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The Present Era And Our Daily Life

The Present Era And Our Daily Life. Introduction. The World has changed dramatically around us. Life is more complex, more stressful, more demanding. We have transitioned from the Industrial Age into the Information/Knowledge Worker Age with all its profound consequences.

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The Present Era And Our Daily Life

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  1. The Present Era And Our Daily Life

  2. Introduction • The World has changed dramatically around us. • Life is more complex, more stressful, more demanding. • We have transitioned from the Industrial Age into the Information/Knowledge Worker Age with all its profound consequences. • We face challenges and problems in our personal lives, our families, and our services unimagined even one and two decades ago. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  3. Introduction • These challenges are not only of a new order of magnitude, they are altogether different in kind. • Let us try to illustrate a few of the most common human challenges we face in our life and let us see what does the Holy Bible teach about these challenges. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  4. The Abundance Of Sin • Sin become more available and more desirable because of: • The contemporary ideologies and philosophies • The communication and technology • Media • Consequences of sin • Fear and insecurity • Guilt • Shame WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  5. The Abundance Of Sin • “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Mt 24:11, 12) • The result is the church is full of non repentant servants and believers with no love or cold love. • Let’s see how does God feel about that! (Jeremiah 7:2-16). WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  6. Distractions • Life in our cell phone society is increasingly complex, demanding, stressful, and absolutely exhausting. • For all our efforts to manage our time, do more, be more, and achieve greater efficiency through the wonders of modern technology, why is it we increasingly find ourselves in the “thick of thin things” subordinating spirituality, service, health, family, integrity, and many of the things that matter most to our busy life? WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  7. Distractions • The problem is that our modern culture says, “go in earlier, stay later, be more efficient, live with the sacrifice for now…etc • But the truth is that balance and peace of mind are not produced by these; they follow the person who develops a clear sense of his highest priorites and who lives with focus and integrity toward them. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  8. Distractions • The Lord warned us from the busyness of life • The story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42). • The parable of the great supper (Luke 14:16-24). • Days of Noah and Lot (Luke 17:26-29). WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  9. Distractions • Luke 8:14 “"Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity” • The seed (the word of God) will be chocked also “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  10. Distractions • Fear and insecurity: So many people today are gripped with a sense of fear. They fear for the future. They feel vulnerable in the workplace. They are afraid of losing their jobs and their ability to provide for their families. • I want it now: people want things and want them now. I want money. I want a nice big house, a nice car, the biggest and best entertainment center. I want it all and I deserve it. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  11. Distractions • Though today’s “credit card” society makes it easy to “get now and pay later,” economic realities eventually set in, and we are reminded , sometimes painfully, that our purchases cannot outstrip our ongoing ability to produce. • Pretending otherwise is unsustainable. • The demands of interest are unrelenting and unforgiving. Even working hard is not enough. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  12. Distractions • Competition: With the dizzying rate of change in technology and increasing competition driven by the globalization of markets and technology, we must not only be educated, we must constantly re-educate and reinvent ourselves. • We must develop our minds and continually sharpen and invest in the development of our competencies to avoid becoming obsolete. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  13. Distractions • The need to produce today is today’s reality and represents the demands of capital BUT the real mantra of success is sustainability and growth. • The real question is, are you making the necessary investment that will sustain and increase that success one, five, and ten years from now. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  14. Distractions • And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat (Mark 6:31). • Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You.“ But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth." (Mark 1:35-38). WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  15. Distractions • So that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction (Mark 1:45). • Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.“ (Luke 4:42-43). WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  16. Distractions • However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed (Luke 5: 15-16). • The principle of balancing the need to meet today’s demands with the need to invest in the capabilities that will produce tomorrow’s success is unavoidable. • The same is true of your service, health, marriage, family, relationships, and community needs. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  17. Sufferings • The life is not a question of whether we suffer but how we deal with sufferings. • Whenever you find a problem, you will usually find the finger-pointing of blame (Adam and Eve). • Society is addicted to playing the victim “if only my boss wasn’t such a controlling person…if only I lived in a better place…if only I hadn’t inherited such a temper from my dad…if only my kids weren’t so rebellious…if only my wife was more understanding…if only our church was evangelistic…if only God did not allow this to happen…if only…if only.” WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  18. Sufferings • Blaming everyone and everything else including God for our problems and sufferings may be the norm and may provide temporary relief from the pain, but it also chains us to these very problems. • The Holy Scriptures teach us to be humble enough to accept and take responsibility for our circumstances and courageous enough to take whatever initiative is necessary to creatively work our way through or around these sufferings. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  19. Sufferings • My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him (James 1: 2-4, 12). WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  20. Sufferings • Hopelessness: The children of blame are cynicism and hopelessness. • When we yield to believing that we are victims of our circumstances and yield to the dilemma of determinism, we lose hope, we lose drive, and we settle into resignation and stagnation. • Many bright and talented people feel this and suffer the broad range of discouragement and depression that follows. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  21. Sufferings • The survival response of popular cultur is cynicism “just lower your expectations of life to the point that you aren’t disappointed by anyone or anything.” • The contrasting biblical principle of growth and hope is the discovery that “And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2Cor 12: 9-10). WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  22. Rituality and Spirituality • With all the distractions, sufferings, and the abundance of lawlessness our spirituality has been gone and we reclined to rituality instead of spirituality. • Rituality is the hypocritical worship that focuses only on the rituals neglecting completely the spirituality of worship. • Rituality without spirituality is idolatry. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  23. Rituality and Spirituality • A servant asking about his student • Why didn’t you attend Sunday School last week? • Did you attend the liturgy? • Did you take communion? • When was the last time you confessed? • Do you read the Bible? • The Great Fast will soon, I want you to fast. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  24. Rituality and Spirituality • Compare this with the teaching of the Lord about fasting, prayers, and charity in the sermon on the mountain! • Even when we do visitations, there is no quality time (we need to finish it because I am busy). • Sunday morning I will check the internet to read my lesson in Sunday School today. • Do you see how our youth and children are so disconnected from God in their lives? WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  25. Rituality and Spirituality • Where is the relationship with God? Where is the relationship with the ones we serve? • Rituals are not the goals, they are the means to our goal (God). • Rituals only will lead to a church full of leaves with NO fruits. • The Lord rebuked the scribes and the Pharisees and cursed the fig tree for this reason. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

  26. Conclusion • The traits of the present era has impacted our daily life greatly through: • Abundance of sin • Distractions • Sufferings and blame • Rituality only type of worship • Without returning to God, Scriptures, and Holy Fathers of the Church, it is impossible to cope. WWW.SUSCOPTS.ORG

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