Verses Cited: Exodus 4:12; Jeremiah 31:31-33; Genesis 3:6; Proverbs 14:15; 1 Timothy 5:8; Zechariah 10:2-3; 2 Peter 1:3; Romans 1:17; Philippians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Romans 14:23; James 1:2; 2 Peter 3:9; Habakkuk 2:3; Psalm 27:14; Ecclesiastes 3:1; Galatians 4:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 1:5, 4:2; Matthew 19:26; Jeremiah 32:27
Discerning God's Will
1 John 4:1
January 19, 2020 • Collin Monger
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Working Hard for Christ
November 29, 2020 • Charles Rowdon
Scriptures Cited: Acts 20:17-38, 18:19, 19:10, 20:7-12; Philippians 2:14; Luke 18:18; 2 Corinthians 11:23; James 1:27; 1st Timothy 1; 2nd Timothy 3, 4; Titus 2; 1 Corinthians 1; Romans 16; Titus 3 Introduction: The book of Acts was written by Luke, a traveling companion of Paul, and details the events of the early church. Acts 20:17-38 details a speech by Paul to the Ephesian elders offering encouragement and emphasizes the importance of building genuine relationships with people, expecting obstacles to ministry, and guarding against false teaching. 4. Building genuine relationships a. Paul lived his faith with conviction. When others see your life, do they see love first? b. Paul reminds the Ephesian elders to serve with humility and of his service to them. As a result, they should serve others and we should follow their example. c. When we serve with humility, we are able strengthen our relationships and demonstrate love. 5. Expect obstacles a. Paul felt constrained by the spirit to go to Jerusalem. The word here, constrained, literally translates to be bound or tied. The Lord may lead you to struggles and difficulties, but He also leads you through them. b. Paul did not value his own life more than his call to share Jesus. 6. Guard against false teaching a. Paul warns here that there will be attacks from outside the church. The world stands opposed to the cross. We need to guard from these attacks. b. Paul gives another warning here to guard against division from inside the church. The best way to combat heresy is to know and understand the word of God.
Thankfulness in Hardship
November 15, 2020 • Collin Monger
Scriptures Cited: 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20; Matthew 5; Ecclesiastes 3:1; Jonah 4; James 4; Lamentations 3:38; John 16:33; Psalm 9:1. V. Introduction a. Thankfulness is easy when things are good b. How can we be thankful when things are hard? c. Job was a man who endured hardship yet remained thankful VI. Job’s Affliction Job’s affliction came in various ways a. spiritually – because of his relationship with God (1:1, 5, 8) b. practically – his faith cost him practically in life (1:12, 13-19; 2:4-7) c. relationally – his closest friends abandoned him (2:9; 4:7-8; 11:6; 18:5) d. psychologically – his affliction didn’t make sense (1:22; 2:10) he had done everything right and suffered anyway VII. Job’s Reaction a. Job had the right perspective (1:21) 1. He realized everything has a season and things change 2. We can often get too attached to the present b. Job became reflective (2:10) 1. He realizes ease and hardship often go together 2. life comes with ups and downs 3. we have to take the good with the bad c. Job remained proactive (2:8) 1. Often we have to look for something to be thankful for 2. It might not be obvious but if we’re determined we can find it VIII. Closing a. We can’t control what happens in life b. We can control our reaction c. We can determine to be thankful in hardship