• Matthew 6:1-15
• Matthew 6:1-4 – Don’t seek approval from men when practicing righteousness. Do what is right before God with the right motive and God will reward you.
• Matthew 6:5-6 – This is not saying it is wrong to pray in public. We have numerous examples of Jesus, Paul, and others doing so. The emphasis is on praying with the right motive.
• Matthew 6:10 – God’s kingdom is now here (the church), but we can still pray that God’s kingdom will grow and spread in the hearts of men.
• Matthew 6:13 – See James 1:13. God tempts no man. Compare I Corinthians 10:13. This is a prayer that we will not be drawn into temptation, especially that which we might be unable to bear. See also Psalms 141:4.
• Matthew 6:7 – It is not wrong to repeat yourself in prayer. Jesus did so in His own prayers at times (compare the use of “Father” in Jesus’ prayer in John 17). It is wrong, however, to use meaningless

• Exodus 20:24
• Leviticus 17:1-4, 8-9 – Offerings had to be made at the right place.
• I Kings 9:1-3; 11:36 – God chose to put His name at the temple in Jerusalem.
• Offerings had to be made where God chose to record His name.
• Deuteronomy 12:5-11, 13-14 – must worship where God records His name
• I Kings 12 – Rehoboam acts foolishly and divides Israel.
  • I Kings 12:22-24 – God intervenes to prevent civil war.
  • God would rather have two tribes serve Him correctly than have all twelve be unified but fall away.
  • I Kings 12:26-30 – Jeroboam provided additional places for the people to worship, but these were not approved by God.
• Matthew 16:13-18
• I Timothy 3:15 – The church is God’s house. That is where God has recorded His name.
• Many today try to follow Jeroboam and worship God in ways He has not authorized.

• Mark 14:22-25
• Is it wrong to have the Lord’s Supper on Sunday evening since we are supposed to “wait for one another?”
  • I Corinthians 11:33
  • I don’t believe so. That phrase simply addresses a specific problem in Corinth. I Corinthians 11:18-33; Acts 20:7
  • We have general authority to take the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week.
  • We do not have specific authority to meet at a particular time or to take the Lord’s Supper and do other things as part of the same assembly, but that does not mean that we cannot do different combinations of those things.
• Is it wrong to have the Lord’s Supper on Sunday evening since only one person (or a few) partake?
  • I don’t believe so. The communion is with Christ and is not invalidated if others are not partaking correctly (or at all). I Corinthians 10:14-22; Matthew 26:29; Leviticus 7:5-6, 15; 21:6
    • I Corinthians 10:14-22:
      • Christian (I Corinthians 10:16-17)⇒ Cup/table of the Lord⇒ Christ
      • Israel (I Corinthians 10:18)⇒ Eat sacrifices⇒ God
      • Gentiles (I Corinthians 10:19-22)⇒ Cup/table of demons⇒ Idols/demons
  • We have communion (sharing, fellowship, participation) with Christ! Matthew 26:29
• Why do we even have these kinds of studies?
  • We are responsible for making sure we are worshiping correctly!

• God’s plan of salvation
  • Introduction
    • Romans 3:23; Luke 19:10
  • Learn the truth
    • Throughout the New Testament, there is a strong emphasis on teaching.
    • Matthew 18:19-20
    • Romans 10:17
    • The first step toward salvation is to learn what the Bible says. Acts 17:2-4, 11
  • Believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and Christ, the Son of God.
    • Our faith should never be a blind faith.
    • Acts 2 – Peter pointed out the prophecies made about that day. Compare Acts 8:35; 9:22; 17:2-4, 11-12; 18:28
    • Romans 10:9-10 – Confession is required.
      • Matthew 26:63-64; Acts 2:36; 9:20; I John 4:15
    • Acts 8:37 – This particular verse is in doubt. It does not appear in the earliest manuscripts. Removing this verse does not negate the need for confession, though. Other verses teach the same thing regarding confession.
    • Matthew 10:32-33 – This could be referring specifically to the teaching job the apostles were about to do. It may not be referring to confession of faith in general.
  • Repent
    • Acts 2:37-38; 17:30
    • The word repent means, “the change the mind.”
    • Hebrews 6:1; Acts 20:21
    • Matthew 12:41 – Jesus calls what the people of Ninevah did repentance. Jonah 3:4-10
    • II Corinthians 7:8-10 – Repentance is more than just being sorry.
      • Matthew 27:3-5 – Judas was sorry but did not repent.
      • Acts 9:3-6, 11, 18-20 – Paul repented and turned his life around.
    • Be baptized
      • Baptism means to be immersed or submerged.
      • Matthew 18:18-20; Mark 16:15-16 – Jesus commissioned the apostles to teach and baptize.
      • Acts 2:38, 41; 10:47-48
      • Acts 8:12, 35-39 – Philip
      • Acts 9:18; 22:16; 9:3-6 – Paul is baptized
      • Acts 16:15, 27-34; 19:1-5 – Paul baptizing others
        • Ephesians 4:5 – Only one baptism today
      • Romans 6:1-4

Jesus (Physical)

Me (Spiritual)

Death

Dead to sin

Burial

Buried in baptism

Resurrection

Walk in newness of life

• • • • I Corinthians 12:13 - Colossians 1:18 - Galatians 3:27 - Colossians 2:12 - I Peter 3:18-22 – Like Noah, when we obey, we are saved. The power was not in Noah’s boat-building ability or the water itself. - People hurried to get baptized! Acts 2:41; 8:36; 9:18; 16:33

What does baptism do?

Mark 16:16; I Peter 3:21

it saves us

Acts 2:38

it is for the forgiveness of sins

Acts 22:16

it washes away sins

Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12

it makes us partakers of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection

I Corinthians 12:13

it adds us into the “body” (the “church,” Colossians 1:18)

Galatians 3:27

it clothes us with Christ

• • Are you ready to be a new person? - Romans 6:4, 6