A. Man’s relationship to the Almighty (1 John 2:3; John 12:48)
B. Self-deception (1 John 2:4; Matthew 7:21-23; 1 John 1:6,8,10; Titus 1:11,16)
C. Perfected love of God (1 John 2:5; Matthew 5:43-48)
II. DO YOU ABIDE IN HIM?
A. Walk just as He walked (1 John 2:6; John 8:12; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Ephesians 5:1-2)
B. The old commandment, made new (1 John 2:7-8; John 13:34-35)
III. THE DANGERS OF DARKNESS
A. Is it possible to follow Christ while in darkness? (1 John 2:9; John 8:12; Romans 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:5)
B. Our love of man (1 John 2:10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a; John 15:9-10; 13:34; Philippians 2:3)
C. Hatred causes blindness (1 John 2:11)
I. “GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL” (1 John 1:5)
A. God is light
1. The Father of lights (James 1:17)
2. The Creator of light (Genesis 1:3)
3. Dwells in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16)
4. Calls us into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)
B. Darkness is the realm of Satan (Ephesians 6:11-12; Colossians 1:3; Ephesians 5:8)
II. SIX “IF” STATEMENTS
A. “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” (1 John 1:6; Matthew 6:2,5,16; Galatians 2:11-13)
B. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 Jn 1:7)
C. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8; Galatians 6:3; James 1:22)
D. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
E. “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10; Romans 3:23)
F. “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1a)
III. WHAT WE HAVE AS A RESULT OF WALKING IN GOD’S LIGHT
A. Fellowship (1 John 1:7)
B. Cleansing (1 John 1:7,9; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Ephesians 2:13; Colossians 1:20)
C. Forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
D. An Advocate who serves as the propitiation (1 John 2:1-2; 4:9-10)
A. Divine fellowship (1 John 1:3; 1:7; 3:24)
B. God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
C. Brotherly love (1 John 4:7-11)
D. Your teachers rejoice in your faithfulness
II. “THAT YOU MAY NOT SIN” (1 John 2:1)
A. “Because your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake” (1 John 2:12; Romans 5:20-6:2; Psalm 103:12)
B. “Because you have known Him who is from the beginning” (1 John 2:13,14; John 17:3)
C. “Because you have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:13,14; 4:4; 5:4-5)
D. “Because you have known the Father” (1 John 2:13; Jeremiah 31:33-34)
E. “Because you are strong and the word of God abides in you” (1 John 2:14; 2 John 1:9)
III. “THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND THAT YOU MAY CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD” (1 John 5:13)
A. How does one acquire faith? (Romans 10:17)
B. Eternal life is a promise from the Father to the faithful (1 John 2:25; Titus 1:2; John 17:1-3)
C. The Spirit inspired the Word to produce faith in us (John 17:20; 20:30-31)
A. In life (Acts 18:2; 1 Peter 4:1-4)
B. In work (Acts 18:3; 1 Timothy 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12; Proverbs 31)
II. Hospitable
A. Opened their home to Paul (Acts 18:3)
B. Opened their home to the church (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19)
C. A commandment of God (Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8; 1 Timothy 5:10; 1 Peter 4:9)
III. Humble
A. In teaching (Acts 18:24-26)
B. “Risked their own necks” (Romans 16:3-4; Philippians 2:5-8)
A. The church needs Christians to fight the battle against evil (Ephesians 6:11,14; Joshua 23:10)
B. What can be accomplished by faith? (Hebrews 11:32-38; Proverbs 28:1)
II. Shammah Fought and Defended the Land
A. Spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:11-13,17; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3)
B. Satan is powerful – but God is more (1 Peter 5:8-10)
C. God perfects, establishes, strengthens, and settles us through:
1. Prayer (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
2. Purity (2 Timothy 2:22)
III. The Lord Brings the Victory
A. Satan doesn’t stand a chance! (2 Samuel 23:12; Romans 8:31-39)
B. Faith is the victory (1 John 5:4-5; Revelation 2:10)
A. “Together” / “Common” / “With one accord” (Acts 2:44-47)
B. NOT unity in diversity! Unity in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 1:10; John 17:20-21)
C. Striving for peace (Acts 6:1,7; Romans 14:19; Ephesians 4:1-3)
II. Their Steadfast Nature
A. Steadfast in doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 16:13)
B. Danger of not being steadfast (Galatians 1:6-9)
C. Self-discipline (Romans 12:1)
III. Their Belief in the Message
A. “Into all the world” (Mark 16:15; Colossians 1:23)
B. Unafraid when opposed (Acts 4:18-20; Galatians 1:10)
C. Despite persecutions, they believed (Acts 8:1-3; 2 Cor. 11:24-27; Acts 12:1-2; 8:4)
A. Andrew brought Peter to Jesus (John 1:35-42)
B. Andrew brought the lad with loaves and fish to Jesus (John 6:5-9)
C. Andrew (and Philip) brought the Greeks to Jesus (John 12:20-22)
II. EXPLAINING THE SCRIPTURES
A. Apollos was: (Acts 18:24-28)
1. Eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures
2. Spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord
3. He only knew the baptism of John
B. Aquila and Priscilla demonstrated gentleness in correction
C. Aquila and Priscilla demonstrated patience in teaching
D. Aquila and Priscilla understood the audience
III. KNOWING THE SCRIPTURES
A. Take what you have learned, and teach others, so that they can teach ohers, who will teach others, and so on (2 Timothy 2:2; Matthew 28:19-20)
B. Know how to rightly divide/handle aright (2 Timothy 2:15; Ephesians 6:17; Romans 1:16)
C. Give Christ a special place—the HIGHEST place—in your heart (2 Peter 3:15; Colossians 3:1)
IV. NEVER GIVE UP!
A. In due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9)
B. The example of David Lipscomb, J. W. Shepherd, and the mother of the Douthit brothers
C. You don’t know what kind of seed you are planting
A. Joshua first made himself a servant (Exodus 24:13; 33:11)
B. Even as a leader, Joshua was willing to serve
1. He was exalted by God (Joshua 3:7; 4:14)
2. He still served One who was greater (Joshua 5:13-15)
II. Good leaders put their faith and trust in God
A. Spying out the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:27-28, 31-33; 14:6-9)
B. The fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-5; Hebrews 11:30)
III. Good leaders are men of God’s Word
A. One can only follow the Word if he knows the Word (Joshua 1:7-8)
B. Joshua’s commitment to God’s Word is shown:
1. When he reminded the 2 ½ tribes of their responsibility (Joshua 1:12-15)
2. When he renewed the covenant at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim (Joshua 8:30-35)
3. When he encouraged the people to obey God, even at the end of his life (Joshua 23:6,14-16)
IV. Good leaders put God first
A. Following God’s command is more important than following human wisdom (Joshua 8:1-2, 30-35; 9:1-2)
B. Care about what God thinks about us more than what people think about us (Joshua 24:14-16)
A. “Mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:15)
B. “Instructed in the way of the Lord” (Acts 18:25)
1. John’s baptism (Mark 1:4; 11:30; as opposed to Matthew 28:19)
2. Re-baptism in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-5)
II. APOLLOS’ ATTITUDE WHEN HE LEARNED THE TRUTH
A. He humbly accepted correction
B. He believed that those in error should change (Galatians 1:6-9; Acts 18:26)
III. APOLLOS’ TREMENDOUS ZEAL
A. “Being fervent in spirit” (Acts 18:25; Romans 12:11)
1. zeo – “to boil with heat, be hot…metaphorically, used of ‘boiling’ anger, love, zeal for what is good or bad”
2. Zeal must be based on truth (Romans 10:1-3)
B. “Vigorously refuted the Jews publicly” (Acts 18:28)
C. The teacher is not the thing to put your faith in; put your faith in God (1 Corinthians 13:1-7)
A. Barnabas took action (Acts 9:26-28; 8:1-2)
B. We must seek opportunities to encourage others
II. ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE CONGREGATION
A. “With purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord” (Acts 11:19-26)
B. The attributes of Barnabas (Acts 11:24)
1. “A good man”
2. “Full of the Holy Spirit”
3. “Full of faith”
C. The action of Barnabas (Acts 13:1-3)
III. ENCOURAGEMENT IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
A. From “Barnabas and Saul” to “Paul and Barnabas” (Acts 13:42-49)
B. Accepting our roles in His church (1 Timothy 3:1; Acts 20:28-30; Hebrews 13:17; 3 John 1:9-11; 1 Peter 5:2-3)
IV. ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE FACE OF CONFLICT
A. The conflict between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:35-41; 2 Timothy 4:11)
B. We must never compromise the faith (1 Corinthians 1:10; Jude 1:3)
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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