Moral
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Part 1 – Foundations of Maturity: What It Means to Grow Up
Introduction Maturity is often described as “growing up,” but it is more than chronological age. It reflects the development of emotional regulation, cognitive reasoning, social responsibility, and moral awareness. An immature mindset is marked by impulsivity, self-centredness, and short-term thinking, whereas a mature mindset demonstrates responsibility, empathy, and long-term perspective.…
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Part 5 – Moral and Ethical Maturity vs. Immaturity
Introduction Moral and ethical maturity reflects the ability to discern right from wrong, act with integrity, and make decisions guided by principles rather than self-interest. Moral immaturity, by contrast, is often characterised by rule-following to avoid punishment, selfish gain, or inconsistency between values and actions. Developing moral maturity is crucial…
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Part 10 – Measuring Maturity: Frameworks and Self-Assessment
Introduction Maturity can feel abstract, but psychologists and educators have developed frameworks and tools to assess it. These measures evaluate how individuals manage emotions, think critically, relate socially, act morally, and take responsibility. While no single scale captures the whole picture, self-assessment and reflection can help identify areas of strength…
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Chapter 1: The Kingdom of God and the Moral Law
Kingdom Ethics and the Ten Commandments Today Relevance for the Church, Culture Wars, Law vs. Grace, and Christian Discipleship 1. Introduction The Ten Commandments, given at Sinai, remain among the most recognisable and influential moral codes in human history. Yet, for Christians, the question is not merely what the commandments…
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Chapter 13: Christian Ethics and Culture Wars — Navigating Identity, Morality, and Justice
Kingdom Ethics and the Ten Commandments Today Relevance for the Church, Culture Wars, Law vs. Grace, and Christian Discipleship This chapter explores how Christian ethics derived from the Ten Commandments inform engagement with contemporary culture wars, navigating issues of identity, morality, and justice. 1. Introduction Modern society increasingly faces polarisation…
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1: Introduction to the Moral Law – From Sinai to Galilee
The Ten Commandments and the Teachings of Jesus: A Theological, Cultural, and Political Exposition 1. Introduction The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue, are among the most foundational ethical instructions in biblical theology. Revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19–20), these commandments constitute the moral heart of the…
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AI and the Problem of Moral Agency: What Would Jesus Automate?
1. Introduction: From Automation to Accountability In the age of artificial intelligence, tasks once considered deeply human—decision-making, medical diagnosis, teaching, even pastoral care—are now being performed or assisted by machines. But when decisions have moral consequences, who is responsible? As AI gains autonomy in areas of justice, warfare, and social…
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4: The Human Spirit – God-Consciousness and Moral Capacity
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction The human spirit (ruach in Hebrew, pneuma in Greek) represents the innermost faculty of a person—the seat of conscience, God-awareness, and moral discernment. It is distinguished in Scripture from both the body and the soul, and its condition determines a person’s spiritual vitality…
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Article 1: The Divine Architecture of Blessing – How God Built the Universe to Bear Fruit
1. Introduction The concept of blessing—whether spiritual, material, emotional, or relational—features prominently throughout the Bible. While Christians often focus on covenantal blessing tied to faith and obedience, Scripture also presents a wider framework: God has structured the universe itself to reward certain behaviours, attitudes, and principles, irrespective of a person’s…
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Article 2: The Power of the Tongue – Why Speech Can Bless Whether or Not You Believe
1. Introduction Speech is one of the most powerful faculties given to human beings. From the earliest chapters of Genesis, words are shown to have the capacity to create, to name, to bless, and to direct. The Bible consistently affirms that the human tongue holds both life-giving and destructive power,…
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Article 3: Blessing from the Heart – Goodwill, Intent, and Human Flourishing in God’s Order
1. Introduction While much attention is rightly given to actions and speech in discussions of moral and spiritual blessing, the Bible also gives primacy to the heart—the inner disposition, motives, and intentions that drive human behaviour. God not only observes deeds but weighs the heart (1 Samuel 16:7), and Scripture…
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Article 7: Common Grace and Natural Law – Blessing That Flows from Creation Itself
1. Introduction While saving grace through Jesus Christ is central to Christian faith, the Bible also affirms a broader concept known as common grace—God’s generous provision, order, and goodness extended to all humanity, regardless of faith or covenant status. Closely related to this is the idea of natural law—the moral…
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God’s Sinless Purity vs. Human Fallenness
Section 4: Morality and Holiness — God’s Sinless Purity vs. Human Fallenness 1. Introduction Morality is not a human invention but a reflection of the holy character of God. Scripture presents God as absolutely holy, the source of all moral truth and righteousness. In contrast, human nature—though created good—has been…
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God’s Perfect Judgement vs. Human Partiality and Moral Failure
Section 10: Justice and Mercy — God’s Perfect Judgement vs. Human Partiality and Moral Failure 1. Introduction Justice is at the heart of biblical revelation—God is presented as a righteous judge who upholds truth and restores order. However, human justice systems and individual moral reasoning are deeply flawed: partial, inconsistent,…
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The Parable of the Dishonest Manager
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Dishonest Manager(also known as The Shrewd Steward) 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Discipleship and Faith; Stewardship; Wisdom; Faithfulness with Resources 4. Parable Summary Jesus tells of a manager who is about to be fired for mismanaging his master’s property. Knowing…
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The Parable of the Lamp under a Basket
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Lamp under a Basket(also known as The Lamp on a Stand) 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Discipleship and Faith; Witness; Visibility; Responsibility 4. Parable Summary Jesus compares disciples to a lamp that, once lit, is not meant to be hidden…
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The Parable of the Good Samaritan
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Good Samaritan 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Love and Mercy to Others; Neighbourliness; Compassion; Social Boundaries 4. Parable Summary Jesus tells of a man travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho who is attacked by robbers, stripped, beaten, and left for dead.…
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The Saying: The Salt of the Earth
1. Title of the Saying The Salt of the Earth 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Short Parabolic Sayings / Similitudes; Discipleship; Influence; Integrity; Witness 4. Saying Summary Jesus declares to His disciples: “You are the salt of the earth.” (Matt. 5:13)But He warns that if salt loses its taste,…
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The Saying: Light of the World
1. Title of the Saying The Light of the World 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Short Parabolic Sayings / Similitudes; Witness; Visibility; Mission; Discipleship 4. Saying Summary Jesus tells His disciples: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”“Nor do people…
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The Saying: Eye as a Lamp
1. Title of the Saying The Eye as a Lamp of the Body 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Short Parabolic Sayings / Similitudes; Inner Clarity; Perception; Moral Discernment; Integrity 4. Saying Summary Jesus teaches: “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole…
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Practising God’s Presence – Daily Discipleship and Moral Formation
1. Introduction The biblical affirmation of God’s presence is foundational to both Old and New Testament faith. From the Garden of Eden to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God is presented not as distant, but as imminently near and relational. This theological truth has profound ethical implications: living in…