Union Church Hope Fellowship 4th Floor (the whole floor) Pacific Insurance Building, 559 Tianhe Beilu. Service time is: 3:00 - 4:30 every Sunday (Same building as ParknShop) 广东省协和堂英文团契 每周日下午3:00-4:30在 天河北路559号 太平洋保险大楼4楼

COMPLAIN OR PROCLAIM? Paul & Barnabas Part 2 Darius Thomson

MINISTRY GIFTS TEST Gift of prophecy Gift of healing Gift of complaining Gift of teaching Gift of grumbling Which of these is not a Biblical ministry gift?

COMPLAIN OR PROCLAIM? Paul & Barnabas Part 2 Only one letter swap from complain to proclaim (swap N for R)

ACTS 14 At Iconium (1-7) Idolatry at Lystra (8-18) bearing witness Signs and wonders escape to Lystra Idolatry at Lystra (8-18) Healing the lame man Stopping the sacrifice Stoning & escape to Derbe (19-20) Strengthening the converts (21-27) PRAY

HOW WILL PEOPLE AROUND US HEAR, SEE, or EXPERIENCE GOD?

The Opportunity to tell what we know or have seen 1. Speaking boldly Acts 14:3  3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace,… What is a witness? Someone who saw or who gives evidence. What do they do? Tell what they’ve seen or know. Paul & Barnabas KNEW Jesus so were bold to speak of Him. The Opportunity to tell what we know or have seen

The Opportunity to live in His power 2. Signs and wonders Acts 14:3 … the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. For Example… A. Healing (v8-10) B. Supernatural strength in trial (19-20) God’s power should be evident through answered prayers. The Opportunity to live in His power

The Opportunity to see God’s work 3. Creation & Kindness Acts 14:15-18  …the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” God’s creation gives witness that He exists and is good. Evolution is not scientific. The Bible account is God’s Word and is certainly true. Can you defend its authority and the certainty of Creation? The Opportunity to see God’s work

4. Christlike Attitudes in Christians Acts 14:22 … strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12) In this world you will have tribulations… John 16:33 Count it all joy when you fall into various trials … James 1 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. The Opportunity to Complain

The Opportunity to Love 5. The Church Body Acts 14:23    So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Why do these people do it? John 13:35 – know by our love The Opportunity to Love

6. God’s Acceptance through outreach Acts 14:27    Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Why do these people do it? John 13:35 – know by our love The Opportunity to Proclaim Christ

How will they hear? Romans 10:12-15  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,…” YOU HAVE BEEN SENT!

A believer must be an evangelist. CONCLUSION 1. Do you smell like Christ or does your attitude stink? How are you handling your trials? 2. Are your feet beautiful? Who have you told about Jesus recently? 3. For whom are you responsible as a witness? The LOST must be found and be drawn to the acceptance of God. Proclaim any & all of these ways God makes himself known to man A believer must be an evangelist. Complain

Will you COMPLAIN or PROCLAIM?

Grow together Question of the year: Who will you bring to… … as a church body? The only ‘things’ you can take when you die are your character and others you have reached