(outline based on Tillit S. Teddlie’s hymn of the same name)
I. Singing, praying, offering
A. Note the frequency: “Oft,” not “occasionally” or even “when convenient” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
B. Singing and praying (1 Corinthians 14:15; Acts 16:25)
1. Singing (Matthew 26:30; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 13:15)
2. Praying (Luke 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
C. The collection (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Hebrews 13:16)
II. The bread
A. Represents His body (Matthew 26:26)
B. “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19)
III. The cup
A. Represents His blood shed on the cross – “for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:27-28)
B. These things are done “with one accord”
1. Steadfast observance (Acts 2:42; 20:7)
2. A time of fellowship (1 Corinthians 10:16)
A. Not “traditions of men” (Matthew 15:1-9; Colossians 2:8; 1 Peter 1:18)
B. Inspired tradition (1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6)
II. Increase faith
A. The request of the apostles (Luke 17:5)
B. The requirement of the Lord (Romans 10:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:3)
III. Find purpose
A. God’s purpose (Ephesians 3:10-11; Luke 4:43; John 12:27; Romans 8:28; 1 John 3:8)
B. Our purpose (2 Timothy 3:10; Acts 11:23; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 2:9)
A. Consequences of evil deeds (Judges 6:1-6)
B. The LORD answers their cry (Judges 6:7-10)
C. The LORD raises up a deliverer (Judges 6:11-21)
D. Face-to-face with divinity (Judges 6:22-24)
II. The-LORD-Is-Peace
A. “Written for our learning” (Romans 15:4)
B. Peace, regardless of circumstances (Philippians 4:6-7)
C. Peace with God (Ephesians 2:11-15)
1. Reconciliation with God (Ephesians 2:16)
2. Access to God (Ephesians 2:17-18)
3. Relationship with God (Ephesians 2:19)
4. Purpose in God (Ephesians 2:20-22)
III. Hindrances to peace
A. Fear (2 Timothy 1:7)
B. Forgetfulness (2 Peter 1:5-9)
C. Faithlessness (1 John 1:6-10)
A. More of His grace to others show (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6; 1 Peter 4:10)
B. More of His saving fullness see (Hebrews 7:25; John 10:10; Ephesians 3:17-19)
C. More of His love who died for me (Romans 5:8; Galatians 2:20; 1 John 4:9-10)
II. More about Jesus let me learn (Matthew 11:29)
A. More of His holy will discern (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 5:17; Hebrews 5:14)
B. Spirit of God, my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me (John 14:26; 16:13-15; 17:20; Ephesians 3:3-4)
III. More about Jesus in His Word (John 5:39; Luke 24:27)
A. Holding communion with my Lord (1 John 1:1-4)
B. Hearing His voice in every line (John 10:27; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
C. Making each faithful saying mine (2 Timothy 2:11-13; James 1:22-25)
IV. More about Jesus on His throne (Acts 2:30-33)
A. Riches in glory all His own (Revelation 5:11-13)
B. More of His kingdom’s sure increase (Colossians 1:13; Matthew 28:19-20)
C. More of His coming, Prince of Peace (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
A. Spread false doctrine (Galatians 1:6-9)
B. “The resurrection is already past” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
C. Leading some away from the faith (Romans 14:13; Matthew 18:1-6; Titus 1:10-11)
II. Demas (2 Timothy 4:10)
A. Initially committed to the cause (Col. 4:14; Philemon 24)
B. Forsook Paul and the mission “having loved this present world” (2 Peter 1:9; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17)
C. His love contrasted with the love of the faithful (2 Tim. 4:8)
III. Alexander the coppersmith (2 Timothy 4:14-15)
A. Harmed Paul (Romans 3:8; 3 John 9-10)
B. Paul affirms the Lord will judge according to one’s deeds (2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Romans 12:17-21)
C. Resisted the preaching of truth (2 Thessalonians 1:3-12)
A. The house of Jacob (Genesis 46:27)
B. The nation of Israel (Exodus 12:37; Numbers 1:46)
C. God dwells among His people (Exodus 13:21-22)
D. The people of God are under His authority (Deut. 5:1-3)
II. Nature recognizes God’s might (Psalm 114:3-6)
A. The Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22)
B. The Jordan (Joshua 3:14-17)
C. The mountains and hills (Exodus 19:16-18; Judges 5:4-5)
III. The majesty of God’s presence (Psalm 114:7-8)
A. Reverence in the presence of God (Psalm 46:10; 89:7; Hebrews 12:28-29)
B. Basic needs abundantly met (Exodus 17:1-7; Ephesians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4)
IV. “God with us” (John 1:1, 14; Matthew 1:23)
A. Redemption through Christ (Colossians 1:13-14)
B. Authority over nature (Matthew 8:23-27)
C. Spiritual provision (Philippians 4:19; John 4:10-14)
A. Hebrew word “Elyon” simply means “high, higher”
B. Applied to God, emphasizes His might and greatness above all else (Psalm 7:17; 9:2; 50:14; 57:1-3)
II. “Possessor of heaven and earth” (14:19)
A. Source (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16-17)
B. Supreme owner (Psalm 24:1)
C. Sovereign authority (Isaiah 46:9-10)
D. Sustainer (Nehemiah 9:6)
III. “Who has delivered your enemies into your hand” (14:20)
A. Lot captured (Genesis 14:8-12), rescued (Genesis 14:14-16), and the glory is given to God (Genesis 14:20)
B. God is the ultimate deliverer of His people (Exodus 14:10-14; Psalm 18:2; Isaiah 46:4; 1 Corinthians 10:13)
IV. The connection to Jesus and to us
A. Christ is Son and High Priest of the Most High God (Luke 1:32; Mark 5:7; Hebrews 5:10; Genesis 14:18)
B. We are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)
A. Who were you before you became a Christian? (Eph. 2:12)
B. Who are you now? (1 Peter 2:9)
C. Reflect on His love, grace, and mercy (Lam. 3:21-24)
D. Repent of complacency! (Prov. 1:32; Eph. 4:15; Psalm 42:1-5)
II. Reengage in spiritual disciplines (1 Timothy 4:7-8)
A. Prayer (Luke 5:16; Hebrews 4:16)
B. Bible study (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; Matthew 4:4)
C. Fasting (Matthew 9:14-15)
D. Spend time meditating upon the Word, drawing near to God (Colossians 3:16; James 4:8)
E. Worship with intention (Acts 2:42; Heb. 10:24-25; Jn. 4:24)
III. Reconnect with Christ’s purpose (Matt. 20:28; Luke 19:10)
A. Teach the lost (Matthew 9:35-38)
B. Edify the body (Ephesians 4:11-16)
C. Serve one another (Phil. 2:3-4; 1 Cor. 15:58; Galatians 6:2)
A. The LORD reigns (1 Timothy 1:15)
B. Clothed with majesty (John 1:14)
C. The world established and sustained (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3)
D. Eternal nature (John 1:1)
II. His Adversaries (3-4)
A. The opposition compared to flood waters (Isaiah 57:20)
B. The LORD is stronger (Mark 4:39; Psalm 46:10)
III. His Assurance (5)
A. The Word is unshakable and unbreakable (Matthew 24:35; John 12:48)
B. Holiness is in His house (Ephesians 5:25-27)
A. We are strengthened by the Lord (Ephesians 6:10-18; Philippians 4:11-13)
B. We are spurred on by the brethren (Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Romans 15:5; Galatians 6:2)
II. Encouraged to live an exemplary life
A. Positive commands and examples (Hebrews 11; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Eph. 1:3-6; 1 Peter 1:13-16)
B. In the face of discouragement (John 16:33; 1 Peter 4:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:58)
III. Encouraged to spread the gospel
A. Positive commands (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; 2 Timothy 2:2)
B. In the face of discouragement (John 4:34-35; Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 8:12-14; Matthew 7:6; 10:14; Acts 13:46; Luke 8:15; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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