Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Pray for Those in Authority

• Entreaties, prayers, petitions, thanksgivings – whatever is good, thank God for it; whatever is not good, petition God for change
• Remember that civil authorities have been given a role today by God (Romans 13:3-4; 1 Timothy 2:2)
• Remember our responsibility toward those in authority (Romans 13:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17) – also remember the limits of that responsibility (Acts 5:29)

In Praying for Them…

• We do not necessarily pray for a certain form of government – God ordained a role for government, not a form or structure
• We do not necessarily pray for the health & safety of leaders – there are times when a leader’s death means safety for God’s people (Matthew 2:13,16,19-20)
• We do not necessarily pray for their success – their ambitions may be contrary to their divinely given role
• Pray that they allow us to lead a tranquil & quiet life (1 Timothy 2:2) – this is good & acceptable to God (1 Timothy 2:3)

What is a Tranquil and Quiet Life?

• Freedom to work and provide for ourselves (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)
• Freedom to assemble with our brethren and worship God (Hebrews 10:24-25; John 4:24)
• Freedom to teach the gospel to others (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Peter 3:15)
• Freedom from persecution – persecution seeks to destroy the church (Acts 8:1); the absence of persecution helps the church to grow (Acts 9:31)

Why is This Important?

• It is good & acceptable to God because He desires all to be saved & come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4) – implication: a government that does not meet its divinely given role is a threat to that
• It is not about our own comfort & prosperity – something far more important than that
• It is so the gospel can be taught openly so others can hear it, obey it, continue to follow the Lord, and lead others to Him

Text: Jeremiah 29:11

People often wonder what God’s plan is for their lives. We can only know what God reveals (1 Corinthians 2:10-12), but the Bible does address this issue. We sometimes get caught up in details & ignore the big picture.

God Desires for You to be in Heaven with Him

• Jesus told His apostles of the place that would be prepared for them (John 14:2-3)
• This promise was not just for the apostles, but for all of us as well (Mark 16:15-16)

In order for this plan to be fulfilled…

Sin Had to be Dealt With

• Sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:2)
• Sin is a universal problem (Romans 3:23)
• Christ was going to have to deal with sin through the cross (Ephesians 2:16; 1 Peter 3:18)

Christ Had to Come

• God’s eternal purpose was fulfilled in Christ (Ephesians 3:11)
• His predetermined plan involved the death of Christ (Acts 2:23)
• In order for this plan to be carried out, several things had to be done to prepare the way for Christ (Galatians 4:4), including: coming of John (Mark 1:2-4), work of the prophets (1 Peter 1:10-12), lineage of Christ preserved (Genesis 12:1-3; 21:12; 28:13-14; 35:10-11; Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Jeremiah 29:10-14), prophecy of Jesus coming to defeat Satan (Genesis 3:15)
• God had done so much in order to save us – do not think lightly of it (Romans 2:4)

Man Had to be Shown the Way

• We cannot direct ourselves (Jeremiah 10:23) – the way to heaven is through Christ (John 14:6)
• The eternal purpose in Christ would be made known through the gospel (Ephesians 3:8-11)
• He has predestined us according to His purpose (Ephesians 1:5,11) – He chose us in Him (Ephesians 1:4; cf. Romans 6:3), those who would be holy & blameless
• Our duty here is to fear Him and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13) – obedience leads to salvation (Hebrews 5:9)

Text: Genesis 14

Lot had the misfortune of becoming a captive in a war that was being waged around him. Abram pursued the capturing armies, defeated them, freed Lot, then met two kings after his victory. There are several lessons we can learn from these events.

Lot’s Capture (Genesis 14:8-12)

• Life is uncertain – Lot came to Sodom expecting ease & prosperity (Genesis 13:10-12); this war, his capture, and his loss were not part of the plan (cf. James 4:14)
• Riches are temporary – Lot lost his possessions to the enemy army (cf. Matthew 6:19-21)
• Physical consequences for our choices – Lot chose to live in Sodom, suffered loss; Abram didn’t suffer loss or capture; we can’t foresee everything, but as much as possible, be “shrewd as serpents” (Matthew 10:16)

Abram’s Mission (Genesis 14:13-16)

• Prior preparations – he had 318 men already trained and ready to go; he was prepared for conflict (cf. Ephesians 6:11)
• He took action when needed – it is one thing to prepare, another to act; God expects His people to be doing, not just preparing (cf. James 1:22)
• He acted to help others, not himself – King of Elam was fighting for his own wealth & power; Abram fought to free others & restore their possessions; acted for the good of others (cf. Philippians 2:3-5)

Abram & Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20)

• Blessings come from God – Abram pursued, strategized, fought, and defeated the enemy, but God delivered them into his hands; we must work, but without God’s blessing, our work is in vain (cf. Psalm 127:1)
• The tithe from Abram – given to the priest, therefore, it was also for God; God expects us to give back to Him for what He has given us (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:2; Romans 12:1)
• Melchizedek was greater – shown in Melchizedek blessing Abram (Hebrews 7:6-7); later used to prove Jesus’ superiority over Abraham & the Levitical priests (Hebrews 7:17)

Abram & the King of Sodom (Genesis 14:21-24)

• Following God, forsaking certain types of gain – King of Sodom offered Abram the goods; he refused on account of a promise he made to God; following God means we must forsake certain things of this world (cf. 1 John 2:15-17)
• Self-reliance is desired – Abram was very wealthy, not because he was enriched by an earthly king, but because God had blessed him; if one is able to take care of himself, he should (2 Thessalonians 3:7-10); reflects a trust in God & His providence

Text: Job 31

A Covenant was Made (Job 31:1)

• This requires understanding – knowing the difference between right & wrong
• We must make a decision – once we know what is right, we must choose to do it
• A covenant involves a long-term commitment – this is not a trend or a fad; our character is for a lifetime
• It requires diligent execution – when you make a covenant, you promise to do some things and not do other things

Characteristics of the Man of Integrity

• Purity (Job 31:1,9-11) – begins with the heart & what we allow ourselves to dwell on
• Honesty (Job 31:5-6) – we must love the truth, speak truth, and walk in truth
• Fairness (Job 31:13-15) – not to think of ourselves as being more important than others
• Benevolence (Job 31:16-17,19-20) – seek to do good; do not only help those who could also help you
• Humility (Job 31:25) – our possessions do not define us; remember your place before God

What the Man of Integrity Keeps Himself From

• Trusting in riches (Job 31:24) – not to trust in riches, but in God
• Rejoicing over the calamity of others (Job 31:29-30) – desire good for others, even for our enemies
• Taking advantage of others (Job 31:38-39) – give others what we owe them; act with love

Text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12

Paul begins by reminding these Christians of the parallels between then and the Israelites (v. 1-4). But most died in the wilderness. We need to learn from their failings so we can avoid their sins.

Do Not Crave Evil Things (v. 6)

• This was the fundamental problem that led to the others
• We will never attain holiness if we long for wickedness (Proverbs 23:7)
• We will never overcome sin if we desire it (James 1:14-15)
• We must crave/desire good things (Colossians 3:1-2; Philippians 4:8)

Do Not Be Idolaters (v. 7)

• Example of the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6)
• What is an idol? … Anythings that is a substitute for God; object of our devotion/allegiance
• An idol allows man to act as he pleases
• Defeating idolatry — recognize God as the only being/thing worthy of our worship/service (Exodus 20:3-5); act according to His will, not our own (Luke 9:23)

Do Not Act Immorally (v. 8)

• Example of the sin of Peor (Numbers 25:1-9)
• Immorality is an abomination to the Lord — pre-marital sex (Matthew 19:4-5), adultery (1 Corinthians 6:9), homosexuality (1 Timothy 1:10), pornography (Matthew 5:27-28)
• Defeating immorality — speak up about the sin (1 Corinthians 6:18; Hebrews 13:4); do not tolerate the sin (1 Corinthians 5:1-2,13)

Do Not Try the Lord (v. 9)

• Example of the fiery serpents (Numbers 21:4-9)
• They complained of no food or water — but God had provided (Exodus 16:14-15; Numbers 20:11), they just weren’t thankful
• We try the Lord when we desire something more/different than what He provides
• Defeating the tendency to try the Lord — learn contentment (Philippians 4:11); show gratitude (Philippians 4:6)

Do Not Grumble (v. 10)

• Example of those who grumbled over the fate of Korah and his followers (Numbers 16:41-49)
• What were they grumbling about? … the opposition to sin & divine judgment
• Defeating the urge to grumble as they did — understand sin for what it is (1 John 3:4; Isaiah 59:2); recognize that all judgment belongs to the Lord (James 4:12)

Do Not Think You Cannot Fall (v. 11-12)

• Even a faithful Christian can fall away, just as the Israelites did
• If you stand, good — continue to stand; do not follow their example of disobedience; remain faithful so you can enter into the reward

Text: Revelation 17:14

Our Involvement

• Our warfare (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) — spiritual, not carnal
• “Put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11) — not written to apostles, preachers, or elders, but to all Christians
• We must fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12)

The Enemy

• The adversary is the devil (1 Peter 5:8) — he has mighty allies fighting with him (Ephesians 6:12)
• His followers — sometimes disguised as servants of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13-15), sometimes are disciples who have been temporarily deceived (Matthew 16:23), sometimes are the rulers of this world (Revelation 2:10)
• His weapons — fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11), doubt (Genesis 3:4), persecution (Revelation 2:10)

Our Commander

• The Lamb (Revelation 17:14) — Jesus Christ
• As our commander, we must recognize & respect His authority (Matthew 8:8-10; 28:18,20)

Our Weapon

• Divinely powerful (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) — the sword of the Spirit, the word of God (Ephesians 6:17)
• We must know how to use it (2 Timothy 2:15) — there is a danger in not knowing how to use it (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 1:6-7)
• We must be ready to use it (1 Peter 3:15; Acts 20:20,27; 2 Corinthians 10:5)

Our Armor

• Putting on the full armor of God allows us to stand against the devil (Ephesians 6:11) — cannot leave off any part
• Loins girded with truth (Ephesians 6:14) — this is where we must start; the conflict is between truth & error (1 John 4:6)
• Breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14) — righteousness is something we practice (1 John 3:7; James 1:22)
• Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15) — willingness to teach (1 Peter 3:15); goal of leading people to peace with God (Ephesians 2:16-18)
• Shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16) — this is our defense against the attacks & weapons of the devil
• Helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17) — promise of salvation that lies ahead for the faithful; motivates us to keep going (Philippians 3:14)

Hardships of War

• Suffering (2 Timothy 2:3) — we were never promised an easy life here (1 Corinthians 15:19)
• Casualties (Hebrews 3:12-13) — the sad reality is that some will fall away (2 Timothy 4:10)
• Traitors (Philippians 3:18) — some will turn away & start actively opposing the cause of Christ (3 John 9-10)

Victory

• The triumph of the Lord is certain (Revelation 17:14) — we just need to be sure we are on His side
• Those on His side — called (2 Thessalonians 2:14), chosen (Ephesians 1:4; Romans 6:3), faithful (Revelation 2:10)
• We can be victorious if we hear the gospel, obey it, and remain faithful

Text: Colossians 1:9-10

Walk in Newness of Life (Romans 6:4)

• This follows baptism (Romans 6:3-4) — in baptism we become free from sin (Romans 6:17-18)
• We are to be different than the old self (Romans 6:6) — repentance
• We are to be different than the world (Romans 12:2) — live by a higher standard

Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16)

• Walk by the Spirit, do not carry out the desire of the flesh — two competing worldviews (Romans 8:6)
• Deeds of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) — rooted in selfishness & lack of self-control
• Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) — these are produced as we walk in the Spirit
• To walk in the Spirit is to walk according to the teachings of the Spirit — the word of God (1 Corinthians 2:10)

Walk in Truth (3 John 4)

• Close connection between walking in the Spirit and walking in truth — He is “the Spirit of truth” (John 16:13)
• To do this we must know the truth (John 8:31-32) — only possible by continuing in His word (2 Peter 3:18)
• Once we know the truth we must obey it (James 1:22)
• To walk implies continued obedience (3 John 3; Philippians 2:12)

Walk in Wisdom (Ephesians 5:15)

• Do not walk as unwise men, but as wise — danger in failing to gain wisdom, not learning from our experiences/mistakes in order to improve
• There are no new challenges to be faced (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10) — learn from the past
• There are no new temptations to be overcome (1 Corinthians 10:13) — find the way of escape
• Recognize time is short (Ephesians 5:15-16) — prepare for eternity (2 Peter 3:11,14)

Walk in Love (Ephesians 5:2)

• We do this as we imitate God and Christ (Ephesians 5:1-2) — God is love (1 John 4:8)
• Bible love is sacrificial — more than words and emotions (1 John 3:18)
• We must love others (1 John 4:9-11) and God (John 14:15)
• If we walk in love we will obey God in all things (John 15:13-14)

Text: Luke 2:9-11

What is Christmas?

• Celebration / commemoration of the birth of Jesus (also called the nativity)
• Origins (brief history) — all dates you will find are after the first century (this is significant)
• Earliest evidence of a celebration for Jesus’ birth on December 25th is in the middle of the 4th century
• Current practice — for some it is one of the rare times they visit any sort of religious service; for many it is a time to focus on shopping & gift-giving

Religious Observance of Christmas

• Bible teaching on Christ’s birth — foretold in prophecy (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2), recorded in gospels (Matthew 1:20-23; 2:1-6; Luke 2:8-14), necessary component in the scheme of redemption (Hebrews 2:14-15; 10:5,10)
• No teaching/authority for celebrating Christ’s birth — no command telling us to celebrate His birth, no statement discussing the practice, no example of the disciples engaging in such a practice, no implication suggesting this was to be done
• Does the lack of authority matter? … Absolutely! (Colossians 3:17; John 4:24)
• To observe certain days as a religious exercise, when they have not been included in the gospel, is dangerous (Galatians 4:9-11)
• Only one NT memorial — the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Non-Religious Observance of Christmas

• Liberty to observe days (Romans 14:5) — To what extent?
• Parallel: eating of meats (Romans 14:2) — no connection made to a religious observance/ritual (1 Corinthians 8:4,7)
• Observing days (Romans 14:5) — no connection is made in one’s mind to a religious observance/ritual; this would be unauthorized [see previous point -- Religious Observance of Christmas]
• Not to offend a brother — this means to cause him to sin/stumble (Romans 14:21; 1 Corinthians 8:13); it does not mean we did something he just didn’t like (1 Corinthians 8:7-12 — leads them to sin, conscience being defiled, a stumbling block, ruined)

Text: Genesis 8-9

Noah Went Out of the Ark (Genesis 8:18-19)

• What happened before he went out? (Genesis 8:1-13) — rain stopped (8:2), water receded (8:3), ark came to rest (8:4), sent out raven (8:7), sent out dove three times (8:8-12), saw dry ground (8:13)
• Notice the timeline — entered ark (7:1-4), rains came (7:11), rains prevailed (7:24), ark rested (8:4), mountaintops were visible (8:5), Noah saw dry ground (8:13) — almost a year in the ark by this point
• Noah finally left the ark (8:14) — several weeks after obtaining evidence that the earth was inhabitable
• What was Noah waiting for? … God’s instruction (8:15-19) — lesson for us on authority (Colossians 3:17) and a warning against presumptuousness (Proverbs 14:12)

Noah Built an Altar (Genesis 8:20)

• This was the first thing Noah did — worshipping God is a priority (Psalm 122:1)
• This was an expression of gratitude — every acceptable sacrifice naturally involves gratitude (Hebrews 12:28)
• Sacrificed of every clean animal & bird; he did not withhold anything — lesson for us to serve God wholeheartedly (Romans 12:1)

God’s Promise & Covenant (Genesis 8:21-22; 9:9-17)

• Promise of His ongoing providence (8:22) — God created a world in which man can survive (Acts 14:17)
• This promise was made despite man’s corruption (8:21) — He blesses the righteous and the wicked (Matthew 5:45)
• Promise regarding destruction (9:9-17) — the earth would not be destroyed again by water, but it will be destroyed again one day (2 Peter 3:6-10)

Noah Planted a Vineyard (Genesis 9:20-21)

• By God’s providence the vineyard was fruitful (8:22) — acting as He created it (Genesis 1:11-12)
• But it is possible to use God’s blessings improperly (1 Timothy 5:23; 1 Peter 4:3)

Read the article: After the Flood

Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:8

Ways in which individuals and local congregations can spread the gospel in their area:

Open Assemblies (1 Corinthians 14:23-25)

• This is typically the most consistently practiced method, yet one we sometimes forget in this context
• Our assemblies should be open to visitors such that they feel welcome attending (James 2:2-4)
• The benefit of having one visit the regular assembly is that he can be “convicted” and “called to account” (1 Corinthians 14:24) — this is done by the clear teaching of the gospel (1 Corinthians 14:6-9)

Members Inviting (John 1:43-46)

• Open assemblies allow a visitor to come who is unfamiliar with the church — but it can be very helpful for one to be invited by someone they know
• Philip invited Nathanael to come see Jesus — he did not wait until interest was expressed; in fact, only the reaction skepticism
• Philip’s invitation came after he started talking about Jesus — we should try to work certain topics into our conversations that could provide an opening for us to offer an invitation to the assembly or a Bible study

Private Studies (Acts 8:26-39)

• Private studies have an advantage in that they can be geared specifically for the individual — Philip started where the eunuch was already studying & addressed his question (Acts 8:34-35)
• Regardless of the starting point, the primary goal is Christ — we want to lead them to salvation, not just satisfy their curiosity (2 Corinthians 5:11)
• Philip made sure the eunuch knew he was interested in helping him (Acts 8:30)

Public Teaching/Lectures (Acts 19:8-10)

• Private one-on-one studies can be effective, but public teaching can have a much broader reach — two years of public teaching in Ephesus resulted in “all who lived in Asia” hearing the gospel
• To be effective, public teaching needs a location that is open & allows the truth to be taught freely, and regular meeting times so people can know when to come and plan on it — this is what Paul had when he met in the school of Tyrannus
• Advantage over regular assemblies — for other religious people, it does not conflict with their prior religious commitments so they may be more likely to come

Seed Planting (1 Corinthians 3:6)

• We can plant & water the seed, but God causes the growth
• We scatter the seed wherever we can (Luke 8:5-8)

Read the article: Sounding Forth the Word