Be Ye Separate | Pastor Chris | 10.19.25

 2 Corinthians 6:14–18

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”

Ephesians 5:6–11

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not become partners with them;
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Romans 12:2

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

James 4:4

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15–17

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

We know what the word says… How do we raise a generation that is separate?

Daniel and His Friends Refusing the King’s Food

1–2 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invades Jerusalem and carries off sacred vessels from the temple to Babylon.

3–4 He orders that young men from Israel—without defect, well-educated, and wise—be trained to serve in his palace.

5 They are given daily portions of the king’s food and wine and taught for three years before entering royal service.

6–7 Among them are four from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; the chief official renames them Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Daniel 1:8–9

8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs.

Theme: In Babylonian captivity, Daniel chose not to conform to the empire’s way of life.
Lesson: Even when surrounded by the world’s power and culture, God honors those who stay pure and distinct in devotion.

11–13 Daniel proposes a ten-day test—he and his friends will eat only vegetables and drink water.
14–15 After ten days they appear healthier and stronger than those who ate the royal food.
16 The steward allows them to continue their simple diet permanently.
17 God gives the four young men knowledge, skill, and understanding; Daniel receives special insight to interpret visions and dreams.
18–19 When the training ends, they are presented to the king, who finds them wiser than all others.
20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding, they prove ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in Babylon.
21 Daniel remains in royal service until the first year of King Cyrus.

What is a current opportunity to be separate?

Samhain (Gaelic “SAH-win”)

• An ancient Celtic festival (Ireland/Scotland/Isle of Man) marking the end of harvest and the start of the “dark half” of the year (Oct 31–Nov 1).
• People lit bonfires and wore disguises; it was believed the boundary with the spirit world thinned.

In practice this meant things like:

• The souls of the dead (or spirits) might more easily visit or wander among the living.
• Divinatory activity (predicting the future) was more feasible, since the normal “separation” between worlds was loosened.

What were their goals during this liminal time?

Given that the boundary was understood to be more open, people acted in several distinct ways:

1. Honour and communicate with the dead & spirits

• They believed the souls of ancestors might revisit their homes and seek hospitality. Offerings of food and drink were left for these souls.
• Setting a place at the table and hearth for the dead was one custom.

2. Protection from harmful spirits / mischief

• Because the threshold was thinner, “hostile” or mischievous spirits might more easily cross into the human realm. So people adopted protective practices: wearing disguises (so as not to be recognised by spirits), carrying iron or salt, keeping fires lit, perhaps creating barriers.

3. Divination / future-telling

• Because Because the spirits were “nearer”, it was thought that glimpsing into the future (particularly about death, marriage, harvest, livestock) was more possible.

Heritage of the Lord | Pastor Trey Townsley | 9.28.25

 Heritage of the Lord

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  2  “Honor your

father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:

  3  “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

4  And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring

them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath”

 Though fathers are specifically addressed in Ephesians 6:4, the

book of Proverbs shows that the father and the mother are to

give instructions to the child.

 Proverbs 1:8 8  My son, hear the instruction of your father, and

do not forsake the law of your mother

 To provoke someone to wrath/anger is not a one-time event.

Parorgizo is also translated into the English word ‘exasperate’.

Exasperation is the state of intense irritation, annoyance, or

extreme frustration, often resulting from repeated failures.

 “…but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

 Admonition: warning or mild rebuke

 Nurture: (paideia) education or training, disciplinary correction.

 This is the same word used in Hebrews 12:

 5  And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you

as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening (paideia) of

the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

6  For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every

son whom He receives.” 7  If you endure chastening, God deals

with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does

not chasten?  8  But if you are without chastening, of which all

have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not

sons.  9  Furthermore, we have had human fathers who

corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much

more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and

live?  10  For they indeed for a few days chastened us as

seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be

partakers of His holiness.  11  Now no chastening seems to be

joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it

yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have

been trained by it.

 Paideia refers to the comprehensive system of education,

upbringing, and cultural training aimed at shaping an individual

into a well-rounded, virtuous person embodying the ideal

qualities of their society

 God is concerned with the development of the whole person

 To train someone is to ‘instruct and practice to achieve

proficiency’

 Paul compares himself to an athlete

 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 24  Do you not know that those who run in

a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way

that you may obtain it.  25  And everyone who competes for the

prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a

perishable crown, but we for an

imperishable crown.  26  Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty.

Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  27  But I discipline my

body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to

others, I myself should become disqualified.

 Paul compares us to soldiers

 2 Timothy 2:2-4 2  And the things that you have heard from me

among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will

be able to teach others also.  3  You therefore must endure

hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  4  No one engaged in

warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he

may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

 Create a clearly established standard

 2 Timothy 3:16-17 16  All Scripture is given by inspiration of

God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,

for instruction in righteousness,  17  that the man of God may be

complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 Instill Core Values

 Deuteronomy 6:6-9 6  “And these words which I command you

today shall be in your heart.  7  You shall teach them diligently to

your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your

house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and

when you rise up.  8  You shall bind them as a sign on your

hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  9  You

shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on

your gates.

 Learn to identify your enemy (counterfeit)

 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 10  Now whom you forgive anything, I

also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have

forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,  11  lest

Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of

his devices.

 John 10:4-5 4  And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes

before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his

voice.  5  Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will

flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

 Realistic combat training

 1 Timothy 4:7-8   7  But reject profane and old wives’ fables,

and exercise yourself toward godliness.  8  For bodily exercise

profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having

promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

 Ephesians 6:11-13 11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you

may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  12  For we do

not wrestle against flesh and blood, but

against principalities, against powers, against the rulers

of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of

wickedness in the heavenly places.  13  Therefore take up the

whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the

evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 Foster teamwork in a community (common unity)

 Acts 2:44-45 44  Now all who believed were together, and had all

things in common,  45  and sold their possessions and goods,

and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

The Corruption of a Child | Pastor Chris Seacry | 9.7.25

The Corruption of a Child | Pastor Chris Searcy | 9.7.25

Ephesians 6:4

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up

in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Historical & Cultural Context (1st-Century World)

Greco-Roman Household Codes: Paul was writing within a culture where fathers had

near-absolute authority (patria potestas) (“power of the father”). In Roman society, a

father could even decide: life or death for a child. Harsh discipline and distance were

common.

- Right of Life and Death

- Control Over Marriage (arrange or annul marriages)

- Ownership of Property (Children couldnt own property while under patria potestas.)

Even adult sons with families of their own had no independent legal standing

until the father’s death or until he formally emancipated them.

Jewish Context: In contrast, Jewish fathers were expected to teach their children

God’s Law diligently (Deut. 6:7; Prov. 1:8). Education was moral and religious, not just

practical.

Paul takes the household code format (common in Greco-Roman moral writings) and

transforms it: instead of commanding authority, he limits it with Christian love and

responsibility.

So historically, Paul was radically softening the father’s absolute power, directing it

instead toward nurturing in the Lord.-

Transforms from a command to…… BRING THEM UP in discipline and instruction

Early Church Understanding (Literal Reading)

• “Do not provoke”: The early church understood this as a prohibition against

harsh, inconsistent, or discouraging treatment that crushed a child’s spirit.

• “Discipline” (Greek paideia) (pai-day-uh): This word meant the whole training

and cultivation of mind and morals. It implied correction, formation of character,

and moral education.

• “Instruction” (Greek nouthesia): Literally “putting into the mind,” meaning

verbal teaching, counsel, or admonition. The fathers saw this as catechesis —

parents were the first teachers of the faith.

Catechized = instruct (someone) in the principles of Christian religion by

means of question and answer.

Practical Implications for Paul’s Original Audience

For Christian fathers in Ephesus (and their households):

They were being called away from Roman harshness and toward Christlike

gentleness.

Parenting was not about asserting dominance but about raising children in God’s

ways.

Daily family life was to be re-centered on Christ — children weren’t just to be “brought

up” in survival and social training but in the Lord’s discipline and instruction.

This would have stood out in their culture: instead of children growing up in fear of their

father’s authority, they were to grow up in the atmosphere of the gospel.

There are several culprits:

Abandonment:

- Fatherless rates 1 in 4 kids live in fatherless homes = 19 million

Neglect:

51.45% of 12-18yo reported feeling neglected by their parents (parents prioritized their

phones)

Abuse:

1 in 4 children experiences child abuse or neglect. 18% suffer physical abuse, 9% suffer

sexual abuse

John 8:44

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a

murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth

in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father

of lies.

Acts 13:10

10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and

villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?”

1 John 3:10

10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the

devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does

not love his brother.

Questions:

1.Where are they going

2. Who are they with

3.What are they watching

4.Who are they messaging

5.What music are they listening to

IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN TEACHING…

Proverbs 1:8–9 – A father and mother’s teaching.

Proverbs 2:1–22 – A father urging his son to seek wisdom.

Proverbs 3:1–35 – “My son, do not forget my teaching…”

Proverbs 4:1–27 – A father recalling instruction from his own father, and passing it on.

Proverbs 5:1–23 – A father warning against adultery.

Proverbs 6:1–35 – Instruction on pledges, laziness, and adultery.

Proverbs 7:1–27 – A father teaching his son about the dangers of the adulteress.

Proverbs 8–9 – Wisdom herself calling as a teacher (parental imagery is still in the

background).

Proverbs 10:1 – Transition point: “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a

sorrow to his mother.”

How important is this to God?

It why he established a covenant with Abraham

Genesis 18:17-19

17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that

Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth

shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children

and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and

justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

THE GLORY OF HUMILITY | BIshop Kyle Searcy | 8.24.25

 THE GLORY OF HUMILITY

Psalm 18:35

You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.

• David’s greatness was not self-made
• It came from God’s ability to stoop down, help, be gentle with him, be merciful to Him
• But David’s Humility in responding to God’s ways kept Him in greatness. 

• THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMILITY

• The Meek shall inherit the Earth

Matthew 5:5

Blessed are the meek, they shall inherit the earth

• Greatness in the Kingdom is Measured by Humility

Matthew 18:1-4

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, ³ and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven

• It is the Key to Promotion

Matthew 23:11-12

But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

In this verse there are two parallel pairs of active and passive verbs. Active verb (Humble Yourself; Exalt Yourself) – means that we must choose to initiate one or the other.  There is something we must do if we don’t do this thing nothing will happen. Passive verb (He will Exalt you; He will humble you)– this does not depend on us.  Whatever our choice of the active verb the passive thing will happen inevitably whether we want it to or not.

• It’ the Way Jesus Chose to Live

John 8:28-29

Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. ²⁹ And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

• It’s the Doorway to Grace

John 1:17

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

James 4:6

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

• WAYS DAVID SHOWED HUMILITY

• The Posture of His Heart Before God

• He called himself poor, needy, and dependent

Psalm 40:17

“But I am poor and needy; yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer.” 

Psalm 86:1

“Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.” 

WHAT HUMILITY IS NOT

• Being poor
• Belittling yourself
• Chronic Illness
• Weakness
• Allowing others to walk over you
• Seeing yourself as a worm
• Shyness

Humility is the deep awareness of our own nothingness, revealed when we recognize that God is truly everything.

To be humble is to see ourselves as empty without Him, and to see that He alone is all in all.

Humility is realizing that apart from God we are nothing, and in Him, everything finds its meaning.

True humility is born when we grasp that our sufficiency is nothing, but God is our all-sufficiency.

Humility is the surrender of self-importance when we see that God alone is all in all.

• How He treated His Enemies 

1 Samuel 24:6

“The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed…” 

• He gave God credit for his victories

Goliath

“The battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.” (1 Sam. 17:47).

Psalm 18:29, 32, 39

“For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall… It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect… For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.”

Psalm 20:6–7

“Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

• He was always zealous for God’s Glory

Psalm 115:1

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory.” 

Psalm 34:2

“My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.” (Ps. 34:2)

• He admitted sin and repented quickly

2 Samuel 12:13

“I have sinned against the LORD.” 

Psalm 51:3-4

For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. ⁴ Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight

• He consistently sought the Lord before Making Decisions

1 Sam 23:1-2

Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.” ² Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

• He Choose Radical Worship Above Royal Image

2 Sam 6:14, 20-22

Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod… ²⁰ Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” ²¹ So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. ²² And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.

• SIGNS YOU MAY BE WALKING IN PRIDE

• Constant Contention
• Pride fuels arguments and strife.
• “Only by pride comes contention, but with the well-advised is wisdom.” (Prov. 13:10)
• Unwillingness to Receive Correction
• Pride resists instruction and gets defensive when corrected.
• “When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.” (Prov. 11:2)
• Taking Credit Instead of Giving Thanks
• Pride says, “I did this myself.” Humility gives God the glory.
• “Is not this great Babylon that I have built…?” (Dan. 4:30)
• Looking Down on Others
• Pride compares and elevates self above others.
• “God, I thank You that I am not like other men…” (Luke 18:11)

Phil 2:3

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself

• Prayerlessness (Self-Sufficiency)
• Pride lives as though God is unnecessary.
• 2 Chron 7:14 

• WAYS TO WALK IN HUMILITY

• Give God the Glory First
• Regularly acknowledge that all gifts, resources, and opportunities come from Him.
• “What do you have that you did not receive?” 

1 Cor. 4:7

For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

• Serve Others Willingly
• Look for opportunities to wash feet in modern ways — helping, encouraging, supporting even when unnoticed.
• John 13:14–15
• Receive Correction Without Defensiveness
• Thank people who bring feedback, and prayerfully consider it instead of reacting.
• Prov. 12:1 — “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.”
• Prefer Others Above Yourself
• Practice small daily choices: let someone else go first, celebrate others’ wins, yield your preferences.
• Phil. 2:3 — “In humility value others above yourselves.”
• Speak with Gentleness and Restraint
• Humility shows up in tone: avoid “I told you so,” harshness, or self-promotion in words.
• Prov. 15:1 – A soft Answer turns away wrath
• Keep a Sober View of Yourself
• Neither inflate your strengths nor deny them — be honest about who you are and where you need grace.

Rom. 12:3 

 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

• Handle Mistreatment with Mercy
• Like Moses and Jesus, don’t retaliate when wronged — entrust justice to God.

1 Pet. 2:23

who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously