A. Jochebed (Exodus 2:2-10; Hebrews 11:25)
B. Hannah (1 Samuel 1-2)
C. Lois and Eunice (2 Timothy 1:3-5; 3:14-15)
D. Mary (Luke 2:41-52)
II. The influence of a godly mother
A. “Behind every good man is a good woman” – and that good woman is often his mother (Ephesians 5:23; 6:1)
B. The power of a mother’s prayer (Rudyard Kipling’s “Mother O’ Mine”; James 5:16)
III. The sacrifice of a godly mother
A. She takes initiative (Proverbs 31:13)
B. She provides for her family’s needs in the home (Proverbs 31:15)
C. She is shrewd in business dealings (Proverbs 31:16)
D. She is generous (Proverbs 31:20)
E. She is not lazy (Proverbs 31:27)
F. She is blessed (Proverbs 31:28-31)
A. He was devout (Luke 10:25-28; 9:23-25)
B. He was reverent (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Psalm 36:1-4)
C. He was a leader in his home (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)
D. He was generous (Leviticus 19:9-10; Galatians 6:10)
E. He was a praying man (James 5:16)
II. Cornelius was a lost man
A. He needed to be told what he “must do” (Acts 10:3-8)
B. Peter brought the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10:28-29, 34-35, 42-43; 1:8; 2:39)
C. God showed the acceptability of the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-46; Mark 16:20; Acts 10:47-48)
III. The Jewish response
A. Initial backlash (Acts 11:1-3)
B. Peter’s defense: “at the beginning” (Acts 11:15, 17)
C. God was glorified (Acts 11:18; Galatians 3:28)
A. Knowing God (1 John 4:7-8; Philippians 3:8-11; Titus 1:16)
B. Christ gives us life (1 John 4:9; John 14:6; 1:4; 11:25; 5:24) as the propitiation of our sins (1 John 4:10)
C. We have no excuse to not love the brethren (1 John 4:11)
II. Confessing God’s love
A. The good confession (1 John 4:15; Acts 8:37-38; 1 Timothy 6:12)
B. More than mere lip service (Matthew 15:8; 7:21)
III. Abiding in God’s love
A. A mutual spiritual indwelling; a reciprocal abiding; the closest fellowship and communion possible (1 John 4:12-16)
B. We can be bold by conforming our lives to His (1 John 4:17; 1 Timothy 6:11; Ephesians 5:1-2)
C. There is no fear in love (1 John 4:18; Psalm 111:10)
IV. Practicing God’s love
A. Selflessly seeking the very best for another person (1 John 4:19)
B. Love for the brethren flows from a love for God (1 John 4:20)
C. You cannot love God if you do not love your Christian family (1 John 4:21)
A. Seeing old friends who have been away for some time (Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7)
B. Good news about friends (Ephesians 6:22; Philippians 1:12-14)
II. From God (Ephesians 6:23-24; 1:2-3)
A. Peace (1 Peter 3:10-11; Romans 12:18; Ephesians 2:14; Matthew 5:9)
B. Love with faith (James 2:22; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 6; 2 Thessalonians 1:3)
C. Grace (Romans 6:23; Isaiah 59:2; John 3:16; John 14:23)
A. A very religious man (Acts 7:58; 8:1, 3; Philippians 3:5-6; Acts 23:1)
B. On fire for God, but misunderstood God (Acts 9:1-2; Matthew 7:21-23)
C. Saul needed a heavenly intervention (Acts 9:3-9)
II. Ananias
A. “A certain disciple” (Acts 9:10), willing to do what the Lord commands (Isaiah 6:8)
B. Ananias’s hesitation (Acts 9:11-14)
C. The Lord explains (Acts 9:15-16; Isaiah 62:2)
D. Jesus said, “Go!”…and Ananias went (Acts 9:17-19)
A. Paul’s prayers (Colossians 1:9; Philippians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 13:7)
B. Paul encouraged prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-4)
C. When should we pray? (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
D. For whom should we pray? (Ephesians 6:19; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; James 1:5; Matthew 6:9-13)
II. Perception (Ephesians 6:18b)
A. Gideon’s army (Judges 7:5-7)
B. Keep your eyes open so you’re not taken by surprise (1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 5:15-16)
C. Be watchful for opportunities to do good (Galatians 6:9-10)
III. Persuasiveness (Ephesians 6:19b-20)
A. Peter and John’s boldness (Acts 4:8-13)
B. Paul’s boldness (Acts 20:27; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 4:2)
A. God provided the right teacher (Philip) for the student (the eunuch)
B. Philip and the eunuch ended up in the same place at the same time
C. The eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53
II. The value of questions (Acts 8:30-34)
A. “Do you understand what you are reading?”
B. “How can I, unless someone guides me?”
C. “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”
III. Philip “preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35-39)
A. Preaching Jesus includes preaching about baptism
B. Preaching Jesus produces joy when one obeys
A. Why? (Ephesians 6:13)
B. Stand against what or whom? (Acts 20:29, 30, 38; Ephesians 2:1-5; 4:17-24; 4:1-3)
II. Defensive weapons
A. Gird your waist with truth (Ephesians 6:14a; John 8:32)
B. Breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14b; 1 Timothy 6:11; Romans 3:10, 23; 1 Corinthians 1:30)
C. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Peter 3:15; Acts 8:4)
D. Shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16; Hebrews 11:1, 6; Romans 10:17)
E. Helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17a)
III. The offensive weapon
A. The sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17b)
B. Use it properly (2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 4:12)
I. The responsibility of every Christian to evangelize
A. It wasn’t the apostles who scattered and preached outside Jerusalem (Acts 8:1, 4; Colossians 1:23)
B. A perpetual commission (Hebrews 5:12-14; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2)
II. The gospel is for all mankind
A. Not just those who look and act like us (Acts 8:5; John 4:9, 20, 25)
B. The reaction (Acts 8:6-7, 12) was joyous (Acts 8:8, 39; 16:34; 15:3)
C. It is even for those that we don’t think will obey (Acts 8:9-13)
III. The possibility of apostasy…and restoration!
A. Simon shows immaturity (Acts 8:14-19)
B. Peter’s rebuke (Acts 8:20-23)
C. Simon’s opportunity to repent (Acts 8:22, 24)
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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