01) Can a Cop be a Christian? 09/25/2007 @ 6:30 pm

 

The PeaceKeepers Bible Study

 

Session #1: Can a Cop be a Christian?

Bible Verse: 3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. 4 Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. – Psalm 82 : 3 – 4 (NIV)

“Just the Facts”

Small Group Scripture Reading – 1 Corinthians 12 : 4 – 11 (NIV)

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

Discuss Spiritual Gifts you feel you may possess.

Accepting Christ is key to being a Christian Law Enforcement Officer

 

Admit – Believe – Confess

 

Working for God?

Romans 13 : 1 – Submission to the Authorities

1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

 

The Ten Comandments

  1. You shall have no other Gods before Me.
  2. You shall not make for yourself any idol or graven image.
  3. Do not take the name of Lord your God in vain.
  4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
  5. Honor your mother and father.
  6. You shall not murder.
  7. You shall not commit adultery.
  8. You shall not steal.
  9. You shall not lie or give false testimony.
  10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s possessions.

Sound kind of familiar to the laws WE enforce?

 

Small Group Scripture Reading: Romans 13 : 1 – 13 – Submission to the Authorities

 

1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Love, for the Day is Near

8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,”[a] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

 

 

  • What specific Bible verse means most to you and why?

  • How do you think that this Bible verse is relevant to your job as a law enforcement officer?

  • After reading The Ten Commandments, what similarities do you see to the laws that we enforce daily?

A Cop Used By God

1 Corinthians 12 : 6 – There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Small Group Discussion Questions

1. What situation(s) have you found yourself in where you felt as though God was using you to help someone in need?

2. How do you think God is working through you now? What purpose do you think you are fulfilling?

 

Small Group Scripture Reading: Romans 8 : 28 – More than conquerors

 

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.

 

God is our Back-Up

 

Romans 5 : 3

3Not only so, but we[a] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

 

Hebrews 13 : 5

5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”[a]

 

A Christ-like Foundation

 

Phillippians 2 : 5

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

 

Phillippians 4 : 6 – 7

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

Ephesians 2 : 19

19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,

 

Small Group Discussion Questions

  1. True of False - An officer with a foundation built on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is better equipped to deal with the stress encountered while on the job?

  1. Question – Why do you think that an officer who has a strong Christ-centered foundation is better equipped to deal with the stressors of the job? Write down and support your examples to discuss with the group.

 

Being Devoted to One Another

 

Romans 12 : 10

10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

 

Small Group Scripture Reading – Genesis 1 : 27

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

 

1 Samuel 16 : 7

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

 

The answer to the question: Can a Cop be a Christian?:

HOW CAN A COP AFFORD NOT TO BE A CHRISTIAN!!