The church

• Universal sense: Ephesians 3:15; 2:12; Hebrews 12:23
• Local sense: I Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 1:1

Apostasy in the church

• Apostasy within the church often arose because of laziness within the eldership. Rather than handling their own needs, they sent money to another local church and let them handle it. This is not God’s pattern.

• There is no such thing in scripture as joint participation of churches.

Why should we accept God’s moral standards?

• Romans 9:20-21
• Luke 17:10
• I Corinthians 1:18-21

Why does anyone choose to submit to what is wrong?

Does the Bible relate to today’s moral questions?

• Yes, it is the ultimate authority.

  • II Timothy 3:16

  • Galatians 1:8-9

  • John 16:13

  • II Peter 1:3

Conclusion

• We must be willing to remove ourselves from the process of deciding what’s morally right and wrong to keep from causing a disaster.

Am I picking up sinners … or running them over?

• Galatians 6:1-5

• Hebrews 12:11-17

• James 5:19-20

• Ephesians 4:11-16

• I Corinthians 9:14-23 – Things Paul did to “pick up sinners.”

  • Meet people on their level.

  • Don’t dodge issues but speak the truth in love.

  • Change is a function of energy and time.

• When I sin, am I running myself over or letting others pick me up?

  • Philippians 3:11-17

  • God’s people are forgiven – not perfect.

Am I running over the devil or picking him up?

• Ephesians 4:17-24; 5:1-16 – Imitate God, not the world. Don’t be deceived – you can’t walk in sin and serve God.
• James 4:4-10
• I Corinthians 10:12-13
• I Peter 5:8-11

Three kinds of dancing in the Bible

• Religious enthusiasm and rejoicing (approved by God) – II Samuel 6:14; I Samuel 18:6
• Idol worship (condemned by God) – Exodus 32:19
• Lascivious dancing (condemned by God) – Matthew 14:6-12

How do we know lascivious dancing is condemned?

• Galatians 5:19-21 – “revelries”
• Matthew 6:13 – Don’t let yourself be led into temptation.
• Matthew 5:28 – Looking to lust condemned.
• I Corinthians 10:31
• I Thessalonians 5:22 – Abstain from all forms of evil.
• Philippians 2:15 – Be blameless and innocent.
• I Corinthians 6:19
• I Peter 3:15

Quotes regarding dancing and the trouble it brings

• … various.

Introduction

• Miracles – Works of a supernatural origin, such as could ot be produced by natural means.

• I Corinthians 2:8-10 – Nine spiritual gifts are named

  • Word of wisdom

  • Word of knowledge

  • Faith

  • Healing

  • Miracles

  • Prophecy

  • Discerning of spirits

  • Diverse kinds of tongues

  • Interpretation of tongues

Neither Christ nor the Holy Spirit empowers man with these gifts today.

• It’s not a question of power, but of will.
• Christ has the power to work miracles today.
• He has power to will not to work miracles today.
• He, in His power, has willed not to work miracles today.
• He has revealed this in the New Testament.
  • Hebrews 8:13

Who had spiritual gifts?

• Jesus had complete power, being deity.

• The apostles had greater power than any other men.

  • I Corinthians 16:13

  • They could reveal divine truth, work miracles, and confer gifts to others. These others could not confer the gifts.

• Those to whom the apostles conferred gifts.

  • They could use the gifts but could not pass them on to others.

• Cornelius

  • Acts 10

  • Could speak in tongues.

• The seventy

  • They could preach the “kingdom of God.”

  • Could heal the sick.

The purpose of spiritual gifts

• Jesus: to prove He was the Son of God.
• Apostles: to reveal and confirm the word they preached.
• Those to whom apostles gave gifts: to edify the saved and convince the lost.
• Cornelius: to convince Jews that God accepts Gentiles.
• The seventy: to prove they were speaking for Christ.
• Spiritual gifts no longer have a purpose today because the gospel has the power of salvation. See Acts 20:28. Preachers can prove their message is from God by the scripture. The word is sufficient to edify the saved, save the lost, and prove that Gentiles can be saved.

The duration of spiritual gifts.

• I Corinthians 12-14 – instructions regarding spiritual gifts
• When the last person who had received spiritual gifts died, spiritual gifts were no more.
• I Corinthians 13:10
• II Timothy 3:16-17
• When revelation was completed, spiritual gifts ceased.