Introduction

• Ephesians 5:15-17

Be a good evaluator.

• Proverbs 14:16
• Proverbs 6:18
• Proverbs 14:12-13
• Proverbs 22:3
• Acts 17:11 - The Bereans were good evaluators! Don’t believe everything you hear from preachers or anyone else.
• Colossians 2:8

Build the strongest faith you’ve ever had.

• Timothy: II Timothy 1:5; 3:14
  • Timothy was raised knowing God and the scriptures.
• Josiah: II Chronicles 33:1-2, 21-24; 34:1-3
  • Josiah’s father and grandfather did evil in God’s eyes, but Josiah built his own faith.
• It is up to you to develop your own faith, regardless of your upbringing.

Develop joy in Christ!

• Galatians 5:22
• Philippians 1:3, 18, 25; 2:2, 17-18, 28; 3:1; 4:1, 4, 10 - Paul wrote about joy while he was sitting in prison!
• Christians should have joy and a lasting contentment.
• Be a good identifier in recognizing your blessings!
• John 15:11
• Don’t aim to make college the four happiest years of your life. Aim to make it the time when you discover true joy in Christ.

When do you have a local church action? (continued)

Church action occurs when the members purpose to act together in Christ. (continued)

• Acts 4:32-5:4

• John 12:6 - “Can you pilfer your own money? No. It belonged to the group.
• Matthew 18:15-17

• Philippians 2:25, 30; 4:14-18
  • John 4:1-2 - Jesus was “baptizing” (v1), but it was actually His disciples who were doing the baptizing.
• I Corinthians 11:17
• Philippians 1:27 - Great summary of what a local church ought to be.

Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel.

• Overview of New Testament passages
  • Acts 11:21-23 - “they sent Barnabas”
  • Acts 13:1-3 - “teachers … they sent them”
  • Acts 14:26-28 - “commended … they began to report”
  • Acts 15:1-3 - “sent on their way by the church”
  • I Corinthians 9:1-18 - “get their living from the gospel”
    • See Acts 18:1-5; Nehemiah 13:10-14
  • I Corinthians 14 - “for edification”
  • II Corinthians 11:7-9 - “I robbed other churches”
  • Philippians 1:3-5; 4:14-18 - “participation in the gospel”
  • I Thessalonians 1:6-10 - “sounded forth from you”

Introduction

• Psalms 119:1-12

The heart

• Ancient civilizations believed the human heart was the repository of thoughts, consciousness, and the soul.
• There are two words in Hebrew that are translated heart:
  • Lev
  • Levav
• The Greek word translated as heart:
  • Kardia
• Heart is used around 1,000 times in the Bible.

The Bible uses a similar pattern of language when talking about the heart.

• The heart:
  • Thinks - Hebrews 4:12
  • Believes - Romans 10:8-10
  • Disbelieves - Hebrews 3:12
  • Purposes - Daniel 1:8
  • Obeys - Romans 6:17
  • Loves - Deuteronomy 6:5

Dr. Alkhouli:

“The good news is that what’s good for your mind is often good for your heart, and vice versa.”

• That includes:
  • Managing stress
  • Staying socially connected
  • Practicing mindfulness or prayer

Managing stress

• Proverbs 17:22
• Matthew 11:28-30
• Psalms 119:2
• Proverbs 3:1-2

Social interaction

• Colossians 3:7
• Hebrews 10:24-25

Prayer/mindfulness

• Philippians 4:4

Admonition and hope

• II Timothy 2:2
• Acts 8:21-22
• Matthew 15:8
• Deuteronomy 30:17-18
• Psalms 119:9-10
• Psalms 51:10
• I Peter 5:6-8

Introduction

• Ephesians 3:4

Read it to learn what it says.

• Mark 8:31-32; 9:31-32 - Jesus spoke plainly and they did not understand because of their bias.
• John 21:21-23

Double-check what you think you know.

• Acts 17:11 - This is the attitude we need to have.
• Can you point to a Bible verse to back up what you believe?
• There is a lost of difference between what you know and what you think you know.
• Matthew 22:23-33
• Acts 2:38

Don’t over-complicate it.

• Psalms 119:130
• Mark 12:37 - Jesus talked to everyone!
• II Timothy 2:15
• Matthew 22:39 - This is a simple truth. Don’t try to overcomplicate it or find loopholes (Luke 10).

Don’t over-simplify it.

• John 18:36
• John 6:14
• John 5:39
• Isaiah 9:6
• Isaiah 53:5
• Daniel 2:44 - Sometimes there are details in the text that really require some thought.
• Exodus 3:6
• Luke 20:34-38 - Jesus rebuked them for not inferring what they should have.