Ephesians 4:1-6

How do you or I contribute to unity or division in a local church?

Do I cause problems or solve problems?

• Romans 16:17-18 – Avoid those who cause problems.

• Titus 3:9-11

• Galatians 6:1 – Help your brethren!

• I Corinthians 6:1-6 – We should be able to solve problems among ourselves.

Do I criticize or encourage?

• Galatians 5:13-15, 26

• Criticism in a local church can be particularly harmful. Criticism often says more about the critic than about whatever is being criticized.

• Acts 11:21-24 – Barnabas was a great encourager.

• Am I a critic or encourager?

Do I keep cliques or do I reach out?

• I Corinthians 1:10-13 – Cliques lead developed in Corinth.

• I Corinthians 12:14-27 – All members of the body have a function, and all should be honored. Schisms ruin this arrangement.

• Reach out to those outside your age range and social group. It will build unity in the church!

Matthew 21:23

Because – believe it or not – we’re not in charge!

• Deity – inherent authority

  • Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 1:1-2; John 16:7-15

• Inspired people – apostles, prophets

  • Acts 2:4; 8:17-18

  • The apostles and prophets carried the authority of God. Their writings carry that same authority.

• Inspired scripture – Bible

  • I Thessalonians 2:13

Sadly, few people seek God’s truth.

• 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

• Statements

  • Psalms 119:104

  • Matthew 10:34-37; 15:9; 21:42-45

  • Acts 20:35

• 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

  • Creation → Romans 1:18-21

  • Genesis 2:24 → Matthew 19:3-6

  • Genesis 14:18-20 + Psalms 110:4 → Hebrews 7:7-11; 8:6

  • 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 16:9 → Acts 16:10

• Acts 15:1, 7-29 – The religious matter was decided by looking at the scriptures and hearing from the apostles. It was not decided by voting or by one person deciding which way everyone should go.

God actually cares, and He punishes disobedience.

• Lamentations 1:1, 5

• Jeremiah 5:31

• I Timothy 6:3-4

• Hebrews 10:30-31 – “The Lord will judge His people.”

Acts 28:11-31

Acts 28:13 – Paul sailed past Mt. Vesuvius in AD 61, which would alter erupt in AD 79, destroying the city of Pompeii. Drusilla, the wife of Felix, and their son were killed in that eruption.

Acts 28:22 – Christianity did not have a good reputation at that time. Only a minority of people would accept the gospel message, even under the best of circumstances with an inspired teacher.

Acts 28:30-31 – It would have been easy for Paul to make excuses and stop preaching in confinement, but he kept preaching and made no excuses.

• What we can piece together about the events following Acts:

  • AD 62: Acts ends with Paul being confined

  • AD 62-65 – Paul is free (Philemon 1:22)

  • I Timothy 3:14 – Paul wanted to visit Timothy, so is evidently free at the time.

  • AD 64 – Great fire, followed by systematic persecution of Christians.

  • Paul later imprisoned again and beheaded.

The spread of the gospel (Acts 1:8):

• Jerusalem (Acts 2-7)

• Judea and Samaria (Acts 8-12)

• Remotest parts of the earth (Acts 13-28)

• The gospel was born in a fire. It will survive!

II Thessalonians 1:3-10

Jesus’ coming is a certainty! II Peter 3:3-4

Testimony of Jesus

• Matthew 25:31-34

• Mark 8:38

• Acts 1:10-11 – Jesus will come again in the same way He left.

Testimony of the Holy Spirit

• Hebrews 9:27-28

• II Peter 3:5-12

Many have tried to predict the time of the Lord’s coming, but all have been wrong. No man knows the day.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Time is not a factor with God. He does not want any to perish. II Peter 3:8-9

Is the second coming of Christ desirable?

• For some yes. For some, no.

• Matthew 25:34, 41

II Peter 3:14-15, 18 – Let us be diligent to prepare for the coming of Christ.

• Acts 8:22

• Philippians 3:13-14

• II Peter 3:18

There have always been two classes of people that disrupt the faith of Christians regarding the second coming of Christ: scoffers who say Jesus will never come and date-setters who try and fail to predict the time of His coming. Don’t let either one wreck your faith!