Ephesians 4:1-6

How do you or I contribute to unity or division in a local church?

Do I cause problems or solve problems?

Romans 16:17-18 – Avoid those who cause problems.

Titus 3:9-11

Galatians 6:1 – Help your brethren!

I Corinthians 6:1-6 – We should be able to solve problems among ourselves.

Do I criticize or encourage?

Galatians 5:13-15, 26

Criticism in a local church can be particularly harmful. Criticism often says more about the critic than about whatever is being criticized.

Acts 11:21-24 – Barnabas was a great encourager.

Am I a critic or encourager?

Do I keep cliques or do I reach out?

I Corinthians 1:10-13 – Cliques lead developed in Corinth.

I Corinthians 12:14-27 – All members of the body have a function, and all should be honored. Schisms ruin this arrangement.

Reach out to those outside your age range and social group. It will build unity in the church!

Matthew 21:23

Because – believe it or not – we’re not in charge!

Deity – inherent authority

Inspired people – apostles, prophets

Acts 2:4; 8:17-18

The apostles and prophets carried the authority of God. Their writings carry that same authority.

Inspired scripture – Bible

Sadly, few people seek God’s truth.

Isaiah 8:19-20

Commands

Matthew 28:18-20

Luke 17:7-10

I Corinthians 7:19

I Thessalonians 4:1-2, 11

II Thessalonians 3:4-6, 10-12

II Peter 2:21-3:2

I John 2:3-4; 3:22-24; 4:21-5:3

II John 1:4-6

Statements

Psalms 119:104

Matthew 10:34-37; 15:9; 21:42-45

Acts 20:35

Examples

John 15:12

Acts 20:35

I Corinthians 4:16; 10:6-11; 11:1

Philippians 3:17; 4:9

I Thessalonians 1:6

II Thessalonians 3:7-9

Hebrews 4:11

III John 1:9-11

Implications

Creation → Romans 1:18-21

Genesis 2:24 → Matthew 19:3-6

Genesis 14:18-20 + Psalms 110:4 → Hebrews 7:7-11; 8:6

Exodus 3:6 → Mark 12:26-27

Psalms 16:10 → Acts 2:24-32

Psalms 110:1 → Matthew 22:41-46; Acts 2:33-36

Matthew 9:6 → Matthew 9:2

Acts 16:9 → Acts 16:10

Acts 15:1, 7-29 – The religious matter was decided by looking at the scriptures and hearing from the apostles. It was not decided by voting or by one person deciding which way everyone should go.

God actually cares, and He punishes disobedience.

Lamentations 1:1, 5

Jeremiah 5:31

I Timothy 6:3-4

Hebrews 10:30-31 – “The Lord will judge His people.”

Acts 28:11-31

Acts 28:13 – Paul sailed past Mt. Vesuvius in AD 61, which would alter erupt in AD 79, destroying the city of Pompeii. Drusilla, the wife of Felix, and their son were killed in that eruption.

Acts 28:22 – Christianity did not have a good reputation at that time. Only a minority of people would accept the gospel message, even under the best of circumstances with an inspired teacher.

Acts 28:30-31 – It would have been easy for Paul to make excuses and stop preaching in confinement, but he kept preaching and made no excuses.

What we can piece together about the events following Acts:

AD 62: Acts ends with Paul being confined

AD 62-65 – Paul is free (Philemon 1:22)

I Timothy 3:14 – Paul wanted to visit Timothy, so is evidently free at the time.

AD 64 – Great fire, followed by systematic persecution of Christians.

Paul later imprisoned again and beheaded.

The spread of the gospel (Acts 1:8):

Jerusalem (Acts 2-7)

Judea and Samaria (Acts 8-12)

Remotest parts of the earth (Acts 13-28)

The gospel was born in a fire. It will survive!

II Thessalonians 1:3-10

Jesus’ coming is a certainty! II Peter 3:3-4

Testimony of Jesus

Matthew 25:31-34

Mark 8:38

Acts 1:10-11 – Jesus will come again in the same way He left.

Testimony of the Holy Spirit

Hebrews 9:27-28

II Peter 3:5-12

Many have tried to predict the time of the Lord’s coming, but all have been wrong. No man knows the day.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Time is not a factor with God. He does not want any to perish. II Peter 3:8-9

Is the second coming of Christ desirable?

For some yes. For some, no.

Matthew 25:34, 41

II Peter 3:14-15, 18 – Let us be diligent to prepare for the coming of Christ.

Acts 8:22

Philippians 3:13-14

II Peter 3:18

There have always been two classes of people that disrupt the faith of Christians regarding the second coming of Christ: scoffers who say Jesus will never come and date-setters who try and fail to predict the time of His coming. Don’t let either one wreck your faith!

Proverbs 3:5-8

Students: Follow God’s instructions

II Timothy 3:10-15

Continue in the teachings you have received. Evil people will continue growing worse but keep doing the good you have been taught.

III John 1:11 – Don’t imitate evil!

Matthew 6:33 – Seek God first!

Colossians 3:23 – Work hard!

Proverbs 1:8 – Listen to your parents.

Parents and grandparents: Guide them to develop their own faith.

II Timothy 3:14; 1:5 – Timothy had more than just scripture reading at home – we had effective teaching!

Daniel 3:16-18 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego had their own strong faith! We must strive to instill the same type of faith in our children.

John 20:31 – These things were written to build our faith.

Romans 1:20 – How do we know God exists? By looking at His creation.

Philippians 3:17

Everyone else: Encourage them!

I Timothy 1:1-3; 4:9-16 – Paul encouraged Timothy to continue on and teach others.

II Chronicles 34:1-3 – We need to be careful with our words around young people. We must encourage them and not drag them down with discouraging remarks.

Acts 26:1-28:10

Acts 26:1-23 – Paul’s defense before Agrippa is an example to us in several ways:

The helpfulness of relating our personal history in certain cases.

Why we believe what we believe.

Why we live the way we live.

Making the most of any opportunity to spread the gospel.

Acts 27:30-31 – All the men are now listening to Paul, including the captain and centurion.

Acts 27:39 – This may be what’s now known as St. Paul’s Bay in Malta. It was not commonly used, so would be unknown to the sailors.

Acts 27:24 – We are not told exactly how God managed to save everyone’s life, but we know He did it. God did not prevent the shipwreck, but he did save everyone. God answers prayers in His own way for His own reasons.

What is your purpose in life?

Our purpose should be to glorify God.

Psalms 86:12

Matthew 5:16

Romans 15:6, 9

I Corinthians 10:31

Ephesians 3:21

I Peter 2:12

I Peter 4:16

I Corinthians 6:19-20

Philippians 3:13-14 – Heaven is the prize for glorifying God.

How does one glorify God?

By keeping one’s life pure. I Timothy 5:22; James 1:27; Ephesians 5:25-27

By keeping the plan of salvation pure. Matthew 15:8-9; Acts 2:22-39; Galatians 3:26-27

By keeping worship pure.

Sing: Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 3:16

Pray: Acts 2:42; I Timothy 2:8

Preaching: Acts 20:7

Lord’s Supper: Acts 20:7

Offering: I Corinthians 16:1-2

By keeping local church functions pure. Acts 20:28, 32; Philippians 4:15

By keeping local church structure pure.

By keeping the gospel pure. Romans 1:16; Matthew 15:8-9; II John 1:9

Galatians 1:6-12; Romans 1:16

Am I so living to glorify God?

Introduction

Do I love people like He did?

Mark 6:34 – Jesus has compassion on the crowd and teaches them.

Luke 7:12-15 – Jesus raises the widow’s son from the dead.

Luke 7:18-23

Luke 13:34 – Jesus expresses His love for Jerusalem even though they rejected Him.

John 11:32-36

John 13:5, 13-15 – Jesus washes the apostles’ feet.

Matthew 22:39; 5:34

Am I as devoted to the Father as He was?

Luke 2:46-49

John 8:26-29 – Jesus’ actions were perfectly aligned with the Father’s will.

John 4:31-34

Am I as dedicated to the truth as He was?

John 8:31

John 6:60-66

Mark 10:21 – Jesus loved the young man and corrected him.

Luke 9:26 – We can’t be ashamed of the truth.

Do I hate sin as much as He did?

Mark 3:1-5 – Jesus was angry at their sin!

John 2:13-17 – Jesus was angry enough at their sin to drive them out of the temple with a whip!

Do I continue in sin or do I repent?

I John 2:6