Biblical Chivalry Conference Re-Cap

Northwest Christian School

Glendale, Arizona April 23-25, 2010

“It is evident that before one can act with chivalry, which is by all means a code of action, one must hold the clear understanding of the great conflicting passions of manhood; he must humble himself “at the feet of the grass” and take pride enough to subdue the earth, man’s God-given mission. He must impose a boundary of self-discipline for the love of true freedom. He must esteem life great enough to act with courage that would appear to esteem life too little. If we as men of God are to become warrior-heroes from God, we must turn understanding into “standing” (Eph 6:14). We must not only admire the warrior, we must ourselves wage war. We must care for the poor, and we must become “poor in spirit. We must, like the great Christ and Savior we follow, represent “a huge and heroic sanity”. We must embody the controlled power of true meekness and like Christ, wear garments of character “without seam, woven from the top in one piece. “ (Joh 19:23).” (Introduction of Syllabus by Ryan Maguire).

Applications from day one:

1. 1. It is clear that chivalry required a “code of honor” to aspire to.

2. 2. If you wre asked, “What is your code of honor?” what would you say?

3. 3. The Bible is filled with many passages which read like such a code. Consider a few examples of challenging texts such as:

a. Matthew 5:3-12

b. Acts 12:28-35

c. Roman 12:1-3; 13:11-14

d. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

e. 2 Corinthians 4:7-13

f. Galatians 2:20-21

g. Ephesians 4:1-6; 4:20-24

h. Philippians 1:27-30; 4:8-9

i. Colossians 3:1-4; 3:12-17, 23-24

j. 1 Thessalonians 1:3-10

k. 1 Timothy 2:1-5; 4:14-16; 6:11-16

l. 2 Timothy 2:1-4; 2:11-13

m. Titus 2:11-13

n. Hebrews 12:1-3

o. James 3:13-17

p. 1 Peter 1:13-16; 2:21-23; 3:10-12, 15

q. 2 Peter 1:5-8

r. 1 John 2:15-17

s. Revelation 12:11

4. 4. Biblical examples of chivalry include the roster of spiritual “knights” of Hebrews 11, men and women who “by faith” lived lives of victory and honor.

Applications from day two:

1. Just as chivalry was re-discovered in the Dark Ages, even so in Israel’s dark ages we find in the story of Ruth and Boaz a romance of Biblical chivalry.

2. Biblical chivalry exalts the roles of men and women in the story of the ages.

3. The central figure and Hero of the story is always the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. The great question posed by Biblical chivalry is this: “How great a role will the Hero of history be allowed to play in y life?”

5. Read Ephesians 1:15-23. How does this influence your life in this present generation?