May 30, 2021 - Acts 21:27-36 – Welcome to Jerusalem

June 27, 2021 - Acts 23:12-31 - Plots Foiled

Acts 23:12-35 – Plots Foiled June 27, 2021 Actors, Motivations, and Actions Forty-plus Jewish Conspirators Paul’s Nephew Roman Commander Felix God’s Sovereignty For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16-17) Balak and Balaam (Numbers 22-24) Numbers 22:5, 22:12, 22:20, 22:25-35, 24:10-13 Naomi and Ruth (Ruth 1-4) Ruth 1:16, 4:14-17 Plots Persist Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) God’s Sovereignty Prevails Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your [brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.  To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:6-11)

June 20, 2021 - Acts 23:1-11 - Paul Before the Council

Acts 23:1-11 – Paul before the Council June 20, 2021 A Perfectly Good Conscience An Audacious Claim Acts 22:4, 7-8, Romans 3:23, 1 Timothy 15 Cleansed by Christ Colossians 1:21-22, Acts 24:16 Maintaining a Good Conscience Self-Examination 1 John 1:8 Confession 1 John 1:9, James 5:16 Reconciliation Matthew 5:23-24 Integrity John 18:22-23, Matthew 23:27, Ephesians 4:1-3, Titus 2:7-8 Shrewdness Matthew 10:16-20 Paul Put the Focus on the Gospel 1 Corinthians 15:13-14, Titus 3:5-9 God’s Confirmation and Encouragement Jude 24-25

May 16, 2021 - Acts 21:1-14 – Hearing and Doing

Acts 21:1-14 – Hearing and Doing May 16, 2021 Hearing and Doing But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;  for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but [an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25) Obstacles to Doing Incomplete Understanding of What Has Been Heard For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.  But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:9-13) Complete Understanding through Devotion to God… But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24) …and Dependence on One Another But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:7-8) Fear Faith – Defines our Standing and Destination Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. (Hebrews 10:19-22) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Courage – For All the Uncertainty in Between Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and [b]discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) Courageously Do In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (Proverbs 14:23) Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Galatians 6:9) Pleasing Others Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Colossians 3:23-24) Just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4) Perfectionism Jesus said, “You are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Paul wrote, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12) Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God. (2 Corinthians 3:4-5)

May 30, 2021 - Acts 21:27-36 – Welcome to Jerusalem

Acts 21:27-36 – Welcome to Jerusalem May 30, 2021 In the Company of those Slanderously Accused They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law. (Acts 6:13) Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” (Luke 23:1-2) A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! (Matthew 10:24-25) Responding to Slander If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. (Romans 12:18) Persevere in Good Deeds Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12) Commit Your Reputation to the Lord Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4) Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. (Matthew 10:26) Gently Confront the Slanderer Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:13-16) If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. (Matthew 18:15) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21) Affirm Your Identity in Christ For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10) It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:14-16) Brother, if any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him; for you are worse than he thinks you to be. (Charles Spurgeon) Acknowledgment: Gavin Ortlund, 3 Ways to Respond When Slandered, thegospelcoalition.org, October 21, 2016

May 23, 2021 - Acts 21:15-26 – All Things to All Men

Acts 21:15-26 – All Things to All Men May 23, 2021 False Reports Romans 2:28-29, Romans 3:1-2 An Act to Appease Purpose and Conditions of the Nazirite Vow Numbers 6:1-8 Completing the Vow Numbers 6:13-18 Not Necessary for Salvation Romans 3:19-24 Characteristic of Paul’s Approach to Ministry For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) Becoming All Things to All Men Consideration and Compassion, not Conformance or Compromise 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, Isaiah 5:20, Colossians 3:12-13, Ephesians 4:32 Humility, not condescension Philippians 2:3-8, Romans 12:3,16