 12:29-32; 18:9-12\n
B. Solomon’s wives led to his downfall – I Kings 11:1-8<\/p>\n C. In the fall of Israel we find them wanting to be like the nations around them –\nEzekiel 20:32\n D. Religious leaders ought to be influencing the people, but we find the opposite\nhappening – Hosea 4:9\n
E. As a result God found Israel to be half-baked – Hosea 7:8<\/p>\n
F. It caused early disciples to stray – Galatians 1:6-10<\/p>\n G. Donald Carson, From Triumphalism to Maturity<\/i>, p. 40, “We find it easier to\ninterpret the gospel in terms of our received culture that the other way around …\nThe gospel will purify and transform any culture; or, more accurately, the gospel\nwill purify and transform the people from any cultural heritage who bow\nunreservedly to Jesus Christ. By this means it will modify or eliminate many of\nthe culturally transmitted values of those new Christians; and they in turn may in\nsome measure influence their culture and society as salt exerts its influence in\nfood (cf. Matthew 5:13). But there will always be some who are controlled by a\nlight ‘Christianized’ version of their own culture; i.e., their controlling values\nspring from the inherited culture, even when such values are deeply pagan and not\nChristian.”\n H. Such happens today. The arguments about evolution, abortion, the existence of\nhell, living together without marriage, homosexuality, and such like do not spring\nfrom difficulties in understanding what the Bible says. It represents the clash of\ncultural values coming against the unyielding truth found within the Scriptures.\nMost seek to modify the Bible’s teachings to be acceptable to society instead of\ninsisting that society conform to the will of God.\n
IV. Christians are to shine as lights – Philippians 2:15-16<\/p>\n A. But we need to understand that all will not yield to our influence – II Corinthians\n2:15-17\n
B. We should seek out a good reputation – I Corinthians 10:31-33<\/p>\n C. As church in the past, we should be a good influence – I Thessalonians 1:6-8;\nRomans 1:8\n
V. May you be a refreshing spirit to those you meet – I Corinthians 16:18<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Chronicles 13:4-12 I. Most Americans tend to have an independent streak. A. We would like to think that we think for ourselves. B. As Christians, we aim to influence those around to do good. C. But influence is not a one-way street. II. Our thoughts are shaped by many things A. Parents 1. Seth was…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[233,353,1509,936],"class_list":["post-35167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-friends","tag-influence","tag-parents","tag-teachers"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":38147,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/because-of-the-sins-of-jeroboam\/","url_meta":{"origin":35167,"position":0},"title":"Because of the Sins of Jeroboam","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 5:13-16 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Few credit the influence we have on the lives of those around us. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The things we do and say impact the lives of those we come in contact. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes our influence spreads to people we may not have seen. II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The example of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":90495,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/be-careful-who-you-allow-to-influence-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":35167,"position":1},"title":"Be Careful Who You Allow to Influence You","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Hugh DeLong When Paul wrote to the brethren in Corinth about the resurrection, he told them it was a matter \"of first importance\" (I Corinthians 15:3). Without the resurrection, their faith was \"worthless\" (I Corinthians 15:17) and they were \"most to be pitied\" (I Corinthians 15:19). 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