Bluffton Community

Message Overview: From our last message in the series, The Church with Open Doors, Pastor Ben Thiel looks at Acts 18 where we meet Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos who work along-side Paul, Silas and Timothy as the gospel continues to spread amid continued opposition. We see God remind Paul in a dream that many in the city of Corinth belonged to Him. Paul had a continual desire to re-visit where he had previously preached to continue strengthening the believers. It is clear that Paul had preached the gospel and many had believed, but his heart drove him back to old friends as he continued to teach believers. Paul spent a year and a half in Corinth, a city where full commitment to his teaching seems to have come more slowly based on what we read in his later letters to this church. While Paul always seems to have kept his passion for front line Gospel engagement with people who were far from God, we see the multiplication of leaders and sustained teaching of believers as his ministry matures. It is important to note the warm encounter between Aquila and Priscilla as they help Apollos with a better understanding of Gospel truth.

Prompting Questions: How has God brought the spiritual and physical change and growth to both Lighthouse and Bluffton Community these last few years? How do we prepare the congregations to use the wide variety of spiritual gifts given to the believers who are part of our churches? How does a rapidly growing church effectively identify and minister to people who are spiritually dead, infants, children, young adult and parents?

Primary Scripture: Acts 17:16-32

Cross References: Deuteronomy 10:17; 1 Chronicles 16:26, Psalm 115:1-7; Colossians 1:15-20

Message Overview: While waiting for the others to rejoin him, Paul has a visceral reaction to the overt idolatry he sees in the City of Athens. He feels compelled to engage the philosophers of the day on their own turf. Paul is able to make connection with the intellectuals at the Areopagus, but finds strong opposition when he speaks of the resurrection of Jesus. The account of Paul in Athens raises many questions that thoughtful people ask today in their search for truth. Paul was ready to engage anyone no matter how far from faith they might seem. In the end we see that some believed in this intellectually hostile environment.

Prompting Questions: How do our churches address the theological and cultural questions of our day such that the Gospel can be heard in clear words? How does God's supremacy and transcendence meet and then rise above the human wisdom and experience our culture espouses today?

Primary Scripture: Acts 16:11-40

Cross References: Luke 24:45; Acts 9:15-16, 26:16-18

Message Overview: Ministry will take us where we have not been before. Philippi was a Gentile place without a synagogue. Paul went down by the river thinking that he may find people praying. There he met Lydia, and God opened her heart to the gospel. Later, Paul casts a demon from a slave girl and a mob quickly forms around Paul and Silas, eventually landing them in jail. But as they are praying and singing hymns to God in the presence of other prisoners, God moves again by causing an earthquake. The Gospel prevails as the jailer and his family believe. About 10 years later, Paul wrote to the church at Philippi thanking this church for their partnership in the gospel. They had stories to tell as they remembered together how God had used them as he open hearts to the gospel. This was a church full of joy as they reflect on the movement of God (Philippians 1:3-14).

Prompting Questions: How can our people learn sensitivity to the Holy Spirit as he works in unexpected ways through us...even when conflict is present? How can we find the people praying by the river or see through the angry mob that seeks to silence the gospel where we live? How do we balance careful ministry planning with new capacity to adapt to unexpected circumstances when God moves? How can we find joy in the chaos of rapidly growing ministry opportunity?

Primary Scripture: Acts 17:1-15

Cross References: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Psalm 119:9-11

Message Overview: Paul and Silas spent just 3 weeks in Thessalonica but these were fruitful weeks. Jews, God fearing Greeks, and many prominent women joined Paul and Silas as they believed. Of course, some Jews were jealous as they saw their power challenged, and they created conflict in response. Surprisingly, Paul only spent a short time with these believers, yet we learn about the radical life transformation brought by the Gospel from Paul’s later letter to them (1 Thessalonians 1:2-10). Paul and Silas moved on to Berea where the people were open minded and eager to hear what Paul had to say. They searched the scripture daily to see what was true. There was spiritual fruit in Berea, but trouble followed from the Jewish rabble rousers who came from Thessalonica.

Prompting Questions: What is it about the Word of God that draws many different people to faith in Jesus, yet simultaneously repels others to the point of violence and legal action against those who speak the Gospel? What must we learn from the people from Thessalonica and Berea as we plan the future ministries of our churches?

Primary Scripture: Acts 15:36-16:10

Cross References: 2 Timothy 4:11

Message Overview: God uses people to spread the Gospel. Paul separates from Barnabas in a dispute over John Mark. Paul teams up with Silas, then adds Timothy as an intern. Barnabas partners with his nephew John Mark and goes in another direction. Paul and Silas are prevented twice from going north by God, then Paul sees the vision of the man from Macedonia and they find their way to Philippi. There is conflict concerning ministry direction both between leaders and even in discerning the direction of God’s calling. It seems a bit messy and not very spiritual, but God’s will had become clear in the end.

Prompting Questions: How does God lead individuals and churches? Specifically, how should our churches
consider ministry options such that people move in unity with each other and in clarity with leading of the Holy
Spirit? How do Christians see where God is moving when there is sharp conflict among people who each want to
follow God?

Primary Scripture: Acts 15:1-35

Cross References: Acts 10:44-48; 1 Corinthians 10:23, 15:3-6; Amos 9:11-12, Isaiah 45:21 Message Overview: The true Gospel is available to all through genuine belief as marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit. But mixing this new reality with old traditions and religious preference can create conflict among well meaning people. Conflict can tear at the heart of what is essential and true vs. what is a legacy of religious belief that leads in false directions. The Jerusalem Counsel was called upon to sort out this very real conflict between traditions and the Gospel.

Prompting Questions: How did God use the Jerusalem Council to clarify and establish what is the essential Gospel for the benefit of the churches at this time? How does this apply today as we maintain clear Gospel focus in the context of a church with open doors? What is biblical unity and how do we avoid tribalism or isolation as we push back against that which is false? How do we discern the movement of the Holy Spirit as we carry the truth that can change our cities?

Primary Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-18

Cross References: Psalm 121:1-2, 1 Timothy 4:1

Message Overview: We have hope that Christ is set to return, that is promised! It has been nearly 2000 years since Christ ascended back to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. What’s He waiting for? Peter makes it clear that God is being patient, for our sake, with the hope that in time every knee will willingly bow, repent of their sins, and find eternal life by placing their faith in Him! We must remain hopeful that God’s promise remains, that His word is true, that He will return to reconcile the world and return it back to the glory He intended it for in the beginning! In week four, Peter reminds us to Stand Firm in the Hope provided by the Gospel, trusting and actively watching for God to fulfill His promise to return and make everything new, to make everything that is sad come untrue.

Prompting Questions: How would you respond to criticism about Christ’s slow return? How does the truth that God is being patient so that all may respond to the truth of the Gospel inspire you to praise? What gives you hope?

Primary Scripture: 2 Peter 2:1-22 (focused on v19)

Cross References: Ephesians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 3:19, Hebrews 13:9, 1 Timothy 4:1, Jude 1:18, Isaiah 5:19, Malachi 4:1, Psalm 90:4, Ecclesiastes 8:11, Isaiah 30:18, Luke 18:7

Message Overview: False teaching is a guarantee. Satan uses clever, destructive heresies to cause doubt and denial of God. This has been his plan since the beginning (ie. Genesis 3:1 “Did God really say?”) One of the motivators of false teachers is self-gratification. Greed will lead them to believe and promote clever lies. God has provided several powerful examples of what will happen to the ungodly, but that is not His hope for us. His hope is that we would yield ourselves to the truth and follow in the way He has made through His son Jesus Christ! God is able to save the righteous while at the same time punishing the unrighteous. As Peter made clear in week 2, we know the truth, this week we are reminded to Stand Firm in self-control in order to keep ourselves from falling into the destruction of the ungodly. Where does self-control come from? Faith in Christ. When we set our sights firmly on the Son of God, He will send the Holy Spirit to empower us to Stand Firm in self-control helping us to recognize and repent of false teaching we have not only heard but, at times, believed!

Prompting Questions: Where (from whom) does freedom come from? What is a false teacher? How do you know that a teacher is a false teacher? What are you allowing to control your life? What is the key motivation to deception/false teaching? Does this only motivate the teacher or is it also a motivator for those being deceived? What does verse 21 mean?

Primary Scripture: 2 Peter 1:12-21

Cross References: Philippians 3:1, Colossians 1:5, 1 John 2:21, Jude 1:5, Luke 1:2, 1 Peter 1:10, 2 Timothy 3:16. 2 Samuel 23:2

Message Overview: In week one, Peter reminds us to stand firm in our faith, making every effort to grow our faith in God and our knowledge of God. In week two, Peter shows us how to stand firm in the Truth of Scripture. Peter acknowledges that his readers are already doing this, but even so he will “keep on reminding!” Peter helps us see that we can never hear the Gospel too much and that it is essential to be in the word helping us to stay focused. Standing Firm in the truth helps us to see the Gospel in all of scripture, not just the New Testament, and not just in the life of Christ. The Gospel begins in Genesis, continues through

the prophets, and is fulfilled in Jesus Christ!

Prompting Questions: Where does truth come from? How would this help you respond to people who say,

“I get the Gospel, but I really need to go beyond that into deeper truths”? How does Peter know this is the truth?

Primary Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-11

Cross References: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, John 1:16-17, Acts 15:10-11

Message Overview: Our faith is a gift from Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, because he is just and fair. We supplement and strengthen our faith through character traits that lead to love. This growth makes us more and more useful to the Kingdom of God and less forgetful/blind to the forgiveness of our own sins. Peter reminds us to make every effort to continue in our faith, to grow in our knowledge of God, and Stand Firm in our faith!

Prompting Questions: What does it mean to supplement your faith? Why would faith need a supplement?

Does this contradict other passages? If so, how? If not, how not? Does asking hard questions mean we lack faith or are not standing firm?