Quiet Times Search

The Greek word for encourage is "Parakaleo"

• It is used 28x in the gospels and acts
• Most frequent is the sense of "to beg" or "to plead" or "to comfort"
• Command form is translated "I urge you"- end of the first part of a letter or begging of the second section
• Depends on the speaker
  • Parent asking for healing for a sick child = to beg or plead
  • Leader addressing a group of disciples = to encourage

Greek Lexicon

1. To call to one's side; Come-on-we-can-do-this attitude
2. Appeal to, urge, exhort, encourage
3. Entreat, implore, comfort, and cheer up

Old French word encoragier = to put courage in

• NIV = spur on
• KJV = provoke
• CSB - promote
• NASB - stimulate

1. Stirring up, provoking - only used here in the NT
2. irritation, sharp disagreement - only Acts 15:39
3. Attack of high fever - not in NT

1. Sudden violent outburst
2. Fit of violent action or emotion
3. A severe medically attack

• Pray for their needs and let them know that you are
• Share scripture that you believe will be relevant
• When they share struggles - ask them about it consistently
• Do not be afraid to give someone a bold challenge

• First converts - Lydia and her household
• The jailer and his house hold
• God using an earthquake to bring unlikely people into the kingdom of God - Acts 16:22

Paul set an example for them by facing frustration with faith - lesson for us as well
Whatever happens...in a manner worthy of the gospel

It is not just a good moral life; is is united with each other - standing firm in one spirit

Jesus died to bring us together
1st century - no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own - Acts 4:32
An autonomous Christian was unknown to the biblical writters

Staying in the fellowship means:

• Suffering
• Extra work
• Carrying each other's burdens

The world needs to see men, women, singles, marrieds, teens, all races, rich and poor brought together as "one man".

• Three days of fasting and prayer? - Acts 9:9
• After 3 years of personal training? - Galatians 1:11-24
• After a visit to the 3 heaven? - 2 Corinthians 12:1-6

• Give when you are tired
• Pray when you do not want to
• Stand your ground against emotions and thoughts
• Overcome fear and to love in practical, unselfish way

• Follower of Jesus - Mark 1:18
• Apostle - Mark 3:14
• Chief apostle - Matthew 16:18
• Leader of Jerusalem church - Acts 2:14
• Traveling mission evangelist - Acts 8:14
• Martyr - John 21:19

• v20 - I have not hesitated to preach
• v21 - Declared that everyone must turn to God in repentance
• v23 - Faced hardships
• v24 - Meant everything to testify to the "gospel of grace"
• v26, 27 - I am innocent of the blood of all men

• Because he proclaimed the whole will of God
• Did not hesitate
• Ezekiel 33:6 - But suppose the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people. Then the sword comes and takes one of their lives. He is swept away for his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for that person's death.

• Paul had an encounter with Jesus
  • Encounters with Jesus are significant
  • Paul understood he was living in opposition to Jesus - killing Christians (people following Christ)
    
  • Don't want to be on the opposite side of the battle from God
  • Where are you at today? Do you know?
  • Share
    • Grow up religious - Every Sunday - through High School
      
    • Ask to come to church, study the Bible
    • Saw life and heart wasn't matching; my sin was in opposition to God
    • Tried to make it personal - mean and angry (Hoping the standard would changed)
    • They were there to help
• Paul had the humility to ask "What shall I do?" - v10
  • Paul had a heart of humility to be taught - Bible
    
  • Could have brought up his religiousness or accomplishments
  • Opened himself up to anything, Not "I'm sorry, won't do that again"
    
• Paul was religious all this life and had the heart to immediately obey and be baptized - v16
  • Perhaps, God uses the life of Paul to prepare our hearts for surrender
    
  • What have you been holding on to instead of Jesus? What is stopping you?

Preached by unknown - 2004-03-21

1. Gave his one and only - John 3:16
Giving defined by God
What is your one and only?

2. He became poor for us - 2 Corinthians 8:9
Who and how are we becoming poor for others?

3. Many thanks to God - 2 Corinthians 9:11

4. God loves a cheerful giver- 2 Corinthians 9:7
Is our giving cheerfully?

5. More than enough - Exodus 35:1-36:7
Do I ever shoot to give more?
What if you changed one thing per day?
Extended yourself all the time

6. Burnt offering worth nothing - 2 Samuel 24:18

7. Rich generosity - 2 Corinthians 8:1-4
Grace is an undeserved gift Give in poor areas?

8. All she had to live on - Mark 12:41-44

9. It is more blessed to give than receive - Acts 20:35

10. Test me in this - Malachi 3:6-12

• Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
• Tree of Life

• Jesus spoke the truth without concern for opposition
•  What do you need to say to who?

• Jesus stood up for people
• Who do you need to stand up for?

• Jesus felt other's pain
•  People have more pain their lives than you think
•  Who needs your help?

• Throughout all our trials, Jesus kept going
• What could stop you?

Restoration of the world is play out each spring and summer
Jesus preached more than sin management and forgiveness

He annouced the coming of the kingdom of God

• Preaching the good news of the kingdom - Matthew 4:23
• Repent and believe the good news - Mark 1:15
• Proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God - Luke 8:1
• He appeared to them for 40 days and spokr about the kingdom of God - Acts 1:3

God's kingdom - his will is done "on earth as it is in heaven"
In heaven, everything is as it was meant to be
Isn't every one of our sorrows on earth the result of things not being as they were meant to be?

Jesus healed every disease and sickness among the people - Matthew 4:23
He spoke and the kingdom of God and healed those who needed healing - Luke 9:11 

With beauty, we need not fear indulging here
There is not a possessive quality to it
You can love the landscape without acquiring the real estate

Beauty is the closest thing we have to fullness without possessing on this side of eternity

Two kinds of losses in life:

1. Shared by all mankind - accidents,  fate, acts of God
2. Only know by the pilgrim - losses that we choose. We give up something that wasn't ours to begin with

Spiritual surrender is not resignation
Not choosing to care longer
Not an attempt to get beyond the suffering

It is surrender with desire

• Do not rush the field - Luke 14:31
• Train yourself to discern good from evil - Hebrews 5:14
• Live as through your life is at stake - Matthew 10:16

• Against "wisdom", the disciples were asked to go Saul, the one who used to murder Christians, and lay his hands on him - Acts 9:13-14
• Would you counsel a father to sacrifice his only child?
• Take on a fortified city by slashing your ranks from 32,000 to 300?
• Jesus to give himself up to the authorities and let himself get killed

• They lived together
• Ate together
• Fought together
• Celebrated together

• Frodo hasn't a chance without Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli
• Neo is set free from the Matrix and joins the crew of the Nebuchadnezzar
• Dorthy, the Scarecrow, Tin man, and the Lion
• Band of Brothers - enough said
  
• Prince Caspian with a faithful few Narnians
  
• Maximus rallies his little band
• Captain John Miller and is squad of eight to save Private Ryan
• Jesus had his Tweleve

• Broke bread in their homes and ate together - Acts 2:46
• The church meet in houses - 1 Corinthians 16:19
• House church at Nymph's house - Colossians 4:15

• They all love the same thing
• They all wanted the same thing
• They were bound together to find it come hell or high water

1. The Blessing of Giving - Acts 20:33-35
   1. Paul did not desire anyone else's money or possessions.
   2. He worked hard and sacrificed to help the weak.
   3. He knew that giving brought more joy than receiving.
2. Living for Eternal Possessions - Matthew 6:19-21; Hebrews 10:32-34
   1. When our treasure is in heaven not on earth, our hearts will be in heaven also.
   2. As disciples, we will look foolish to the world because our hearts and our treasures (money) are in heaven not on earth.
3. All Things For Our Enjoyment - 1 Timothy 6:17-18
   1. It is very easy for us who have wealth to put our hope and trust in money/things rather than God.
   2. As disciples we are commanded to be generous and willing to share.
   3. When we follow God"s plan we can feel great about enjoying the blessings God has given us.

1. Which do I desire more, to give or to receive?
2. How can I put all my treasure in heaven so that all my heart will be there also?
3. How am I being generous and willing to share on a daily basis?
4. Am I enjoying God's blessings or do I feel guilty about the things I have?

1. The Old Testament Precedent - Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 1:13-14
   1. The Israelites were commanded to give a tenth (tithe) of all their income to the Lord
   2. The Israelites had many other kinds of sacrifices (e.g. burnt, sin, grain, fellowship offerings) in addition to the tithe. The Israelites actually gave up to 33% of their income to God.
   3. The sacrifices were to be the best available. God will not accept a second rate sacrifice.
2. New Testament Examples
   1. The Widow - Mark 12:41-44
      She was commended not for what she gave, but her giving heart. She was totally dependent on God.
   2. Barnabas - Acts 4:36-37
      He sold his property and gave all the proceeds from the sale to meet the needs of the church.
   3. The Macedonians - 2 Corinthians 8:1-3
      They gave beyond their ability even though they were extremely poor
3. True Sacrifice Costs Something - 2 Samuel 24:21-25
   1. David refused to sacrifice to God something that cost him nothing.

1. Am I giving my best to God in my weekly giving? Do I give to God first out of my pay or out of what is left over?
2. What percentage of my income am I giving in my weekly contribution?
3. What am I willing to sell or sacrifice for the special contribution?

1. Jesus' Example - 2 Corinthians 8:9, Luke 9:57-58
   1. Jesus chose to live sacrificially. He gave up heaven itself.
   2. He became poor so the world could be saved.
2. The Need for Sacrificial Living
   1. To meet the physical needs of others. (2 Corinthians 8:13-15; Acts 4:34-37)
      1. Paul wanted those who had plenty to sacrifice for those who were in need.
      2. The first century Christians sacrificed so there would be no needy people among them.
   2. To support full-time workers so the world would be evangelized. (Philippians 4:10-19)
      1. Paul commended the Philippians for the aid they had sent him.
      2. He considered their gifts to him as a sacrifice to God.
   3. There was always a purpose in the Bible for living sacrificially. It was never to sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice alone.

1. In what ways can I choose to live more sacrificially in order to have money to give to meet needs?
   Examples:
   • Cut food budget
   • Limit or eliminate eating out for a time to save for a special contribution
   • Use creativity during dates in order to save money
   • Stop impulse spending (vending machines, fast food, etc.)
2. Am I willing to "become poor" so that others can have the opportunity to become Christians?

1. God's Plan for Your Life - Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 3:13, 22; 2 Thessalonians 3:10
   1. It is God's will for us to work hard in order to earn the bread we eat.
   2. God wants us to find satisfaction in our work.
   3. If a person will not work, he cannot eat.
2. Responsibility of the Employee - Colossians 3:22-25; Ephesians 4:28; Acts 5:29
   1. Obedience: We are to be a disciple to our boss on the job. God expects us to obey our boss not just to win his favor, but out of reverence for Christ.
   2. Wholeheartedness: God expects us to put our whole heart into our work. As Christians, we should be the most sincere and hard-working employees on the job.
   3. Do not steal from your employer (e.g. receiving pay for work you did not do, taking supplies, submitting false or exaggerated expense reports).
   4. Obey God first. If asked to do something that is illegal, unethical, or sinful - obey God over men.

1. What do I need to repent of in relation to my job? Be specific.
2. Am I doing anything as a part of my job that is sinful or goes against my conscience?

• Heroic acts of wisdom - Acts 2:14
• Boldness and courage
• Healings - Acts 5:15-16

• Blood of Jesus
• Word of our testimony - Revelation 12:11

What are you looking for in life?

Acts 17:16-28

• Ever ask yourself: “What on earth am I here for?” You aren’t alone!
• Why did God create you and bring you to this very point and time in your life? So that you would seek him and
  find him in order to have a personal relationship with him.
• Who takes the initiative in seeking this relationship? Because God loves us and desires a relationship with us, he has been actively determining times and places long before we ever thought about seeking him (Psalms 14:2-3).
• Why do so few seem to be seeking today?
  • God is unknown and the image many have of him is distorted v23
  • We have created our own god. We all worship something.
  • To seek God, we must be willing to change our ideas about who God is to match what has been revealed to us in the Bible
• There is nothing more important or exciting in life than to seek and to find our Creator God.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

• We will find God if we seek Him with all our heart.
  
• Have you ever done something with all your heart? What is it?
  
• What will it mean for you to seek God with all your heart?

Examples of those seeking God:

Ethiopian eunuch - Acts 8:26-40

• What do we know about this seeker?
  • He is important and therefore certainly busy, but still finds time for God.
  • He reads the Scriptures himself and asks questions about what he is reading.
  • He is humble and sincere enough in his search to ask for help.
    
  • What he learns he acts on right away, as seen with his baptism.
• How did he feel after coming to know God better?
  
• The burning questions he had about God were answered in an afternoon.
  

Bereans - Acts 17:10-12

• What was it about these Berean seekers that made Luke refer to them as having “noble character”?
  • Enthusiastic
  • Great Eagerness - explain
    
  • Examined the scriptures daily
    
• Why was it important for them to “examine the Scriptures every day” for themselves?
• What was the result of this eager yet diligent attitude?
  
• As with prayer, reading the Bible is vitally important to knowing God.

• Knowing Jesus is not just an intellectual exercise.
  
• The goal of the Christian is to obey his commands and become more and more like him
  • to think like Jesus
  • to act like Jesus
  • to live like Jesus.

• Jesus claimed to be the only way, not a way.
  
• He claimed to be the whole truth and not one truth among many.
  
• He said he was the life, not just a better life.
  
• How important is it that we put our faith, our trust, our obedience in Jesus?
• It is the most important decision of your life - Acts 4:12

• We are ultimately responsible for what we believe.
  
• Religious leaders can be wrong, so we cannot be lazy.
  
• Review in greater depth the lessons and sermons you hear to be sure about what you are being taught.
  
• Are you willing to take personal responsibility for knowing what the Bible says?
  

• The Bible is more than just words on a page.
  
• We need to develop a thirst and devotion to the word of God.
  
• How eager are you to regularly meditate on the Scriptures?
  

• Our attitude should be one of humility, reverence and awe for God’s word.
  
• Are you willing to live by the Bible, taking God at his Word in your relationship with him?
• Are you willing to trust God’s Word above your own feelings, religious traditions or religious leaders?
• Will you seek to understand God’s will and ways through his inspired Word?

• Sin is the fundamentally “un-God-ward” orientation of our “flesh” or “sinful nature” and finds expression in many different ways. Emphasize “and the like.”
  
• What is the common element in all these things? Self-centeredness.
  
• Be as specific as necessary to explain and share from your own life about the sins listed. How do you see yourself in these verses? What sins have been characteristic of your own sinful nature? (If needed, look at additional Scriptures which catalog sins.)

• We are sinful and in need of forgiveness not only as a result of those sins we have committed, but for failing to do the good that we know to do.

• How does sin enslave?
  
• Note that sin is a power that must be defeated as well as specific acts that must be repented of.
  
• Who alone can set us free from sin? (John 8:31-36)

• What are the eternal consequences of sin?
  
• Why be urgent to learn about receiving the gift of God that comes through Jesus Christ?
  
• Review these verses as honestly as you can to get in touch with the bad news about your own sinfulness. In the next couple of studies, we will look at the good news of God’s solution to our bondage to sin. (Note: In some instances it is important to have the person articulate how he or she was saved or forgiven of sin before examining the Bible’s teaching about salvation.)

Luke 13:1-5, 6-9

• Jesus preaches that without repentance, we will all perish.
• He likewise expects to find fruit every time there is true repentance.
• The Greek word for repentance, metanoia, signifies a “turning,” a “change of heart and mind.”
• When we discover we’ve been going the wrong way on a one-way street, we immediately turn around (repent) and go in the opposite
  direction. In this case, we turn from a selfish life that has marginalized God to a life that makes God the center of our devotion, our faith, our obedience.

Luke 3:7-14

• The tangible fruit of repentance is the evidence of a changed mindset.
• John the Baptist insisted on repentance before baptism.
• If you were to ask John, “What should I do?” how would he respond to you?

Acts 26:15-21

• Jesus gives Paul the charge to “open their eyes” so that “they may turn” and prove their repentance by their deeds.
• Repentance involves a new perspective, a turning of allegiance, and fruit.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

• God’s plan to bring salvation to the world culminated in the death, burial and resurrection of his Son,Jesus Christ.
• This is the heart of the “gospel” or good news about Jesus.
• Draw picture - Through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is now available.
• In this study we will look at the Bible’s teaching about baptism, a crucial link between Christ’s sacrifice and the forgiveness of our sins.

Acts 2:36-41

• The first proclamation of the good news of Jesus after his departure.
• What did Peter instruct those to do who believed the message about Jesus?
• When do we receive the forgiveness of sins? The Holy Spirit? (More on this later.)
• Those who accepted this message were baptized, thus they were saved.
• Let’s look at some passages that describe more fully what takes place in baptism…

Romans 6:1-4

• In baptism, we are united with Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection.
• Through baptism, we die to sin and are raised to a new life.

Ephesians 1:3-10

• An important New Testament teaching: every spiritual blessing from God is found “in Christ.”
• What are some of those blessings listed here? (Sonship, adoption, grace, redemption, forgiveness…)
• So how does a person enter “into Christ”? (Next passage.)

Galatians 3:26-29

• We are baptized “into Christ.” Note that Paul did not consider faith and baptism to be contradictory.
• Baptism is a tangible expression of faith that places us “in Christ” where salvation occurs.

Infant Baptism? Colossians 2:11-12

• Baptism is an immersion in water (from the Greek baptizo meaning “plunge, dip, immerse” - see Acts 8:38-39), but it does not operate “automatically” apart from the faith of the one who is baptized.
• Can an infant believe? Repent of sin? And what sins need to be forgiven?
• Ezekiel 18:20: Contrary to the widely held doctrine of “original sin,” guilt for sin is not inherited from our parents.
• We are guilty for our own sins and saved by grace through our own response of faith.

Sinner’s Prayer? 1 Peter 3:21

• Some claim that a person needs only to pray a “sinner’s prayer” or “ask Jesus into his/her heart” in order to be saved.
• This is the predominant view in the evangelical Christian world. However, this is not the message that was preached in the Book of Acts.
• Everyone was called to repentance, faith and baptism, and as Peter wrote here, “baptism now saves us” by the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

Acts 22:7-16

• After encountering Jesus, repenting, praying, fasting (Acts 9:9-11), being healed, and being called by God,
  Paul remains in sin.
• What was left for him to do?
• Why the urgency - what is so pressing about the need for baptism?
• What remains for you to do or think about before you are ready to be united with Christ in baptism?

Acts 11:25-26

• To call oneself a Christian can mean many different things to people today.
• The name “Christian” was applied for the 1st time to disciples at Antioch, about 7 years after the beginning of the church.
• How many times is the word “Christian” used in NT? (Three times.)
• How many times is the word “disciple” used? (About 300 times.)
• What is a disciple? A disciple is a learner who strives to conform his thoughts, words and actions to those of his master.
• To understand what it means to live as a Christian today, we will start by looking at Jesus’ expectations for those who would be his disciples . . .

Mark 1:16-20

• Call of the first disciples: “Follow me.”
• A disciple asks himself, “What would Jesus do?” then strives to do it - regardless of the cost.
• A disciple of Jesus has the same purpose as Jesus: to be a fisher of men.  What does this mean?
• What did they abandon to follow Jesus? Everything! (job, possessions, family)

Acts 2:36-38 - At baptism, we are not only forgiven by Jesus’ death to begin a new life, we are also filled
with the Holy Spirit.

John 3:1-8 - Jesus taught that we must be born again via water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God.

John 7:37-39 - After Jesus’ glorification (crucifixion, resurrection and ascension), God sent his Spirit to
flow from within us like streams of running water. Previously (Old Testament), the Spirit came upon
people. Now, he dwells within us.

John 16:5-15 - One of the primary roles of the Spirit is to convict us (and the world) with regard to sin,
righteousness, and judgment. He does this in harmony with (though not exclusively through) his Word,
which he gave to the Apostles as they were guided into all truth.

Acts 2:40-47

• The first 3000 converts joined together in devotion to the Apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
• A beautiful view of the early church. How would you like to be part of such a church?

Romans 12:1-8

• The church is a community of people
  • devoted to God (vv1-2)
  • belonging to one another (vv3-5) 
  • devoted to one another (vv 6-10).

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

• The Spirit baptizes us into the body of Jesus, his church.
• The church consists of distinct yet unified parts, just like a human body.
• God himself has arranged it this way.
• We are the church; each of us must actively look for the distinct yet unified ways we are to support this body.
• How will you help build up the body of Christ?

How should we use God’s Word?

1. James 1:22 - Do what it says!
2. Acts 17:11 - Examine it daily
3. Hebrews 4:12-13
   1. Use it to find what our hearts are really and change that which is not pleasing to God
   2. Use it as a “scalpel” to cut the sin in our lives and in the lives of others
4. John 20:28, Romans 10:17 – Deepen our faith in Christ.

• 2 Timothy 1:7 - The Holy Spirit
• 2 Corinthians 3:12 - Hope
• Romans 1:16, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - Conviction

• Pride – being afraid of what others think
• Small convictions – not seeing people as lost
• Selfishness – not caring about the lost
• Faithlessness – doubting that the harvest is great

1. Matthew 4:4 - We need it to survive. Why do you eat every day? We need to “feed” ourselves daily on God’s Word
2. Deuteronomy 33:44-47 - Not mere words but they are your life.
3. John 12:47-48 - God will use it as the standard of judgment. Example: Final exam for college course - the test will be form the text.

1. James 1:22 - Do what it says!
2.  Acts 17:11 - Examine it daily
3. Hebrews 4:12-13
   • Use it to find what our hearts are really and change that which is not pleasing to God
   • Use it as a “scalpel” to cut the sin in our lives and in the lives of others
4. John 20:28, Romans 10:17 – Deepen our faith in Christ.

1. Singing - Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 3:19; James 5:13
   • To teach
   • To give thanks and express joy
   • To make music and praise God
2. The Lord’s Supper - 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
   • To remember - v24
   • To proclaim - v26
   • To examine - v28-29
   • On the first day of the week - Acts 20:7
3. Prayer - 1 Timothy 2:1-8
   • For peaceful and quiet lives (ie no persecution)
   • With hands (ie a holy life)
   • To advance the gospel - v4-6

• Generously - 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 9:6-11, Luke 16:13-16
• Weekly - 1 Corinthians 16:1
• To advance the gospel - Philippians 4:14-16, Titus 3:13-14
• To meet the saints’ needs - Romans 15:25-27, Acts 2:44-45

1. Evangelism - Philippians 2:14-16, Colossians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:8, 1 Peter 2:9
   
2. Serving
   • Serving food - Acts 6:1-4
   • Providing clothes - Acts 9:36-39
   • Looking after its orphans and widows - 1 Timothy 5:16, James 1:27
   • Showing hospitality - 1 Corinthians 16:5-6, 3 John 5-8, Hebrews 13:!2
   • 1 John 3:16-17, James 2:15-16, Matthew 25:34-36

1. Acts 2:45, 1 John 3:17 - Material needs
2. Colossians 1:28-29 - Toil to present one another perfect (mature, complete) in Christ.
3. Ephesians 4:29 - Say only what is edifying.
4. Hebrews 3:12-13 - Encourage daily!

1. Respect those who work hard
2. Live in peace with each other
3. Warn the idle
4. Encourage the timid
5. Help the weak
6. Be patient with everyone
   

• About our sins and struggles
• About our marriage/relationship.

• v12 - Everyone that want to live a Godly life will have to go through persecution
• Question: What do you think that means - being persecuted for living a Godly life?
• v14-15 - Apostle Paul instructs Timothy to continue to believe to believe in the scriptures because it is able to make you wise in the choices of life
• v4:4 - Bible says that people will start to listen to and follow man (ideas and myths) rather than God
• If we read the Bible daily then we will know God's will for our lives. If we don't we will start to follow what people say, think, and feel.
• Question: How can reading the Bible daily change your life? What happens if you don't read daily?
• Question: Why do you think God wants you to read his word daily? So you can know him!

• Jesus is talking to the Jewish people and tells them that is they don't hold to his teachings, then they are not really his disciples
• Just because someone acts religious or know a lot about the Bible does not mean they are following Jesus
• Question: What does Jesus say it takes to be his disciple? Then you'll know what? Then what?
• When you read someone's journal you get to know that person more and more each day - same goes for reading God's word
• Question: How often do you read the Bible?
• Challenge: Read the Bible daily and make one decision each day.

• Question: The disciples that were scattered began teaching the Greeks what? Good news about Jesus
• Question: What did Barnabas encourage people to do? Know an hold to Jesus' words
• Barnabas found Saul then brought him to Antioch so they could teach the Word of God (review)
• Question: In Antioch, the disciples of Jesus were called what for the 1st time? Why?
• A disciple of Jesus is WHAT they were. Christian is what the world labeled them
• Christian = Disciple = Saved

• Question: What did Jesus proclaim in Galilee? What was the good news? Kingdom of God was near; your life can change)
• Question: What is the first thing Jesus instructed these fishermen to do? Follow him. What does that mean?
• Question: What will Jesus make us into? What does that mean? Is this something you are willing to do?
• Share what purpose your purpose was before becoming a disciple
• Question: What would you say your life has been focused/purpose so far?

Romans 6:23

• We deserve death because of our sins but God is willing to forgive us in spite of who we are (God's gift to us)
• Question: After studying these scriptures, would you say the Bible describes your heart in response to your sin more like the Pharisee or the Sinful woman?

John 3:1-7

• Question: What did Jesus say MUST happen in order for someone to be born again?
• Question: We should born of what? Spirtual birth not a physical birth - not being religous but living a righteous life
• Question: What do we need to have convictions on in order to be born again?

Acts 2:22-24

• Jesus is God's son (miracles prove it)
• Jesus died for our (YOUR) sins
• God raise Jesus on the 3rd day
• Question: So how should we respond to the fact that our (YOUR) is why Jesus died on the cross?

Acts 2:36-41

• Repent and be Baptized (wall is removed)
• Then we can have a relationship with God (what happens at baptism)

Romans 6:1-4

• Question: What are you baptized into? If you were baptized into Jesus' death, what else does that allow us to have? New Life
• You can go from the heart of the Pharisee to the heart of the Sinful Woman by understanding the forgiveness through Jesus
• Encouraged to write a letter to God thanking him for forgiving you of your sins (write the sins out)

• Question: What do you think the heart of what Jesus is saying in these scriptures?
• Question: Biblically speaking, because someone goes to church  does that make them a Christian? Are they a Christian because they are a good person? What if they know a lot about the Bible, does that make them a Christian?
• That means you are saying that the majority of people in the world are lost. How does that make you feel?
• Make God feel said but God has a plan for them - 1 Timothy 2:1-6

• v22 - The miracles Jesus did proves he was God's son
• v23 - He died on the cross for your sin
• v24 - God raised him from the dead
  

• Confess with your mouth (acknowledging God and everyone around you that you nor anything else will be the Lord of your life,expect Jesus)
• It is not the confession that justifies you, it is your heart that God is looking at.

• Omnipotent over Disease - Matthew 8:1-4; Luke 4:39
• Omnipotent over Men - Matthew 9:9; John 17:2
• Omnipotent over Nature - Matthew 8:26
• Omnipotent over Sin - Matthew 9:1-8
• Omnipotent over Tradition - Matthew 9:10-17
• Prayed To Him (Stephen) - Acts 7:59
• Saves - John 10:28
• Sinless - 1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15
• Worshiped as God by Angels - Hebrews 1:6

• Most Holy - Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8
• Most Free - Psalms 115:3
• Most Absolute - Isaiah 44:6; Acts 17:24-25
• Most Pure Spirit - John 4:24
• Most Loving - 1 John 4:8-10

• Great High Priest - Hebrews 3:1, 4:14
• Head of the Church - Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18
• Heir of all things - Hebrews 1:2
• Holy One - Psalms 16:10; Acts 2:27,31
• Holy One of God - Mark 1:24
• Holy One of Israel - Isaiah 41:14
• Horn of salvation - Luke 1:69

• I AM - Exodus 3:14; John 8:58
• Immanuel - Matthew 1:23
• JEHOVAH - Isaiah 26:4
• Jesus - Matthew 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 1:10
• Judge of Israel - Micah 5:1
• Just One - Acts 7:52

• Lord of all - Acts 10:36
• Lord of glory - 1 Corinthians 2:8
• Lord of Lords - Revelation 19:16
• Lord Our Righteouss - Jeremiah 23:6
• Mediator between God and men - 1 Timothy 2:5
• Messenger of the covenant - Malachi 3:1
• Messiah - Daniel 9:25; John 1:41

• Plant of renown - Ezekiel 34:29
• Prince of life - Acts 3:15
• Prince of peace - Isaiah 9:6
• Prince of the kings of the earth - Revelation 1:5
• Prophet - Luke 24:19; John 7:40
• Ransom - 1 Timothy 2:6
• Redeemer - Job 19:25; Isaiah 59:20; 60:16

Starting to study the names of the church as

• Assembly of the saints - Psalms 89:7
• Assembly of the upright - Psalms 111:1
• Body of Christ - Ephesians 1:22,23; Colossians 1:24
• Branch of God's planting - Isaiah 60:21
• Bride of Christ - Revelation 21:9
• Church of God - Acts 20:28
• Church of the Living God - 1 Timothy 3:15
• Church of the first-born - Hebrews 12:23

• Believers - Acts 5:14; 1 Timothy 4:12
• Beloved of God - Romans 1:7
• Beloved brethren - 1 Corinthians 15:58; James 2:5
• Blessed of the Lord - Genesis 24:31; 26:29
• Blessed of the Father - Matthew 25:34
• Brethren - Matthew 23:8; Acts 12:17
• Brethren of Christ - Luke 8:21; John 20:17
• Called of Jesus Christ - Romans 1:6

• Chosen generation - 1 Peter 2:9
• Chosen ones - 1 Chronicles 16:13
• Chosen vessels - Acts 9:15
• Christians - Acts 11:26; 26:28
• Dear children - Ephesians 5:1
• Disciples of Christ - John 8:31; 15:8

Fearing God is the most exalted endevors in our life

The highest reaches of becoming holy are realized only in the fear of God

Fearing God does not stop in the New Testament:

• 1 Peter 2:17 - Fear God
• Acts 9:31 - Live in the fear of the Lord
• 2 Corinthians 7:1 - Cleanse ourselves in the fear of the God
• Colossians 3:22 - Work should be done while fearing the Lord

The Spirit of God rested on the Messiah with the fear of the Lord and he delighted in it - Isaiah 11:1-3
If we would be like the Lord Jesus, we should delight in fearing the God

• Acts 20:22-24 - It was everything to him to finish the race
• 2 Corinthians 11:28 - Felt daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches
• Colossians 1:28-29 - Struggled with all his energy

a. He utilized every opportunity.
b. He created opportunities for evangelism

• Acts 5:42 - Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news
• Acts 8:4 - Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
  

• The principle involved here is called life-transference.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:8 - We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well

• Acts 10:38 - How he went around doing good and healing all
• Mark 1:29-41, 6:30-56 - Taking care of the needs around him
• 2 Corinthians 8:9 - Became poor so we could become rich
• Philippians 2:6-8 - Taking on the nature of a servant

• Isaiah 53 - He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows
  
• Matthew 20:28 - Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve
• Galatians 1:4, 2:20 - Gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age
  
• Ephesians 5:2, 25 - Gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering
  

• Take children to church service
• Pray with them regularly
• Have family devotionals

1. Be sure of their salvation
2. Love and understand God's Word
3. Know and willingly obey God's rules
4. Know their spiritual gifts
5. Be able to teach spiritual truths
6. Be effective witness
7. Spend daily time with God
8. Do acts of service for others
9. Exercise self-discipline
10. Fellowship with other believers
11. Understand the power of prayer
12. Maturely walk with God