For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
Romans 1:16 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.1.16.NLT
What things do we do that demonstrate to the world and even to ourselves that we are not ashamed?
What things can we do to grow bolder and more confident in the Word of God, in the Good News of Jesus Christ?
Will we do them?
Screenshots and notes/questions from tonight’s lesson:
Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.
Luke 1:1-4 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.1.1-4.NLT
Luke 1:1-4 Review
What was Luke’s purpose for writing this as described in verses 3&4?
The name Theophilus means “the one who loves God”. That is the commandment Christ gives us to fulfill, to love God. Do you think this book was just written to someone in history, or was it written to Christians?
Was it written to you? Are you the one who loves God?
Would people recognize that about you to describe you that way?
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
Acts of the Apostles 20:24 NLT
http://bible.com/116/act.20.24.NLT
My life without Christ at the center was worth nothing. The wrong and selfish choices that I made brought bad consequences for myself and for those around me. My carnal nature had me chasing sensuality and all kinds of temptations that never satisfied me long term, but only left me wanting more. I provided an example to others around me that led them into darkness and into their own bad consequences.
“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Luke 6:43-45 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.6.43-45.NLT
Continue reading “From Prisoner to the Flesh, to Student of the Word”
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:12-16 ESV
http://bible.com/59/php.2.12-16.ESV
So what’s the latest, popular preacher on the television selling these days? My guess is that it isn’t “fear and trembling”. That doesn’t seem to sell many books or tickle many ears these days.
Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
Acts of the Apostles 5:40-42 NLT
http://bible.com/116/act.5.40-42.NLT
There are some in the high councils of today’s religious bodies that tell people they can’t share the good news about Jesus Christ. They point to a lack of formal training. They point to someone’s past – that has not been hidden and made to appear perfect on the outside – as a disqualifier for sharing the gospel. Do they mistakenly believe that followers of Christ who seek to show Christ to the world are seeking the same titles and positions that they long for?
Regardless of your beliefs or your feelings about religion, we can all admit that we have been drawn to the questions of “what’s the meaning of life”, “how did everything come into existence”, and “is there anyone else out there”.
We can see through the history of mankind that these very questions have had men and women from different nations and backgrounds struggling to explain and understand these higher things, these questions that surpass our measuring and examination. And it has resulted in all kinds of differing and partial understanding of those things spiritual that transcend this physical world.
“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”
Acts of the Apostles 17:27-31 NLT
http://bible.com/116/act.17.27-31.NLT
Disobedience? Compliance? Obedience? Grace?
Disobedience
Do we know what disobedience is these days? Isn’t it choosing to do our own will instead of the will of God? What does scripture tell us about disobedience?
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
John 8:34-36 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.8.34-36.NLT
John 14:15 ESV
If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Luke 6:46 ESV
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
Continue reading “Disobedience? Compliance? Obedience? Grace?”
All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
Acts of the Apostles 4:32 NLT
http://bible.com/116/act.4.32.NLT
Imagine a body of believers united in heart and mind, dedicated to each other, not considering anything their own but God’s – sharing without a second thought when another is in need.
So what is the problem? What are our excuses?
When do names matter?
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12 ESV
http://bible.com/59/act.4.12.ESV
One name.
They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Acts of the Apostles 2:46-47 NLT
http://bible.com/116/act.2.46-47.NLT
Imagine how many people feel like their lives are missing joy and love and true friendship. Have you ever felt this way? The world’s constant marketing of “look out for yourself” and “do whatever YOU think is right” ends up boxing us up into isolated, separated lives. This is because when our desires are for ourselves, it puts us at odds and in conflict with the desires of others. The world becomes little more than convincing or manipulating someone else to agree with your desires and bartering and trading and working, hoping that we can build up enough leverage and wealth to control others so that we get what we want. This is a me against the world attitude that the world whispers in our ears.
Harold J. Ballinger 