Believers Serving One Another

Ephesians 4:11-16 Mace It is he then that made some, apostles: some, prophets: some, evangelists: and others, pastors, and teachers: 12 thus fitly qualifying his servants for their respective offices, in order to build up the body of Christ: 13 till being united in a perfect belief, and acknowledgment of the son of God, we grow up to that full state of maturity required by Christ: 14 that we should be no longer children, fluctuating, and carried about with every empty doctrine, by men vers'd in sleight and the crafty arts of deceit: 15 but being sincere in mutual love, may be entirely united to Christ, who is the head: 16 from which the whole body fitly framed, and compacted by the entire adherence and contribution of every part performing its respective function, increases and improves itself by the mutual concern of the parts.

We learn

B1 There is no teaching on 2 classes of church workers—priests and laity

C1 We are brothers and sisters.

D1 Matthew 23:8 CSB But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.

D2 Galatians 6:10 Williams So then whenever we have an opportunity, let us practice doing good to everybody, but especially to the members of the family of faith.

C2 Each brother and each sister has a gift given by God for a purpose. There might be different measures and different affects but each has a gift from God.

D1 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NIV There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

D2 1 Corinthians 12:12 NIV Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

D3 Romans 12:4-5 NIV For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

D4 1 Corinthians 12:13-14 NIV For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body--whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

C3 The one standing before the congregation is only a human who is exercising the gift God gave.

C4 There are fakes who are only naturally gifted with intellect, theology, philosophy, etc.

C5 God’s gift to us has spiritual fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

C6 We need to use that gift. 1 Peter 4:10 NLT God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

C7 We need to be faithful to use it. 1 Peter 4:10 NIV Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.

B2 Our motive for using gifts is to edify the brothers and sisters and to glorify God.

B3 Using our gifts properly will help all of us stay faithful to the end instead of vacillating from one belief to another.

A Few Thoughts On The Last Days Church

Tommy Ice lists:

The following is a list of the seven major passages that deal with the last days for the church: 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3-4; James 5:1-8; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 3:3-6; Jude 1-25. Every one of these passages emphasizes over and over again that the great characteristic of the final time of the church will be that of apostasy. The New Testament pictures the condition within the professing church at the end of the age by a system of denials.

Denial of GOD — Luke 17:26; 2 Timothy 3:4-5

Denial of CHRIST — 1 John 2:18; 4:3; 2 Peter 2:6

Denial of CHRIST’S RETURN — 2 Peter 3:3-4, Luke 12:45

Denial of THE FAITH — 1 Timothy 4:1-2; Jude 3

Denial of SOUND DOCTRINE — 2 Timothy 4:3-4, 1 Timothy 4:1-2

Denial of THE SEPARATED LIFE — 2 Timothy 3:1-7, 2 Peter 2:19

Denial of CHRISTIAN LIBERTY — 1 Timothy 4:3-4

Denial of MORALS — 2 Timothy 3:1-8,13; Jude 1:18

Denial of AUTHORITY — 2 Timothy 3:4, 2 Peter 2:10-12

Denial of Truth [My add] — Romans 1:18, Romans 1:25, 2 Timothy 3:8

These are areas of theology and the Christian Life.

Notes:

Some relevant passages

• 1 Timothy 4:1-3
• 2 Timothy 3:1-5
• 2 Timothy 4:3-4
• James 5:1-8
• 2 Peter 2:1-22
• 2 Peter 3:3-6
• Jude 1:1-25

We need affirmation

Affirmation of GOD — Romans 1:18-20, John 1:1, 1 Corinthians 8:5-6

Affirmation of CHRIST — Romans 1:18-20, John 10:30-33

Affirmation of CHRIST’S RETURN — Matthew 24:30, Matthew 25:31, Acts 1:11

Affirmation of THE FAITH — Hebrews 11:6, James 2:23

Affirmation of SOUND DOCTRINE — 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Titus 2:1

Affirmation of THE SEPARATED LIFE — 1 Corinthians 9:21, Romans 6:1-2

Affirmation of CHRISTIAN LIBERTY — Galatians 4:8-12, 1 Peter 2:16

Affirmation of MORALS — 1 John 2:15-17, Romans 12:1-2

Affirmation of AUTHORITY — Matthew 28:18, Ecclesiastes 12:14, John 5:22, 2 Corinthians 5:10

Affirmation of Truth [My add] — John 17:17, Proverbs 6:16-19

The Denials

Denial of GOD

• Denial as in rejection
  • Titus 1:16 NLT Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.
  • 2 Timothy 3:4-5 NKJV Traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
• Denial as in atheism
  • Romans 1:25 NKJV Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
  • Romans 1:28 NKJV And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

Denial of CHRIST

• Denial as in reject
  • 1 John 2:18 NKJV Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
  • 1 Peter 2:7 GNB This stone is of great value for you that believe; but for those who do not believe: "The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all."
• Denial as in disown
  • 2 Timothy 2:12 GNB If we continue to endure, we shall also rule with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.
  • Mark 8:38 GNB If you are ashamed of me and of my teaching in this godless and wicked day, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Denial of CHRIST’S RETURN

• 2 Peter 3:3-4 NKJV Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
• Luke 12:45 NKJV "But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk,

Denial of THE FAITH

• 1 Timothy 4:1-2 NKJV Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
• Jude 1:3 NKJV Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Denial of SOUND DOCTRINE

• 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NRSV For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.
• 1 Timothy 4:1-2 WEB But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron.

Denial of THE SEPARATED LIFE

• 2 Timothy 3:1-7 NKJV But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• 2 Peter 2:19 NLT They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

Denial of CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

• 1 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;

Denial of MORALS

• 2 Timothy 3:1-8, 13 NKJV But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; ... But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
• Jude 1:18 NKJV How they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
• Jude 1:4 NLT I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Denial of AUTHORITY

• 2 Timothy 3:4 NKJV Traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
• 2 Peter 2:10-12 NRSV —especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust, and who despise authority. Bold and willful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones, 11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not bring against them a slanderous judgment from the Lord. 12 These people, however, are like irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed. They slander what they do not understand, and when those creatures are destroyed, they also will be destroyed.

Denial of TRUTH

• Romans 1:18 NRSV For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth.
• Romans 1:25 GW These people have exchanged God's truth for a lie. So they have become ungodly and serve what is created rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen!
• 2 Timothy 3:8 LEB And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these oppose the truth, people corrupted in mind, disqualified concerning the faith.

We need affirmation

Affirmation of GOD — Romans 1:18-20, John 1:1, 1 Corinthians 8:5-6

Affirmation of CHRIST — Romans 1:18-20, John 10:30-33

Affirmation of CHRIST’S RETURN — Matthew 24:30, Matthew 25:31, Acts 1:11

Affirmation of THE FAITH — Hebrews 11:6, James 2:23

Affirmation of SOUND DOCTRINE — 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Titus 2:1

Affirmation of THE SEPARATED LIFE — 1 Corinthians 9:21, Romans 6:1-2

Affirmation of CHRISTIAN LIBERTY — Galatians 4:8-12, 1 Peter 2:16

Affirmation of MORALS — 1 John 2:15-17, Romans 12:1-2

Affirmation of AUTHORITY — Matthew 28:18, Ecclesiastes 12:14, John 5:22, 2 Corinthians 5:10

Affirmation of Truth [My add] — John 17:17, Proverbs 6:16-19

The Affirmations

Affirmation of GOD

• 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 NIV For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
• John 1:1 NIV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• Romans 1:18-20 NIV The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Affirmation of CHRIST

• Romans 1:18-20 NIV The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
• John 10:30-33 NIV I and the Father are one." Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" "We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

Affirmation of CHRIST’S RETURN

• Acts 1:11 NIV "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
• Matthew 24:30 NIV "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
• Matthew 25:31 NIV "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.

Affirmation of THE FAITH

• Hebrews 11:6 NIV And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
• James 2:23 NIV And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

Affirmation of SOUND DOCTRINE

• Titus 2:1 NIV You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 CSB All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Affirmation of THE SEPARATED LIFE

• 1 Corinthians 9:21 NLT When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
• Romans 6:1-2 NLT Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?

Affirmation of CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

• Galatians 4:8-12 NLT Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing. Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles--free from those laws. You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you.
• 1 Peter 2:16 WEL [Live] as freeborn, yet not using [your] freedom as a cover for evil but as servants of God.

Affirmation of MORALS

• 1 John 2:15-17 NIV Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
• Romans 12:1-2 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Affirmation of AUTHORITY

• Matthew 28:18 NIV Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
• Ecclesiastes 12:14 NIV For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
• John 5:22 NIV Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,
• 2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Affirmation of Truth [My add]

• John 17:17 NKJV Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
• Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Why Are You In Church This Morning?

This is rather long and probably needs to be divided into 2 parts. Cheers.

Why Are You Here?

Why Did You Come to Church Today?

A1 What is church?

A2 What is church supposed to be?

A3 What do we do in church?

A1 What is church?

B1 The Greek for church is ἐκκλησία ekklēsia. It means originally any public assembly of citizens summoned by a herald (Vocabulary of the Greek Testament by Moulton and Milligan 1914-1929). In the New Testament it is translated assembly, congregation, church.

B2 It is usually used in the sense of properly, people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom. (Source).

B3 Simply put it is believers. It is not simply Christians, because some people call themselves Christians but are not in the Bible use of the word.

B4 A Christian is someone who has been convicted they have broken God’s law and deserves God’s punishment. They must be convince that they are not a good person. It is someone who then repents, believes in, and trusts into Messiah Jesus for salvation and in no one and nothing else. Doing good works does not save.

A2 What is church supposed to be?

B1 Church is an assembly of believers. It is not for unbelievers. Unbelievers are always welcomed and encouraged, but they are not the reason and purpose for the church.

B2 We are not to stop meeting together. Hebrews 10:19-25 NKJV Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

C1 What Day is this? Some understand day to be the destruction of Israel. Some believe it is the rapture. I believe it refers to 1 Corinthians 3:13 MKJV each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is.

C2 This day is the judgment day for Christians.

D1 Romans 14:10 WPNT But you, why do you judge your brother? And you too, why do you look down on your brother? Because we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

D2 2 Corinthians 5:10 WPNT Because we must all be exposed before Christ’s Judgment Seat, that each one may receive his due for the things he did while in the body, whether good or bad.

C3 This day is immediately after the rapture.

C4 This is where Christians are judged for what we have done in this life. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 MKJV And if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, 13 each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is. 14 If anyone's work which he built remains, he shall receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire.

C5 Wilbur Pickering commenting on 2 Corinthians 5:10 states, “If we are wise, like Paul, we will never forget the Accounting. He was ‘confident’ that upon leaving his physical body he would be at home with the Lord. To have the same confidence we also must consciously live so as to be well pleasing to Him.”

B3 We are to be like our brethren in Acts 2. Acts 2:42 WPNT And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ teaching and in the fellowship, both in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers.

C1 Continued steadfastly

C2 Apostle’s teaching (doctrine and lifestyle). We must know what we believe.

C3 Fellowship (with other believers)

C4 Communion (Lord’s Supper)

C5 Prayer (part of worship both as individual and corporate)

B4 We need to be taught. Ephesians 4:14 NKJV that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.

C1 We need to know what we believe. What we believe is important. We must be taught, and we must study the Bible and doctrine.

C2 We need to learn discernment. The pastor must lead in this, but every Christian needs to know what Christians believe. The pastor can go into error.

C3 We all need to be able to defend the faith. We all need to be taught and to be trained. 1 Peter 3:15-17 WPNT Rather, sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready with an answer for everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with meekness and respect; keeping a good conscience, so that wherein they speak against you as evildoers, those who revile your good way of life in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, should the will of God so determine, than for doing evil.

C4 We need to learn to recognize deception. False teachers will try to deceive us. They change the meaning of words, they claim this teaching was only for the New Testament times, they will tell you the Scriptures have been corrupted, they will slowly—I mean slooowly—introduce lies (it might take years, but they will do it. It is how they take over a church), they will promote important people with many doctorates who believe some life (thus implying that we should believe them), they will assert authority (“We are elders, so you must submit).

D1 Example 1: 1 Timothy 2:4 CSB Who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

E1 Calvinist:

F1 All has different meanings.

F2 Here are some examples of different meanings.

F3 All here means all types.

F4 There are many sources. This one is from here.

E2 Plain, normal sense

F1 It states all.

F2 There are no qualifiers to modify the plain, normal sense of all.

F3 Even if it is kinds, types, etc., the Calvinist version fails.

G1 If all refers to gender, then we know there are only 2 genders—male and female. This would indicate that all means each and every male and female.

G2 If all refers to economic status, we know there are the rich, the poor, and everyone else. This would indicate each and every economic class.

G3 If all refers to occupation, we know that some are in the fields of education, legal, medical, government, agriculture, services, engineerings, repair, retired, ill, etc. This would indicate each and every person, since all have some occupation.

D2 Example 2: Acts 10:9-16 WEB Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. 10 He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, 12 in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. 13 A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” 16 This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.

E1 Hebrew Roots groups: If you read on, Peter is trying to make since (SIC) out of this vision, because he knew the Lord wouldn't have him eat unclean meat. What came about? In verse 28 Peter says, "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." Peter says here that God showed, in that vision, that he should not call any MAN common or unclean.

E2 The passage in the plain, normal sense was understood by Peter that he, Peter, was to get up, kill, and EAT. Peter was COMMANDED to EAT.

B5 We need to remember Jesus’s death and its purpose. 1 Corinthians 11:20 WEB When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.

C1 We gather for the Lord’s Supper.

C2 This is only for believers.

D1 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 GNB So then, you should each examine yourself first, and then eat the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For if you do not recognize the meaning of the Lord's body when you eat the bread and drink from the cup, you bring judgment on yourself as you eat and drink. 30 That is why many of you are sick and weak, and several have died.

D2 Matthew 7:6 NKJV “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

B6 We need to live a Christian life.

C1 Good works which glorify our Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NKJV Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

C2 Care and concern are in this order.

D1 Spouse

D2 My children

D3 The members of my local assembly

D4 The believers everywhere else.

D5 Non-Christians for a witness and testimony.

C3 Some things we are to avoid: Galatians 5:19-21 WPNT Now the works of the flesh are obvious, namely: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, fits of anger, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions, envyings, murders, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like; about which I am warning you beforehand, as, in fact, I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

C4 Some things needed to be seen in our lives: Galatians 5:22-23 WPNT But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control—against such things there is no law.

A3 What do we do in church?

B1 Sing: Ephesians 5:19-21 NKJV speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

B2 Pray: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV pray without ceasing.

B3 Collect:

C1 For congregation expenses: 1 Timothy 5:17-18 NKJV Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer [is] worthy of his wages.

C2 For the poor Christians: Galatians 2:10 NKJV [They desired] only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

B4 Offer sacrifices

C1 The sacrifice of praise: Hebrews 13:15 NKJV Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of [our] lips, giving thanks to His name.

C2 The sacrifice of helping the brothers and sisters in financial need: Hebrews 13:16 NKJV But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

C3 Ourselves: Romans 12:1 HCSB Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. (Compare: Luke 9:23-24 WPNT Then He said to everyone: “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. Because whoever desires to ‘save’ his life will lose it, but whoever ‘loses’ his life for my sake, he will save it).

C4 The sacrifice of prayer: 1 Timothy 2:1 HCSB First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone.

C5 The sacrifice of thanksgiving: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 HCSB Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

B5 Be taught

C1 The Gospel

C2 Jesus’s doctrine (teachings)

C3 The Christian life

C4 Apologetics

C5 Summary: Matthew 28:19-20 WPNT As you go make disciples in all ethnic nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to obey everything that I commanded you; and take note, I am with you every day, until the end of the age!” Amen.

B6 Encourage each other

C1 By faith

C2 By prayer

C3 By good works

C4 By listening

C5 By helping serve in the congregation

C6 By the grace and help of the Holy Spirit

D1 Acts 9:31 WPNT So then the congregations throughout all Judea and Galilee, and Samaria, had peace and were built up; and proceeding in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit they were being multiplied.

D2 The Greek word for encouragement is παράκλησις paraklesis. It means (via Strong’s)

E1 An imploration, entreaty (urgent request (for mercy or help)).

E2 An exhortation (urgent counsel, encouragement, or caution).

E3 A comfort, solace.

D3 He helps in our prayers: Romans 8:26 NKJV Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

D4 He strengthens us to get through trials: Ephesians 3:16 NKJV that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.

D5 He never abandons/forsakes us: John 14:16-17 GNB92 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him, because he remains with you and is in you.

D6 Gives us peace in difficult situations: Romans 15:13 GNB92 May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit.

B7 Application

C1 The church is us believers.

C2 We are a family.

C3 We are to worship God together, be taught, and be encouraged.

C4 We are to bear one another’s burdens.

C5 We are to be taught, then do, then teach others.

A4 Sources and quotes

B1 1 Timothy 2:4:

Understanding 1 Timothy 2:4 by Pastor John Samson God "desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:4 I have often times heard people quote 1 Timothy 2:4 to dismiss, out of hand, the biblical teaching on Sovereign grace or Divine election. In quoting the verse they have told me that God has no interest in electing certain people to salvation but that His desire is for every person to be saved. Yet, we must remember that the word "all" always has a context. It can sometimes mean all people everywhere - many times it does - but it sometimes means "all" in the sense of "all kinds" or "all classes, types" of people or at other times it refers to all within a certain type or class.. For instance, we do the same thing in our English language when a school teacher in a classroom may ask the question, "are we ALL here?" or "is EVERYONE here?" She is not asking if everyone on planet earth is in the classroom, but because of the context in which the question is framed (the school teacher's classroom) we understand she is referring to all within a certain class or type - in this case, all the students signed up for the class. I believe 1 Tim 2:4 is speaking of all in this sense of "all types." What is my biblical basis for saying this? The context. Lets read the passage: 1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Who are the "all people" of verse 1? I believe the "all people" of verse 1 are the same "all people" of verse 4, as the subject matter does not change in any way at all in the intervening verses. When Paul wrote "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.." was he asking Timothy to get the equivalent of the local phone book and starting with the alphas and going all the way through to the omegas (the Greek alphabet) make supplication, pray, intercede and make thanksgiving for each individual in the city... or more than that, the whole world? I don't think so. Why do I say this? Because Paul qualifies verse 1 with verse 2 when he speaks of "kings" (kings are types of people) and "those in high positions" (again "those in high positions" are types of people). Why should we pray for them? One of the reasons we should pray for them is because these people (kings and those in high positions of authority) make decisions which affect society at large. If these people have their eyes opened, they will not be persecutors of Christians but will enact laws that will actually restrain sin so "that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." So one of the reasons to pray for them is because good government can mean a measure of peace in a society, and it is a lot easier to spread the Gospel when there is no civil unrest. The passage also points us to another reason to pray, namely that God desires all (all who?) .. all types of people.. including these influential people with authority in society.. to be saved. His message to Timothy was this: Do not just pray for the peasants, the farmers and the uneducated (the people who seem to be coming to Christ in great numbers right now), but remember to pray for kings and the very rulers in society who are at this moment persecuting Christians. Make prayer of this kind a priority - do it "first of all" - pray for these people Timothy - make sure the Church is praying for these people - because God desires all kinds of people - even kings (or Emperors like Caesar) and the elete in society - people of every kind, to be saved. We must remember that the earliest Christians were almost all from the lower class of society, so this would be BIG news to them. As Paul wrote elsewhere.. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. Turning to another Scripture in Revelation chapter 5, we are given prophetic insight into the future, revealing to us what Jesus the Lamb actually achieved in His atoning work on the cross. He did not save everybody or make a mere potential atonement available for everyone, but he made an effectual atonement - a powerful one that achieved its desired end or goal of saving certain specific people. What exactly did He achieve? In Revelation 5:9, the heavenly anthems ring out in praise of the Lamb saying, "...for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed (specific, actual) people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation..." Note the words, for they are very specific. It does not say that Jesus ransomed the people OF but people FROM every tribe and language and nation. The Greek word for "from" is ekmeaning "out of" - He redeemed people out of every tribe, language, people group and nation.. NOT all without exception, but all without distinction. I mention this verse in Revelation 5 because this is in perfect harmony with 1 Timothy 2:4 which teaches very clearly that God desires all (all kinds of people) to be saved. God will have every tribe, tongue, people group and nation represented around the throne as the heavenly hosts sing of the Lamb who was slain to redeem them.

B2

The World’s Worst Bible Interpretation in History This is obviously a touchy subject and you are free to believe or not to believe whatever you feel. However, Jesus never said He made all food clean. If you read the scripture of Peter's vision, it says (Acts 10:15) "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." As far as I can see throughout scripture, the unclean animals were never cleansed. If you read on, Peter is trying to make since out of this vision, because he knew the Lord wouldn't have him eat unclean meat. What came about? In verse 28 Peter says, "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." Peter says here that God showed, in that vision, that he should not call any MAN common or unclean. I believe the issue of the clean and unclean meats is not a Salvation issue, but God loves us and cares about us enough to show us what is good food to put into our bodies (His Temple) and what is not good. Why would we want to eat things that live off of waste? As for the bad grammar that that man has... I agree with you!