A. The way to heaven (John 14:2-3, 5)
B. We are powerless to achieve this on our own (Romans 3:9-12, 23; Ephesians 2:8-9)
C. He is the way – the only way to heaven (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18)
II. “I am the truth”
A. He is the truth Himself, united with the Father (John 1:14-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; John 14:7-10; 1:1)
B. The truth provides freedom (John 8:31-32; 1 John 2:3-6)
III. “I am the life”
A. Abundant life here (John 10:10b)
B. Eternal life in heaven (John 3:14-16; 5:24; 1 John 5:12-13)
A. At the riverside (Acts 16:11-13)
B. Lydia (Acts 16:14-15)
1. A successful businesswoman
2. Religious
3. Obedient
II. Trouble
A. The possessed slave girl (Acts 16:16-18)
B. The loss of profits (Acts 16:19-24)
C. Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:25-26; Philippians 4:4)
III. The jailer
A. His concern for his life (Acts 16:27-28)
B. His concern for his soul (Acts 16:29-30)
C. Paul’s instruction (Acts 16:31-32)
D. The jailer’s obedience (Acts 16:33-34)
A. The desire to visit the churches to ensure they were sticking to the faith (Galatians 1:6-7; 1 Corinthians 1:10-11; Philippians 4:2; Acts 2:42)
B. It is good to visit with brethren
II. The division (Acts 15:37-39a)
A. Barnabas wanted to take Mark (Acts 12:12; 1 Peter 5:13; Colossians 4:10)
B. Paul disagreed because of Mark’s past performance (Acts 13:13)
C. The sharp contention (Hebrews 10:24; 1 Corinthians 13:5)
III. The destinations (Acts 15:39b-41)
A. Paul and Silas went through Syria and Cilicia (Acts 15:23)
B. Barnabas and Mark started in Cyprus
C. Mark later reconciled with Paul
1. He was a “comfort” (Colossians 4:10-11)
2. A “fellow laborer” (Philemon 24)
3. “He is useful to me for ministry” (1 Timothy 4:9, 11)
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)
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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