Acts 24:25

It’s the core quality of successful living.

• Titus 2:11-14. See also Luke 9:23. Jesus taught the same thing, and He lived it!

• I Corinthians 9:23-27 – Self-control is for people at all stages of life. Even Paul needed to practice self-control. Self-control freed him up to practice better things.

• Self-control isn’t about just not doing bad things. It’s about putting yourself on the path to serve God.

• II Peter 2:1, 14, 18-19 – Self-control destroys Satan’s seductions.

• This is true in both spiritual and secular realms. Self-control is a better indicator of success than talent, intelligence, and other factors.

You can grow it like a muscle.

• Galatians 5:19-24

• II Peter 1:5-8 – These qualities should be increasing! We must continue working on these things.

• Self-control continues to increase if you work on it!

• Studies show that improving self-control in one area helps in all other areas.

Be thinking of some ways to exercise more self-control starting today!

• Finances – Ecclesiastes 5:10

• Emotions – Proverbs 16:32

• Speech – Proverbs 21:23

• Lust of the flesh – I Thessalonians 4:7

• Lust of the eyes – Job 31:1

• Pride – I Peter 5:5

Acts 17:10-19:7

Acts 17:11 – This is especially impressive considering the fact that they did not have modern Bibles and would have been consulting expensive scrolls.

Acts 17:16 – An ancient writer (Petronius) wrote that in Athens it was easier to find a god than a man!

Acts 17:22 – Mars Hill is just across from the Acropolis and was in the heart of the idolatrous practices of the Athenians. Paul had incredible courage to speak here!

Acts 17:23-28 – Things to learn:

• How a woman and her husband can teach someone spiritual things.

• Such teaching can be done discreetly, with a pure motive and with the goal of helping the cause of Christ, as opposed to a battle of egos and who knows more.

• How one can grow if he is willing to listen and be taught.

Acts 19:1-7 – These disciples had great attitudes. When they found something they needed to do to serve God, they were eager to learn and do it!

Jude 1:11

Numbers 22-25 – the story of Balaam

Balaam advised Balak on how to weaken Israel through intermarriage, influencing them to idolatry.

• Numbers 25:1; 31:16; Revelation 2:14

Not enough love for the truth

• Numbers 22:18, 38; 23:20, 12, 26; 24:13 – Balaam’s words sounded good, but they were only lip service. His actions did not match his words.

• II Thessalonians 2:10-12

Hypocrisy

• Many people turn to hypocrisy and twist the scriptures when they find God’s word is against them.

Cast stumbling block before God’s people by means of false doctrine

Greed for reward

The error of Balaam is the way of condemnation and eternal regret.

Balaam did not start out thinking he would stray so far from God.

Hosea 4:6 – We need to constantly refresh our knowledge of the Bible.

Creation, and the people begin to sin (Genesis 1-11)

• Genesis 1:1 – God created the universe.

• Genesis 1:26 – God created man.

• Genesis 3:6 – Even sins, followed by Adam. They are cursed and banished from the garden.

• Genesis 6:7 – Sin becomes so bad that God decides to flood the earth.

• God is in charge and people need a savior!

Abraham and three promises (Genesis 12-50)

• Genesis 12:7 – The three promises:

  • “I will make you a great nation” à Exodus 1:7

  • “To your descendants I will give this land” à Joshua 21:43

  • “In you all the families of the earth will be blessed” à Acts 3:26

• The 12 tribes of Israel

Deliverance from Egypt, Law of Moses, Canaan (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua)

• Egyptians begin to far the Israelites and enslave them.

• Moses leads them out of Egypt.

• Exodus 19:18; 20:1ff – God gives the law, which will stand for the next 1500 years.

• Joshua 3:17 – The people cross the Jordan river into the promised land.

United and divided kingdoms (Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles)

• Joshua 2:18-19 – The people enter a cycle with the judges.

• I Samuel 8 – The people demand a king.

• Saul, David, and Solomon each rules for 40 years.

• The kingdom divides after Solomon into Israel (north) and Judah (south).

• Israel is taken in Assyrian captivity (II Kings 17:6-18), followed by Judah into Babylonian captivity.

Captivity, return, and rebuilding (Ezra, Nehemiah)

• Ezra 1:1-4 – Cyrus proclaims that the people can return

• Ezra 7:10

Jesus and the good news (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

• Matthew 1:1-17

• Matthew 4:23-25 – Jesus preaches and works miracles.

• Matthew 27:33, 37, 50-54 – The Jews finally are angered enough with Jesus to demand his crucifixion at the hands of the Romans.

• Matthew 28:1-7 – Jesus rises from the dead.

• Matthew 28:16-20 – The great commission.

The New Covenant begins (Acts)

• Acts 1:1-8 – Jesus sends out the apostles.

• Acts 2:4, 22-23, 36-42 – The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and preached on Pentecost.

• Acts 11:26; 5:11 – Disciples are first called Christians, collectively known as the church.

The Bible tells the story of sin and of how to accept the lifeline that God provided.

II Corinthians 5:9-10 – We will answer to God in the end!