Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 8, 6; 5:32-33

God laid out the path for His people. Joshua 1:7

Proverbs 4:26-27; Deuteronomy 12:32

Proverbs 30:5-6

An example

Numbers 22:18 – Balaam could only speak from God. He could not speak what originated from himself.

Numbers 24:13

I Peter 4:11

Revelation 22:18-19

II John 1:9

II Timothy 3:16-17

New Testament authority

Matthew 7:21 – It isn’t enough to just to say Jesus’ name.

Galatians 3:15; Psalms 89:34

Galatians 1:6-9

I Corinthians 4:6

Matthew 16:19; John 15:20; 7:23; 10:35 (Matthew 5:18-19)

John 14:26; 16:13

I Corinthians 2:6-13; II Peter 1:20-21

Acts 2:39

At times, inspired men didn’t fully understand what they themselves said or wrote as prophecy. I Peter 1:10-12; Daniel 12:8-9

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Chapter 1: Trials

What is a trial? James 1:2

We are tested or approved.

How might trials look today?

Examples of trials à Conflicts, sufferings, troubles

Persecutions

Reasons we have trials (James 1:3-4)

Testing of your faith produces patience.

Trials fill the gaps in our character.

I Peter 1:6-7 (builds us up)

Romans 5:3-4 (perseverance, character, and hope)

Our attitude toward trials

Count it all joy – James 1:2

Be patient … let it have its work (James 1:3-4). Sometimes its turbulent. Matthew 14:25-32

James tells us “how to” endure trials.

If we lack wisdom (James 1:5) … ask of God … Pray.

But ask in faith and ask with no doubting. James 1:6

How can we doubt in prayer? Mark 11:23

Why is doubt wrong?

When we doubt we are tossed like waves driven by the wind.

This is how we gain wisdom. We endure trials and we ask in faith without doubting.

Remember that the wisdom of God starts with a genuine reverence for the Almighty. Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 9:10

Examples of trials

Trials and temptations (James 1:12-15)

There are blessings involved in enduring temptation.

Our reward is the crown of life that the Lord has promised.

It is possible to endure. James 1:12

Temptations are not from God. James 1:13

God is not tempted and does not tempt us. I Corinthians 10:13

James 1:14 – Temptation comes from our own desires.

James 1:15-16 – Desire leads to sin, sin leads to death.

Example: An addict … a habit, once acquired, eventually controls that person.

James 1:17-18 – Don’t be deceived, good and perfect gifts are from God. God doesn’t tempt us but our trials are there to strengthen us, to perfect and complete us.

Qualities we need

Genesis 6-8 is not just a story. It’s a historical account.

Romans 15:4

I Corinthians 1:11

Genesis 6-8

About 2500 B.C. The earth was roughly 2500 years old at this point.

Genesis 6:1-2 – We have numerous examples in the Bible of men being influenced to evil by women. Proverbs 31 shows that women can also be great influencers for good in the world. Ephesians 5:25.

Genesis 6:3 – II Peter 2:2-5; I Peter 3:20. God waited 120 years. Noah preached to try to get the people to repent.

Only adults were on the ark. Would you have gotten on the ark if there were no kids the age of your kids? What about if there were no adults your age?

There weren’t many people on the ark. Would you have gotten on the ark if there were only a few people?

Romans 6:3-4 – We are buried with Christ through baptism. We are not saved by water like Noah and those on the ark were. I Peter 3:21. If you reason that baptism is salvation by works, you wouldn’t have gotten on the ark!

Matthew 7:13-14

People that depend on “death bed repentance” would not have gotten on the ark.

Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28

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Genesis 1:1

Is there any reason to believe the Bible is true and that God exists?

Design implies a designer

Romans 1:18-20

Johnny Matheny and his bionic arm – obviously designed!

Stonehenge – obviously designed!

The universe – not designed?

The universe is too finely tuned to have been a cosmic accident.

Genesis 1:1-19

Psalms 19:1-6

Isaiah 45:18

Rebuttal: multiverse? “If you don’t want God, you’d better have a multiverse.”

A book – obviously designed!

DNA – not designed?

Francis Crick himself saw no way that DNA could have assembled on its own. He called it a “miracle.”

The SETI project even infers that information implies intelligence.

Outboard motor – obviously designed!

Bacterial flagellum – not designed?

The field of biomimicry is growing as we learn more from creation.

Job 38:1-7; 39:1, 5-6, 19-20, 26-27

Rebuttal: “God of the gaps” fallacy

II Peter 3:3

https://ApologeticsPress.org for further reading.

Acts 2:36-3:12

What can we learn from Peter’s sermon?

Be bold enough to speak up.

Use scripture, not opinion.

Acts 2:38 – See also Ephesians 1:4; I Peter 1:20.

Acts 2:39 – Peter said the promise extended to those “who are far off.” Paul later used the same wording to refer to Gentiles in Ephesians 2:11-18. Peter was alluding to Gentiles without even realizing what he was saying.

Acts 2:38, continued: The Holy Spirit had foretold (II Peter 1:21) the coming of this gift. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Isaiah 53:11; Joel 2:32. Many were baptized, but they could not perform miracles, so it is clear that this gift was not a miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The gift was salvation!

Acts 2:47 – This refers to God adding people to the church in the universal sense.

Introduction

Written to Theophilus, who here is referred to as a specific person.

Luke was the writer. The Holy Spirit was the author.

Filled with the Spirit (Luke 1:15-17; 41-42)

“Filled with” speaks, not of quantity, but of motivation. It speaks of cause and effect.

Luke 6:11

Acts 5:17-18

Acts 13:45

Acts 5:3

Acts 9:17-18

Ephesians 5:18-20

Luke 1:41-42

Luke 1:38 – This was a great demonstration of faith on Mary’s part, knowing that what she had just been told would be a miraculous feat.

Luke 1:50 – God will be merciful to the faithful in the judgment. Compare II Timothy 1:18.