Acts - The Unstoppable Church - James 3-5

Homiletics                                             Study – Acts & Letter of Apostles

Lesson     29                                                     Passage: James 3-5

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Life of Wisdom as teachers, in our speech, and righteous living (James 3) a. Note to teachers - we should keep things in check; you’ll be judged (3:1-2) b. Note to self - I should keep tongue in check (3:3-8) c. Note to self – My speech should be of single purpose to praise not curse (3:9-12) d. Note about Wisdom – heavenly wisdom is pure not selfish (3:13-17) e. Note about life - Harvest of righteousness comes from peacemakers (3:18)

Our relationship with God has an impact on all others (James 4:1-5:6) a. What motivates impacts us;  ask God (4:1-3) b. Where’s your friendship; world or God (4:4-6) c. Submit and come near to God; He will lift you up (4:7-10) d. Speak nicely of each other (don’t judge); come near to God (4:11-12) e. Think through our plans and schemes; do good (4:13-17) f. Our earthly riches fail; in your riches you have abused and murdered (5:1-6)

Lord’s coming have an attitude of patience, generosity and prayer  (James 5:7-20) a. Be patient; wait on the Lord (5:7-9) b. Examples of patience prophets and Job (5:10-11) c. Let your Yes and No be honest; if not you’ll be condemned  (5:12) d. Prayer and praise are powerful (5:13-18) e. Turning a sinner from their sins saves them from death (think about it) (5:19-20)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Life of Wisdom as teachers, in our speech, and righteous living	James 3
Our relationship with God has an impact on all others	James 4:1-5:6
Lord’s coming have an attitude of patience, generosity and prayer	James 5:7-20

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

James instructs on righteous living, right relationships and generous prayer.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATLT Christian life wisely lived out with right speech, generous prayer, wholesome Godly living waiting patiently on the Lord.

Specific Application Questions

1	How is your speech? How does it build others up?  What needs to change to be more loving?
2	Where are your minds desires are you focused on money and things or elsewhere?  What should change to be more like the mind of Christ in you?
3	How do you demonstrate patience and waiting on the Lord?  If not why not?

Principles to Remember

1	Wisdom from heaven in  pure; generous motives.
2	God shows favor to the humble.
3	Prayer of righteous changes things.

Characteristic of God

Compassionate Lord

Theme

Wisdom comes from above; living out humble generous honest faith brings glory to God.

God’s Word  - What’s happening?

God’s Heart – What does God care about?

Today’s World – How does this connect to what is h

Acts - The Unstoppable Church - James 1-2

Homiletics                                             Study – Acts & Letter of Apostles

Lesson     28                                                     Passage: James 1-2

Content (List of Topics or Events)

James tells of trials, tests, and temptations (James 1:1-18) a. Greeting to 12 Tribes (1:1) b. Persevering under trials tests our faith (1:2-4) c. Ask God if we lack wisdom (1:5-8) d. Be humble followers (1:9-11) e. Perseverance under trial is blessed with the crown of life (1:12) f. Temptation is not from God, but our evil desires  (1:13-15) g. Good and perfect gifts are from God; He is consistent and gave us the word of truth (1:16-18)

James asks believers to take note of their Christian conduct (James 1:19-2:13) a. Believers are to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger (1:19-21) b. Listen to the word and do what it says (1:22-25) c. Believers “Keep your tongue in check” don’t be polluted by the world (1:26-27) d. Believers don’t show favoritism; don’t be judges with evil thoughts (2:1-7) e. Love your neighbor; favoritism is sin (2:8-11) f. Mercy triumphs over judgment (2:12-13)

James describes faith in action (James 2:14-26) a. Faith without deeds is dead faith (2:14-17) b. Faith and Deeds go together “hand-in-hand” (2:18-19) c. Faith without deeds is useless; with deeds demonstrates faith as demonstrated in Abraham credited righteous and God’s friend  (2:20-23) d. Righteousness is considered by what we do and not only by declaring our faith (2:24-26)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

James tells of trials, tests, and temptations	James 1:1-18
James asks believers to take note of their Christian conduct	James 1:19-2:13
James describes faith in action	James 2:14-26

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

James describes believers' trials, temptations, conduct, and active faith.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATLT believers' faith is proved in our life walk through difficulties, how we treat others and faith in action.

Specific Application Questions

1	What wisdom in your daily walk do you need to ask for God’s help?  Be specific!
2	How is your Christian walk noteworthy?  How are you reflecting Christ in your current situation?
3	When called to act out your faith what are you doing? How does it demonstrate the righteousness of God in you?

Principles to Remember

1	A crown of life is for those who persevere
2	Mercy triumphs over judgment
3	Useful faith demonstrates God’s righteousness

Characteristic of God

Author of Faith

Theme

Sometimes trials, temptation, tests but active faith demonstrates God’s righteousness in us. Faith is visible.

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?

Acts - The Unstoppable Church - Acts 27-28

Homiletics                                             Study – Acts & Letter of Apostles

Lesson     27                                                     Passage: Acts 27-28

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Paul sails to Rome with Shipwreck protection (Acts 27) a. Paul and other prisoners handed over to centurion (27:1-2) b. Arrive at Sidon where Paul visits friends (27:3) c. Put out to sea arriving at Fair Havens (27:4-8) d. Paul warning ignored and meet hurricane near Crete (27:9-15) e. Ships crew abandonment thwarted (27:16-20) f. Paul’s encouragement to sailors, soldiers and fellow prisoners (27:21-38) g. Making land and centurion desire to save Paul (27:39-44)

Paul’s welcome with unusual kindness to him during the stay in Malta (Acts 28:1-10) a. Unusual kindness showed as they reached land  (28:1-2) b. Paul was bitten by viper bringing false judgments about his character (28:3-6) c. Public official’s father healed by Paul with others brought for healing. (28:7-10)

Paul’s arrival in Rome, his greeting and ministry (Acts 28:11-31) a. Paul sails and arrives in Italy and encouraged by believers (28:11-15) b. Paul tell Jewish leaders about how he came to be in Rome (28:16-20) c. Paul is requested to share about Christianity  (28:21-22) d. Paul shares about the kingdom of God from the Law of Moses and Prophets trying to persuade faith in Jesus (28:23-28) e. Paul continues to proclaim Jesus Christ with boldness and without hindrance (28:30-31)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Paul sails to Rome with Shipwreck protection	Acts 27
Paul’s welcome with unusual kindness to him during the stay in Malta	Acts 28:1-10
Paul’s arrival in Rome, his greeting and ministry	Acts 28:11-31

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

Paul ministers through hardship, shipwreck, healing, and opportunity; telling Jesus.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATLT in all of life circumstances we are to declare boldly the message of God’s love to us in Jesus Christ.

Specific Application Questions

1	What adventures in faith are you being called to?
2	How can you bring the love of Jesus to others in your current circumstance?
3	When called to share Jesus, in what ways can you encourage others in Faith?

Principles to Remember

1	Trust in God demonstrates our faith
2	Demonstrate freely our faith
3	Be bold in sharing Jesus

Characteristic of God

Our Guardian

Theme

Faith in God requires open communication with Him and to others in boldness.

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?

Acts - The Unstoppable Church - Acts 24-26

Homiletics                                             Study – Acts & Letter of Apostles

Lesson     26                                                     Passage: Acts 24-26

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Paul’s testimony before Felix (Acts 24) a. High priest Ananias bring charges against Paul (24:1-9) b. Paul denies proof of charges (24:10-13) c. Paul admits to hope in God, a follower of the way,  and resurrection of the dead (24:14-16) d. Paul shares of bringing offerings (24:17) e. Paul declares there was no crime (24:18-21) f. Felix puts Paul under guard and listens him speak of faith in Jesus (24:22-27)

Paul’s testimony to Porcius Festus (Acts 25:1-21) a. Festus arrives and goes to Jerusalem where Jewish leaders request Paul be transferred to Jerusalem  (25:1-3) b. Festus invites leaders to come to Caesarea (25:4-5) c. Festus convenes court; Jews bring charges but could not prove them (25:6-7) d. Paul makes defense and declares he will be tried in Caesar’s court (25:8-12) e. Festus discusses the case with King Agrippa (25:13-21)

Paul’s hearing and testimony before King Agrippa (Acts 25:22-26:32) a. King Agrippa requests to hear Paul himself  (25:22-23) b. Festus presents Paul to Agrippa with Paul request to send to Rome (25:24-25) c. Unreasonable to send a prisoner to Rome without charge  (25:26-27) d. Paul presents God’s resurrection to Agrippa (26:1-8) e. Paul tells of meeting Jesus on Damascus road (26:9-14) f. Paul shares his commission from Jesus to preach to Jews and Gentiles (26:15-23) g. Festus questions Paul’s sanity (26:24) h. Paul tries to persuade Agrippa of Jesus (26:25-32

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Paul’s testimony before Felix	Acts 21:16-22:29
Paul’s testimony to Porcius Festus	Acts 25:1-21
Paul’s hearing and testimony before King Agrippa	Acts 25:22-26:32

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

Paul is brought before Felix, Festus and Agrippa declaring Jesus.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATLT we are to declare Jesus boldly no matter the circumstance.  There is a reason for faith.

Specific Application Questions

1	What do you admit to?  If there were charges that you were a Christ follower how could they prove it?
2	What defense could you offer for your faith?
3	We have a commission from God, what is your part in fulfilling that commission?

Principles to Remember

1	Faith must be visibly lived.
2	God protects
3	Truth requires action to belief

Characteristic of God

Provides life direction

Theme

When called to defend our faith we must be bold.

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?