Attitude check

• Ephesians 4:15; Proverbs 25:11

Continuation from last class: Review of discussion about celebrating Christmas and Easter.

As long as we unite on Jesus, isn’t that all that matters? (Aren’t we just on different roads to Heaven?)

• The Bible teaches about one church/body.

  • Ephesians 4:1-6 – “Body” is a common figure for the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). Thus, there is one church.

  • Ephesians 5:25-27

  • There is only one Savior, and only one group of saved people worldwide.

  • I Corinthians 1:10-13 – They were told to have no divisions.

  • I Corinthians 12:12-14, 20, 27-29 – The word “members” is talking about individual Christians, not denominations.

  • Romans 12:5

• “But differing church doctrines are Scriptural because Christ is the head of each division of His church.”

  • In the Bible, there are no divisions of Christ’s church.

  • What is it that connects one to Christ? What puts one into fellowship with Christ or puts one “in” Christ?

• What does the Bible say?

  • Matthew 7:21-23 – Not everyone who says Jesus is Lord are actually in fellowship with Him.

  • John 17:17-23 – Jesus prayed for unity.

  • Ephesians 4:11-15 – We are to pursue unity of faith.

From the call to the choice

• More happened before Jesus chose His apostles

  • Jesus heals the lame man at Bethesda on the Sabbath – John 5:1-47

  • Disciples criticized for plucking grain on the Sabbath – Matthew 12:1-8

  • Jesus heals man with withered hand on the Sabbath – Luke 6:6-11

  • Jesus heals multitudes by the Sea of Galilee –Matthew 12:13-21

  • Prayer

Choosing the twelve

• Spent all night in prayer prior to appointing – Luke 6:12

• Appointed while on the mountain

• Called His select disciples on the mountain with Him

• Appear as a list in:

  • Matthew 10:2-4

  • Mark 3:16-19

  • Luke 6:14-16

  • Acts 1:13

The apostles

• Simon (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) Peter (Acts)

• Andrew

• James

• John

• Phillip

• Bartholomew

• Thomas

• Matthew

• James, son of Alphaeus

• Lebbaeus surnamed Thaddeus (Matthew)

  • Thaddeus (Mark)

  • Judas [the brother] of James (Luke and Acts)

• Simon the Canaanite (Matthew and Luke) called Zelotes (Luke and Acts)

• Judas Iscariot

Why so long?

• Before becoming Jesus’ official messengers, ambassadors:

  • Had to see many wonders

  • Had to hear many lessons

  • Had to be oriented in the right direction

  • Had to hear certain declarations from Jesus

  • One thing to have inspiration of God’s Word, something else to be reminded of it by God’s Holy Spirit

Up to this point

• Following Him

• Called to follow Him

• Called to be His apostles

• Things they had seen and heard

  • John calling Him the Lamb of God

  • Jesus turning water into wine

  • Jesus cleansing the temple

  • Jesus prophesying to and teaching the Samaritans

  • Jesus teaching, healing, casting out demons throughout Galilee

  • Jesus declares that He is seeking sinners, not the righteous

  • Jesus forgives sin

  • Jesus heals on the Sabbath

  • Jesus declares Himself Lord of the Sabbath

  • Jesus prays all night before a major life event

  • Apostles appointed and they all know each other well now

The next great lesson

• Actually, a series of lessons

• Sermon on the Mount, a treatise on:

  • The progression of faith for one following Jesus

  • The kind of influence a Christian has on the world

  • The more perfect interpretation of the Law

  • The truth about prayer and giving alms

  • The true security of heaven versus fleeting treasures of earth

  • Righteous judgment and helping brethren spiritually

  • How God is good to those who honestly pray

  • How brethren treat each other

  • Security of having Jesus’ teaching as your foundation

  • The follow of life without Him

Schooling the apostles

• Beginning of the learning

  • When first encountering Jesus – Matthew 5:3-6

  • Began for some from hearing John

  • Continued from listening to Jesus

• What did they see?

  • Who He approached

    • Sought those who knew they needed help – Matthew 5:4

    • Taught those who wanted to hear – Matthew 5:6

  • How he treated them

    • No coercion, condemnation – Matthew 5:5

    • Had compassion, love for them – Luke 9:51-56

II Timothy 4:2; I Thessalonians 5:11

Romans 15:4

The flood

• Genesis 6:5-7

• Genesis 7:15-24

• Genesis 9:7-17

Joseph - Acts 7:9

Samson – Judges 16:28-30

Eternal plan – Acts 2:21-24; I Peter 1:19-21

The word became flesh – John 1:1-14

The parable of the good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-28

The great commandment – Matthew 22:34-40

The day of the Lord will come – II Peter 3:1-18; Hebrews 12:1-2

The precious Christ (I Peter 2:1-4, 7)

• Jesus is deity, the Son of God. John 1:14;Philippians 3:4,6; Matthew 1:23, 21; I Peter 2:24; II Corinthians 5:21; Acts 2:36; Revelation 2:19; John 16:18; Romans 5:8-9; I Peter 3:11

The precious blood (I Peter 1:18-19)

• Jesus’ blood is precious – without it, our sins could not be forgiven.

• Hebrews 9:22; 10:4, 10

• Ephesians 1:7

The precious faith (II Peter 2:1)

• I Peter 2:4

• Galatians 5:6

• I John 5:4

The precious promises (I Peter 2:4)

• Hebrews 2:14

• Galatians 3:16

• Matthew 15:18-19

• Galatians 3:29

• I John 1:7

• Ephesians 1:3

• Hebrews 6:17

The precious trial of faith (I Peter 1:7)

• Hebrews 12:11

• Luke 6:48

• Matthew 7:21

• While not pleasant, these trials strengthen our faith. That is a precious thing!

• II Peter 1:5

Resurrection in the Old Testament

• Psalms 74:15

• Psalms 49:15

• II Samuel 12:23

• Hosea 13:14

Resurrection in the New Testament

• Luke 24:5-6 – Angels testified of Jesus’ resurrection.

• John 20:25-28 – Jesus shows His wounds to Thomas.

• Romans 1:4

• Romans 6:9

• I Corinthians 15:5-8, 20

The resurrection as the basis of the apostles’ teaching

• Acts 2:23-24, 31

• Acts 3:15, 26

• Acts 4:1

• Acts 17:3, 18, 31-32

• Acts 24:14-15

• Acts 26:22-23

• I Corinthians 15:1-4

We will be resurrected!

• John 5:28-29

• John 6:40, 54

• I Corinthians 6:14

• I Corinthians 15:12-20