Family Bible Church weekly message

* Last week we began a study of the book of James by considering James' declaration that God (the Father of lights) is the giver of good, moral gifts and every perfect bestowment. * This statement was made at the end of James' opening words, and immediately after the exhortation for the Jews of the Dispersion not to be led astray. * What was it then that James had declared? What was subject which we should be careful of not being led astray about ... and should be regarding as a good, moral gift and perfect bestowment? * We find the answer to that question immediately after his introduction. "Count it all joy WHEN you fall into various trials." * The early believers were facing extreme trials of their faith, how should they respond? Why were seemingly bad things happening to good people? * We will be considering this portion over the space of two weeks. For today, we want to consider our response and reaction to trials - WHEN YOU FALL INTO TRIALS. * This message was presented on September 17, 2023 by

* Today, we begin a study of the book of James. * This is thought to be the earliest written New Testament book (44-49 AD) ... written only 15-20 years after the death of Jesus. The next is considered to be Paul's letter to the Galatians in 49 AD; then Matthew and Mark in the 50-60 AD range. * Today, we want to consider the author of the letter, his intended audience, and the general theme of the book. * This message was presented on September 10, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* This message is a continuation of last week's message on Sanctification. * Sanctification is being "set-apart." In the Hebrew it is derived from the word 'qodesh' and in the Greek 'hagios.' The words are primarily translated as "holy" in the Bible. In fact the "Holy Bible" literally is the "hagios biblios" - "the set apart book." Because it is God's Word, it is set apart from all other books. Those who are set-apart unto God are "holy." The Greek word which in most New Testament translation is translated as saints is "hagioi" - holy ones. * God calls those who receive Christ as their Savior to be holy as He is holy - to be set apart as He is set apart. * In the Bible, we see three "phases" in the sanctification of believers - Positional Sanctification, Practical Sanctification, and Perfected Sanctification. Each of these phases are built upon the understanding of the Holiness of God. * This message was presented on August 27, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* Sanctification is integrally and intricately entwined with our salvation ... Hence, it is paramount that we first understand what the Bible declares about "Salvation." The Condition of Man: Due to the fall of Adam (Genesis 3) ... All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) ... such that there is none who are seeking after God on their own (Romans 3:10) but that all are seeking their own desires. The Love of God: But God loves His creation mankind (John 3:16) - whom He made in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27) - and He desires for all of them to be delivered from the penalty of their sins and to come to the knowledge of that truth (1 Timothy 2:3-6). That is why He sent His Son to pay for the penalty of the sins of ALL mankind (1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 4:10,14; John 3:16). The Plan of God: Jesus (God the Son) came to earth, grew and was tempted in every way such as we are - yet without sin (Hebrews 4:14-16). As the perfect man, He willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice on our

* This is the final message in this series on the book of Acts. As we have considered "The Acts of the Apostles," we have seen that it is more aptly titled "The Acts of the Holy Spirit." From the beginning, we have seen how the Holy Spirit empowered and filled the servants of God to distribute the message of redemption through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. * It is appropriate then, that the book should close with a testimony of Paul's evangelistic ministry in Rome. * Over the past couple of weeks, we have seen how God sovereignly oversaw Paul's travel to the city of Rome. * Today, that journey is finalized. This is Luke's final statement regarding the pattern of Paul's ministry and the faithfulness of God to truly send the gospel message to the "ends of the earth." * This message was presented on August 13, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* This the 41st message in this series on the book of Acts. It is, as well, the penultimate of the series. * Over the past couple of weeks, we have seen the sovereignty of God guiding Paul to the city of Rome in order that he might have an audience with Caesar. * This has been accomplished, first of all, through Paul being imprisoned by Rome on account of false charges brought against him by the Jews, and the unwillingness of several Roman officials to perform the justice on his behalf that they clearly saw. * Within the judicial process at Caesarea, YHWH afforded Paul several opportunities to share Jesus with "important" Roman officials, and King Agrippa. * Last week we saw how God revealed His sovereignty as well on the journey to Rome by re-directing the ship twice in order to bring them to an unplanned stop on the journey - the island of Malta! * Today, we will examine some of the details of this stop at Malta - specifically, how YHWH delivered Paul twice during this episode and the impacts of these del

* Over the past couple of weeks, we have been considering the transition of Paul's ministry from proclaiming the gospel in a traveling ministry to the ultimate fulfillment of God's prophetic proclamation to him that Paul would bear His name before kings (cf. Acts 9:15-16) We have seen how God used Paul's wrongful imprisonment to begin the process of moving him along to Rome, just as Jesus had promised him (cf. Acts 23:11). * In the spring of 2020, we studied Paul's second letter to the church of Corinth. The title of the series was "Embracing Affliction" because that is the theme of Paul's letter. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul provides a list of the afflictions and trials which he had endured up to the point of writing that letter. In the list, he states that he had been shipwrecked three times, and that he had spent a day and a night in the deep! What is truly amazing about that statement is that he wrote that letter to them prior to this voyage we will be considering today! * As we began that series, we con

* Over the past couple of weeks, we have been considering the transition of Paul's ministry from proclaiming the gospel in a traveling ministry to the ultimate fulfillment of God's prophetic proclamation to him that Paul would bear His name before kings (cf. Acts 9:15-16) We have seen how God used Paul's wrongful imprisonment to begin the process of moving him along to Rome. * Last week, Paul appealed his case to Caesar. * Today, we see that while waiting at Caesarea to be transported to Rome, Paul has the opportunity to begin the final fulfillment of this prophecy - as he is afforded the opportunity to present the Gospel to King Agrippa. * Sadly, we also see today the two primary responses to the presentation of the Good News of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. * This message was presented on July 23, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* Over the past couple of weeks, we have been considering the transition of Paul's ministry from proclaiming the gospel in a traveling ministry to the ultimate fulfillment of God's prophetic proclamation to him that Paul would bear His name before kings (cf. Acts 9:15-16) We have seen how God used Paul's innocent attendance at the Temple to fulfill a vow to begin the process of moving him along to Rome. * Last week, we began the final six week segment of our study of the book of Acts by beginning to look specifically at the Sovereignty of God being reveal in the transition of Paul to Rome. Specifically, we saw how God unveiled a plot by the Jews to kill Paul and moved the Roman commander to protect Paul with a force of 470 Roman soldiers in order to convey him to Caesarea. * Today, we continue this account with Paul being able to present his case before the secular authority. * This message was presented on July 16, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* History can be aptly broken into "His Story." It is the account of what God has done in the world and amongst the nations. As we have been studying the book which is titled "The Acts of the Apostles" we can as well state that it could be more aptly called, "The Acts of God." Throughout the account written by Luke regarding the beginning of the church, we have seen the power and personal engagement of God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - displayed in wonderful ways both in the lives of individuals, and multitudes, as He has overseen and interceded in affairs at the personal, local, and national levels. * We have seen how Jesus specifically called Saul of Tarsus to stop persecuting His church and to begin promoting His church, and then how He orchestrated Ananias to come and heal Saul - preparing each of them for the moment. Jesus told Ananias, "Go, for he [Saul] is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suf

* Paul had been pressing back to Jerusalem. As he had told the elders of Ephesus along the way, "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me." (Acts 20:22-23) * Last week, we saw the beginning stages of this prophetic declaration. * Paul was fulfilling a vow to YHWH and submitting to the leadership of the elders of the church at Jerusalem, when he was falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple. He was beaten and would have been killed if the Roman soldiers hadn't come to rescue him. * On the way to the barracks, the commander of the soldiers was told many different stories regarding who Paul was. He was shocked when Paul spoke to him in Greek to request the privilege to speak to the people. When Paul spoke to the people, he spoke to them in Hebrew. The people listened until he explained how Jesus the Messiah had sent him to the Gentiles.

* We have titled this exegetical study of the Book of Acts - "Unveiling the Mystery." That "Mystery" is the church. In our study of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we saw the proclamation of how God had extended His grace in Christ Jesus to both the Jews and the Gentiles. In Christ, both Jews and Gentiles come to the Father, through the Spirit, as "one new man." Through the sacrificial death of Christ, and His ensuing victory over death, the middle wall of partition - the works of the law - had been removed. This new work was the result of the new covenant - and would be referred to as "the church." * God began "the church" through the original apostles of Christ. We saw how they gathered in prayer waiting for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them as Jesus had declared. Then 3,000 Jews were saved and added to their number on the day of Pentecost. * When persecution arose, the church scattered from Jerusalem and began to take the good news of redemption in Christ to other regions. God used P

* Paul has been hurrying to get to Jerusalem in time for Pentecost. We are not told why. * Over the past two weeks, we have consider part of Paul's ministry along the journey - with the church in Troas and then his exhortations to the elders of Ephesus. * In today's passage, we get to ponder the situation when two individuals, or groups, believe that they have a “word from the Lord” ... or that the Spirit is “leading them” ... and those beliefs are leading in different directions! What happens when a group within the church feels “led” in a way that different than those who are in authority? * Today, we must ask ourselves - "How do we respond when what we believe is the best solution - which 'clearly is the will of God' - is not that which is followed?" * This message was presented on June 18, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* Two weeks ago, we considered the extent and effect of God's work in Ephesus through Paul. Paul spent more than two years in Ephesus at that time. Last week, we tracked Paul's travels from Ephesus to Macedonia to Greece and then back to Troas, where he spoke to a gathering of the church. * In Acts 20, Paul is at the end of his third missionary journey, and he is hurrying to get to Jerusalem by Pentecost. He sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, took five days to get to Troas, spent seven days in Troas, and thus had at most 31 days left to get to Jerusalem (perhaps less). He chose to avoid going to Ephesus and sailed past it down to Miletus. But Paul sent for the elders in the church at Ephesus in order to speak to them one last time. * Today we look at the rest of what happened in Acts 20, where Paul speaks to the elders from Ephesus. His message to them includes both a testimony of his time in Ephesus - how he lived and ministered to the Ephesians - and a charge to the Ephesian eld

* All Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). * Why does Luke spend much time on certain portions of Paul's trips and moves quickly through other areas? The final answer ... God wanted us to know those parts and determined that the other parts were not needed for our edification! * Last week, we considered the extent and effect of God's work in Ephesus through Paul. Paul spent at least two years in Ephesus at that time. * Today, we come to another transitional time in Paul's missionary journey ... and yet God chooses to give us a couple of vignettes along Paul's journey back to Jerusalem. We will consider those vignettes and their significance over the next couple of weeks. * Specifically, today we will consider his stop at Troas and the gathering of the church during that occasion. * This message was presented on June 4, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* Last week, we transitioned from Paul's 2nd missionary journey to his third journey. On that trip, he promised those in Ephesus that he would return. * On his first stop in Ephesus, Paul was received well and people begged him to stay. However, wherever the gospel is proclaimed continuously, there will eventually be opposition. That is what discuss today ... the opposition to the Gospel in Ephesus. * The City of Ephesus was the largest city and, commercially, the most prosperous city in the province of Asia. It was easily accessed from sea by Athens, Corinth and Rome, and was the gateway to inland trade routes, making travel easy to any point. Due to silting, the main harbor is now about 10 kms to the west! Pilgrims came from around the world to Ephesus – home of the temple of Artemis (Diana - Roman), one of the seven wonders of the world. * This message was presented on May 28, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* In 2 Timothy 2:1-2 Paul revealed the process of functional discipleship to Timothy: 1 "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." * In today's passage, we see that philosophy, or process, of discipleship being demonstrated by, and through, Paul himself. * This portion is a transitional passage taking us from Paul's second "missionary journey" into his next cycle of visits to the churches. * Through this passage, we see various individuals - who being part of the discipleship process - grasp the concept of ministry not as a profession but as a lifestyle. * This message was presented on May 21, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* Last week we considered Paul's engagements in the metropolis of Athens - the center of the Grecian philosophical world. While there, Paul could not help but continue to tell people about Jesus. This led to his confrontation with the Stoics and Epicureans at the Areopagus. As a result, we are told, some believed. * Paul continued his travel southward to the city of Corinth - one of the major cities of Greece. * Some of the passages that we have considered during this series have spanned days or weeks. Today we will be considering the highlights which Luke records of the 18 month stay of Paul in this important city which sat at the crossroads of culture. * This message was presented on May 14, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* As we have studied the book of Acts, we have seen how God Sovereignly oversaw the expansion of the church from Jerusalem into Asia Minor (which we refer to today as Eurasia) and then specifically toward the European continent by guiding Paul into Macedonia and then down into the Ionian peninsula - to Thessalonica and Berea - toward the epicenter of the world culture of the day - Athens. * In each place that they have gone, they have met both reception of the message and rejection of the message - some believed, some did not. * Today, as we consider Paul's engagements in the metropolis of Athens we will see how he varied his evangelistic approach - in the presentation of God's redemptive plan - to each of his specific audiences. * This message was presented on May 7, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* In Acts 9, we saw the call and conversion of Saul of Tarsus. In that account, Jesus speaks to the prophet Ananias telling him to go and heal Saul. Ananias balks and Jesus states, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake." * As Paul began his ministry with Barnabas and they traveled proclaiming the gospel to the Jews and then to the Gentiles, Paul began to experience what Christ had proclaimed regarding him. Now, as he is traveling with Silas, Timothy and Luke, his suffering for the name of Jesus has continued. * The primary cause of that suffering is people's response to the gospel message. The good news of God's free gift of salvation from eternal condemnation is not always met with gladness! Rather, as Paul and his companions find out, it is many times with resistance, rejection, and persecution. * Today, we continue to see that pattern in the cities of Thessalonica