Building Up the Body: Part I
1 Corinthians 12-14
Purpose: to use our God-given gifts to build up the body of Christ
- “Now Concerning Spiritual Gifts, Brethren” (1 Cor 12:1)
- One God: The Source of Unity in One Body (1 Cor 12 esp. vv 3-7, 13, 18-20)
- God’s Love: The Key Unifier (1 Cor 13)
The church’s unity finds its source in God Himself. His Spirit unifies His people into one body. God gives gifts to the body for the building up of itself in love (Eph 4:16).
What Does it Mean to Be the Church? Part II
Purpose: to biblically define key terms in the Christian church
- Why the Church? What is its Purpose? (Matt. 22:36-40; Mk. 12:29-31; Lk. 10:27;
Ex. 3:14; Jn. 8:58; Isa. 42:8; 45:23; Phil. 2:10; Jn. 12:28; Rom. 11:26; Rev. 1:17, 13)
To Love God and Love Others, the Great Commandments
For God’s glory!
To grow up into the Head, Jesus Christ (Eph 4:15)
The church is the bride, Christ is the Bridegroom (Eph 5, esp v. 23)
- What is the Doctrinal Authority of the Church? (Lk. 24:44-47; Gal. 1:8-9; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)
The Scriptures and the Gospel
- What are the Ordinances of the Church and Their Importance? (Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 6:1-14; 1 Cor. 11:20-26)
Baptism
The Lord’s Supper
The true church exists for the glory of God, for the love of God and neighbor. The true church has the Christian Scriptures and the gospel as her authority. Members in the church are identified by their faithful observance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
What Does it Mean to Be the Church? Part I
Purpose: to biblically define key terms in the Christian church
- Who Builds the Church? (Matt. 16:13-17; Eph. 1:22; 2:8-10; 5:23; Col. 1:18)
The Great Confession
- What is the Foundation of the Church? (Matt. 16:18-19; 21:42; 1 Pet. 2:7-10)
Jesus Christ, the Son of God
Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone
- What is the Church? (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 5:23-24; 1 Pet. 2:7-10)
A body of baptized believers
Christ is the Head
Distinctions of the church universal and local
- Who is a member in the Church? (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 1 Cor. 12:27)
Repentant believers who have been baptized
The Great Commission
The source of the true church is God Himself. Christ is the foundation and Head of His church. Believers in Jesus Christ are baptized into His church.
The Supreme Gospel!
Acts 21:15-40
Purpose: the Supremacy of the Gospel exalted by its vindication on trial!
- Reunion in Jerusalem (Acts 21:15-18)
- Report From the Harvest (Acts 21:19-20)
The Gospel is for Jews AND Gentiles!
- An Old Refrain Recurs (Acts 21:20-26)
See Acts 15:23-29
A Remedy Requested
- Paul Arrested! (Acts 21:27-29)
Remedy Rebuffed
Paul Remanded and Restrained
- Riotous Raucous Unrest! (Acts 21:30-36)
- Paul’s Response! (Acts 21:37-40)
Stage is set for Paul’s first of his five defenses of the Gospel!
Paul in Jerusalem (21:15-40)
The “Fuse Lit” when Paul Falsely Accused & Seized in the Temple (21:27-29)
TRIAL #1: Paul’s Public Trial on the Steps (22:1-21)
TRIAL #2: Paul Before the Council/Sanhedrin (23:1-29)
TRIAL 3#: Paul Before Felix (24:1-27)
TRIAL #4: Paul Before Festus (25:1-19)
TRIAL #5: Paul Before Agrippa (25:23-26:31)
Paul Sent to Rome (26:32, fulfills Jesus’ prophetic statement to Paul in 23:11!)
The Gospel may be on trial, but God and His Supreme Gospel are vindicated at every step!
A True Servant of Jesus Christ
Acts 20:17-38
Purpose: to see that a true servant of Christ …
- Perseveres! (Acts 20:17-21)
He does not shrink back from gospel ministry though facing adversity
- Sacrifices! (Acts 20:22-24)
He considers his own life less important than the ministry
- Guards the Sheep! (Acts 20:25-31)
He protects the flock by declaring the whole purpose of God
Pictures of the Problem:
1 Timothy 1:19–20; 4:1–5
2 Timothy 1:15; 2:17–18; 3:1–9
Revelation 2:1-7
2 Peter 2:1-3
- Commends! (Acts 20:32-38)
He commends his hearers to God!
A true servant is faithfully Christ-centered for himself, and for the church!
Gospel Triumph!
Acts 19:21-41
Purpose: The Gospel always prevails no matter the trial!
- Rome-ward Bound! (Acts 19:21-22)
- Pagan Opposition Rises (Acts 19:23-29)
- Providential Protection for Paul (Acts 19:30-31)
- A Climate of Confusion (Acts 19:32-34)
- Calm Prevails (Acts 19:35-41)
The Word of God is alive and active! He watches over His Word to perform it! (Hebrews 4:12; Jeremiah 1:12)
Be Disciples of Jesus Christ!
Acts 18:23-19:10 Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
Purpose: to explain the way of God more accurately, that you would be disciples of Jesus Christ!
There were people who identified with the gospel in various ways at Ephesus before Paul arrived. Priscilla and Aquila understood clearly. Apollos had a growing but not accurate understanding. Twelve disciples of John the Baptist whose faith was incorrect and incomplete.
- Apollos, a Strong Disciple in Need of Growth (Acts 18:23-28)
- Believe in the One John Proclaimed! (Acts 19:1-7)
- The Harvest is Plentiful! (Acts 19:8-10)
The Importance of Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ:
- The importance of the “Home Church” Antioch for Paul’s Missionary journeys
Acts 13:1-3; 14:26; 18:22
- The importance of a full understanding of Jesus Christ
A person must believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Acts 18:26
- The importance (and limitation) of John’s Baptism
Preparatory for something greater! Acts 19:4
- The importance of differentiating between servants and the Master
(see 1 Cor 1:10-13)
John the Baptist, Paul, Pricilla, Aquila, and Apollos are all only servants
- The importance of the gospel to those who hear (Acts 19:10)
Mission in the harvest (Matt 9:37; Luke 10:2; John 4:35)
Mission to the unreached (Matt 28:18-20; Rom 15:20; Rev 5:9; 7:9)
Being a true disciple of Jesus Christ holds Jesus above all others and unifies believers!
“Follow Me!”
John 12:12-26
Purpose: Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me” (John 12:26)
- Jesus Christ Fulfills Prophecy (John 12:12-19)
Psalm 118 around 1,000 B.C.
Zechariah 9:9-13 prophesied between 500 and 470 B.C.
When, exactly, did the disciples figure this out? (v. 16)
So how should we read and follow this today?
- The Hour Has Come for the Son of Man to be Glorified! (John 12:20-24)
The hour coincides with the all-time Greatest Salvation event, the true Passover!
The hour is “not yet” (John 2:4; John 7:6, 30; John 8:20)
The “hour has come” (John12:23; 13:1; 16:32; 17:1)
“The Son of Man” is Messianic! (from Daniel 7:13-14)
The Gospel is the Glorification of: Jesus the Messiah/Christ/King
The Son of Man
At Passover
In the death, burial, and resurrection of King Jesus (see 1 Cor 15)
- Follow Me! (John 12:25-26)
The difference between losing your life or keeping it to life eternal!
To “follow” is a call to life-long discipleship
“Follow Me” (John 1:43; 10:27; 12:26; 13:36; 21:19; 21:22)
What is your faith-answer to King Jesus calling you to “follow Me”?
You Can KNOW God!
Acts 17:16-34
Purpose: that we may know the One True Creator and Savior God Jesus Christ
- Making the Unknown, Known! (Acts 17:16-23)
- Knowing the True God (Acts 17:24-29)
A. This God is the living God, the Creator, the Lord of all things (v. 24)
He cannot be put in a templeB. He is the self-sufficient God who sustains life (v. 25)
C. He is the Sovereign God (vv. 26-29)
God made all nations from one man
God governs human history, boundaries, times, etc.
God is available to all if they will seek Him
God maintains our existence
The image of this Sovereign God is seen in us
- Knowing Jesus, the Risen and Returning Judge (Acts 17:30-31)
God commands all people everywhere to repent
There is a fixed day of judgment
He will judge all men by Jesus whom He raised from the dead
- Do You Know Him? (Acts 17:32-34)
Some sneered at him
Some wanted more
Some believed
The One True God is: Creator, Sustainer, Sovereign, Savior, and Judge. Have you repented? Do you know Him?
Nothing Can Stop the Gospel!
Acts 16:11-40
Purpose: To see how nothing can stop the Advance of the Gospel!
- Salvation… (Acts 16:11-15)
Proclamation (v. 13)
The Lord opened her heart to respond (v. 14)
Lydia and her household baptized (v. 15)
- Divination… (Acts 16:16-18)
The slave-girl had a spirit that knew what Paul was preaching!
- Competition… (Acts 16:19-21)
Profit and Power and Politics
- Persecution… (Acts 16:22-24)
Beaten and imprisoned!
- While in Prison… (Acts 16:25-26)
- Release x 2! (Acts 16:27-34)
Paul and Silas released (v. 27)
The Jailer released (vv. 29-34)
The Jailer and his household, Believers Baptized (vv. 33-34)
- The Gospel Unrestrained! (Acts 16:35-40)
The Holy Spirit empowers the gospel of Jesus Christ to freely move through peoples’ hearts, homes, opposition, persecution, and all obstacles, so that
“as many as” believe in Jesus are saved!