Homiletics Hebrews 1 - 2:4 - Lesson 9

Chucks study:

Homiletics Acts 15 - Lesson 8

John's study:

Content

(In your own words, summarize passages into sentences. Goal of 12 – 15 sentences)

1. v1 People came from Judea to Antioch teaching that believers Gentile believers must be circumcised in order to be saved.

2. v2 - Paul and Barnabas disagreed on this issue and went, with other believers to Jerusalem to discuss with the Jerusalem church.

3. v3 - 4 They traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria preaching and encouraging those in the church until they reached Jerusalem where they reported all that God had been doing through them where ever they had travelled.

4. v5 – 6 Some Pharisees who had become believers stated their interpretation of the law saying that Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses.

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5. v6 - 9 The apostles and elders of the Jerusalem church considered this question and after a typical elder meeting where great discussion was held, Peter addressed them saying that when God gave the Gospel he said it was to go to the Gentiles too and that He (knowing their hearts) had accepted them as equals in the faith w/ Jewish believers, by His demonstrated gift of the HS to them as He did to the Jewish believers.

6. v10 – 11 Do not try God by placing the Gentiles under a yoke of burden to keep the Law, but rather they (and we) are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

7. v12 – 18 After Barnabas and Paul told of the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles, James (half bro. of Jesus) stood and spoke of how God chose the Gentiles and this is confirmed with the scriptures from Amos that the Gentiles will come to believe.

8. v13 – 20 James continued on saying that the church should not burden Gentile who wish to believe as this may be a stumbling block for belief, yet the church should send a letter to the new believers to abstain from foods polluted by idols, have no part in sexual immorality, abstain from meat from strangled animals and from blood.

9. v21 – Send the letter to every city and have it presented in the synagogues.

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10. v22 The church in Jerusalem sent out Paul, Barnabas, Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas to deliver the letter to the churches in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.

11. v23 - 29 The letter contained a warning that what Barny & Paul preached was true and not to believe contrary messages from others not authorized by the Jerusalem leadership. It alluded to the circumcision issue, but didn’t spell it out. It also spoke to food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality and to avoid these things.

12. v30 – 31 The men travelled to Antioch where the believers gathered together and read the letter, which encouraged them.

13. v32 -33 Judas and Silas spoke words of encouragement strengthening the believers there, and after a stay were set back to Jerusalem with blessings of peace.

14. v34 – 35 Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, where they with other believers taught and preached the word of the Lord.

Divisions

(Summarize main groupings of thoughts. Goal of 2, 3 or 4 divisions. ID passages covered)

I. The question of circumcision as a requirement of salvation arises.

Acts 15:1 – Acts 15:5

Application: Are you conscientiously discerning the teaching of your pastors against the Word of God?.

Application:  Are you prepared to raise questions about doctrine to your pastors, with humility,  prayer & petition?

II. The apostles and elders of the church in Jerusalem discuss the question of circumcision. Peter summarizes eloquently that circ. is not part of the Gospel, and suggests sending a letter to the new churches in Asia Minor.            

Acts 15:6 – Acts 15:21

Application: How can you encourage others that the yoke Jesus offer is light and bearable?

Application: Are you being sensitive to the HS’s leading to deliver the plain & simple truth of the Gospel?

III. Apostles Paul, Barnabas, Judas & Silas deliver the letter to church in Antioch which encourages believers and warns them of wrong teaching.

Acts 15:22 – Acts 15:35

Application: Are you willing to deliver the Gospel message to others?

Application: Are you heeding God’s warnings regarding living a sinful life in the flesh?

Subject Sentence

(Summarizing the Divisions into one sentence):

Works of the flesh mean nothing; Christ’s work means everything.  (10 words)

Aim

(A main teaching point for the overall study of the passages):

To cause the audience to see that:

God's plan does not require burdens (yokes in Acts 15:10) which no one is able to bear or keep, but rather gives life and lives lived by the grace of the Lord Jesus.

Homiletics Acts 14 - Lesson 7

Don's study:

SS: Paul endures extreme hardship in completing his first missionary journey

CATL: While we may face severe or extreme hardship in sharing the gospel, the Lord is faithful to encourage us with fellowship and rest

Paul and Barnabas face fierce opposition in speaking the good news boldly

Paul and Barnabas speak boldly; Jews, Gentiles divided, Jews stir up trouble yet great many believe. vs 1-4

Paul/Barnabas discover stoning plot, flee to Lystra and Derbe, preach good news vs 5-7

Paul commands lame man in Lystra to “ Stand up on your feet”, man healed, crowd think Paul is a human form of God vs 8-11

Barnabas called Zeus, Paul, Hermes, Priest of Zeus prepares people to offer sacrifice to them vs 12-13

Apostles tear clothes and declare themselves only human, just bringing good news of living, creator God, not worthless things vs 14-15

Testimony of God obvious in creation, rain, crops, plenty of food, hearts filled with joy vs16-18

Jews travel/follow from Antioch, Iconium, stir crowd, stone Paul, leave for dead outside city vs19

Disciples gather round Paul, he gets up and goes back into the city vs 20a

Application: Where and to whom is the Holy Spirit prompting you to speak boldly the truth about our Lord Jesus?

Paul and Barnabas win and encourage believers as they return to Antioch

Paul/Barnabas go to Derbe, preach, large number of people won without struggle, vs 20b-21

Paul/Barnabas return to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch strengthing, encouraging, warning new disciples vs 22

Committed elders and churches to Lord thru prayer, fasting vs 23

Traveled thru Pisidia, Phampylia, preached in Perga and sailed from Attalia vs 24-25

Back in Antioch, work completed, reported all God had done, stayed long time vs 26-28

Application: How do you encourage other believers in your life? What can you do to be more encouraging to other believers in your community?