After Becoming a Christian111111111.pptx

Editor's Notes

• #1 I believe many of these thoughts were originally organized by Stan Cox. I redesign them and added some of my own thoughts in the notes and charts. –SJW SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 11:19-24 You might not be a new convert, but this lesson applies to you as well. Sometime going back to the fundamentals is exactly what mature Christians need as their fire has been put out by the rain of the world (See Rev. 2:1-7).
• #2 Acts 11:23 Seen the grace of God—that is Barnabas saw the many conversions, those where were baptized new converts. Encouraged them all – new converts need encouragement. It is a new walk with new challenges that they will face. That with purpose of heart- This is really the key. The purpose of heart to continue or cleave to the Lord. “A purpose, προθεσει is a resolution of the mind, a plan, or intention, #Ro 8:28 Eph 1:11 3:11 2Ti 1:9 3:10. It is a resolution of the mind in regard to future conduct… We may also remark that such a plan is one of the heart. It is not simply of the understanding, but is of the entire mind, including the will and affections. It is the leading principle; the strongest affection; the guiding purpose of the will to adhere to God” (Barnes)
• #9 Lying is not replicating Christ’s image as He came in truth and was the truth. “Liars share with those they deceive the desire not to be deceived” Sissela Bok “A lie can run around the world six times while the truth is still trying to put on its pants.” Mark Twain “He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time till at length it becomes habitual.” Thomas Jefferson “In human relationships, kindness and lies are worth a thousand truths.” Graham Greene [That is, people often buy into lies by the kindness of the liar.] “If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend. Therein is a drop of honey which catches his heart, which, say what he will, is the highroad to his reason” (Abraham Lincoln) “It is easier to gather up a bag of loose feathers than to round up or head off a single lie.” Anonymous
• #10 Don’t get too caught up in what is seen. This follows the command to set your mind on things above. “The design of this is to show in what way the afflictions which they endured became in their view light and momentary. It was by looking to the glories of the future world, and thus turning away the attention from the trials and sorrows of this life. If we look directly at our trials — if the mind is fixed wholly on them, and we think of nothing else — they often appear heavy and long. Even comparatively light and brief sufferings will appear to be exceedingly difficult to bear. But if we can turn away the mind from them, and contemplate future glory; if we can compare them with eternal blessedness, and feel that they will introduce us to perfect and everlasting happiness, they will appear to be transitory, and will be easily borne. And Paul here has stated the true secret of bearing trials with patience. It is to look at the things which are unseen. ” (Albert Barnes)
• #11 “Lay aside” versus “desire”… Malice – is an attitude that is characterized as ill-will with the desire to injure another without just cause. It is unashamed evil. This is portrayed to us in the examples of Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:8); Saul toward David (1 Sam. 18:8, 9); Shimei toward David (2 Sam. 16:5-8) and countless others Deceit – falsehood, craftiness. I’ve know Christians I thought were very spiritual minded at one time turn out to be very worldly and deceitful. It is not that they come out and tell a bald face lie. But they feel comfortable to lead you to believing a lie without actually lying to evade their duty as a Christian. One such man tried to excuse himself for not attending services on Super Bowl Sunday by responding his son’s window was broken. Such was not the reason for him not coming to worship, but was simply stated to lead the listener to the wrong belief. Or when they were questioned where they were for Bible study mentioning we were in Tacoma. Well that leads the Christian to believe they went to the church in Tacoma, but in reality they did not worship in Tacoma, but were simply driving through Tacoma. Hypocrisy—is acting and is not genuine. It covers wicked will with a righteous appearance. God wants us to be true and hypocrisy flies in the face of truthfulness. A graphic description of it would be how Jacob pretended to be Esau when in fact he was Jacob. If we pretend to be Christians on Sunday, but then walk the way of the world, talk with the language of the world and are entertained by the entertainment of the world, then we are walking hypocrites. Hypocrits sing “Oh how I love Jesus” but then in works deny the name of Jesus. It is not that they again deny him openly. They may no longer drink to get drunk but they drink casually with the world. They may not curse with clarity as they did before, but they employ euphemism. They bless God on Sunday and curse their brother or sister in gossip and slander on Mondays. All along they deceive others and in fact are being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:13, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Envy – is jealousy and is what motivated the Jews to crucify Jesus as well as seek occasion to kill Paul (Mk. 15:10; Acts 13:45; Acts 17:5). Evil Speaking – this word in the original is found only here and 2 Cor. 12:20 where it is translated “backbitings” and carries with it the idea of defamation of another through slander. Again, “and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven’” (Matt. 18:3).
• #13 As you desire the milk of the word, try to seek out passages that instruct you in what not to do and the solution of what to do. The Bible is the solution to bad human behavior. It identifies what is evil as well as what is to be good, what to abstain from and what to fill your life with.
• #14 The worship of the church, is a measurement of your faithfulness. Where you lack in worship, you lack in stirring up your brethren for good. Where you lack in worship, you lack in honoring God. Where you lack here, you will lack there in eternity. BTW, ask yourself, is your attendance better today than it was last year, or perhaps when you first believed?
• #17 Did Jesus or Paul display these attitudes?
• #18 It’s not time to regress but progress. It’s not time to shrink back in fear but push forward. It’s not time to become complacent but press on!