This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Follow God's Agenda", 11/29/2015

FOLLOW GOD'S AGENDA

Acts 18:1-11

GOD SENDS HELP

V:1-3. " After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them

3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them."

A. The Gospel was not received  very well in Athens, so Paul went to Corinth.

     1. Don't get discouraged when the Word is not received by others.

     2. It is no failure on our part when the preached Word is rejected.

     3. Our job is to teach the Word.

     4. Only God can prepare the hearts of man to receive His Word.

 B. Sometimes God allows the Word to fall on death ears, so we are motivated

      to move on to another assignment.

    1. God determines the places and prepares the hearts of people to receive His Word.

    2. In Corinth, Paul met a man and wife team ready to serve God with him.

    3. I believe it was by Gods divine intervention that this man and wife team                

        was forced from Rome to meet up with Paul.

    4. God knows who we need and when we need them.

 C. It was customary that every Jewish boy was taught a trade to support himself.

     1. Both Paul and Aquila were tent makers.

     2. It is good to work in an occupation with other believers.

         a. You get to know a person best when you work with them.

         b. It is good to learn together and grow together with other believers.

         c. Under Paul's teaching, Aquila and his wife learned the deeper truths of

             the Word of God.

     3. Whenever we get the opportunity to study the Word of God with others,

          we should take advantage of the divine fellowship time.

REGULAR BIBILE STUDY

V:4-5. " Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. "

A. It was Paul's custom to start the preaching of the Gospel in the synagogue where

     Jews and Greeks (Jewish Proselytes)  were present.

   1. Notice when Timothy and Silas came to Corinth, Paul devoted his time to the Jews

       only.

   2. The Holy Spirit gave Paul the mission of preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles

        Acts 13:46-47.

   3. I can only guess that Paul thought it ok to leave the mission of the Gentiles to

       Silas and Timothy.

 B. We have to be careful that we don't change God's plan for our service to our own

       agenda.

     1. Success in the ministry is based on following God's plan for our lives.

     2. God does not restrict us in the ministry, but we cannot not neglect His directives.

ALLOW GOD TO KEEP YOU ON TRACK

V:6. " But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

A. The Word suggest, that Paul met complete resistance to God Word because he left the

     mission God called him to do.

    1. By neglecting the Gentiles who would be influenced by the Gospel, he was left with

        only the Jews who were influenced by the Law.

    2. It may have been possible that the Gentiles who believed could have influenced

        some Jews to believe.

B. The first will be last and the last will be first.

   1. The Jews were the first to receive God's commands.

   2. The Jews were the first to be called God's people.

   3. The Jews were the first to be offered God's promise of redemption.

   4. The Jews were first to rejected God's wisdom in favor of man's wisdom.

C. Because of the Jewish rejection, the Gospel was taken to the Gentiles.

   1. The Gentiles were the first to receive the promise of the kingdom of heaven

   2. The Gentiles were the first to willingly accept Christ as their personal savior.

 D. This incident forced Paul back to the mission he was called to by the Holy Spirit.

    1. Corinth was a city given to idolatry. At one time, one of its temples had a thousands

        prostitutes. It was a port and business center that drew people from different parts of

        the world.

    2. Corinth was fertile ground for the preaching of the Gospel.

    3. The Bible does not tell us, but I believe it was God that stirred up Paul to refocus

        his attention to the Gentiles.

MAN CAN TEACH, BUT GOD PROVIDES THE INCREASE

V:7-8. " Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a      

    worshiper of God.

8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized."

A. When we let God lead, success is assured.

    1. When Paul returned to God's  mission, he immediately found a receptive audience 

         for the Gospel.

    2. Again God showed us that when He closes one door, He opens another.

    3. Next door to the synagogue was a worshiper ready to receive the Gospel.

    4. Sometimes all it takes is for one to believe in Jesus for others to follow.

 B. Notice, from same group who rejected the Gospel came a ruler of the synagogue

      who accepted the Gospel.

    1. Crispus  conversion influence many other Corinthians to believe.

    2. Your testimony and your encouragement can lead others to Christ.

    3. Crispus stepped out from his peers and accepted Christ.

    4. There is a time when you have to step out from the crowd to follow Christ.   

GOD ENCOURAGES HIS SERVENTS

V:9-10. " One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.

10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."

A. What God has for you is for you.

    1. When you are on God's side, there is nothing that can't be accomplished according to

         His will.

    2. No matter how strong you are in the Lord, sometimes you need encouragement

        from Him.

B. It is clear from the Lord's promise, that Paul life was in danger from the Jewish

     leaders of the synagogue and maybe other idol religions.

   1. Maybe Paul had become discouraged or fearful of the opposition to the Gospel.

   2.  God has not given us the spirit of fear , but power, love and sound mind.

   3. Paul was under God's direction.

   4. Paul was under God's protection.

   5. Paul was under God's comfort.

      a. God told Paul , I have many people in this city.

      b. We don't always know who God has ready to protect us.

      c. What we can be sure of, is God's grace is sufficient.

YOUR MISSION IS COMPLETE WHEN GOD SAYS IT IS COMPLETE

V:1. " So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God."

 A. When you know that God has your back, you can work for the Lord with

      confidence.

    1. It is God who prepares the hearts of men to receive the Gospel.

    2. Some of God's people have been called out of the world.

    3. Some of God's people are yet to be called out.

    4. Paul didn't know who God called His people, but they were all around him.

 B. When we are following the will of God, success is assured.

     1. Silence in the face of opposition is not an option for a Christian.

     2. Our job is to proclaim the Word and leave the success of the mission to God.

     3. Paul taught the Word of God and a Church at Corinth was established.

     4. You never know what complete impact you are having when you discuss the

          Gospel with others.

PREACH THE WORD IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway

Houston Texas

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Preaching The Gospel In Good Times And Bad Times", 11/22/2015

PREACHING THE GOSPEL IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES

Acts 17:1-4, 10-12, 22-25, 28

In this chapter, the Apostle Paul preached the Gospel in three different cities with

different reactions.

The first group of believers he meets in Thessalonica. Some in this group heard the Word and accepts it by faith. Part of this group rejected Word and become violent against Paul

and his companions.

He preach the Gospel to a second group in Berea. This group heard the Word. They

accept the Word only after researching the Old Testament and determining for themselves that Paul's teaching was true.

The third group Paul preach to was in Athens. They willingly heard the Word of God,

because it was a new philosophy  to them. They are unaffected by the Word and left in  their state of darkness.

EAGER TO HEAR THE WORD

Acts 17:1-4

V:1. When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

V:2. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

V:3. explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said.

V:4. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.

A. Those who study the Word of God need constant enlightenment.

    1. Paul and his companions, took the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jewish synagogues

        first, where the Old Testament scriptures were taught.

    2. There were some who came to the belief that Jesus was the promised Messiah

        of the Old Testament Scriptures.

        a. There were some leading Jews who violently apposed the thought of Jesus

            as the Messiah.

        b. Not everybody who goes to a Church believes in Jesus.

        c. Not everybody who reads scripture will allow themselves to be lead by the

           scripture.

 B. Paul found some Jews who welcome the good news about Jesus Christ.

     1. Barnes Notes suggest that Paul may have used some of the following scriptures

         in his argument that Jesus was the Christ.

       

(a) He was born at Bethlehem, Micah 5:2.

(b) He was of the tribe of Judah, Genesis 49:10.

(c) He was descended from Jesse, and of the royal line of David, Isaiah 11:1,10.

(d) He came at the time predicted, Daniel 9:24-27.

(e) His appearance, character, work, etc., corresponded with the predictions, Isaiah 53.

(2) His miracles proved that he was the Messiah, for he professed to be, and God would

      not work a miracle to confirm the claims of an impostor.

(3) For the same reason, his resurrection from the dead proved that he was the Messiah.

C. When you have an open mind, the Holy Spirit will convict you that Jesus did not

     just show up  at his birth in Bethlehem.

    1. The Holy Spirit will convict you that Jesus is the totality of the Old Testament

         and the New Testament scriptures.

    2. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God and the Word was with God

        and the Word became flesh and dwelled among us.

    3. You cannot come to that conclusion by yourself.

        a. You come that conclusion by studying the Word under the guidance of the

            Holy Spirit.

        b. Paul and Silas spent three Sabbath days discussing the Word with the Jews and

            the devout Greeks.

        c. Many came to belief in Jesus Christ.

        d. The Word has the power to change minds, hearts and attitudes.  

  D. There are those who hear the Word at the same time and in the same way as others,

       who will not believe.

     1. Their minds are closed by their past traditions and beliefs.

     2. Verses 5, states that they would not believe and were moved with envy.

         a. For them, it was not about God, it was not about the Word and it was not about

             the truth.

         b. For the unbelieving Jews it was about their envious heart that a

             great number of believers, joined the Church of Jesus Christ.

         c. They could not stand the fact the Paul and Silas gathered a large following

             of believers in Jesus Christ.

     3. The envious unbelieving Jews stirred up the city and had Paul and Silas

         run out of there city.

      4. This was no triumph for the unbelieving Jews, because God allowed a Church to

           be established before Paul carried the Gospel to another city.

       

EAGER TO STUDY THE WORD

Acts 17:10-12

V:10. As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.

V:11.  Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

V:12.  Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

A. Those who exercise their faith in Jesus never stop spreading the good news about

     Jesus because there is opposition.

   1. Opposition forces us to study the Word to support our argument.

   2. Paul and Silas did not change there custom of discussing the Gospel in the

       synagogue first.

 B. The people in Berea were more receptive to Paul and Silas teaching of the Gospel.

      1. Those who love the Lord want to study His Word

      2. Those who love the Lord are eager to grow in the Word.

      3. Greater knowledge is gained when we research the Word of God together.

      4. The study of the Word should be done daily.

      5. When you compare Old Testament and the New Testament you find that they

           compliment each other.

      6. The Old and the New Testaments scriptures interpret each other.  

      7. The leaders of the Church should take the lead in Bible STUDY.

      8. If the leaders take the lead, the Church body will follow.

 C. From these two cities we find the following:

     1. The Place of the teaching was the Church (body of believers).

     2. The Source of the teaching was the holy scriptures

     3. The Object of the teaching was Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

     4. The Success of the teaching was discipleship.

The Jewish opposition from Thessaloncia followed Paul from Berea and again

 stirred up the unbelievers against the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul went to Athens.

 There he found a whole city that worshiped idol gods. Being disturbed in the spirit,

 He sent word for Timothy to come join him in the mission.

Athens was a city where there was a temple with many gods. So they would not

miss the worship of any god, they had an altar of an unknown god.

Athens was the culture and intellectual center of the Roman Empire,

Men of the city spent their time discussing philosophy and any new thoughts

anyone would present. The Gospel was just another strange doctrine to them

which they were happy to debate.

 

EGAR TO REJECT THE WORD

Acts 17:22-25

V:22. Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.

V:23.  For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

V:24.  "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.

V:25.  And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

A. A wise man knows what his limits are.

     1. Finding a whole city of unbelievers, Paul sent for help.

     2. Paul saw a great opportunity to spread the Word.

B. After examining the Temple, Paul found common ground.

     1. The statue of the unknown God was the point of discussion.

     2. Everybody believes in something.

     3. As spokesmen's for the Gospel we should find the common ground.

     4. Since the men of the city love to debate new ideas, the Gospel was a

         sure fit.

     5. Paul reasoned that the altar to the Unknown God was the one true living God, the

         creator of all things.

 C. Opening the scripture, Paul  took them to the beginning of creation.

     1. With scripture, Paul could showed how God created all thing and ordered all the

         events of life.

     2. Paul gained only a few believers for the Gospel.

     3. You cannot come to a belief in scripture with human intellect.

     3. Some people are so blinded by their thoughts, they will not change.

WHAT JESUS IS TO US

Acts 17:28

V:28 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

A. Jesus is everything to us.

    1. For the Christian, Jesus is our beginning and our ending.

    2. In Jesus we are a new creation.

    3. Jesus is the one who sustains us.

B. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.

    1. Jesus is our guide.

    2. Our final destination is in Jesus,

        a. This is not our home, we are just passing through.

        b. Jesus has prepared a final resting place for us.

 C. All of our hope is in Jesus.

    1. In Jesus we have nothing to worry about.

    2. In the Lord we have nothing to fear.

 D. All we need is in Jesus.

    1. Ask and it will be give.

    2. Seek and we shall find.

    3. Knock and the door will be opened.

THANK GOD THAT HE OPENED MY EYES TO THE LIGHT

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Church

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Running For Jesus", 11/15/2015

RUNNING FOR JESUS

Acts 16:1-15

DEVOTED TO THE MISSION

V:1-3 " He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek."

A. On Paul's first missionary journey with Barnabas to what is now Turkey, he preached the Gospel in Iconium. Unbelieving Jews stirred up the city against Paul and Barnabas

and planned to stone them. They fled to Lystra where they preach the Gospel.

Again unbelieving Jews stirred up the people  and stoned Paul, threw him out of the city

assuming he was dead. By God design, Paul got up with disciple around him and

departed to Derbe (Act 14:1-20).

In both cities,  Churches were establish because of the work of God done through the

the Apostles. As was his custom, Paul revisited the Churches to encourage them to

continue in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

B. On Paul's second missionary journey, he revisited Lystra and heard a good report

     about a disciple name Timothy.

   1. The spread of the Gospel cannot be stopped by evil men who are determined to

       destroy the influence of Jesus on the hearts of believers.

   2. I believe it is by God's divine plan that the faith of believers are strengthen through

       trials and tribulation.  (James 1:1-12).

 C. Timothy may have been one of the disciples who witnessed Paul's healing of a man

      lame from birth and Paul's stoning by the hands of a stirred up city during

      the first  missionary journey.

    1. Your reputation always precedes you.

    2. We are first introduced to Timothy on Paul's second missionary journey.

    3. His faithfulness and dedication to the Lord was noted by other believers.

    4. Timothy stood out among the brothers because he was praised by his peers and

         as a result, Paul chose him to be his companion in the ministry.

 D. Paul made a special note to us that Timothy was from a mixed family.

    1. Timothy's father was a Greek and His mother was a Jew.

         a. It was the Jewish tradition that Jewish women did not marry outside their race.

         b. Timothy's mother was a believer.

    2. God does not tell us whether Timothy's father was a believer.

        a. What God makes clean is clean.

        b. The marriage is sanctified by the believing spouse.

        c. Timothy was influenced by his mother's and grandmother's faith.

 E. The next issue in this verse is circumcision

      1. In the previous chapter, the Church council at Jerusalem had determined that

         the  Gentiles did not need to be circumcised to be saved.

      2.  But Paul had Timothy circumcised so that his presence in the ministry would not

           be a hindrance to the unbelieving Jews.

      3. To  win souls to Christ, sometimes we have do things unnecessary to us to

           promote the Gospel to others.   Rom 2: 25-29

RUNNING FOR JESUS

V:4-5." As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers."

A. Our first mission is to preach the good news about Jesus Christ.

    1. New believers need milk to feed on first.

    2. For the Church to grow spiritually, basic Biblical doctrine about daily living

       must also be taught. (Acts 15:29)

    3. It is the job of the Pastor to teach the Word of God to the believers.

       a. It is the duty of the believers to obey the Word.

       b. Our love for Christ is evidence by our obedience to the Word.

 B. Faith is an active word.

     1. Faith cause us to respond to the commands of God.

     2. Faith causes us to treat each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

     3. Our faith is strengthen by the work we do for Christ.

     4. The Church should be on a continual growth path spiritual and physically.

WHEN GOD SAYS NO

V:6-8. " Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas."

A. There are times when God says NO to our agenda.

    1. God is the divine planner of the movement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    2. Paul was commissioned by the Holy Spirit to take the Gospel to the Gentiles.

B. It is evident by this verse that through out his mission, he relied on the Holy Spirit

    for guidance and directions.

   1. We have to be careful that we don't get to busy doing God's work that we forget

       listen   to the Holy Spirit guidance.

   2. God has a reasons why he closes doors and opens others.

   3. God prepares the hearts of men to receive a word from Him through us.

   4. It may be that God closes doors because He redirects us to other places

       where people are ready to receive the Word.

   5. It may be that God closes door because we are not yet ready to face what's

       behind the door.

LISTENING AND OBEYING THE WORD

V:9-12. " During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days."

A. God has a way of getting our attention.

    1. God stopped Paul from going in one direction, and gave him a new direction

        in a vision.

   2. Macedonia was the place where hearts had been prepared to receive the Gospel.

   3. It was normal for Paul to go from city to city stopping in each to preach the Gospel.

   4. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Paul passed through some cities without

       stopping.

 B. It is urgent when God informs us through the Spirit, to move immediately.

    1. How do we know we are moving by the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

    2. How do we know that our progress has been blocked by the Holy Spirit?

    3. When you are meditating, the Word of God will speak to your spirit.

    4. We don't always know what the best thing to do. But God knows.

    5. First God said no to Paul. Second God gave Paul a new direction in a vision.

        a. Paul had a personal relationship with the Jesus.

        b. Paul had a history of listening to Jesus.

        c. Paul a history of responding to the voice of Jesus.

        d. Paul believed the Word he heard from Jesus.

        e. Paul knew the Word of God.

    6. In his vision, Paul saw a man praying for help for his country.

    7. Paul's conscience was clear to go in the new direction.

C. In the ministry, we will come to cross roads when we will be face with more than

    one opportunity.

   1. Our choice should not be based on what is best for us, but what is best for the

       movement  of the Gospel.

       a. We need to develop for ourselves the ability to hear God speaking to us.

       b. We need to know the Word for ourselves.

       c. We need to be able to distinguish the difference between the flesh talking and the

            Spirit of God talking to us.

   2. God will clear our conscience to move in the right direction.

   3. We have to trust God when we can't see the outcome. 

   4. God will lead us to the place where He gets the most glory.

PREPARED HEARTS FOR THE MISSION

V.13. " On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there."

A. We should have a day we devote  to God.

     1. Sometimes you have to get away from you normal surrounding to be alone with

         God.

     2. When we are alone with God, we will learn to hear His voice.

     3. Satan knows the Word and he can present himself as an angel of light.

     4. You have to come to the conclusion that Satan will speak against God and His

         righteousness.

 B. Notice Paul and his company found women praying, not men.

     1. It is important for us to know that God bring women together to pray.

     2. There is praying power in a group of women assembled in the name of the Lord.

     3. Notice these women were receptive to hear a Word from God's apostles.

     4. God set this situation up for Paul to teach those women.

OPENED TO THE WORD OF GOD 

 V:14. " One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message."

A. Notice God introduces to us a godly, business women of wealth.

    1. She was godly because she was assembled to pray with other women.

    2. She was a merchant of purple.

        a. Doing that time purple was a very expensive dye. It was harvested from shell fish.

        b. Purple was a royal color that the rich could afford.

 B. One of the reason Lydia was successful was her love for God.

    1. She was not the typical woman of her time.

    2. She dared to be different.

    3. She did not let her gender hinder her success.

    4. She did not let her gender hinder her relationship with God.

 C. She took advantage of the opportunity to hear a Word from God through His Apostles.

    1. Lydia did not question the authority of men, but used them to her advantage.

    2. Because of her stewardship, God opened Lydia's heart to His Word.

    3. God blesses those who love Him and are obedient to Him.

SHOWING GREATFULNESS AND LOVE

V:15. " When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us."

A. Love starts at home.

    1. Lydia taught her family and her whole household to love God.

    2. They were all present for the prayer service on the Sabbath.

B. If our families are present when God shows up, they all get blessed.

    1. The blessings of God can come when you least expect them.

    2. God rewards us when we show Him honor and respect.

C. Not only was Lydia a godly women but she was a kind and generous women.

    1. She opened her home to the traveling Apostles.

    2. She considered it an honor to support the mission of God.

    3. She used what God had blessed her with to bless God's servants.

GET BUSY DOING GOD'S WORK

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 W Sam Houston Parkway

    

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Saved By Grace Not By Works", 11/1/2015

SAVED BY GRACE NOT BY WORKS

Acts 15:1-12

V:15. " Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."

A. When you have been raised and taught by one set of rules, it is hard to change and

     embrace new teaching.

   1. The Nation of Israel began under the Law fifteen hundred years earlier.

   2. It was their guide book for living a godly life.

B. Circumcism  of a male baby the eighth day after birth was a sign of a covenant

     between God and Abraham 430 years before the Law was given.

  1. This sign was never meant for salvation purposes but as a promise from God,

     that Abrahams seed would be a blessing to all generations and the promised land

     was theirs as a permanent inheritance.  Gen 17:1-8 

  2. Circumcism was incorporated into the Law as a reminder of the covenant between

      God and Abraham.

C. The Jews were never able to keep the whole Law.

     1. The Law was not designed for salvation but to show man's need for a Savior.

     2. Abraham was considered righteous not for his works, but for his faith.

D. Notice the text says some men came down, not some disciples of Jesus.

    1. These men rejected faith in Jesus only, as the means for salvation

        of man.

        a. They taught  that circumcism was necessary for salvation.

        b. In that case women could never be saved because their was nothing to

            circumcise.

    2. They had not come to the conclusion that Salvation is by Grace through faith.

    3. They had not come on the authority of the Church nor the Authority of God,

        but on their own accord to push their agenda; make Jews out of new believers.

V:2.  "This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. "

A. In chapter 13, Paul and Barnabas had been commissioned  by the Holy Spirit to preach

     the Gospel to the Gentiles (all non Jews).

   1. Notice, these men did not come in the name of Jesus.

   2. Paul and Barnabas had a conflict with any doctrine that was not Jesus Christ and

       Him crucified. 

   3. You and I should be in opposition to any doctrine that is anything other than the

        words of   Christ.

   4. At some point in our walk with Christ, we will have  to defend our faith in Jesus.

B. The argument of these outsiders were so persuasive that the leaders of the Antioch

     church sent Paul and Barnabas to the Apostles in Jerusalem to settle this matter.

  1. Salvation in the name of Jesus is no small matter, it is the only thing that does matter.

  2. You have to know the Word for yourself, otherwise you can be confused by others

      who stand by their beliefs which does not include Jesus.

  3.  This shows that Jerusalem was the center of religious activities.

  4. This also shows that Satan was busy in the Church.

      a. A small group of Jewish believers who held on to their beliefs under law

          tried to impose the Mosaic Law on the new Church.

      b. The Jewish community was quickly becoming a minority in the Church as

          large groups of Gentiles were added.

V:3. "The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. "

A. We should be joyful when others in the dark come to Christ.

     1. The Church should be filled with people from all walks of life with all kinds of

         pasts.

     2. Everywhere we go, our conversation  should be a testimony of the goodness of the

         Lord so that others are encouraged and drawn to Christ.

B. We all are the product of some ones teaching about Christ or some ones testimony

     of what God did in their lives,

   1. God prepares the hearts of those we come in contact with to receive a word from

        Him through us.

   2. There are also those we come in contact with, who will attack the Word of God

       with false and misleading information.

   3. If you cannot find support for others beliefs in the Bible, ignore them.

   4. God will not change His Word or add to His Word.

V:4. " When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them."

A. Everybody reports to somebody.

    1. There is a head in every organization.

    2. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church.

    3. Man is the head of the household.

    4. On your job, someone is the head of you.

B. Paul and Barnabas reported to the Apostles in Jerusalem

   1. Paul and Barnabas were successful in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ

       and as a result many Gentiles and Jews were saved.

   2. No mission is without problems.

   3. Their mission was dogged by Jews who rejected salvation by faith in Jesus. 

   4. All around us are religions with different views, and some do not in include

       Jesus as Lord and Savior.

V:5-6." Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."

6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question."

A. I think God uses our differences to cause us to study the Word, meditate and pray.

    1. When there are differences in interpretation and application of the Word, we

         should come together, study the Word and let the Holy Spirit guide us to the

         proper interpretation.

    2. We should never argue the Word, we should study the Word so we can rightly

         divide the Word of truth

B. When there are opposing view points, they should be heard and discussed.

    1. The conclusion of a matter must adhere to Biblical Truths.

    2. We should never give into good arguments that deviate from the Word.

V:7-8. " After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us."

A. Believers should come together and discuss their differences.

    1. Every discussion should be centered around the Word of God.

    2. Any differences should be resolved by Word of God.

    3. What is right is based on the Word of God.

    4. The truth about life's situation can only be understood by discussing the Word.

 B. Peter related his testimony of how he was directed by God to preach to Cornelius

     his, family and friends and How they received the Holy Spirit upon hearing the Word.

    1.The hearts of the Gentiles was purified by faith.

    2. God does not require believers to be circumcised or become Jews to be saved.

V:9-10." He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?"

A. Don't judge other by standards you cannot or will not live by.

   1. God's Law was given to the Jews immediately after they were freed from slavery

       in Egypt some 1500 years earlier.

  2. The Nation of Israel rejected God divine guidance through His Priest in favor

       of earthly kings who led them away from God.

  3. There were a few good kings. But there more ungodly kings who led the Israelites to

       worship idol gods.

B. At the time of these events, Jesus Christ was the one true living spiritual King of

    all men.

    1. The Jews developed traditions and a non spiritual views of the Old Testament

         scriptures.

    2. Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior was rejected by the Jews who held to

    

        their traditions, that no man could claim to be God.

    3. Those Jews who believed in Jesus, still held onto some of their Jewish

        traditions, rejecting salvation by faith alone.

    4. The Jews were never able to follow the Law, but they wanted the Gentiles

         to follow them to be saved.

V:11-12." No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. "

A. The Apostles Peter and Paul explain how God had granted salvation to the Gentiles

     based on faith in Jesus alone.

    1. Sometimes you have to stop and listen and reason in the Word to learn the truth

        of the Word.

    2. Peter pointed to his witness of  the Holy Spirit given to the Gentiles in the same

        manner as God used at the day of Pentecost when it was given to the Jewish

        disciples.

    3. Jesus death on the cross fulfilled all the requirements of the Law with His

        blood sacrifice.

 B. The Church was never under the Law, but under grace.

    1. It is the Grace of God that saves all who believe in Jesus. 

    2. God so loved the World, that He gave His only Son that who ever

        believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church.

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Saved By Grace Not By Works", 11/8/2015

SAVED BY GRACE NOT BY WORKS

Acts 15:1-12

V:15. " Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."

A. When you have been raised and taught by one set of rules, it is hard to change and

     embrace new teaching.

   1. The Nation of Israel began under the Law fifteen hundred years earlier.

   2. It was their guide book for living a godly life.

B. Circumcism  of a male baby the eighth day after birth was a sign of a covenant

     between God and Abraham 430 years before the Law was given.

  1. This sign was never meant for salvation purposes but as a promise from God,

     that Abrahams seed would be a blessing to all generations and the promised land

     was theirs as a permanent inheritance.  Gen 17:1-8 

  2. Circumcism was incorporated into the Law as a reminder of the covenant between

      God and Abraham.

C. The Jews were never able to keep the whole Law.

     1. The Law was not designed for salvation but to show man's need for a Savior.

     2. Abraham was considered righteous not for his works, but for his faith.

D. Notice the text says some men came down, not some disciples of Jesus.

    1. These men rejected faith in Jesus only, as the means for salvation

        of man.

        a. They taught  that circumcism was necessary for salvation.

        b. In that case women could never be saved because their was nothing to

            circumcise.

    2. They had not come to the conclusion that Salvation is by Grace through faith.

    3. They had not come on the authority of the Church nor the Authority of God,

        but on their own accord to push their agenda; make Jews out of new believers.

V:2.  "This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. "

A. In chapter 13, Paul and Barnabas had been commissioned  by the Holy Spirit to preach

     the Gospel to the Gentiles (all non Jews).

   1. Notice, these men did not come in the name of Jesus.

   2. Paul and Barnabas had a conflict with any doctrine that was not Jesus Christ and

       Him crucified. 

   3. You and I should be in opposition to any doctrine that is anything other than the

        words of   Christ.

   4. At some point in our walk with Christ, we will have  to defend our faith in Jesus.

B. The argument of these outsiders were so persuasive that the leaders of the Antioch

     church sent Paul and Barnabas to the Apostles in Jerusalem to settle this matter.

  1. Salvation in the name of Jesus is no small matter, it is the only thing that does matter.

  2. You have to know the Word for yourself, otherwise you can be confused by others

      who stand by their beliefs which does not include Jesus.

  3.  This shows that Jerusalem was the center of religious activities.

  4. This also shows that Satan was busy in the Church.

      a. A small group of Jewish believers who held on to their beliefs under law

          tried to impose the Mosaic Law on the new Church.

      b. The Jewish community was quickly becoming a minority in the Church as

          large groups of Gentiles were added.

V:3. "The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. "

A. We should be joyful when others in the dark come to Christ.

     1. The Church should be filled with people from all walks of life with all kinds of

         pasts.

     2. Everywhere we go, our conversation  should be a testimony of the goodness of the

         Lord so that others are encouraged and drawn to Christ.

B. We all are the product of some ones teaching about Christ or some ones testimony

     of what God did in their lives,

   1. God prepares the hearts of those we come in contact with to receive a word from

        Him through us.

   2. There are also those we come in contact with, who will attack the Word of God

       with false and misleading information.

   3. If you cannot find support for others beliefs in the Bible, ignore them.

   4. God will not change His Word or add to His Word.

V:4. " When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them."

A. Everybody reports to somebody.

    1. There is a head in every organization.

    2. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church.

    3. Man is the head of the household.

    4. On your job, someone is the head of you.

B. Paul and Barnabas reported to the Apostles in Jerusalem

   1. Paul and Barnabas were successful in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ

       and as a result many Gentiles and Jews were saved.

   2. No mission is without problems.

   3. Their mission was dogged by Jews who rejected salvation by faith in Jesus. 

   4. All around us are religions with different views, and some do not in include

       Jesus as Lord and Savior.

V:5-6." Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."

6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question."

A. I think God uses our differences to cause us to study the Word, meditate and pray.

    1. When there are differences in interpretation and application of the Word, we

         should come together, study the Word and let the Holy Spirit guide us to the

         proper interpretation.

    2. We should never argue the Word, we should study the Word so we can rightly

         divide the Word of truth

B. When there are opposing view points, they should be heard and discussed.

    1. The conclusion of a matter must adhere to Biblical Truths.

    2. We should never give into good arguments that deviate from the Word.

V:7-8. " After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us."

A. Believers should come together and discuss their differences.

    1. Every discussion should be centered around the Word of God.

    2. Any differences should be resolved by Word of God.

    3. What is right is based on the Word of God.

    4. The truth about life's situation can only be understood by discussing the Word.

 B. Peter related his testimony of how he was directed by God to preach to Cornelius

     his, family and friends and How they received the Holy Spirit upon hearing the Word.

    1.The hearts of the Gentiles was purified by faith.

    2. God does not require believers to be circumcised or become Jews to be saved.

V:9-10." He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?"

A. Don't judge other by standards you cannot or will not live by.

   1. God's Law was given to the Jews immediately after they were freed from slavery

       in Egypt some 1500 years earlier.

  2. The Nation of Israel rejected God divine guidance through His Priest in favor

       of earthly kings who led them away from God.

  3. There were a few good kings. But there more ungodly kings who led the Israelites to

       worship idol gods.

B. At the time of these events, Jesus Christ was the one true living spiritual King of

    all men.

    1. The Jews developed traditions and a non spiritual views of the Old Testament

         scriptures.

    2. Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior was rejected by the Jews who held to

    

        their traditions, that no man could claim to be God.

    3. Those Jews who believed in Jesus, still held onto some of their Jewish

        traditions, rejecting salvation by faith alone.

    4. The Jews were never able to follow the Law, but they wanted the Gentiles

         to follow them to be saved.

V:11-12." No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. "

A. The Apostles Peter and Paul explain how God had granted salvation to the Gentiles

     based on faith in Jesus alone.

    1. Sometimes you have to stop and listen and reason in the Word to learn the truth

        of the Word.

    2. Peter pointed to his witness of  the Holy Spirit given to the Gentiles in the same

        manner as God used at the day of Pentecost when it was given to the Jewish

        disciples.

    3. Jesus death on the cross fulfilled all the requirements of the Law with His

        blood sacrifice.

 B. The Church was never under the Law, but under grace.

    1. It is the Grace of God that saves all who believe in Jesus. 

    2. God so loved the World, that He gave His only Son that who ever

        believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church.