Who Can I Reach? - Bringing People to Christ with a Home Bible Study (Acts 28:17-31)

1. Start by inviting people you know of that may have an interest in spiritual things.  v. 17a

2. Explain who you are and what you are doing.  v. 17b-20

3. Live in such a way that your life will be a good witness and people will listen to what you have to say. v. 21-22a

4. Use the opportunity to dispel misunderstandings people have about Christ and Christianity.  v. 22b-23a

5. Use the Word of God (the Bible) as your textbook.  v. 23b

6. Recognize that some may become believers and some may not.  v. 24

7. Understand that if you are not as successful with one Bible study group as you would like that maybe God has another group of people for you to reach.  v. 25-29

8. Turn what may look like a bad situation into an opportunity to teach unbelievers about Christ. v. 30-31

Who Can I Reach? - Bringing an Unexpected Seeker to Christ (Acts 10:1 - 11:18)

We must understand:

1. There are people we don’t expect that are sincerely seeking after God.   (10:1-2)

2. God has a desire to connect us with people  that are seeking Him.  (10:3-8)

3. God is working in us to prepare us spiritually to connect with people that are not like us.  (10:9-28)

4. God will provide us with unexpected opportunities to speak the gospel to those who are ready to listen.  (10:29-33)

 
5. Preaching Jesus is the most important thing we can do for those who are seeking to be saved. (10:34-43)

6. When seekers become believers we must help them follow through and be discipled. (10:44-48)

7. We must expect and deal with opposition when unexpected seekers come to Christ. (11:1-17)

8. We should celebrate when unexpected seekers are bought to Christ. (11:18)

Happy Valentine’s Day!

This is one of the most “romantic” days of the year, yet true love was not first demonstrated by roses, candies, or a lovely dinner.

True love came when the all-supreme, all-powerful God of the universe saw His creation – man – was separated from His holiness, and He chose to do something about it. 

You see, every human has done “something” wrong in his/her life.  It could be as little as a “white lie” to a parent or as “big” as murder.  Nevertheless, it is human “nature” to sin.  But the Holy God cannot be in the presence of sin.  So what to do?

God over 2,000 years ago sent His one and only Son down to earth to be born as a human and live a human’s life, but that son Jesus never sinned.  Now, I don’t fully understand it, but as a parent, I know how hard it would be to let my child leave and live with people I know are going to mess up.  Anyways, Jesus was born on this earth and lived a perfect life.  He had to obey His earthly parents, He got hungry, and He was emotionally drained at times. But He never sinned. 

 From the beginning, there has been a punishment for sin.  Ultimately, the punishment for sin has been death – an end to the sinning.  God had chosen sacrifices by His people to help pay for sins.  There were sacrifices for the best and first of the flock or harvest because those were the “prized” accomplishments of success on earth.  Those sacrifices were helpful but not fully satisfying.

 So God chose Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice for the ones He loved so much – mankind. 

 Why?

 
I don’t know.  All I do know is that Jesus was killed by His heavenly Father’s own creation - man, but because He was perfect, His sacrifice was fully satisfying, He was able to defeat death itself and return back to life on earth.  Then He went back to heaven to live with God where He lives today. 

 Jesus’ sacrifice is a gift from God to all of mankind who humbly accept it. It’s that simple.

This Valentine’s Day, just think about a few things:

1.       Would you give away your child?

2.       Would you allow your child to die for someone else?

3.       Would you do ANYTHING to help your fellow man live with you in Heaven?

 That is what God did for YOU!  He loves you so much, and He wants to be your Valentine today and forevermore!