The Gospel Paul Preached

When you need courage, remember:

- The Lord knows you

- The Lord is with you

- The Lord is for you

- The Lord isn't finished with you

The main takeaway is that the most compelling case for Christianity is our own stories of how Jesus Christ has transformed our lives. Just like Paul, we should be ready to share simply and compellingly how we have encountered Christ.

As we saw, Paul's testimony followed a simple but powerful outline:

Life before Christ: He described his former life as an extremely zealous Pharisee and persecutor of Christians. His old life was marked by sin and misguided religious passion.

Encounter with Christ: He told of his miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus, where he met the risen Jesus face to face. After this, he was blinded for three days and eventually healed.

Life after Christ: He explained how he immediately started preaching about Jesus in synagogues. Paul discovered a new life of grace, forgiveness, and purpose in serving Christ.

A Warning to Heed: 

- Do not conform God's will to your preconceived notions

Principles to Apply

- Spend time with God regularly

- Seek godly advisors

- Obey what you know God wants you to do

Key takeaways:

- Serve the Lord:

- Carry the Gospel

- Surrender to the Holy Spirit

- Guard Against Counterfeits

- Practice Generosity

- Embrace Suffering

How The Church In Ephesus Started

- Mini Pentecost (Acts 19:1-7)

- Gospel Expansion (Acts 19:9-10)

- Extraordinary Miracles (Acts 19:11-16)

- Transformed Society (Acts 19:21-41)

How The Church In Ephesus Ended

- They lost their love and passion for Jesus (Revelation 2:1-5)

How Do We Finish Well?

- Wholeheartedly Worship Jesus (Acts 19:17)

- Genuine Confession (Acts 19:18)

- True Repentance (Acts 19:19)

- Growth in God's Word (Acts 19:20)

Connect with Freedom Bible Church: https://linktr.ee/Freedombiblechurch

Connect with Pastor Eric: https://linktr.ee/ericechols

How does God help us move from discouragement to hope?

- God encourages us through his people (Acts 18:1-8)

- God encourages us through His promises (Acts 18:9-17)

When you're feeling discouraged or defeated...

- Surround yourself with God's people

- Press into God's Word

- Allow God's promises to renew you

How can we turn the world upside down with the Gospel?

- Identify points of contact where you live, work, and play

- Look for opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel

- Leave the results up to God

How did Paul engage the culture with the Gospel

- He was moved with compassion

- He connected with people far from God

- He met people where they are

- He revealed the gaps in their lives

- He proclaimed the Gospel

The Power of the Gospel:

- through our words - Act 16:13-15

- through acts of mercy - Acts 16:16-18

- through our example - Acts 16:19-34

As Gospel Carriers, We Must:

- Share the Gospel with those who are seeking

- Serve those who are hurting

- Spend time with those who are far from God

How Does God Lead Us:

- God leads us through conflict and failure - Act 15:36-40

- God's direction is discerned through others - Acts 16:1-5

- God’s Direction comes through Closed Doors - Acts 16:6-7

- God leads us through Opened Doors - Acts 16:8-10

Four Principles For Understanding God's Will:

- Obey what you already know

- Before the Lord can turn us, He often has to stop us

- God never closes a door without a plan to open another

- Doors open and close according to God’s timing