I. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego (Daniel 3:1-18)
A. Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image (Daniel 3:1-15)
B. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego’s refusal to bow down (3:16-18)
C. We must not compromise, but stand up for the truth (Jude 3)
II. Ezra (Ezra 7:10)
A. Seek (Matthew 6:33; 7:7-8; Colossians 3:1-2)
B. Do (Matthew 7:21; Romans 6:16-17; Hebrews 5:9)
C. Teach (James 1:25; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2)
III. Jesus
A. At age 12 (Luke 2:46-47)
B. Nicodemus (John 3:1-3)
C. Identifying and addressing needs (Colossians 4:5-6)
A. Background (Galatians 2:11-13)
B. Face-to-face discussions (Acts 15:1-5; Galatians 2:1-2, 14-16)
II. The defense (Acts 15:6-18)
A. Peter (Acts 15:6-11; 10:34-35)
B. Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:12)
C. James (Acts 15:13-18; Amos 9:11-12)
III. The declaration (Acts 15:19-35)
A. Prohibitions against idol worship (Acts 15:19-21)
B. Inspired by the Spirit (Acts 15:22-29)
C. The purpose of the Law (Galatians 3:19, 23-29)
D. The reaction to the letter (Acts 15:30-35)
A. A need for restoration (Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20)
B. Reactions to sin (Jeremiah 2:23, 26)
C. Often prevented by pride, such as in the case of the Pharisees (Matthew 9:10-13)
D. Modern day examples
1. Fornication (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
2. Abortion (Proverbs 6:17)
3. Denominationalism (1 Corinthians 1:10)
II. The sinner must be convinced he is lost because of sin
A. Many never know the truth (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
B. Christians have a responsibility to teach (Ezekiel 3:18-19; Matthew 28:19-20)
III. The sinner must be convinced of God’s displeasure with sin
A. The need for repentance (Isaiah 59:1-2)
B. Unrepented sin leads to eternal death (Romans 6:23a; Ephesians 2:12)
IV. The sinner must know that God provides deliverance
A. Ephesians 2:13
B. False gods cannot deliver man (Jeremiah 2:28)
C. Only Jesus Christ provides salvation (Romans 6:23b; James 4:7-10)
A. The healing of a lame man by Jesus (Isaiah 53:3-6a; John 5:8-9)
B. The healing of a lame man by Peter and John (Acts 3)
C. The healing of a lame man by Paul (Acts 14:8-10)
II. A mistake (Acts 14:11-13)
A. Idolatry – Zeus and Hermes (Acts 14:11-12)
B. The involvement of the priest of Zeus (Acts 14:13)
III. A message (Acts 14:14-18)
A. Turn from idols (Acts 14:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10)
B. Still today we deal with idolatry (Colossians 3:5; 1 Timothy 6:10)
C. The argument for God from nature (Acts 14:16-18; 17:30; Romans 3:25; 1:18-21)
IV. The mess (Acts 14:19-20)
A. Unbelieving Jews and fickle multitudes (Acts 14:19)
B. God was with His servants (Acts 14:20)
V. The conclusion of the first missionary journey (Acts 14:21-28)
A. Backtracking to all those congregations they planted – strengthening, exhorting, and appointing elders (Acts 14:21-25)
B. Returning and reporting to Antioch (Acts 14:26-28; 11:26)
A. Jesus loved His friends (John 11:1-7)
B. The apostles’ misunderstanding (John 11:8-16)
II. Jesus grieves with His friends
A. “If” — an expression of grief (John 11:17-21)
B. The faith of Martha (John 11:22-24)
C. “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25-27; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Luke 10:38-42)
D. The faith of Mary (John 11:28-32)
E. The compassion of Jesus (John 11:33-36; Revelation 14:13)
III. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
A. Doubting Jews (John 11:37)
B. Martha’s faith falters (John 11:38-40)
C. “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:41-44)
A. Reception (Acts 13:42-44; 13:26; Galatians 5:4)
B. Rejection (Acts 13:45, 50)
II. Paul and Barnabas refused to back down
A. The Jews should have accepted the gospel (Acts 13:46-47; 13:17; Romans 1:16)
B. The Gentiles joyously accepted God’s grace (Acts 13:48; Ephesians 2:12)
C. Joy resulted in evangelism (Acts 13:49)
III. The missionaries driven out of Antioch
A. You can knock them down, but they will get back up (Acts 13:50-51; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9; Luke 9:3-5)
B. Despite opposition and persecution, the church was planted and disciples were joyful
A. Goodness (Matthew 19:16-17; Romans 11:22)
B. Mercy (Titus 3:3-5; Ephesians 2:8-9)
C. Benevolence (Hebrews 13:6; Psalm 118:6; James 1:17; 2 Corinthians 1:3)
II. God’s grace in the Old Testament
A. Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:18-24; Proverbs 18:22)
B. Noah (Genesis 6:5-9)
C. Abraham (Genesis 22:15-18)
III. God’s grace in the New Testament
A. Man can do nothing on his own to erase the stain of sin (Galatians 5:4)
B. Grace does not negate obedience (John 1:17; Hebrews 5:9; Titus 3:3-5; Ephesians 2:8-9)
C. “Grace alone” is false doctrine (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Acts 10:34)
D. Grace is available to all, and it demands obedience (Titus 2:11-14)
I. The historical background of the Messiah (Acts 13:13-23)
A. The exodus, wilderness, and Joshua (Acts 13:16-19; Deuteronomy 7:1-2)
B. David (Acts 13:20-22) and his part in God’s plan (Acts 13:23)
II. The prophecies and proofs of Jesus (Acts 13:23-37)
A. John the Baptizer’s testimony (Acts 13:23-25; John 1:29-30; 3:30)
B. Paul’s target audience: “those among you who fear God” (Acts 13:26)
C. Jesus’ rejection and crucifixion fulfilled prophecy (Acts 13:27-29)
D. Jesus’ resurrection fulfilled prophecy (Acts 13:30-37; 2:29ff)
III. Jesus is the answer to every man’s problem of sin (Acts 13:38-41)
A. Forgiveness and justification (Acts 13:38-39; Galatians 3:23-25)
B. Warning against rebellion (Acts 13:40-41; Habakkuk 1:5; Isaiah 53:1)
I. Thanksgiving for mercies granted to the king (Psalm 21:1-6)
A. Joy in the salvation of God (Psalm 21:1; 1 Peter 1:10-12; Ephesians 3:4)
B. Prayer (Psalm 21:2; James 1:6; 1 John 5:14-15)
C. The crown (Psalm 21:3; Galatians 4:4-5; 2 Timothy 4:8)
D. Life (Psalm 21:4; John 10:10)
E. Honor and majesty (Psalm 21:5-6; 2 Samuel 7:18; Ephesians 2:8-9)
II. The hope of future victories (Psalm 21:7-12)
A. Steadfast trust (Psalm 21:7; 1 Corinthians 15:58)
B. The enemies of God do not stand a chance (Psalm 21:8-12; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; 25:21, 23)
III. The reward for faithfulness (Psalm 21:13)
A. The power rests with God, not with us (Psalm 21:13)
B. Coffman: “There can be no higher activity on the part of mankind than that of worshipping and praising the Creator” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Philippians 2:12-13)
A. The problem of false teaching (Jude 3-4; 3 John 9, 11)
B. Warning against false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-19)
C. Continue in the truth because faith is precious (John 8:32; 2 Peter 3:18)
II. The trial of our faith (1 Peter 1:6-9)
A. The testing of faith (James 1:2-3)
B. Present suffering will not compare to eternal glory (Romans 8:18)
III. A gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:3-4)
A. Gentle/meek (Matthew 5:5)
B. Quiet/peaceable (1 Timothy 2:2)
IV. The promises of God (2 Peter 1:2-4)
A. God’s revelation is sufficient (Proverbs 17:8)
B. God’s promises are conditional upon obedience (Romans 11:22)
V. Christ (1 Peter 2:4-7)
A. The living stone chosen of God (1 Peter 2:4-5)
B. Old Testament prophecies1. Isaiah 28:16 (cf. Ephesians 2:19-22)
2. Psalm 118:22
VI. The blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19)
A. Intrinsic value (Acts 3:6; Mark 8:36-37)
B. The blood of animals not sufficient (Hebrews 10:4, 10)
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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