To the church of God which is at Corinth

Corinth, the most important city in Greece during Paul’s day, was a bustling hub of worldwide commerce, degraded culture, and idolatrous religion.

There Paul founded a church (Acts 18:1-17), and two of his letters are addressed “to the church of God which is at Corinth.”

The Purpose of 1 Corinthians:  To identify problems in the Corinthian church, to offer solutions, and to teach the believers how to live for Christ in a corrupt society.

Life Lessons from 2 Thessalonians

1.  An understanding of the Day of the Lord will lead to lifestyle changes (1:1-12).

2.  Doctrinal error results in practical error (2; 3).

3.  The doctrine of the Lord’s return requires a balance between waiting and working (3:1-18).

Conclusion:  Read 2 Thessalonians and see clearly the reality of His return and your responsibility to live for Him until that day!

Life Lessons from 1 Thessalonians

1.  The Thessalonians were characterized by faith, love, hope, joy in the Holy Spirit, evangelism, patience and steadfastness (1:3-10; 3:6-8).

2.  The Thessalonians were exhorted to perfect what is lacking, increase and abound in love to one another and to all, abound more and more, increase more and more (2:13; 3:10-12; 4:1, 10; 5:23).

3.  The Thessalonians were to comfort one another with words – words pertaining to the second coming of Jesus (4:18; 5:11, 23-24).

Conclusion:  Read 1 Thessalonians and take hope in the reality of Christ’s return, the resurrection, and eternal life!

The 2nd Missionary Journey

Acts 15:36 – 18:22

50/51 AD

Paul and Silas

Timothy joins them in 16:1-5

Luke joins them at Troas (16:11)

Luke stays in Philippi (16:40)

Timothy and Silas leave Paul (17)

Timothy and Silas join Paul in Corinth (18:5)

Life Lessons from Galatians

1.  The gospel of grace is according to God’s eternal purpose (1:1, 4, 11-17; 3:6-9, 15-18; Genesis 12:3, 7; 13:15; 18:18; 22:18; 24:7; 26:4; 28:14).

2.  The law was given to drive men to faith, not to save them (3:19-22; 2:19-21; 6:14).

3.  Freedom from the condemnation of sin is not to be used “as an opportunity for the flesh;” rather, it provides the blessing of bearing the fruit of the Spirit by walking in dependence upon Him (5:1-26; 6:16-18).

Conclusion:  Read Galatians and recognize your freedom in Christ, step into the light and resolve to glorify God in your life!

Hidden in My Heart

"Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105; NKJV)

Aeneas & Dorcas

Confrontation: Sickness – Acts 9:32-35

Confrontation: Death – Acts 9:36-43

“…turned to the Lord.”

“…believed on the Lord.”

Signs/Wonders/Miracles – Word – GOD (Hebrews 2:1-4)

Acts 9:31

"Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied." (Acts 9:31; NKJV)

1.  Peace – harmonious relationships

2.  Edified – built up spiritually

3.  Walking – to lead or order one’s life

–Fear of the Lord – a wholesome dread of displeasing Him

–Comfort of the Holy Spirit – a calling to one’s side Multiplied – increase

Full of the Spirit

 Acts 6:3-6; NKJV

3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 

4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

How did they know that Stephen was full of the Spirit?

1. “Walk in the Spirit…” (GAL 5:16)

2. “…led by the Spirit…” (GAL 5:18)

“…love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (GAL 5:22-23)

3. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (GAL 5:25)

Blotted Out

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 3:19; NKJV)

—Ancient writing was upon papyrus.  —Ancient ink used no acid – it did not bite into papyrus as modern ink does – it simply lay upon the top of it.  —To erase one would take a wet sponge and simply wipe away.

—When GOD forgives our sins He wipes the slate clean with the blood of the Lamb!

The Lord's Church

"And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47; NKJV)

The Church Defined: “the called out people” (MATT 16:18)

—Relationship: We are the people who belong to Christ.

Responsibility: We are to keep ourselves separate from the world.

The Resurrection Appearances

"He is risen!"

•Early Sunday morning – Mary Magdalene, the Other Mary (the mother of James and Joses), Salome, Joanna, and other women bring spices to anoint the body of Jesus (MATT 28:1; MK 15:40; 16:1-2; LK 24:1-3, 10; JN 20:1)

•The question the women discuss (MK 16:3)

•Earthquake (MATT 28:2)

•An angel of the Lord rolled back the stone and sat on it (MATT 28:2-3; MK 16:4-5)

•Guards become like dead men (MATT 28:4)

•Mary Magdalene tells Peter and John (LK 24:10-12; JN 20:2)

•The angel speaks to the women (MATT 28:5-7; MK 16:6-7; LK 24:4-7)

•The women remember Jesus’ words (LK 24:8)

•The women leave the tomb (MATT 28:8; MK 16:8)

•The Soldiers are bribed (MATT 28:11-15)

•Peter and John run to the tomb (JN 20:3-10)

"…He was seen…”

•Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene (MK 16:9; JN 20:11-18)

•Jesus meets the women (MATT 28:9-10)

•The women tell those who had been with Jesus (MK 16:10-11; LK 24:9-10; JN 20:2)

•The 10 do not believe the women (LK 24:11)

•Jesus appears to Simon Peter (LK 24:34; 1 COR 15:5)

•Jesus appears to 2 disciples (Cleopas) on the Road to Emmaus (MK 16:12-13; LK 24:13-32)

•The 2 Emmaus Road disciples (Cleopas) tell the others (MK 16:13; LK 24:33-35)

•Jesus appears to the 11 (MK 16:14; LK 24:36-43; JN 20:19-23; 1 COR 15:5)

•Thomas (JN 20:24-29)

•7 disciples at breakfast (JN 21)

•500 brethren (1 COR 15:6)

•James (1 COR 15:7)

•All the apostles (1 COR 15:7)

•Paul (1 COR 15:8)

•John (REV 1:17-18)

Hidden in My Heart

"Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105; NKJV)

And Their Voices Prevailed

“But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified.  And their voices prevailed.” (Luke 23:23; ESV)

There are a lot of voices competing for our attention.  Only one matters.  Know His voice.  Listen to His voice.  Follow His voice.

“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” (John 10:28-29; NKJV)

Matthew 26:41

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41; NKJV)

Jesus defines each one of us in Matthew 26:41. Our spirit is willing. Our flesh is weak.

Jesus overcame temptation because He did not allow His flesh to control His spirit; His spirit controlled His flesh.

Go and do likewise...

Abundant Life

John 15:1-8; NKJV

1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

1. The Secret of Living is Fruitbearing

2. The Secret of Fruitbearing is Abiding

3. The Secret of Abiding is Obeying

4. The Secret of Obeying is Loving

5. The Secret of Loving is Knowing

No Part With Me

Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!"  Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." (John 13:8; NKJV)

Cleansing is impossible without the cooperation of the sinner.

I must accept His work, His service, and be thankful.

John 12:37-41

"But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him..." (John 12:37; NKJV).

They heard him preach.  They saw His the signs, wonders and miracles He performed.  Yet, they did not believe.  They were blinded and hardened by the light He came to give them.

Have a good heart.  See with you eyes.  Understand with your heart and turn to Him.  See His glory.

"This Generation"

According to Jesus, the events of Matthew 24:4-35 would take place during the present "generation" (v. 34).  The events of Matthew 24:4-35 took place in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem.  The events of Matthew 24:36 - 25:46 have yet to take place.  They will occur on the last day.

Consider the warnings of Jesus. 

Watch.  Be ready.  Be faithful.  Be wise.

Hidden in My Heart

"Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105; NKJV)

The Non-Triumph

“…when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him…” (John 12:12-13; NKJV)

Jesus enters Jerusalem, not as a king claiming His rightful throne, but as a servant seeking to give entirely of Himself to change the world forever.  Jesus isn’t paralleling the Roman triumph.  He’s subverting it, mocking it.   Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem is the antithesis of Empire, human pride and arrogance, vanity, the excess of Rome.

The Caesars of this world posture as deities and boast of grandeur.  They ride horses.  They sacrifice bulls to Jupiter to proclaim their own power and authority.

Christ Jesus, a divine presence on Earth, enters as a humble man.  He rides a donkey.  He Himself if the sacrifice, willing to surrender His power and pour out His very life to bring salvation to others. 

The Rich Young Ruler

"...he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." (Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-23)

Question:  What shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Answer:  You must have a wholehearted love for God.

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3)

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:33)

The Choice

1.  Come to Jesus.

2.  Go away sorrowful.
 

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

"I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though He may die, he shall live" (John 11:25; NKJV)

He is the very fountain, the author, the source of both…

Outside of Him there is neither resurrection nor life…

Here or hereafter…

He and He alone has the power to raise us from spiritual death – ROM 7:24 – 8:1; EPH 2:1, 5!

He and He alone has the power to raise us from physical death – John 11:25!

He took the concept of resurrection out of the realm of the theoretical and wrapped it in His flesh and blood reality.

Our present life, our future hope, our ultimate accountability to GOD, are all bound together in that grand truth.

Believe in Him!

He lives – And so shall we!

Our Elder Brother

The Elder Brother of Luke 15:11-32
 
1.  Receives his inheritance (12)
2.  Does nothing when his brother leaves
3.  The feast for his prodigal brother comes at great cost to him (22-23)
4.  He was angry with their father (28-30)
5.  He disrespected the father by not going in (28)
6.  He was angry with his brother (30)
7.  He didn’t understand the heart of their father (32)

The Elder Brother of Luke 15:11-32

1.  A deep anger (28)
2.  A joyless and mechanical obedience (29)
3.  A coldness to younger brother types (30)
4.  A lack of assurance of the Father’s love (29)
5.  An unforgiving, judgmental spirit (30)

Our Elder Brother (Hebrews 2:11-12) 

Came for us...

How do we get the Father’s robe?  Because He was stripped naked on the cross

How do we get the Father’s feast?   Because He took the cup of wrath that we might have the cup of joy

Our salvation comes at great cost to Him…

I Am the One Leper

"Were there not ten cleansed?  But where are the nine?" (Luke 17:17)

The Thanksgiving Lord

Have you noticed there were two thankful people in this story?
1.The leper
2.The Lord

Jesus was thankful for thankfulness.

The Thanksgiving Lecture

Thanksgiving, remember, is therapeutic.
It lifts the soul.
Begin intentionally thanking GOD and others for the blessings surrounding you.

Lessons from the Ten Lepers

1.  A sense of our spiritual leprosy should make us very humble whenever we draw near to Christ.

2.  We may look for GOD to meet us with mercy, when we are found in the way of obedience.

3.  The others only got the outward cure, he alone got the spiritual blessing.

Thanksgiving 2012

Q: Who am I?

A: I am the one leper.

Our Response to the Light of the World

"I am the light of the world" (John 8:12).

1.  Be enlightened! (John 1:9)

2.  Come out of the darkness! (1 John 1:5-6)

3.  Walk in the light! (1 John 1:7)

4.  Shine! (Philippians 2:15)

Hidden in My Heart

"Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105; NKJV)

Take His Cross

“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”  (Matthew 10:38; NKJV).

What did the word “cross” mean to this first-century audience?

The Symbol.  In Matthew 10:38, Jesus is not speaking of the “cross” of a difficult situation, a chronic disease or a nagging spouse.  I have heard devotional sermons spiritualizing the “cross” to mean everything from a cranky mother-in-law to a leaky roof.  But this is not what the word “cross” communicated to Jesus’ first century audience.  It did not call to their minds the idea of long-term difficulties or troublesome burdens.  It did not even evoke thoughts of Calvary because the Lord had not gone to the cross yet, and they did not understand that He would.

The Instrument.  Christ’s first-century audience thought of a cruel instrument of torture and death.  They thought of dying in the most agonizing method known to man.  They thought of the poor, condemned criminals hanging on crosses by the roadside.  Doubtless they had seen men executed in that fashion.  The Hasmonean ruler Alexander Jannaeus crucified 800 Pharisees (103-76 BC) and the Roman general Varus broke up a Jewish revolt by crucifying 2000 Jews on a single day in Jerusalem (6 AD).  It was customary for the condemned to carry their cross to the place of execution.  And it was a one-way journey.

The Call of Christ.  Jesus’ listeners knew He was asking them to die for Him.  They knew He was asking them to make the ultimate sacrifice, to surrender to Him as Lord in every sense.

A Life of Daily Self-Denial.  Jesus is not teaching salvation by martyrdom.  The Lord was not advising the disciples to try and get themselves killed for Him.  He was referring to a pattern, a direction, a lifestyle.  “I affirm, by the boasting in which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31; NKJV).  Genuine disciples do not shrink back, even in the face of death.  When confronted with a decision between serving self and serving the Lord, the true disciple is the one who chooses to serve the Lord, even at great personal expense.

Conclusion.  Take up your instrument of death.  Crucify yourself.  Allow Christ to live in you.  Live your life by faith in the Son of God, who loved you and gave Himself for you (Galatians 2:20).