Friday, February 28, 2020

Acts - The Unstoppable Church - 1 Corinthians 5-7


Homiletics                                             Study – Acts & Letter of Apostles
Lesson     22                                                     Passage: 1 Corinthians 5-7

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Dealing with sin and disputes  (1 Corinthians 5:1-6:11)
a. Dealing with flagrant sin – Sexual immorality  (5:1-5)
b. Don’t boast in liberal thought – It will contaminate you (5:6-12)
c. Disputes don’t let the world be the judge (6:1-7a)
d. Live as sanctified as those who will inherit the kingdom of God (6:7b-11)

Dealing with Sexual relations and marriage (1 Corinthians 6:12-7:17)
a. Not everything is beneficial (6:12-13)
b. Our bodies are members of Christ as such we one in spirit (6:14-17)
c. Flee from sexual immorality; honor God with our bodies (6:18-20)
d. Sex is between husband and wife; honor each other (7:1-7)
e. Guidelines for marriage and divorce (7:8-17)

Dealing with Life circumstances (1 Corinthians 7:18-40)
a. Live in your situation – circumcised or not.  (7:18-20)
b. Remain where God called you -Slave or free (7:21-24)
c. Act honorably to the Lord as virgin or married (7:25-40)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Dealing with sin and disputes 
1 Corinthians 5:1-6:11
Dealing with Sexual relations and marriage
1 Corinthians 6:12-7:17
Dealing with Life circumstances
1 Corinthians 7:18-40

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words

Paul instructs Corinthians  immoral behavior, lawsuits and living responsibly.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATLT acting honorably is our responsibility to God and reflects on others in the church family.

Specific Application Questions

1
In what ways do you boast in your sin?  How do you deal with conflicts with others? In what ways do you just want to be right?
2
How are you honoring God in your personal life and in your marriage? What needs to change to be more faithful to Him?
3
Are you content in your life circumstance? What decision should you make to be more devoted to the Lord where you are?

Principles to Remember

1
There is not boasting in sin.
2
Those united with the Lord are in one spirit with Him.
3
 God calls us into situations to live honorably for Him.
Characteristic of God
Purity
Theme
No boasting in sin, but faithful followers see a responsibility to themselves and others.

God’s Word  - What’s happening?
God’s Heart – What does God care about?
Today’s World – How does this connect to what is happening in my world today?

Friday, February 21, 2020

Acts - The Unstoppable Church - 1 Corinthians 1-4


Homiletics                                             Study – Acts & Letter of Apostles
Lesson     21                                                     Passage: 1 Corinthians 1-4

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Christians united in mind and thought – God’s Wisdom  (1 Corinthians 1-2)
a. Greetings to sanctified in Christ (1:1-3)
b. Christ enriches with speech and knowledge 1:4-9)
c. Paul urges for no division and agreement with one another (1:10-17)
d. God’s wisdom is wiser than human (1:18-31)
e. Faith does not rest in human wisdom but God’s power (2:1-4)
f. God reveals Himself to us through His Spirit (2:5-10)
g. We know the thoughts of God through His Spirit (2:11-16)
Christians live by the Spirit – God’s dwelling (1 Corinthians 3)
a. Live by the Spirit – Co-workers in God’s service we are God’s field and building (3:1-9)
b. Our foundation is Jesus Christ (3:10-15)
c. We are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in our midst (3:16-17)
d. Wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight – All things are ours in Christ. (3:18-23)

Christians prove yourself in faith – Wise in Christ (1 Corinthians 4)
a. As servants we are entrusted the mysteries of God  (4:1-4)
b. Don’t go beyond what is written (4:6-7)
c. You already have what you want and have become rich (4:8-13)
e. Christ has become your father in the Gospel (4:14-17)
f. The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power  (4:18-20)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Christians united in mind and thought – God’s Wisdom 
1 Corinthians 1-2
Christians live by the Spirit – God’s dwelling
1 Corinthians 3
Christians prove yourself in faith – Wise in Christ
1 Corinthians 4

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words

Paul reminds of God’s wisdom, Spirit living proving ourselves faithful

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATLT faithful living is reliance on God’s wisdom, guided by the Spirit so that we move beyond human wisdom to knowing the mind of God.

Specific Application Questions

1
What human thinking is distracting you in your faith walk?  What needs to change to know God’s wisdom more fully?
2
How do you recognize that you are God’s dwelling? How are you building your life on the foundation of Christ and what is your legacy?
3
Is it just words or is it dependence on God’s power… What needs to change to be true to His word in all things?

Principles to Remember

1
God’s wisdom is greater than man’s wisdom.
2
 We are God’s temple
3
 God knows the motives of our heart
Characteristic of God
Source of Wisdom
Theme
As Christians God’s will is that we should be united in mind and thought; God knows our heart.

God’s Word  - What’s happening?
God’s Heart – What does God care about?
Today’s World – How does this connect to what is happening in my world today?

Friday, February 14, 2020

Acts - The Unstoppable Church - Acts 18:23-21:25


Homiletics                                             Study – Acts & Letter of Apostles
Lesson     20                                                     Passage: Acts 18:23-21:15

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Paul’s ministry in Ephesus involves Correction, Admonishment and Commotion  (Acts 18:23-19:41)
a. Apollos gentle baptism correction and encouragement by Priscilla and Aquila (18:23-28)
b. Paul correction of baptism brings Holy Spirit to believers (19:1-7)
c. Paul performs miracles bringing imitators and with it evil (19:8-16)
d. Motives checked as Word of Lord spreads (19:17-20)
e. Disturbance arises by god makers concern about their profits (19:21-34)
f. City clerk calms commotion and suggests court rather than riot (19:35-41)
Paul’s ministry in Macedonia and Achaia encourages believers (Acts 20:1-38)
a. Paul sets out for Macedonia with words of encouragement. (20:1-6)
b. Paul speaks and young man falls from window bringing restoration of life by Paul (20:7-12)
c. Paul sends to elders of church at Ephesus encouraging them recounting his ministry to them (20:13-21)
d. Paul tell of desire to go to Jerusalem wanting to finish the race set before him. (20:22-24)
e. Paul gives final encouragement committing to them the word of grace through Jesus   (20:25-35)
f. They pray, wept and Paul departs (20:36-38)
Paul’s ministry continues as he travels to Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-15)
a.  Paul sails to Kos, Rhodes, Patara, Phoenicia to Syria landing in  Tyre  (21:1-3)
b. Paul urged not to go to Jerusalem, but after praying continues (21:4-6)
c. Voyage to Ptolemais to the home of Philip the evangelist (21:7-9)
e. Agabus takes belt and shares with Paul what will happen in Jerusalem (21:10-11)
f. People plead with Paul not to go, but Paul faithfully continues on to Jerusalem  (21:12-15)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Paul’s ministry in Ephesus involves Correction, Admonishment and Commotion  
Acts 18:23-19:41
Paul’s ministry in Macedonia and Achaia encourages believers
Acts 20:1-38
Paul’s ministry continues as he travels to Jerusalem
Acts 21:1-15

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words

Paul faithfully ministers encouraging believers as he returns to Jerusalem

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATLT God’s truth brings encouragement to those who follow His leading, we are to finish the race placed before us.

Specific Application Questions

1
What correction have you experienced that lead to your joy in serving Jesus?
2
How can you be an encouragement and restoration in faith?
3
Where is God leading you where you don’t want to go?  What should you be praying as  encouragement in your faith journey?

Principles to Remember

1
Gentle encouragement builds up our faith
2
We are challenged to finish the race set before us in faith
3
Where God leads we must follow
Characteristic of God
Directs our path
Theme
Ministry is faithfully following God’s direction; we are to be a blessing to others and they to us.

God’s Word  - What’s happening?
God’s Heart – What does God care about?
Today’s World – How does this connect to what is happening in my world today?