Ephesians 5:15-21 -- "Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."


1. Make the most of every opportunity.

Ephesians 2:10 -- “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

2. Understand the Lord’s will.

Romans 8:29 – “…to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.”

I Thessalonians 4:3 – “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…”

I Thessalonians 5:18 – “…give thanks in all things for this is God’s will for you…”

Ephesians 5:17 – “Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what God wants you to do.”

3. Be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 – “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

4. Give thanks always.

Ephesians 5:20 -- …” always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 15:17-20

1. Plant Churches:

2. Teach the Bible:

3. Evangelize:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…
Romans 1:16

Matthew 28:16-20

And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.
Genesis 22:18

Vs. 17 - When they saw Him they worshipped Him.

Vs. 18 - All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
I Corinthians 15:14,16-17

All religions can be taught but only Christianity can be proclaimed!
G.K. Chesterton

Vs. 19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…

Vs. 20 - and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…

Vs. 20 - behold I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Acts 2:40-47

I. Church is a place to experience a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.

II. Church is a place where believers follow Jesus in baptism.

III. Church is a place devoted to the apostolic faith.

IV. Church is a place to connect (fellowship) with other people.

1. You open your hearts to one another.

2. You open your hands to one another.

3. You open your homes to one another.

V. Church is people fulfilling their calling through mission and service.

Acts 12: 1-24

I. God calls us to prayer

II. God hears our prayers

There are some things God will not do unless limited human beings pray.
John Wesley

III. God answers our prayers

Don’t wait till you feel faith before you pray. Sometimes praying is its own reward… it wins the day… it brings the breakthrough.

Jeremiah 8:18-22

You will be blessed as your heart breaks over something that breaks the heart of God.

What if God's greatest blessings come from God's greatest breakings?

It's better to hurt with a purpose than it is to exist without one.

I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel.
Romans 9:1-4a

I Samuel 3:1-21

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel! ”Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
I Samuel 3:10

That is an incredibly dangerous prayer! In this case, what God told Samuel was extremely difficult to hear!

Don’t ask God to speak—If you don’t want to hear what he says!

1. BE STILL.

“Be still, and know that I am God!"
Psalm 46:10

• God speaks through his Word.

• God speaks through people.

• God speaks through circumstances.

• God speaks through his Spirit.

2. BE WILLING

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:6

3. BE READY

Acts 4:1-22

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 
Acts 4:29

Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Acts 4:30

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 4:31

They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
Acts 5:18-20

1. Boldness almost always triggers spiritual opposition.

If you're not ready to face opposition for your obedience to God, you're not ready to be used by God.

2. Boldness often releases God’s miracles.

When you walk in obedience to God,
you won’t be surprised by the miracles of God.

3. Boldness always requires faith.

Nehemiah 8:3-8

I. Receptivity reflects generosity.

“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use. It will be measured to you; and to you who hear more will be given.”
Mark 4:23-24

Receptivity: Quickness to receive. Desire to be stimulated. Easily trained. Ready to respond.

II. Receptivity charges the atmosphere of your life.

III. Receptivity will open doors in your life.

“I know your works, see. I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name.”
Revelation 3:8

If you live receptive, then your desires will be greater than the obstacles.

Prayer: “Be Lord of what’s left of my life!”

IV. Receptivity triggers action in your life.

Colossians 4:2-6

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

1. From where do we find our moral framework?

2. From where do I find ultimate meaning in life?

a. A sense of Wonder
b. The awareness of Truth.
c. The experience of Love.
d. The knowledge of Security.

3. What about hope?

4. The supremacy of the practice of love.

The answers to life’s most important questions are not hard to find. Nor are they hard to agree to. But they can be very difficult to accept because it requires each one of us to change something about ourselves.

If you look for truth you will find comfort. But if you look for comfort you will get neither truth nor comfort only soft soap to begin with and in the end despair.
C.S. Lewis