• Acts 10
• He did not assume that he had already done enough.
  • Acts 10:1-6
  • Cornelius was a good man. He was religious and prayed continually. He was not content with his service to God - he wanted to do more if he could.
  • Religious complacency is often one of the first hurdles faced in trying to convert people.
  • Matthew 7:21 - Doctrine matters. We must do the will of the Father.
  • I John 1:6-7
  • Acts 11:13-14
• He was humble enough to obey.
  • Acts 10:5 - For Cornelius, getting corrected by Peter and the angel was not an issue.
  • Acts 22:16 - Are we humble enough to obey when we read passages like this?
• He had a desire to learn more truth.
  • Acts 10:24-27 - Cornelius shows a sincere desire to learn more truth.

• I Peter 2:13 - Like all verses, this one must be harmonized with other verses on the subject. We know from other passages that God’s law takes precedence over man’s law. We cannot submit to government laws that go against God’s law.
• I Peter 2:16 - Some people claim that God’s grace is greater than their ability to sin, which means that their sins will not condemn them. This is false and is exactly what this verse teaches against. Just because God offers us forgiveness does not mean that we can do whatever we want and just ask for forgiveness later.

• We must work to be positive influences within the church. We have to find what we can do to help and take the initiative. We also need to make sure we live righteously in the world and be good examples to those around us.
• In Acts 6, the apostles were overburdened, so trusted men were appointed to share the work. We must share the work in the same way today so that a few people don’t end up having to do everything.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - The value of companionship.

Topic 3: Respecting God’s Law

• Nehemiah 8:1-12- Ezra the scribe reads the law before the people.
  • Notice that the people asked Ezra to read the book of the law!
  • The people stood up when Ezra opened the book. They listened attentively while he read.
• Jeremiah 36:23 - Terrible disrespect is shown to the word of God.

• The saved man is the unit of the local church as well as the universal church.
• Church universal:
  • General relationship (between man and Christ)
  • No organization
  • Independent function
  • No collective oversight
• Church local
  • Special relationship
  • Togetherness
  • A joined fellowship
  • An overseen fellowship
  • Only authorized structure
• The church
  • Universal
    • Membership: Lord adds
    • Fellowship: vertical
    • Discipline: Christ removes
    • Duration: eternal
    • Function: independent
    • Oversight: independent
  • Local
    • Membership: man joins
    • Fellowship: horizontal
    • Discipline: church removes
    • Duration: time, death
    • Function: joint action
    • Oversight: elders
• Let us be content to do God’s work in God’s way!

• I Peter 4:11- All emphasize the necessity of having authority for all we do in the service of God.
  • This is true for the congregation and for the individual Christian.
• Bible authority comes to use in one of four ways:
  • Statement of fact (Mark 16:16
  • Command (I Corinthians 11:24-25
  • Example (Acts 20:7
  • Necessary inference (Genesis 12:10
• Bible authority comes to us in one of two forms:
  • General:
    • Build ark
    • Sing, as relates to parts, i.e., bass, tenor, etc.
    • Pray
  • Specific
    • Gopher wood
    • Sing, as relates to kind of music: vocal
    • Unto God
• General authority allows for choice of specifics
  • Local church to support preacher (I Corinthians 9:14
    • Has choice as to what preacher it supports.
  • Local church to assemble to worship (I Corinthians 11:20
    • Has choice as to where.
• Specific authority allows no choice.
  • Gopher wood
  • Preach the gospel (Mark 16:15
  • Sing
  • Get funds for church work (I Corinthians 16:1-2
• Aids are allowed, but no additions are allowed.
  • Container for bread and fruit fo the vine, but no other elements
  • Song books, pitch pipe, PowerPoint, but no other kind of music
  • Radio, TV preaching, but no other collective
• Authorized work for a local church
  • Assemble for worship (Colossiand 3:16; Acts 2:42
  • Support the preaching of the gospel
    • To edify the saved (Acts 20:28
    • To save the lost (Philippians 4:15-16
  • Relieve the needy saints who are unavoidably destitute
    • Not to relieve them if they bring destitution on by choice (II Thessalonians 3:10
  • Discipline under certain circumstances (I Corinthians 5:1-5
• The individual Christian must respect Bible authority. He must do with zeal what is authorized and refuse to do what is not.