Introduction

• Ecclesiastes 12:1; 11:9-10

Challenge yourselv to be a good learner and thinker.

• I Corinthians 14:20
• Sometimes, learning isn’t so much about the subject itself but about learning how to learn and think.
• Matthew 18:12
• Matthew 21:28-32
• Matthew 22:42
• Jesus was always trying to get people to think.

Develop a good work ethic.

• Nehemiah 1:1; 4:1, 6, 11, 17
• Nehemiah 6:9, 15 - Enemies tried to trick and frighten Nehemiah, but he would not be deterred.
• Get to work! Have a good attitude!
• Colossians 3:23-24

Manage your time well.

• Matthew 6:25, 33
• Who is the most important?
• Can you do your homework and your Bible lesson?
• You may have to reduce school stuff to make room for God.

Be kind.

• Ephesians 4:31
• Acts 9:36; 10:32
• Job 4:4
• Younger people are looking up to you!
• Even a small act of kindness goes a long way.

Learn humility.

• I Corinthians 13:4-7
• Proverbs 16:18
• We compare ourselves with others in school, and that can lead to pride.
• Romans 12:16
• James 4:6
• Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

What does “church” mean? (continued)

The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: universal spiritual group (continued)

• Matthew 16:13-20 (Acts 2:36-41)
• The term “universal church”
  • The word “catholic” means “universal.”
• One single Savior ➡️ one, single group of saved people (church)

The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: local spiritual group

• I Corinthians 1:2
• I Thessalonians 1:1

The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: local church assembly

• I Corinthians 14:4, 5, 12, 19, 23, 28, 33, 34, 35
• I Corinthians 11:18, 22

The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: Christians in certain regions

• Acts 9:31

The difference between “church” and “churches”

Number

Salvation

Scope

Entrance and removal

Beginning and ending

Oversight

Treasury

Work

• Examples of the work of local churches:
  • Help needy saints in the local church (Acts 6:1-6)
  • Help needy saints in other churches (Romans 15:26)
  • Add/subtract members (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:13)
  • Assembly to worship God and edify each other (I Corinthians 14:23-26)
  • Have overseers and deacons (Philippians 1:1)
  • Make decisions (I Corinthians 16:3)
  • Help sinners repent (Matthew 18:17)
  • Partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:17-24)
  • Sing spiritual songs (I Corinthians 14:26)
  • Pray (I Corinthians 14:15)
  • Teach God’s word (I Corinthians 14:26)
  • Collect money (I Corinthians 16:2)
  • Sound forth the word (I Thessalonians 1:8)
  • Support preachers in other places (Philippians 4:15-16)
• Romans 16:16 - This verse is sometimes cited as authority for collective action.

Introduction

• Acts 18:23
• Acts 15:3
• Acts 21:19-20

Disclaimers

• Primarily my point of view
• Generalizations
• A unique situation
• I may be slightly off on a few details, but the general observations hold true.
• Pronunciation

Overview

• Our work
• A few names
• 4 key experiences

Churches visited

• Based in San Cristobal
• Thursday through Saturday, traveled to the Jahuaca region and stayed two nights as we visited churches in the area.
• Each church told us who they wanted to speak.
• Worship services were similar as you would expect, with tweaks to the order.

Larráinzar

• Change in locations
  • Acts 17:16
• Jady preached
• Brooklyn taught the girls’ class
• First taste of fellowship and hospitality with the Mexican brethren.
  • Acts 2:46

What God is doing in Chiapas

Experience #1: Sharing stories from the field

• Sheily’s work in sharing the gospel
• A heritage
• One decision - to seek first the kingdom
  • Matthew 6:31-33
  • Dary changed jobs so he could have more time with his family and the evidence was obvious.

San Cristobal

• First Sunday
• Wednesday
• Second Sunday

What God is doing in Chiapas

Experience #3: “I have two questions for you”

• After the World Cup match ended, Dari came and said he had two questions for me.
  • Jesus’ prophecies in Luke 21
  • The gift of the Holy Spirit
• One of the most fun Bible studies I’ve had.
• Dari and I barely knew each other, but this is what he wanted to talk about.
• GOD DID THAT.

San Julian

• Our first rural church visit.

Comitán

What God is doing in Chiapas

Experience #2: I was sick, and you visited me

• On our way to Comitán some started feeling sick.
• Two bread bags and a roll of toilet paper
• JESUS DID THAT.

Jahuaca

• Francisco and Fermina hosted the Americans
• They built a house to host visitors.

What God is doing in Chiapas

Experience #4: 10,000 years

• As In Larráinzar, we sang after eating.
• One of the last songs - Amazing Grace

Jahuaca - Gracias a Dios

• Matthew 19:14

Notas y saludos

• Romans 16:16

I Samuel 1

I Samuel 1:1-18

• I Samuel 1:1 - I Chronicles seems to indicate that Samuel was a Levite.
• I Samuel 1:6-8 - Favoritism is very destructive in a family! This also shows how God’s original plan for one man and one woman in marriage is the best.

I Samuel 1:19-28

• Hannah had promised she would give the boy to Him and God granted her request. Hannah kept her promise! She also named her son Samuel, meaning “heard by God.”

I Samuel 2

I Samuel 2:1-11 - Hannah’s prayer

I Samuel 2:12-36

• Eli was both a priest and a judge in Israel (I Samuel 4:18). Eli’s sons were also priests, but did evil.
• Eli ended up raising Samuel and Samuel would later make the same mistake with his own sons in I Samuel 8, which is part of the reason Israel cried out for a king.

Introduction

• Hebrews 13:1 - “Let love of the brethren continue”
• Ephesians 4:3, 13-15

The right authority

• Matthew 21:23 - They were not sincere, but this is a legitimate question.
• I Corinthians 20:10-13
• Isaiah 8:19-20

Commands

• Matthew 28:18-20
• Luke 17:7-10
• I Corinthians 7:19
• I Thessalonians 4:1-2, 11
• II Thessalonians 3:4-6, 10-12
• II Peter 2:21-3:2
• I John 2:3-4; 3:22-24; 4:21-5:3
• II John 1:4-6

Examples

• John 15:12
• Acts 20:35
• I Corinthians 4:16; 10:6-11; 11:1
• Philippians 3:17; 4:9
• I Thessalonians 1:6
• II Thessalonians 3:7-9
• Hebrews 4:11
• III John 1:9-11

Implications

• Genesis 2:24 ➡️ Matthew 19:3-6
• Exodus 3:6 ➡️ Mark 12:26-27
• Psalms 16:10 ➡️ Acts 2:24-32
• Psalms 110:1 ➡️ Matthew 22:41-46; Acts 2:33-36
• Matthew 9:6 ➡️ Matthew 9:2
• Acts 10:10-16 ➡️ Acts 10:28 - The gospel is for all.
• Acts 16:9 ➡️ Acts 16:10

When we’re trying to understand God’s will on a particular matter, we take all of the information that’s available in the Bible (in whatever for it’s in) and bring it all into a harmonious conclusion - “So this is what God wants!”

Pitfalls we want to avoid

Let’s avoid appeals to human tradition

• “But we’ve always done it this way.”
• Matthew 15:1-9
• II Thessalonians 2:15

Let’s avoid appeals to human authorities

• “Well, ol’ brother so-and-so always said …”
• Matthew 15:7-9
• Acts 17:11

Instead of assuming, let’s ask sincere questions.

• “What do you mean by that?” “Which verses teach that?”
• John 7:24

Let’s love God and each other enough to eagerly get into the text!

• Hebrews 13:1