Church notes - July 2020
7th July
1 Corinthians 2:9, 10
Acts 13:1 - 12
Communion
John 15:17
Isaiah 9:6
The Last Supper
He will always provide.
The best is yet to come.
Acts 13
The Church reaching out,
Barnabas and Paul. They and the others were of many cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Therefore those divides were being transcended.
Isaiah 49:6
A light for the Gentiles.
God initiated the missionary journey. To be a Christian is to be on mission.
They travelled across the entire island of Cyprus.
The Gospel is often seen as a threat. Elymas is a case in point. But what Paul said to him and about the Gospel lead to the Proconsul being saved.
Pisidian Antioch
Hardship and disappointment is inevitable, even when God calls you to a specific task.
Vs 38, 39
Everyone who believes will be justified, because of what Jesus did at the Cross.
We are forgiven and set free.
Luthor: The true word - We must be justified alone by faith without any contribution from the Law or our works.
In the Law, there is only condemnation.
To what extent has the assurance of justification by faith alone become the basis of our inner security with the Lord?
It is about what Jesus has done. He has achieved our justification.
Has this resulted in freedom from guilt and compulsive ways of trying to make ourselves right with the Lord by our own efforts?
We are loved and forgiven unconditionally.
Are we liberated from having win His approval and the acceptance of others?
Everyone needs the freedom of forgiveness in Jesus.
Galatians 5:1
12th July
Acts 14
Matthew 18:20
Psalm 47:7, 8
Romans 8:38, 39
Psalm 99:9
1) What are some things we put first in our lives?
2) Why is it better to put Jesus first in our lives?
3) Pray for one another (regarding these things)
Missionary Interview
Be a cheerleader for the next generations
Acts 14:1 - 20
Jesus is the one and only who is strong and kind. The one and only we can always run to.
Jesus says hard things.
Mark 8:34
Paul and Barnabas - The missionary journey cost them - physically. 1300 kilometers, including 160 across Cyprus. They paid the price in order to spread the Gospel.
vs 20 Derbe
Acts 16:1
Timothy was from Lystra. Was he one of those Saved earlier?
They paid the price emotionally
Acts 15:36 - 41
There was disagreement over John Mark's desertion, but Paul and Barnabas pressed on. We need to press on, no matter who deserts us in the church.
We need to pay the price in our mission God has called us to do.
Paul and Barnabas paid the price in disappointing results.
People who accept Christ can find themselves rejected by those who reject Christ.
Persecution
Paul and Barnabas forced from the region of Pisidian Antioch.
Are you prepared to count the cost in order that people come to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour?
19th July
Colossians 1:15 - 20
1) How do I sometimes think I can earn my relationship with God?
2) Why is it a bad idea to try to earn my way to God?
3) Have you accepted God's gift of forgiveness through Jesus?
Acts 15:1 - 34
Psalm 66
Psalm 139
Isaiah 64:6
Romans 3:10
No one is righteous.
A clash of ideas.
Jesus is the atoning sacrifice.
And yet some people think they can't ever be with God.
Acts 15:1, 5
People were saying they must be circumcised and follow the Law.
The Good News - Only Jesus!
Galatians 1:6 - 10
The Good News - You are forgiven through Jesus.
What was being taught.
- A Different Gospel.
- No gospel at all.
- A perversion of the Gospel.
- Something other than Christ.
This threatened the message of the Gospel.
Acts 15:11
Grace.
Differences between Jews and Gentiles.
In the present day, there are differences between church and secular cultures.
And there is the historical context.
Conclusion: Jesus and Jesus alone is the way to salvation.
vs 11
Grace: a major theme in the New Testament.
Ephesians 3:7, 8
Grace: not by our own efforts.
Ephesians 2:1 - 9
Because God loves us and sent Jesus as the atoning sacrifice.
2 Timothy 1:9
Romans 3:21
Legalism is not the way to God.
26th July
Acts 16:22 - 34
What must I do to be saved? Believe in Jesus!
1) How might different people try to answer the question 'What must I do to be saved?'
2) How might Paul and Silas answer the question?
3) How do you answer the question in your own life?
Testimony - R. Brown.
Pastor for Childrens, Youth and Family leaving for Bairnsdale Baptist.
Acts 15:34 - 41
Conflict is an inevitable part of life.
A sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark's participation in the Ministry journey. Was Paul being immature?
Romans 8:28
God worked through it for good, but it may not have been good that there was conflict between Paul and Barnabas. All involved grew and became more mature. Paul later wrote to Timothy to bring Mark.
How should we deal with conflict in the Church?
They agreed on all the important things - every part of the Gospel message.
Horrible that pride would come between one and their salvation.
Ephesians 2:14
There is no place for a dividing wall of hostility.
A church divided between itself - like an autoimmune disease.
Reconciliation is a priority. We do have an obligation to restore broken relationships.
Isaiah 53:6
Proverbs 13:10
We need to move move towards a solution. To accept personal responsibility. What is one's contribution to the conflict.
Judge our own actions.
Important life skills.
Learn how to de-escalate conflict.
How to resolve conflict.
How to reconcile estranged and broken relationships.
1) Lower My Voice
Proverbs 15:1
2) Breath and Slow Down the Pace of Speaking.
Proverbs 29:1
3) Listen More Than I Talk
James 1:19
4) Listen for the Hurt Behind the Words.
Proverbs 14:10
5) Pray While I Am Listening.
Psalm 65:7
6) Seek to Understand Before Seeking to Be Understood.
Proverbs 18:13
7) Try to See Their Perspective.
Philippians 2:4, 5
8) Ask God to Give Me a Clear Picture of Myself.
Psalm 139:23, 24
9) Admit Any Part of the Conflict That I Caused
Matthew 7:3
10) Choose My Words Carefully
Proverbs 12:18