The Tabernacle Today

True or False Part 1

Acts 20:17-38

Today in our text we will see Paul both ___________________ and call for servant leadership among those who lead churches.

It will take 2 messages to cover this passage. This week we are going to look at the characteristics of True and Faithful Church Leaders. Next week we are going to look at characteristics of False Teachers.

The elders (verse 17) are also called overseers and shepherds in verse 28. The words are used ______________________ in scripture to speak of the same office.

All three words occur again together in 1 Peter 5:1-4.

The Intertwined Traits of a True Spiritual Leader Modeled by Paul:

____________________ life and love

Incarnation = In-Flesh-Ment John 1:14 John 15:13

____________________ service under the Chief Shepherd

Philippians 2:4-11

____________________ amidst difficulties past, present, and future

Paul’s words in verse 24 remind us of Jesus’ words of comfort in John 14-17.

____________________ the “whole counsel of God” in public and in private.

The core of a Bible-based message is proclaiming the truth, and calling for repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus. It involves ___________ the warnings and the comforts the Bible gives.

Romans 10:9-10

With God is not merely a matter of preaching style whether a preacher speaks the whole truth or not – it is a clear ______________ of preachers to both warn of sin’s consequences and comfort repenters/ believers with gospel hope. Those who don’t preach both will be judged severely as false teachers.

What is in Paul’s mind as he uses the words about being innocent of the blood? The Old Testament teaching on the prophet as __________________.

Ezekiel 33:1-11

Psalm 13 Worksheet

The Question, “How Long?” is typical of laments.

How many times does “How Long?” occur in the first two verses?

__________ times

<><

“If you constantly find yourself frustrated and thinking that there should be more than what you are experiencing, maybe it is because we are created for another world where there are no effects of sin!”  -C.S. Lewis

<><

This Psalm is a classic “Trouble and Trust” Psalm.

David again _________________ using his prayer time to urge himself to trust God despite his circumstances.

Verse 6 – “I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me!”

David used his prayer time to remind himself of past deliverances by God and past times of God’s ____________________. And He knew God was still at work in his life.

<><

Help me finish this verse from Job 13:15 – “Though he slay me, yet I will ______________ Him.”

<><

From our January 15, 2023, Sunday Service. Dr. Mooneyham's 30 years of faithful service at The Tabernacle blessed our church and community in more ways than we can count. To God be all the glory! Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mooneyham family during this time.  To view Dr. Mooneyham's obituary, click the link below: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/dr-lamarr-mooneyham-obituary?id=38644680

On the Field and in the Huddle

Acts 20:1-16

In today’s passage we read of a number of men from multiple cities travelling with the Apostle Paul as he wound up his 3rd missionary journey. We see them “on the field and in the huddle” with the apostle, and we’ll talk about how the Christian life is a mixture of ____________ and practically applying what we learn in everyday life.

On the Field V. 1-6

Romans 15:27 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Acts 14:21-22

Wherever Paul went he “______________ ________________” to his fellow disciples! That’s a business phrase that I love. It includes seeing work that needs to be done and doing it, but also developing other people while you are working together to achieve each other’s goals.

For the Christian leader, management is developing people through work, developing people while getting work done together.

“For I want very much to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” -Romans 1:11-12

2 Corinthians 11:23-33

How could they embrace such risks? John 3:16/John 20:21

God is sending __________________ now!

In the Huddle V. 7-12

New Testament aligned churches are to be _____________ churches: gather together in fellowship and prayer, observe baptism and the Lord’s Supper regularly, and learn from God’s playbook the Bible. Then depart and do ministry and missions until we gather again!

On the Field _____________________ V. 13-16

Psalm Chapter 12 Worksheet

Psalm 12 is another chiasmus in the original Hebrew.

A – Verse 1

B – Verse 2

C – Verses 3-5

B’ – Verses 6-7

A – Verse 8

The first and last verses contain the phrase “sons of men,” translated as human race in some translations. Vivid descriptions are given of sin’s __________________ on earth.

In Leviticus 18 God told His people that because the heathen people of the land committed fornication, adultery, multiple partners, incest, homosexuality, and bestiality, the land was ________________________ those people out – and the same would happen to them if they did what the Heathen did.

The second verse describes the words of the wicked men while the sixth and seventh verses describe the ___________________ words of the Lord.

What are man’s impure words contrasted with in verses 6-7?

The number 7 is used here to represent _______________________.

What is the clear contrast between the words of men and the words of the Lord presented in the pairing of concepts?

The middle verses of three, four and five show the punishment God will pour out on the wicked and the ________________________ He will give the oppressed.

Do you see what’s happening here?

The wicked keeps on smooth talking and gets into ____________________ trouble with God. The righteous doesn’t know what to say but groans to God and is brought to a safe place.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in all our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  -Romans 8:26-27

The Christian and Sexual Purity

LOVE, TRUTH, HOPE.

God put all those things in the Bible because of the very real and very present struggle Israel and then members of the early church had to be pure – the same struggle seen in our church and churches everywhere today!

Read Colossians 3:5-7 The Christian and sexual purity  Let’s Pray!

Every Christian is called to the “mortification” of their sexual sin V. 5

Last time we saw that believers are positionally dead to the sinful priorities they had when they were non-Christians. But because the old fleshly nature is still around, believers need to be practically killing sin every time it comes around.

“You must always be a killin’ sin, or sin will always be a killin’ you.”  -John Owen, On the Mortification of Sin

The Greek word for sexual immorality is porneia (G 4202) – that includes any sexual satisfaction gotten outside of the marriage covenant of a husband and his wife, including the use of pornography, pre-marital sex and adultery.

The Bible is clear that God’s perfect plan is for 100% of human sexual satisfaction to come between a husband and his wife, with 0% tolerance for pornography, pre-marital sex, or adultery.

Every non-Christian who refuses to repent is still heading for judgment V. 6

God allows turns to Him and U-turns back to Him V. 7

Disturbances about the Way Acts 19:21-41

Paul recognized that he had what they needed, even if they didn’t know it ________________________! He knew that the same gospel that had saved him out of his religion-based lostness could save them out of their idolatry-based lostness.

Paul’s Travel Plans  V. 21-22

Romans 15:15-29.

The Gospel is bad for businesses built on idolatry and ____________  V. 23-29

Demetrius and his co-workers made shrines and household idols of Artemis. Artemis is Greek and means the Great Mother. Her name in Latin is _____________________.

When the gospel makes its impact, those who make their living by helping people sin often become the church’s biggest ____________.

Don’t be surprised when __________________________ occurs   V. 29-34

In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. -2 Timothy 3:12 John 15:18-19

Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. Watch out for him yourself, because he strongly opposed our words.  -2 Timothy 4:14-15

Christians ________________________ the rule of law V. 35-41

Luke knew that more than just Christians would read the Book of Acts. Roman authorities would as well. And Luke wanted those authorities to know that Christians appreciated the Pax Romana, the

Romans 13:1-7 1 Timothy 2:1-4

The city official makes 3 points:

1. Ephesus’ reputation was secure

2. The Christians were innocent of any direct crime

3. They needed to resort to regular courts.

Our challenge: exist together with our neighbors in the public square WITH compassion, WITHOUT _____________________!

Ten Considerations for Christians living in the public square:

Don’t be surprised by opposition to your faith (John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12)

Understand: It’s not “us versus them,” but “us for them” (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Do be humble: you’re a sinner saved by God’s grace (Eph. 2:1-10; 1 Tim. 1:15)

Do deal with your own sin and idolatry (Matthew 7:1-5)

Do truly love people, and have compassion for them (Matt. 5:43-48; Matt. 9:36)

Do lovingly serve your fellow man (Mark 10:45; John 13:14)

Do be known for good deeds (2 Peter 3:13-17)

Do courageously share the gospel (Acts 4:18-20; Jude 22-23)

Share your testimony with gentleness and respect (2 Peter 3:15-16)

Honor everything you can without compromising your faith convictions (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-4)

Goodbye Gaslighting – Hello Truthliving!

Gaslighting is “the act or practice of grossly misleading someone especially for one’s own advantage.”

As I thought about the word gaslighting and the ways modern people are gaslighting others to believe their lies and call wrong and sinful things right, I thought about the best gaslighter, who was also the first gaslighter – Satan.

Read Colossians 3:1-4 Goodbye gaslighting, hello truthliving!  Let’s Pray!

If you are a believer, God says in today’s passage that there really is a sense in which you died with Jesus on that cross, were buried with Jesus in that tomb, were raised back to life with Jesus, and already dwell with Jesus in Heaven.

The believer’s past death, burial and resurrection with Christ has given them a guaranteed positional status as a saint of Heaven   V. 3

The believer’s future is physically being with Jesus in glory V. 4

The believer’s present is truthliving – increasingly matching our present walk with Christ up to our timeless position in Christ V. 1-2

Every time we as believers give in to sinful choices in response to the Devil’s gaslighting lies, we cheat ourselves out of the abundant life Jesus wants us to experience not just in the future but in the present, the eternal now!

The Symphony of Christmas

A symphony is a composition of different elements brought together under a skillful conductor’s hand, who orchestrates, or arranges the different elements to produce his or her desired effect!

Read Luke 2:1-20 The Symphony of Christmas Let’s Pray!

The All-encompassing Conductor’s Leadership  V. 1-7

Human rulers were making decrees to advance their empire’s interests, but the Divine Conductor was at work to bring to pass ancient prophecies to advance the Kingdom of God.

Joseph and Mary were doing what they had to do living in Roman occupied Israel, but the Divine Conductor was at work to bring to pass ancient prophecies to advance the Kingdom of God.

The Awe-inspiring Angelic choir sings  V. 8-14

The quick-acting shepherd’s movement  V. 15-20

Folks, we will know when revival comes – people will start acting like these shepherds – they will make haste to turn from their sin and run to see Jesus! Delayed obedience to Jesus will become the exception rather than the norm.

Psalm 11 Worksheet

A better translation of verse 1 would say, “The Lord is my refuge.”

The Hebrew word occurs __________ times in the Psalms, compared to 10 times in the REST of the Old Testament!

The only ____________________ refuge: YHWH! V. 1-2

The history of Old Testament Israel was one in which they rarely did most of the things their beautiful law had called for.

2 Kings 23:21-23

When David was harassed by Saul and others there really were not many places to go where he could find true refuge. So David did what we need to do: when he couldn’t go to a place of refuge, he went to a ____________________ of refuge!

THE Question: What can the righteous do? V. 3

It takes a long time to ___________________ an exceptional life and reputation, but it can be seriously damaged quickly by reckless sins.

The Answers: What the righteous CAN do – V. 4-7

1. Realize God is still on His throne and ____________________ engaged!

2. Don’t make America’s problems ___________ with your own wrecking ball

3. Pick up your hammer and ___________________ what you can!

I am calling out everyone who hears this to do something when you come together with other believers: spend ____________________ time strategizing and actually rebuilding America than complaining about what lies in ruins.