Ephesians 3:1-7

Fellow heirs, members, partakers

• Ephesians 3:6

• Gentiles can be fellow partakers in Christ through the gospel.

• Acts 10:28, 34

• Acts 22:20-21

• Galatians 3:14, 28

• The gospel calls us above all prejudice and bias.

  • James 2:1-4, 8-9

  • John 4 – Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman.

• The gospel is for all … even you!

  • Luke 5:1-9 – Peter didn’t feel worthy to be near Jesus.

  • Luke 22:31-32 – Peter could repent from this sin.

  • Nothing in your life disqualifies you from serving God.

  • Luke 9:23 – We can do this!

When you read you can understand.

• Ephesians 3:3-4

• Exodus 24:3; Joshua 1:8; 8:35 – Joshua read God’s word to the people. When they stopped reading, they fell away.

• II Kings 22:8-11; 23:1-3

• Ezra 7:10

• Nehemiah 8:1-3

• I Timothy 4:13

Acts 13:1-14:7

Acts 13:14-41 – Paul’s sermon in Antioch of Pisidia

• Acts 13:17-25 – Israel’s history leading to Christ

• Acts 13:26-37 – Jesus is the one we’ve been waiting for!

• Acts 13:38-41 – Believe and take heed!

Acts 13:42-52 – The Jews were happy when it was primarily the Jews hearing the gospel, but became jealous when the Gentiles were involved.

• Romans 11:1 – It was still an advantage to be a Jew, but the gospel is for all.

Acts 13:48 – This verse is not saying, “They believed because they had been appointed to eternal life.” Those who refused the gospel judged themselves unworthy (Acts 13:46). Accepting the gospel appoints you to eternal life!

Acts 14:1-7 – Apparently the same thing that happened in Antioch of Pisidia happened again at Iconium. Paul and Barnabas did not move on until their lives were at risk.

Psalms 78:5-8

Let’s start with some encouragement for parents

• Mark 9:33-37; 10:13-16

Worship

• Should always come from the heart
  • Psalm 95
• Involves participation

Praying

• Matthew 6:5-13

• Prayer is a great privilege to have.

Preaching

• Deuteronomy 31:10-13 – It was important for the children to hear the Word of God.

• Joshua 8:33-35

Singing

• Colossians 3:16 – Singing is a good way for kids to be involved in worship.

Giving

• I Corinthians 16:1-2

• Kids can be involved in giving also, either with their parents’ money of their own money.

Lord’s Supper

• I Corinthians 11:23-26

• Exodus 12:24-27; 13:14; Joshua 4:6-7, 21 – Memorials are a good way to get kids to ask questions. That’s part of the reason God set them up!

Make sure the focus is on God, not self or kids.