1. RELIGIOUS! An Old Testament Law-keeper 2. RENEWED! A New Testament believer 3. RESOLVED! A radical change of heart & life
1. THE SACRIFICE! 2. THE SUBSTITUTE! 3. THE SAVIOUR!
1. THE SETTING! Athens – the intellectual & cultural metropolis of the world 2. THE SERMON! The Unknown God 3. THE SEQUEL! a) Resentment b) Postponement c) Commitment
A NEW TEAM! (v1-5) Paul, Silas & Timothy 2. A NEW VISION! (v6-10) Europe Frustration gives way to revelation 3. A NEW CHURCH! (v11-40) Philippi: an open heart, an open fight, an open jail, an open home
SOMETHING: 1. SERIOUS! (v1-2) Hardliners threaten the church & the Gospel 2. SIGNIFICANT! (v2-35) The Council at Jerusalem: The Pharisees (v5), Peter (v7), Barnabas (v12), James (v14) 3. SAD! (v36-41) Paul & Barnabas part company
1. DESIGNED! Made BY God & FOR God Body & Soul 2. DEFACED! All have sinned (Rom 3:23) 3. DESIRED! For God so loved the world (John 3:16) 4. DELIVERED! A new heaven and a new earth. The dwelling place of God is with men (Rev 21)
1. THE TEAM! (v1-3) Spiritual leaders worshipping, fasting, praying, sending Saul & Barnabas 2. THE TASK! (v4-5) They proclaim the word of God 3. THE TEST! a) Of Falsehood – Elymas b) Of Division – John Mark c) Of Conversion – Sergius Paulus
1. PERIL! (v1-5) Herod angry, James martyred, Peter imprisoned 2. PRAYER! (v5) Earnest prayer for Peter made to God by the church 3. POWER! (v6-25) Peter released, Herod deceased, God’s word increased
1. REALISE! You are very precious 2. REFUSE! To believe the liar, the thief & the murderer 3. RESOLVE! a) To admit your loneliness b) To develop a close walk with God c) To remember God’s promises d) To join a growth group e) To network with others f) To live on “cans”…
1. RELIGION – ISN’T ENOUGH! Cornelius was God-fearing & sincere but he wasn’t right with God and needed more 2. PREJUDICE – ISN’T RIGHT! The iceberg of legalism had to be melted by God’s truth & grace 3. CONVERSION – ISN’T EMOTION! It requires truth, understanding & faith 4. SPIRITUALITY – ISN’T…