Big Idea: The troubles of following Jesus are far less than opposing Jesus.

I.  The troubles of following Jesus (vv. 1-17).

a. Some will experience trouble and deliverance to the Head (vv. 1-2). 

b. Some will experience trouble and deliverance to the Body (vv. 3-17).

       i. With whom you’ll share burdens and prayer (vv 3-12).

       ii. With whom you’ll share joy and awe (vv. 13-17).

II.  The troubles of opposing Jesus (vv. 18-25).

a. They will still have trouble in this world (vv. 18-20a).

b. They will rely upon worldly tactics (20b-22).

c. They will be shamed and delivered to the Head (vv. 23-25).

Big Idea: God, our faithful promise-keeper, has sent His Son Jesus that everyone who believes upon Him will be forgiven while those who do not will perish.

I.  God has given His promise in the Scriptures (vv. 13-25).

II. God has sent the fulfillment of His promise in His Son Jesus (vv. 26-37).

III. Believe in Jesus and receive God’s promise for the forgiveness of sins (vv. 38-41).

Big Idea: Give thanks, for 85 years, the LORD’s goodness and faithfulness have been enjoyed by the people of Grace as we’ve gladly gathered to serve Him, know Him, and magnify His name in all our hearts and in all the world.

I. Serve the LORD with gladness because He made us and takes care of us (vv. 1-3).

a. Call to praise – All are called into His presence with song and service (vv. 1-2).

b. Cause for praise – Know Him as Maker, Possessor, and Pastor (vs. 3).

II. Seek the LORD with thanksgiving because He is good and faithful to His promises (vv. 4-5). 

a. Call to praise – Come communally and magnify His name (vs. 4).

b. Cause for praise – The LORD is forever good and faithful (vs 5).

Big Idea: The word of God advances by the Spirit’s initiative through the gathering and going of a fully devoted church.

I. The church gathering – A discerning, diverse, devoted, and disciple-sending body (vv. 1-4).

II. The church going – A proclaiming, planning, prepared, and disciple-making body (vv. 5-12).

Big Idea: The mission of God advances as Spirit-filled Christians embody the gospel, character, and love of the Lord Jesus. 

I. The mission of God through the gospel of the Lord Jesus (vv. 19-21).

II. The mission of God through the character of the Lord Jesus (vv. 22-26). 

III. The mission of God through the love of the Lord Jesus (vv. 27-30). 

Big Idea: God’s glorious work humbles believers and propels the mission of God that leads to life.

 I. Leaders – God’s leaders are not beyond criticism (vv. 1-3).

 II. Lord – God is beyond criticism (vv. 4-17). 

 III. Life – Believers with ears to hear can humbly receive truth and glorify God (v. 18).

Big Idea: The Gospel of peace through Jesus is good news for all who have ears to hear. 

 I. Hear - The gospel of peace is truly good news for everyone with ears to hear (vv. 23-35).

 II. Heard - Those with ears to hear must hear the true gospel of peace through Jesus (vv. 36-42).

    a. God kept His promise and sent us Jesus (vs. 36). 

    b. God was with Jesus as Jesus perfectly fulfilled His ministry (vv. 37-39a).

    c. God raised Jesus from the dead after dying for our sin (vv. 39b-41).

    d. God appointed Jesus as our perfect judge (vs. 42). 

 III. Holy Spirit - Those who have ears to hear will believe in Jesus (vv. 43-48).

    a. All who believe in Jesus receive forgiveness of their sins and peace with God (vs 43).

    b. All who believe in Jesus ought to be baptized (vv. 44-48).

Big Idea: Because of Jesus, believers no longer separate pure and profane foods or people. 

 I. It’s God’s initiative (vv. 3-6, 10-16, 19-20).

    a. Changing how the Gentiles know God (vv. 3-6).

    b. Changing how the Jews understood holiness (vv. 10-16, 19-20). 

II. Involving praying people (vv. 1-2, 9).

III. Who humbly respond in faith (vv. 7-8, 17-23).

Big Idea: Christ continues to exercise His power to bless and build His church. 

 I. Faithful believers still experience sickness and death (vv. 32-33; 36-39). 

II. Our faithful Savior still has power over sickness, death, and forgiveness of sins (vv. 34-35; 40-43).

    a. Miraculous power still comes from and points to Jesus (vv. 34, 40-41). 

    b. Miraculous conversions still occur as people turn and believe (vv. 35, 42-43).

Big Idea: The world makes plans, but Christ builds His church. 

I. Christ builds His church in Damascus (vv. 1-2a; 20-25).

   a. The world, through Saul, made plans for the church (vv. 1-2a).

   b. Christ, through Saul, builds His church (vv. 20-25).

II. Christ builds His church in Jerusalem (vv. 2b; 26-30).

   a. The world, through Saul, made plans for the church (v. 2b). 

   b. Christ, through Saul, builds His church (vv. 26-30).

III. Same story, different places – Christ’s church is growing, going, and fully dependent (v. 31). 

Big Idea: God will accomplish his plan. 
I. God demonstrates miraculous power to accomplish his plan.
II. God’s miraculous power often looks like ordinary faithfulness.
III. God always brings glory out of suffering

Big Idea: The mission of God advances through His abiding people.

I.               Philip knows enough to abide in the Lord’s mission:

a.     The Lord (vv. 26, 29, 39).

b.     The joy of simple obedience (vv. 27, 30, 38).

c.     The Scriptures and the great commission (vv. 30-35, 40).

II.             Philip’s lack of knowledge doesn’t become an ultimatum for abiding in the Lord’s mission:

a.     ‘Why’ he’s leaving (vv. 26-28)?

b.     ‘How’ to engage (vv. 29-30)? 

c.     ‘What’ he’s going to be asked (vv. 31-38)? 

d.     ‘Where’ he’s going next (vv. 39-40)?

Big Idea: Gathered or scattered, Christ’s church will proclaim the gospel.

I. The gathered church experiences persecution for the gospel (vv. 1-3).

II. The scattered church extends the proclamation of the gospel (vv. 4-25).

    a. Humility – New location, but the servants are still opportunistic to serve (vv. 4-8, 12).

    b. Humbled – The Samaritans receive true salvation and power which comes from the Jew’s Christ (vv. 9-17, John 4:16-26).

    c. Pride – New location, but the same insidious pride crouches at the door (vv. 18-25).

Big Idea: Oh Lord, make us full and faithful disciples for generations to come!

 I. Full of grace and power (vv. 6:8-9). 

II. Full of wisdom and Spirit (vv. 6:10-15). 

III. Faithful to proclaim truth until we see Jesus’ face (vv. 7:1-60). 

    a. Bleeding Bible and pointing to Jesus (vv. 7:1-50).

    b. Counting and paying the cost (vv. 51-54). 

    c. Looking to Jesus in all circumstances (vv. 55-60). 

Big Idea: A church devoted to the word of God and near to the heart of God will experience growing pains which may advance the mission of God. 

I. A growing church will eventually meet growing pains (vv. 1-2) 

    a. Felt more by some than others (vs. 1). 

    b. Godly leaders take the cost seriously (vs. 2).

II. Growing pains are best met by empowering growing leaders (vv. 3-6). 

    a. Qualified leaders from the church family (vv. 3, 5-6). 

    b. Godly leaders don’t neglect their ‘first-importance things’ (vs. 4).

 III. The church continues to be devoted to the word of God, near to the heart of God and experiences further growth from God (vs. 7).

Big Idea: Because the Gospel of Christ Jesus is of God it will not be stopped by suffering. 

 I. God can use angels or agnostics to propel the gospel of Christ Jesus (vv. 33-39).

     a. Gamaliel’s honorable life (vv. 33-34).

     b. Gamaliel’s historical reasoning (vv. 35-39).

 II. God can use suffering to propel the gospel of Christ Jesus (vv. 40-42).

 Big Idea: The Sovereign Lord answers devout prayer in His wise way. 

 I. The apostles sought the Sovereign Lord in prayer (vv. 4:29-30). 

     a. For more opportunities to boldly proclaim God’s word about Jesus (vs. 4:29).

     b. For God to stretch out His hand to work signs and wonders in Jesus’ name (vs. 4:30). 

 II. The Sovereign Lord answered their prayer in His way (5:12-32)

    a. He opened the widest door for signs and wonders (5:12-16).

    b. He opened the highest door for bold proclamation (5:17-32).

Big Idea: Our clarity of the risen Lord influences our communion and charity toward one another.

 I. The church enjoyed extraordinary devotion to the risen Lord Jesus (vv. 4:32-36).

     a. Extraordinary communion as believers (vs. 32).

     b. Extraordinary clarity from God (vs. 33).

     c. Extraordinary charity toward one another (vv. 34-37).

 II. God is not fooled by the mere appearance of extraordinary devotion (vv. 5:1-11).

     a. The lack of clarity emboldens the mere appearance of communion and charity (vv. 1-4; 7-9).

     b. God’s extraordinary discipline enhances the church’s clarity (vv. 5-6; 10-11).

Big Idea: Humble dependence on our Sovereign Lord leads to boldness and transformation.

1. Time with Jesus transforms us (vv. 13-17).

2. Commitment to Jesus is the better way (vv. 18-22).

3. Dependence on Jesus leads to boldness (vv. 23-31).

Big Idea: By faith in Jesus, the lowest outside the temple are made closer to God than the highest priest in the temple.

 I. Great proclamation of the Gospel still produces diverse responses (vv. 1-4).

     a. Great annoyance (vv. 1-3). 

     b. Great belief (vs. 4).

 II. Good work often dominoes into multiple opportunities to proclaim the Gospel (vv. 5-10).

III. We have one glorious Savior Who is worthy to be proclaimed to all people (vv. 11-12).

Big Idea: The realization of sin is the beginning of true hope for those who will receive Jesus Christ. 

 I.  Sin in ignorance is not bliss for God is never ignorant (vv. 17-18).

II.  Repenting and receiving Jesus as Christ is the Jews only hope (vv. 19-26).

      a. Hope for forgiveness of sins (vs. 19). 

      b. Hope for being refreshed and ruled by Christ in the land (vv. 20-22).

      c. Hope for the blessing of being numbered among God’s people (vv. 23-26).

Big Idea: Fully devoted disciples live ready to proclaim the simple powerful gospel.

 I. Ready – to proclaim in season and out of season (vv. 11-12a). 

II. Set – attention off from us and onto higher things (vs. 12).

III. Go – forth and share the simple gospel message (vv. 13-16).

Big Idea: The power of Jesus blesses the lame man so that those who gave their attention to God at the temple might soon give their allegiance to God through faith in Jesus.

 I. The lame man went to the temple to experience God’s daily provision (vv. 1-5). 

II. The lame man looked to the apostles and experienced the provision of Jesus Christ (vv. 6-8).

III. The leaping man amazed the men of Israel as he praised God (vv. 9-10).

Big Idea: Spirit-filled disciples are fully devoted to Word, Worship, Service, and Family.

I. Formed and sustained by the Word. 

II. Gathered and scattered in worship.  

III. Generous and hospitable in service.

IV. Sharing and inviting as family. 

Big Idea: Our promise keeping God sent the Holy Spirit to empower the disciples to clearly proclaim the mighty works of God in Christ. 

I. God – The Triune God always keeps His promises (vv. 1-4).

II. Man – God makes and knows every person (vv. 5-11a).

III. Christ – God makes His mighty works clearly known (vs. 11b).

IV. Response – Some desire to investigate Jesus while others mock (vv. 12-13).

Big Idea: The disciples devote themselves to prayer as dependent, trusting, and wise children to their heavenly Father. 

I. Praying as dependent children – seeking their heavenly Father for a good gift (vv. 12-14)

II. Praying as trusting children – recalling His promise and power to fulfill His word (vv. 15-20).

III. Praying as wise children – leaning not on their own understanding (vv. 21-26).

Big Idea: Jesus' disciples are to concern themselves with the task of going forth from Israel, not the timing of the kingdom's restoration to Israel

I. Jesus' disciples aren't to concern themselves with God's timing (vv. 6-7, 9-11)

II. Jesus' disciples are to concern themselves with their God-given task (v.8)

      a. A Spirit-empowered task

      b. A Christ-allegiant task

      c. A global witness task

Big Idea: A sufficient account of Jesus has been given, but His disciples are powerless apart from the Holy Spirit to go forth with this gospel message

I. The gospels contain a sufficient account of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension to call all people to repent of sin, trust Christ, and prepare for the coming Kingdom of God (vv.1-3)

II. The Holy Spirit is sufficient to empower those who will enter the Kingdom of God to go forth and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people (vv.4-5)

Big Idea: The good news of the crucified and risen Christ will be spread across the world by His fully devoted and dependent disciples.

I. The disciples before meeting the risen Christ- the angels marvel that they were still struggling to believe Jesus (vv.1-12)

II. The disciples with the risen Christ- they doubt and marvel as Jesus stood, spoke, showed, and ate with them after being crucified before them (vv.36-43)

III. The disciples are fully dependent upon their risen Christ- they need Jesus to enlighten their minds and the Spirit to empower their going (vv.44-49)

Big Idea: The wise will live for King Jesus, trusting that His transformative Kingdom will be fully realized only after many misunderstood and reject His rule.

I. Jesus came knowing He was going to leave before returning a second time (vv. 11-13)

II. Jesus came knowing His immediate authority would be rejected by many (vv. 14, 27)

III. Wise servants know the King and will advance the King's business (vv. 15-19, 24-26, 28-38)

IV. Foolish servants misunderstood the King and refuse the King's business (vv. 20-23, 39-40)

Big Idea: Fully devoted disciples are fully dependent upon their Triune God for directing, establishing, and sustaining their local church community

I. Rightly believing who God is will direct how we behave in community (vv.11-13)

    a. A joyful people (vs.11a)

    b. A peaceful people (vs.11b)

    c. A loving people (vv.11c-13)

II. The Triune God establishes and sustains church community (v.14)

Big Idea: The church's self-exam to see if they are in the faith will confirm that Paul, who brought them the gospel, is a true apostle of Jesus

I. Future examination: witnesses, warnings, and weakness (vv.1-4)

II. Examining ourselves in the present

    a. Congregational- This exam takes the whole church captive (vs. 5a)

    b. Confirming- Christ in us and Christ brought to us (vv. 5b-8)

    c. Corrective- Christ gave the apostles for the building up of His church to maturity (vv.9-10)

Big Idea: An over-concern with foolish issues can serve as a destructive distraction from dealing with our own sinful issues before Christ

I. Paul did all the miraculous signs of a true apostle of Christ (vv.11-12)

II. Paul is disappointed that his beloved Corinthians are still hung up on such a foolish issue-infantile in their faith, Paul didn't financially burden them with supporting him (vv.13-18)

III. Paul is fearful that his beloved Corinthians will not have the courage to deal with their sinful issues and repent to Christ before he comes (vv.19-21)

Big Idea: For Christ's sake and our good, thorns may be permitted by God to pierce our lives which strip our comforts. This is done so that we may humbly depend upon His strength for our primary boast in life

I. The proud 'super-apostles' boast in their own knowledge and experiences, while Paul, who has far greater knowledge and experiences, humbly boasts of his weakness (vv.1-6)

II. For Christ's sake, a humbling thorn was permitted to pierce Paul's life (vs. 7)

III. The Lord told Paul 'no' so that his dependency upon Christ's strength would remain his life's boast here on earth (vv.8-10)

Big Idea: Fools boast in strength; followers boast in weakness

I. Fools believe other's boasts (vv. 16-21)

II. Fools believe their own boasts (vv. 21-23)

III. Followers of Jesus boast in their weakness (vv. 23-33)

Big Idea: Satan hates our devotion to Jesus. He wants our destruction so bad that he's willing to capitalize on anyone or anything to distance our hearts from God's Word.

I. What's at stake? The self-proclaimed 'super-apostles' are a satanic threat to Corinth's devotion to Christ Jesus (vv.1-6)

II. Why is Paul defending himself? Paul loves the Corinthians too much to allow the 'super-apostles' criticisms to fester (vv.7-11)

III. Who do the 'super-apostles' work for? They are Satan's servants who disguise themselves as 'righteous' influencers to deceive Corinth into distancing from Paul for their destruction (vv.12-15)

Big Idea: The fruit of commendable ministry tastes like this: a joyful boasting in Christ, a building up of Christ's body, a freedom from self-commendations and insecure comparisons, and an unending hope for disciples to mature for the advancement of the gospel.

I. Paul's ministry was assigned to Him by the Lord for building up Christ's body (vv. 8-11)

II. Paul is free from the insecurities of commending and comparing himself (vv. 12-14)

III. Paul is free to experience the joy of boasting in Christ and the hope for disciples to mature for the advancement of the gospel (vv. 15-18)

Big Idea: God giving His Son is what empowers the Christian in their generosity and should help them remember what God loves, who God is, and what God deserves from all creation.

I. What does God love? God loves a cheerful giver, so set your heart before the Lord and cheerfully sow (vv. 6-7)

II. Who is God? God is eternally righteous and generously provides our seed for cheerful sowing (vv. 8-10)

III. What does The Inexpressible Gift Giver deserve from all creation? God deserves an abundant harvest of thanksgiving that is stirred by Christian generosity within the giver, through the giver, and into the recipients (vv. 11-15)

Big Idea: Christians are to be earnest before God and man in their willful giving, and Christian leaders are to be earnest before God and man in their administration of those funds for the glory of Christ

I. Paul is sending an earnest team in the sight of God and men to receive the Corinthians' generous offering (vv. 8:16-24)

II. The Corinthians must be earnest in their giving of these pledged funds, lest they all be humiliated (vv. 9:1-5)