Introduction

• Romans 1:15
• II Timothy 2:2

“All of us have become guilty of sin.”

• Acts 2:22-25, 36-37
• Acts 3:14-15
• Acts 4:11
• Acts 7:51-53
• Acts 26:18
• Isaiah 59:2
• II Thessalonians 1:8-9
• Whoever we are talking to will find out at some point that they are guilty of sin. We are just trying to make sure they find out early enough to do something about it.
• Most people would admin they are not perfect.
• We must have a good attitude when we speak to others. Speak to them in love!
• It may help to use the word “us.”
  • Acts 22:4-5, 20; 26:9-11
  • I Timothy 1:15 – Paul called himself the “foremost sinner.”
  • Ephesians 2:1-3

“Jesus died so we can be forgiven!”

• Ephesians 1:7
• Colossians 1:13-14
• Jesus alone is the savior. Not a church or a pastor. The church doesn’t save – the church is composed of the saved.

• Acts 8:3 – The gospel spread!
• I Corinthians 15:1-4 – This is the basis for our faith.

“We have to follow God’s instructions to receive this gift!”

• II Thessalonians 1:8
• Both of these are true!
  • Ephesians 2:8; Matthew 7:21
  • Romans 4:5; James 2:24
  • Titus 3:5; II Corinthians 5:10
• Paul to the Romans
  • Romans 1:16 – Gospel!
  • Romans 3:24 – Grace!
  • Romans 5:1 – Faith!
  • Romans 5:9 – Blood!
  • Romand 6:3-4 – Baptism!
  • Romans 10:9-10 – Believe and confess!
• Useful analogies to salvation:
  • What makes a car move? The gas pedal? The engine? All are involved.
  • Think about a college scholarship. The money is a gift, but conditions must be met.

Matthew 5

• Matthew 5:3 – This is talking about people in abject poverty that are looking for something. Those that are spiritually poor are looking for God. They are the ones who will allow Jesus to rule in their hearts.
• Matthew 5:4 – Those who are looking for something in their lives are miserable until they find God.
• Matthew 5:5 – The definition of meekness is strength under control. Those who are meek allow Jesus to lead. They will inherit the earth in a figurative sense. They were looking for the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 5:6 – If we really hunger and thirst for righteousness, we can be satisfied.
• Matthew 5:7 – Those who are merciful will receive mercy in the end.
• Matthew 5:8 – “Pure in heart” can mean pure of motive. People who serve God with a pure heart serve God for His approval, not man’s.
• Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are those who teach others how to have peace with God. The phrase “called sons of God” is a figure of speech. It refers to what they are in a higher sense.
• Matthew 5:10-12 – Christians will be persecuted.
• Compare David in Psalm 51 to these attributes.

Introduction

• Hosea 4:6 – The people were destroyed for lack of knowledge.
• II Chronicles 36:11-16 – Under Zedekiah, the people rejected God and His prophets.

“I remind you that God wrote a Book; and He only wrote one. I wonder what we’ll say to Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ if He asks us, “Did you read My Book? I mean one time in your entire life did you read My whole Book?” – Woodrow Kroll, August 2009

• II Timothy 3:15-17

There will be a lot of “Oh, wow I get it” moments.

• II Chronicles 34:14-21, 31, 27 – The Israelites rediscover the book of the law and realize they hadn’t been obeying it. Josiah decides to make things right with God.

You’ll feel better about the way you’re spending your time.

• Matthew 6:19-21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
• Time is the number one issue people cite when asked why they don’t read the Bible more.
• It takes about 75 hours to read the entire Bible. That is about 17 minutes a day for five days a week.
• Ezra 7:10

You’ll start thinking and talking about spiritual things more.

• Psalms 1:1-6
• We start feeling guilt about sins we suddenly become aware of.
• We start praying more.
• Spiritual disciplines and risk behaviors among U.S. adults:
  • Researchers called it the “Power of 4” (reading the Bible at least 4 days a week)
    • Getting drunk = 57% lower odds
    • Sex outside marriage = 68% lower odds
    • Pornography = 61% lower odds
    • Gambling = 74% lower odds
    • Sharing faith with others = 228% higher odds
    • Discipling others = 231% higher odds
    • Memorizing scripture = 407% higher odds
• Hebrews 4:12

You’ll feel better about life.

• Philippians 4:8-9 – It’s hard to complain about my life after seeing the conditions Paul was in when he wrote this.
• “Bible-engaged Americans are more likely than any other group in America to have a hopeful perspective.”

Philippians 3, continued:

Philippians 3:12-21 – Press on toward Heaven!

• Philippians 3:14 – Heaven is the prize to which God is calling us.
• Philippians 3:15-16 – No Christian should ever become complacent. We must continue pressing on.
• Philippians 3:17 – The word “observe” here just means to keep your eye on someone in a positive way.
• Philippians 3:19 – Those who are concentrating only on earthly things will meet destruction.
• Philippians 3:20 – If we get to a point where we are not eager to go to Heaven, something is wrong!
• Philippians 3:21 – Jesus will transform our bodies when it is time to go to Heaven.

Philippians 4

Philippians 4:1-9 – Peace and joy

• Philippians 4:3
  • The phrase “true companion” is taken by some as evidence that Paul was married, but we have no evidence of that from other scriptures. Paul only refers to himself as unmarried in other places.
  • The “book of life” may or may not be some sort of actual book, but it is referenced by Moses (Exodus 32:32) and a number of other passages in the Bible.
• Philippians 4:4 – Paul was writing from prison to tell others to rejoice!
• Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious” doesn’t mean that nothing bad will happen. Troubles will still come, but Christians have a peace that comes from God.

Philippians 4:10-23 – Paul’s contentment and their fellowship

• Philippians 4:11 – Paul learned to be content.
• Philippians 4:18 – Epaphroditus apparently carried the money to Paul. Paul was grateful for the money, but more than that, he was grateful that the Philippians were in a spiritual state such that they wanted to send him support.
• Philippians 4:22 – This seems to indicate that Paul was in prison in Rome. See Philippians 1:12.

[Note: These notes have been ordered according to the verses in the text, which does not precisely match the order in which the lesson was presented. - MRW]

Matthew 4

Matthew 4:1-11 – Temptation of Jesus

• Some compare Jesus going into the wilderness to Israel’s wandering the wilderness. Unlike Israel, Jesus prevailed in the wilderness.
• Matthew 4:10 – Note that this is in direct conflict with any idea of worshipping Mary.
• Matthew 4:8-11 – In a sense, Jesus was tempted to worship Satan.
  • I Corinthians 10:13 – God always provides a way of escape from temptation.
  • Psalms 119:11
  • James 1:14-15
  • I John 2:15-17 – Do not love the world.
  • Galatians 6:7-8 – A man reaps what he sows.
  • Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.“

Matthew 4:12-17 – Jesus begins His Galilean ministry

• Matthew 4:12-13 – See John 4:43. Being from Nazareth was a mark against someone at the time. To be called a Nazarene was derogatory. It was a small and insignificant town. This was another one of many reasons that people were prejudiced against Jesus.
• Matthew 4:15-16 – See Isaiah 42:7; Psalms 107:10-15; Luke 2:32.

Matthew 4:18-21 – Four fishermen and four disciples

• Matthew 4:19 – See Luke 18:28-30. They left all that they had to follow Jesus.

Matthew 4:23-25 – Jesus heals a multitude

• See Acts 10:36-39. Peter would later use much of what is in this chapter in his preaching.