Genesis 26:12-18 – Philistines stopped up the wells of life-giving water.

Philosophy threw debris in the pure water of life.

• Acts 17:18-29 – Paul tried to remove this debris in his preaching to the Athenians.

Roman Catholicism threw debris on the pure water of life.

• This started with errors about church governance. Bishops were appointed over elders, then bishops over multiple churches, then patriarchs over entire regions, and finally a pope.

• Instrumental music was later introduced.

• Indulgences were sold for forgiveness of sins.

• Voltaire decided that is this was Christianity he’d rather be an atheist!

Alexander Campbell clogged the stream by supporting missionary societies.

• Later, instrumental music was also added.

• Others started business enterprises to make money for the church.

• We are still having to remove this debris today. We must continue to work to unclog the stream!

Indifference may be the greatest danger we face.

• Ecclesiastes 9:10; Colossians 3:23

• Indifference hinders the work of the church.

• We can all do more than we are doing for the glory of God.

Book: I Am N

I Peter 1:1-9

We must continue to live as Christians.

• II Peter 1:5-11

• We can’t turn and run in the face of persecution.

• II Peter 3:17-18

• I Peter 2:13-16, 19-20 – Do right to silence foolish men.

• I Peter 3:15 – This verse was written to people under persecution!

• I Peter 5:2-3 – These people were under persecution. They were to keep serving and not fold under pressure.

We can’t please everyone, so focus on pleasing God!

• Luke 19:5-8 – Zaccheus and grumblers

• Studies show that ministers are often afraid of offending those who come to them for help and advice.

• Isaiah 30:9-11 – These people didn’t want to hear God!

• Acts 5:27-29 – The apostles decided to obey God rather than men.

• I Peter 2:17-19 – Be submissive even to those who are unreasonable.

• James 4:1-8

• Pleasing God must be our priority.

Acts 4:32-5:42

Acts 4:35 – “Lay them at the apostles’ feet” means they put things under control of the apostles. The money was specifically given to needy Christians.

Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias and Sapphira

• Acts 5:3 – “Satan filled your heart” is a figure of speech (compare James 5:4; Romans 6:16). Satan didn’t physically take control of them.

• These phrases are used interchangeably:

  • “lie to the Holy Spirit” (Acts 5:3)

  • “lied … to God” (Acts 5:4)

  • “put the Spirit of God to the test” (Acts 5:9)

• The text makes a distinction between money that is “one’s own” and that which is “common” (Acts 4:32). Chapter 5 makes the same distinction (Acts 5:2, 4). This is good to remember when thinking about the use of the treasury.

Acts 5:17-42 – “they laid hands on them”

• Note the difference between the people and the leaders:

• Acts 5:41-42 – This is the attitude we should have about persecution!

• Psalms 139:1-3, 13-16 – God knows us at every place and every time.
• Jeremiah 1:5

• Life begins in the womb at conception.
• Brephos (baby): Luke 1:39-44; 2:12, 16 – Same word used for baby after birth and before birth.
• Huios (son): Luke 1:57, 36 – Same word used before and after birth.
• Syllambano (conceive): Luke 1:36, 24, 31; 2:21
• Exodus 21:22-25 – God demanded protection for the unborn child. The child was alive!
  • Yeled [child/youth]yatza [go out, come out, bring out]
  • Does not mean “miscarriage” like nephel (Job 3:16; Psalms 58:8; Ecclesiastes 6:3) or shakol (Exodus 23:25; Hosea 9:14)

• It means abortion is murder because it deliberately ends an innocent life.
  • Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6
  • Romans 1:29
  • James 2:26

• No, not if those choices break God’s laws. Biblically, we should start with the understanding that we belong to God.
• Romans 6:11-13; 12:1-2
• Matthew 16:24-25; 25:14-30
• Luke 17:10
• I Corinthians 6:15-20

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg0_G-3xTvk
• Size
• Level of development
• Environment
• Degree of dependency