Acts

Chapter 5

v12 – the Lord answers prayers – Psalm 34:1-4

vs13-14 – some people do not become Christians because of the cost

v15 – the sick were healed and brought into the streets

v16 – people came to Jerusalem, but we need to go to the people

-no holy huddles allowed – invade the culture

vs17-18 – the apostles are arrested and imprisoned

***This is persecution

1. Persecution is a sign of being in the Lord’s will -v41\-it will happen if you are a follower of Jesus Christ

2. Persecution is allowed by God – v13

-persecution separates who is and is not saved

3. Persecution comes because of the name of Jesus – Acts 5:28-31

v28 – they could not even say the name of Jesus

-the name of Jesus separates – Matthew 10:34-38 & Acts 4:12

4. Persecution does not stop the church – V14

-Persecution makes the church grow

vs19-20 – In Acts 4:18 the apostles were commanded not to preach the gospel

vs 19 – an angel comes to deliver the apostles

v21 – they obeyed Jesus and kept preaching

vs22-32 – obey the Lord instead of people when they tell you to do something that goes against the Word of God

vs33-42 – Gamaliel’s Advice

-if this movement is from the Lord, leave it alone

                                                Acts 6

v1 – We are to make disciples and not just Christians….Matthew 28:18-20

-the word disciple is found 269 times in the NT

-the word Christian is found 3 times in the NT

-disciple – means a learner, student, apprentice, follower and disciplined one

            2 Steps In Discipleship

Step #1 – Salvation – making Jesus Christ our Savior

Step #2 – Lordship – making Jesus Christ Lord

Lord – means one in control, sir; master; one supreme in authority

-To become a disciple, two things must be present:

***Holy Spirit

***Hunger for spiritual things

                  POINTS ABOUT DISCIPLESHIP

     (1.) DISCIPLES DO NOT JUST PROFESS THEIR VALUES AND BELIEFS,  THEY APPLY THEIR BELIEFS – MATTHEW 4:19-20 & JAMES 1:22-25

a. disciples are followers and practice the Word of God

-our instructions are found out in the Bible

-the Lord’s Word works – John 8:32-33 – Jesus is the smartest person ever

     (2.) BEING A DISCIPLE IS A DECISION – Luke 9:23-24

-it is a personal decision and choice for every person

-Luke 14:16-24 – we can make excuses not to make Jesus Christ Lord

***We get occupied with new and material things – vs18-19

***We must place Jesus first over family – v20

      (3.) BEING A DISCIPLE DOES NOT ELIMINATE PROBLEMS – Acts 6:1

-even with disciples, there are still problems

1. PROBLEMS WILL HAPPEN IN EVERY CHURCH & IN OUR LIVES – John 9:1-11

             a. many problems are multiple problems

             b. Some problems are unexpected – John 9:1-3

             c. Some problems are self induced

2. EVERY PROBLEM IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD TO DEMONSTRATE HIS GRACE – John 9:6-7

-all problems are opportunities for God to demonstrate His power & goodness