May I have a WORD with you?

References:

• Participation in Christ
  • 1 Thess 2:1-13
    • Flattery - κολακεία (kol-ak-i'-ah) only here
    • Similes of familial relationships
      • Like children (infants)
      • Like a mother
      • Like a father 
    • Their faithful response to the Word of God
      • λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ - Word of God
      • vs 13 and the three understandings of Word of God
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 - Suffering Persecution
  • 1 Thess 2:17-20 - A Good Report
    • v 18 - ἐγκόπτω (eng...

References:

• Historical Setting - Acts 17:1-15
  • 2nd Mission Journey
    • Paul and Barnabas go separate ways
      • Barnabas and John Mark
      • Paul and Silas
    • Acts 16-17
      • Thessalonica
      • Berea to Athens
• 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3
  • Greeting and prayer of thanksgiving
    • Faith–hope–love v 3
      • ἔργον (er'-gon) work [of faith]
      • κόπος (kop'-os) labor [of love]
      • ὑπομονή (hoop-om-on-ay') [of hope]
• 1 Thess 1:4-...

References:

• Acts 2
  • The significance of “heaven” or “the heavens”
    • οὐρανός (oo-ran-os') - the heavens
      • Acts 2:2, 2:5, 2:19, 2:34
      • The upper story, the lower story, our story
      • Lord’s Prayer - “on earth as it is in heaven”
    • Think throne or rule/reign
• The Temple of God - ναός (nah-os') “the sanctuary or cell of the temple, where the image of the god was placed which is distinguished from the whole enclosure....

An Application of the Ascension

References:

• How the Gospels end
  • Matthew 28:16-20
  • Mark 16:8 - +shorter ending - +longer ending
    • 16:20 - συνεργέω (soon-erg-eh'-o)
      • James 2:22 - trust and response (faith & actions)
      • Romans 8:28 - who is working? God & those who love Him
  • Luke 24:49-53 - οὐρανός (oo-ran-os') - the heavens
  • John 21:18-25
• The Beginning of Acts
  • Acts 1:1-5
    • Proofs of Resurrection and ...

References:

• The power of God’s Word
  • Isaiah 55:11 - empty -  רֵיקָם  (ray-kawm'), void, without effect, vainly
  • Exodus 3:19-22 - illustrate how God’s word will not return without accomplishing its purpose 
    • Ex 12:31-36
• Taking the Chapter apart
  • Isa 55:1-5
    • An Invitation to the abundant life of covenant relationship
    • Satisfy - שָׂבְעָה (sov-aw')  
    • Isa 56:11, Jude 1:
  • Isa 55:6-7
    • A Call to Repentance and...

References:

• Inspiring passages
  • John 14:12
    • “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater (μείζονα) works, because I am going to be with the Father.
  • John 15:5
    • “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing (οὐδέν).
  • 1 Timothy 6:12
    • 12 Fight (ἀγωνίζου) the good fi...

References:

• Matthew 14:22-33 - Jesus calls Peter out of the boat
  • v 27 - ① Θαρσεῖτε ② ἐγώ εἰμι· ③ μὴ φοβεῖσθε
    • ① Courage! - imperative
    • ② I Am!
    • ③ No fear! - imperative
  • v 28 - ① κέλευσόν με ② πρὸς σὲ ③ ἐλθεῖν
    • ① Command me
    • ② Unto you
    • ③ To come (infinitive)
  • v 29 - Ἐλθέ
    • Come! (imperative - command)
• The story’s application
  • Consider what the boat represents
    • The church
    • Safety
    • Familiarity
  • Consider what the ...

References:

• Ephesians 5:15-20
  • v 15 - ἀκριβῶς (ak-ree-boce') - exactly, accurately, diligently, circumspectly
    • from ἀκριβής - strict, exact, careful
    • of the strictest sect: the most precise and rigorous in interpreting the Mosaic law, and in observing even the more minute precepts of the law and tradition
  • v 16 - ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν - “redeeming the time”
    • ex-ag-or-ad'-zo - to redeem
      • by payment of a pri...

References:

• John 15:9-17
  • v 11 - joy overflowing - πληρόω (play-ro'-o) - to make complete in every particular; to render perfect:
• Heb 12:1-2
  • αἰσχύνης καταφρονήσας - the shame despising
    • αἰσχύνη - ignominy, disgrace, dishonour, a thing to be ashamed of
    • καταφρονέω - despise, disdain, think little or nothing of
• JOY
  
  
• You see a smile on my face
• It’s an asset I’d never trade
• It’s not a joke. I’m not just ...

References:

• Meaning of Good Friday
  • The fulcrum of the lever of life
    • Jesus goes from life in human form to life in resurrected human form through the cross
  • Becoming cursed to remove our curse - substitutionary atonement
  • The cross as a symbol or sign of salvation
• The cross in Paul’s writings
  • Phil 2:8 - σταυρός (stow-ros') cross [see also 3:18]
    • “Even” death on a cross 2:8
    • Enemies of the cross 3:18 - How? Why?...

References:

• The final week of Lent is called Holy
  • From the Triumphal entry to Easter
    • Mt ch21-28; Mk 11-16; Lk 19:28-24; Jn 12-20
    • Of 89 chapters in the four Gospels, nearly 30% are given to this one week
  • Passion Narratives - passion meaning suffering
    • Prophecy - Isaiah 53
      • v 9 - רָשָׁע (raw-shaw') wicked vs עָשִׁיר (aw-sheer') rich    
    • Born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate
      • Historical...

References:

• Missional Strategy - Chapters 2 and 3
  • strategic Christian Communities for the spread of the Gospel throughout the Medeteranian region
  • Transformation through the Gospel - Poem 3:3-7
    • Transformed households - ὑγιαίνω (hoog-ee-ah'-ee-no) 1:9, 1:13, 2:1, 2:2 (sound, free of error)
      • The world looks at the Christian houshold and sees no difference from any other household.
        • Discrediting God’s Word
        • Gospel isn’t ...

References:

• Introduction - vs 1-4
  • The truth that shows us how to live godly lives
  • We have confidence because
    • God, not pseudo-gods
    • ἀψευδής (aps-yoo-dace') - not lying or false
      • From ἄλφα (as a negative particle) and (think how a is used as a prefix for “not” like asymptomatic
        • ψεῦδος - whatever is not what it seems to be
          • of perverse, impious, deceitful precepts
          • Pseudonym, pseudo-science
• The ...

References:

• Lent is a time when we get attentive of our need for confession and repentance. Our sin, individually and collectively bring consequences and God’s wrath.
  • Isaiah 24:1-6 ESV
    • v 4 - אָמַל  (aw-mal') languish
      • to be weak, to droop, 
      • to languish, to be exhausted 
  • Jer 14:1-3, 7-10, 13-16, 20-22 NLT
  • How does the behavior of God’s Chosen people resemble our world today?
• A comparative Greek word - ἀσθε...

References:

• The Transfiguration of Jesus
  • Mt 17:1-9; Mk 9:2-10; Lk 9:28-36
  • μεταμορφόω (met-am-or-fo'-o)
    • Moses and Elijah
    • The Law and the Prophets
  • They discussed His exodus (departure)
• Law & Prophets
  • Mt 7:12 - the golden rule
  • Mt 22:37-40 - the greatest commandments
  • John 1:45 - Philip to Nathaniel - the One of whom the OT (Moses in the Law and also the Prophets) tells
  • Rom 3:21 - Paul uses the phrase to speak of...

References:

• Reading the Psalms - came across Ps 14
  • Compare vs 2&3 with 4-6
  • Footnote to Romans 3:10-12
  • The Rom passage has footnote that brings in Ps 53
    • Compare Ps 14 with Ps 53
      • Psalm 14 primarily uses "the Lord" (Yahweh), while Psalm 53 uses "God" (Elohim).
      • Ps 14 God's deliverance of the righteous. 
      • Ps 53 the defeat of the wicked.
    • vs 4 - the evil doers, evil workers, those who do or work evi...

References:

• Luke 6:27-36
  • The “Golden Rule” - v 31
    • Reciprocity
  • v 35 - be like Jesus
    • Grace - give freely, even to those who are unthankful
• Acts 11:15-18
  • The gifts of repentance and faith
    • δίδωμι (did'-o-mee)
      • to give, to give something to someone
      • of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage
      • to bestow a gift
      • to grant, give to one asking, let have
    • Grace and reciprocity can only ...

References:

• Blessed are those who mourn… (Mt 5:4) πενθέω (pen-theh'-o)
  • This is not something to strive for in order to be blessed
  • Rather, an example of the power of the Kingdom of God.
• Isa. 25:6-9 - swallowing up death - בָּלַע  (baw-lah')
  • Prov 1:10-14 - the dark side engulfing the innocent
  • Ex 7:10-13 - Illustrative of God’s Kingdom engulfing the kingdom of darkness 
  • God will swallow up the final enemy
• 1 Cor...

References:

• … you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
  • Mt 5:20 - exceed the righteousness
    • περισσεύω - (per-is-syoo'-o) - 
      • to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure
        • a thing which overflows unto one, something falls to the lot of one in large measure
        • Mt 14, Mk 6, Lk 9, Jn 6 - feeding miracle
          • Exceeding abundance - left over bread and fish
          • Excess not wasted or los...