There are certain questions we need to ask as Christians when we have doubts about something we are about to do or say. This PowerPoint is part 1 of a three part series which helps to answer the doubts we have in regards to our words and actions. The credit for this series belongs to Professor David LeGrand of Piedmont Baptist College in Winston-Salem NC.

2. “Knowing When & Knowing
When Not To…”
Testing A
Doubtful Practice

3. Three Major Questions
1. What is the effect it
has on me?
2. What is the effect it
has on others?
3. What is the effect it
has on the cause of
Christ?

4. Part 1- The effect it has on me
1. Would it harm my body?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (HCSB)
Don’t you know that your
body is a sanctuary of the
Holy Spirit who is in you,
whom you have from God?
You are not your own, 20 for
you were bought at a price.
Therefore glorify God in your
body.

5. 2. Would it cause me to think impure
thoughts?
Matthew 5:27-30 (ESV) “You have
heard that it was said, ‘You shall
not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to
you that everyone who looks at a
woman with lustful intent has
already committed adultery with
her in his heart. 29 If your right eye
causes you to sin, tear it out and
throw it away. … 30 And if your right
hand causes you to sin, cut it off …
For it is better that you lose one of
your members than that your
whole body go into hell.

6. 3. Is this good for me, or could it cause me
to form an unhealthy habit?
1 Corinthians 6:12-13 (NLT) You say,
“I am allowed to do anything”—but
not everything is good for you. And
even though “I am allowed to do
anything,” I must not become a slave
to anything. 13 You say, “Food was
made for the stomach, and the
stomach for food.” … But you can’t
say that our bodies were made for
sexual immorality. They were made
for the Lord, and the Lord cares about
our bodies.

7. 4. Does this deed feed my old or new nature?
Colossians 3:9-11 (NLT) Don’t
lie to each other, for you have
stripped off your old sinful
nature and all its wicked
deeds. 10 Put on your new
nature, and be renewed as
you learn to know your
Creator and become like him.
11
… Christ is all that matters,
and he lives in all of us.

8. 5. Would I want to be caught doing this
deed when Christ returns?
Titus 2:12-14 (NLT) And we are
instructed to turn from godless living
and sinful pleasures. We should live in
this evil world with wisdom,
righteousness, and devotion to God, 13
while we look forward with hope to
that wonderful day when the glory of
our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to
free us from every kind of sin, to
cleanse us, … totally committed to
doing good deeds.