BISHOP PATTESON THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

KOHIMARAMA
ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED FOR MARKING
NAME: Fr Charles Melinga

TITLE:

Students will prepare three sermon outlines and deliver each sermon to the class. Two sermon must be from
Leviticus and another passage in the Pentateuch. Each sermon must exegete the text and apply it to present it to a
Christian congregation. Students will present their sermons in a seminar style allowing time for questions and feedback.
Each students will present one sermon in class. (Sermon three)
COURSE: THBS 385

DUE DATE: 15 June 2023

LECTURER: Rev. Dr David Pettett.

Word Count: 1054 Spell checked? Yes

* Assignments are to be given directly to the lecturer unless he or she gives other instructions.
The lecturer will normally return graded assignments in class or in the lecturer’s office.
If you prefer to have your assignment returned by mail, attach a stamped addressed envelope to your assignment.
Graded assignments not collected in class or mailed will be held in the Lecturer’s Office for collection for up to one
month after the end of semester.
All assignment grades are provisional until discussed and approved by Faculty Council, after which the Dean of
Studies issues to the student a notification of grades as an unofficial copy of a student’s academic transcript.
DECLARATION I have read the Bishop Patteson Theological College polices and guidelines in the college Academic
Handbook and the Study and Style Guide, and understand what is said about cheating, plagiarism, group/team work
and study, and getting help from other people in writing an assignment.
I declare that this work is my own work and reflects my own learning. I have acknowledged all sources where I have
used or referred to someone else’s work and/or ideas.

I have not submitted this work, in whole or in part, for credit in any other course. (Please consult your Head of
Department or the
Dean of Studies if you have any questions about this) 

I understand that this work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection
mechanisms and I agree that the soft copy of my assignment will be subjected to such a review.

STUDENT’S SIGNATURE:………………………………………………………….
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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title pages

Theme: Those who love the lord will follow His command …………………………………3

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………3

Verse one: God dislike false report…………………………….………………………………3

Verse two: You shall not follow the Crowd in doing wrong...………….……………………..3
Hermeneutical lens…………………………………………………………………………….3
Principles……………………………………………………………………………………….3

Modern congregation Message………………………………………………………………...4

Summary………………………………………………………………………………………..4

Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………….5

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 Theme: Exodus 23:1-3. Those who love the Lord will follow His commands.

Introduction

Fearing God today as Christians is believed to be equated with the understanding and
knowledge of the forgiveness of God on the Cross in Christ. As a result, faithful adherence of
keeping His Old Testament commandments is at stack. However, how does the Old Testament
law, prophesy and psalms that were made perfect by Christ can be real. If this Christ of
Christianity is only real in faith. Revisiting Exodus 23:1-2, in today’s eyes of faith. Really could
helped positioned the sure foundation, of Jesus saying, if you love me will you keep my command
to take care of my sheep. (John 21:15-19).
Exodus, reported to us, a command God, had given to the people of Israel, But how can
that also be true for Christians today.
Verse one: God dislike false report,

In this verse first, the Lord told His people that they shall not bear a false report. This means
they were commanded not to spread untrue information so as to perpetrate injustice.

Verse two: You shall not follow the Crowd in doing wrong

In the second verse, The Lord commanded, when you are called to testify in a dispute. Do not
sway by the crowd to twist justice. Do not go along with the crowd in doing evil and do not fudge
your testimony in a case just to please the crowd
Hermeneutical lens

The running theme in the bible, for instance. Gen. 39:17, pharaoh’s wife false claimed, Matt.
19:18, Jesus commands to the rich young ruler. Ex. 20:16, record of the Ten Commandments God
gave to Moses. Psalm, 101.5, Reminding us children of God, God is faithful, James 3:1-12, taming
the tongue.

Likewise, God’s command against bearing false witness. Ex:16,- Deut. 5:20; 19:16-21; God
commands against false witness, Psalms 27:12; 35:11; asking total reliance on God to deliverance
and to live for the truth. Prov. 19.5; lies and false witness will not escape. Acts, 6:11, Steven
speaking the truth when accused of being blasphemy. 1Cor. 15:33, Remind Corinthians not to be
fooled by bad companion as they ruin good characters.

Principles- 1. God Demand for the Truth of our love for neighbors. 2. Fear God and not
people

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Modern day Christian’s message.

In first verse, we noted, a record of God’s statute that He had given, not in abstract. But
according to Enns, “–given by God to a people he has just redeemed, God’s newly created people.”1
People of Israel were redeemed from Slavery in Egypt because of the Love of God for the people
He Himself had chosen. And giving such a rule for living. As a reminder for them of the love of
the One who free them from the Bondage of slavery.

Speaking the truth simply demonstrate our response to this command which is fully
cemented by the love of Neighbors. God here in giving the law confirmed His own love for every
Christians, and so in response every Christians likewise are to love each other. Hinson confirmed
that, “People can trust God because He is always the same, His attitude to humans is always one of
steadfast love”2 Likewise, God today demanded our response in the redemptive work of Christ,
freeing us from the bondage of sin. God on the cross demonstrated His divine love for all human
race not only the Israelites. Therefore, the demand for the truth of our love for neighbors made flesh
by not spreading false report against each other is still applied. The moral obligation of this
command was how can we continue to say we love one other, whilst we spread false story against
him or her. Undermining the love of God in Christ on the cross for all humanity.
One simple demonstration of this command is to speak the truth for someone in the public,
against state, or powerful people who might treated us, or promised money. Sometimes this happens
in Criminal case, for instance, one of my in laws yesterday, call me by phone, and told about, how
he was treated. This is because he was not only viable witness to a Murder case, the Case is before
the High Court of Solomon Islander today. My response to him, was Fear God by following His
command in Ex. 23: 2. To tell the truth, and God will be with God.

Conclusion

In summary in the two verse of Exodus 23. We noted that even though it was initially for
the Israelites. By being canonized in the bible for us a word of God it equally stands tall. God in
in His redemptive work in Christ continue to remind us about this command, by not speaking false
report against each other and speaking the truth in public when treated or in fear. As our response
to the love of God. We as redeemed people in faith continue to keep this command. Failure of
keeping this command we are preparing for the wrath of God, as in Prov. 19.5.

1
P.E. Enns, “Exodus (Book) in New Dictionary of Biblical Theology ed. T Desmond Alexander & Brain S. Rosner
(Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 2006)
2
David F Hinson, Theology of the Old Testament (London: SPCK, 2001), 133.
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 Bibliography

Enns, P.E. “Exodus (Book) in New Dictionary of Biblical Theology ed. T Desmond Alexander &
Brain S. Rosner. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 2006.
Hinson, David F. Theology of the Old Testament. London: SPCK, 2001.

The Melanesian Book of Common Prayer Book.