Author: Bryan Gibson

Weekly Bulletin
July 9, 2023

Principles That Affect Our Conduct
by Bryan Gibson
Lord willing, I plan to preach a sermon this Sunday addressing how we dress. To help in our further study of this subject, I’m including below an outline from a sermon on 8/8/2021.
What if I was concerned about virtues like holiness (1 Pet. 1:15-16), purity (1 Tim. 4:12), discretion (Titus 2:5); chastity (Titus 2:5); humility (1 Pet. 5:5); modesty (1 Tim. 2:9); self control (Galatians 5:23)?
Concerned enough to not only adorn these virtues myself, but to also promote them in others.
What if I genuinely feared causing someone else to sin?
Matthew 18:6-7.
What if I regarded my body as first and foremost belonging to the Lord, and then to my spouse (or future spouse)?
1 Cor. 6:13, 15, 17; 7:2-5.
What if I was careful to not offer any sort of sexual enticement to anyone other than my spouse?
Proverbs 7:21.
What if my goal was to do the most good for the most people, to maximize my influence for the maximum amount of people?
1 Corinthians 9:19-22; 10:23-24, 31-33; 2 Cor. 8:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:15.
How Do These Principles Apply to the Clothing We Wear?
Those virtues we mentioned earlier—holiness, purity, discretion, chastity, humility, modesty, self control—do these have any bearing on one’s choice of clothing?
Of course they do, and it would be foolish to say otherwise. What we wear should be a reflection of all these virtues.
Remember, we’re also trying to promote these same virtues in others. What kind of signal are we sending to others in what we wear?
“Disney look”—employees expected to adhere to a dress code, due to a certain image they want to portray (restrictions on hair color, nose rings, tattoos, wild nail polish, etc.).
What (or whose) image is it we want to portray?
Young ladies, you stand a much better chance of finding the right young man when you’re careful about dress.
On the matter of causing others to sin, is there a way to dress that is much less likely to cause others to sin?
Is it fair to say the more we reveal, the more likely we are to cause someone to sin?
Would it surprise you to know that men here who pass out the Lord’s Supper have had to shield their eyes, or turn their eyes away?
To help us make application, let’s combine two of the other principles together—the one about our bodies belonging to the Lord and to our spouse, and not offering any sort of sexual enticement to anyone other than our spouse (or future spouse).
There’s only so much of your body you want to show someone other than your spouse.
Certain areas more enticing (read Song of Solomon).
And finally, remember the goal is to do the most good for the most people, to maximize our influence for the maximum amount of people.
Influence will be diminished if we compromise any of these other principles.
“In all things we commend ourselves…” (2 Cor. 6:4).
Is there a way to dress that enables us to be a better influence on a greater number of people?
Note: While you can expect some of these same points to be repeated, this Sunday’s sermon will offer a little different approach to the subject, with a few additional principles given.

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The Prattmont Church of Christ is just what the name suggests, a church that belongs to Christ. We are not a denomination; we are simply a group of Christians trying very hard to practice the teachings of our Head, Jesus Christ. The New Testament offers a complete pattern for what each local church should be like—its organization, its worship, its work, etc. We are committed to following that pattern. We cordially invite you to attend our services. We would also welcome any comments or questions about this bulletin.

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