Reflection Options  

Journal  (reflect on one or more of these questions)

• Read through a few of these 10 Moral Dilemmas.  Choose one and journal your response to it.  What principles did you use to make your choice?  What scriptures came to mind to direct you to the best decision?

• How do you imagine Jesus or Paul made decisions? What kinds of principles drove their decisions?  What tends to drive your decision making?

Quote Interaction (Interact by agreeing, disagreeing or otherwise engaging with the quote/quotes)

• If knowledge is the accumulation of facts, intelligence the development of reason, wisdom is heavenly discernment. It is insight into the heart of things. Wisdom involves knowing God and the subtleties of the human heart. More than knowledge, it is the right application of knowledge in moral and spiritual matters, in handling dilemmas, in negotiating complex relationships. (Oswald Sanders)

• People only have true understanding (wisdom) when they look at everything from God’s perspective. Authentic wisdom begins when we understand that God is to be the object of our devotion, our adoration, and our reverence (Psalm 111:6). (R.C. Sproul)

• Where there is no “moral gravity” – that is, no force that draws us to the center – there is spiritual weightlessness. We float on feelings that will carry us where we never meant to go; we bubble with emotional experiences that we often take for spiritual ones; and we are puffed up with pride. Instead of seriousness, there is foolishness. Instead of gravity, flippancy. Sentimentality takes the place of theology. Our reference point will never serve to keep our feet on solid rock, for our reference point, until we answer God’s call, is merely ourselves. We cannot possibly tell which end is up. Paul calls them fools who “…measure themselves by themselves, to find in themselves their own standard of comparison!” (Elisabeth Elliot)

• The moral absolutes rest upon God’s character. The moral commands He has given to men are an expression of His character. Men as created in His image are to live by choice on the basis of what God is. The standards of morality are determined by what conforms to His character, while those things which do not conform are immoral. (Francis Schaeffer)

Reading & Reflection from the book, Shaping The Journey of Emerging Adults: 

• Read “A Simple Vision for Maturity” (pp. 59-60). According to this section, where does the ability to know what is best come from? Which of the areas where maturity cannot be wholly found have been places you have relied upon to determine what is best?

• Read “Explore the young adult’s expectations for living the Christlife” (pp. 136-137).  Take some time to explore your own expectations. What drives and demotivates you? How does that affect how you determine what is best?

• Read “Biblical Vision, Guidance and Support” (pp. 171-173). Do you have a grasp of what might be God’s vision for your sexuality? What is it that you understand to be His best design for you there?