1. Pack Your Bags The Church #3
May 28, 2017

2. Review:
God’s Word is true and refreshing.

3. Review: God’s Word is true and refreshing.
Yahweh – Jehovah means Lord and Personal God.

4. Review: God’s Word is true and refreshing.
Yahweh – Jehovah means Lord and Personal God.
Yahshua (Jesus) – “The Lord Saves” or “Savior”.

5. Review: God’s Word is true and refreshing.
Yahweh – Jehovah means Lord and Personal God.
Yahshua (Jesus) – “The Lord Saves” or “Savior”.
Holy Spirit – Comforter, Helper, Advocate

6. Review: God’s Word is true and refreshing.
Yahweh – Jehovah means Lord and Personal God.
Yahshua (Jesus) – “The Lord Saves” or “Savior”.
Holy Spirit – Comforter, Helper, Advocate
Creator God – Elohim. The all powerful Creator God.

7. Review: God’s Word is true and refreshing.
Yahweh – Jehovah means Lord and Personal God.
Yahshua (Jesus) – “The Lord Saves” or “Savior”.
Holy Spirit – Comforter, Helper, Advocate
Creator God – Elohim. The all powerful Creator God.
Salvation – We cannot keep the law – Jesus is the Way.
By Grace – Through Faith – Not Works.

10. The Church Grows through Persecution

11. 1And Saul was there, giving approval to his death
1And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Acts 8:1-3

12. 4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went
4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Acts 8:4

13. Good News in Samaria Acts 8:6-8
6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.
7With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.
8So there was great joy in that city.

14. Good News in Samaria Acts 8:6-8
The people listened closely.
Many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
There was great joy in the city.

15. Good News in Samaria Acts 8:9, 12-13
9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

16. Good News in Samaria Acts 8:17, 25
17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 25When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

17. Good News in Samaria
Men and women believed and were baptized.

18. Good News in Samaria Men and women believed and were baptized.
Simon the Sorcerer believed and was baptized.

19. Good News in Samaria Men and women believed and were baptized.
Simon the Sorcerer believed and was baptized.
They received the Holy Spirit

20. Good News in Samaria Men and women believed and were baptized.
Simon the Sorcerer believed and was baptized.
They received the Holy Spirit
The Gospel was preached in many Samaritan villages.

21. The Gospel Spreads to the Far South Acts 8:26-27
26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

22. Acts 8:39 The Ethiopian Eunuch went on his way rejoicing.

23. Beatings
Fines
Torture
Labor camps
Killings
People Disappearing
Destruction and Confiscation of Property
Loss of Jobs
Police Intimidation

24. "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church
"The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Tertullian 197 AD

25. The Church is the pillar and foundation of truth.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

26. The Church is the pillar and foundation of truth.
If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. I Timothy 3:15

27. The Church is the pillar and foundation of truth.
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie. Romans 1:25 Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24

28. The Church is the pillar and foundation of truth.
John said, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. III John 1:4

29. The Church is characterized by Love
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

31. The Church is characterized by Love
When the world sees how Christians love and care for one another, then they too will want to join our circles and have what we have.

32. The Church is characterized by Love
We hold firmly to the truth, but loosely to our preferences.

33. 1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

34. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love
4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. Revelation 2:1-5

35. Praise Reports on the Ephesian Church doing a great job!!
Deeds
Hard Work
Perseverance
Cannot tolerate wicked people
Tested false leaders
Persevered
Endured Hardships
Not grown weary

36. Praise Reports on the Ephesian Church doing a great job!!
Deeds
Hard Work
Perseverance
Cannot tolerate wicked people
Tested false leaders
Persevered
Endured Hardships
Not grown weary
You have lost your first love.

37. So, how about you…

38. So, how about you…
Where is your first love for Christ?

39. So, how about you… Where is your first love for Christ?
Are you still excited to serve and love Jesus?

40. The Church Grows through Persecution
The Church Grows through Persecution. The Church is the Pillar and Foundation of Truth. The Church is Characterized by Love.