Albuquerque's First Baptist Church

Unify! (Acts 4:23-5:11)

Our ability to serve God without fear leads to peace in our lives. 
 
As you think about the way God has removed all obstacles for you to serve him, let the peace of God flow through you.

Our ability to serve God without fear leads to peace in our lives. 

As you think about the way God has removed all obstacles for you to serve him, let the peace of God flow through you.

Serve him without Fear. Luke 1:72-75

God gives us salvation and that salvation brings us peace. 
 
This Christmas, let the knowledge of the salvation you have in Christ bring you peace.

God gives us salvation and that salvation brings us peace. 

This Christmas, let the knowledge of the salvation you have in Christ bring you peace.

Salvation Brings us Peace. Luke 1:68-70

God plans opportunities for us to rejoice. Not only does God plan all things so that we might rejoice, but the Spirit leads us to rejoice. 
 
Question: what do we do in our lives that quenches the spirit and steals our joy and/or what might we do to unite with God and increase our joy?

God plans opportunities for us to rejoice. Not only does God plan all things so that we might rejoice, but the Spirit leads us to rejoice. 

Question: what do we do in our lives that quenches the spirit and steals our joy and/or what might we do to unite with God and increase our joy?

The Spirit leads us to rejoice in Christ. Luke 1:42-45

Only God's kingdom lasts forever. Our God is wise and gracious. Our wise and gracious God makes sure that no kingdom lasts forever. Every kingdom will go away, don't put your faith in a man-made kingdom. 
 
 
Question: Where should we put our faith, if not in earthly kingdoms?

Only God's kingdom lasts forever. Our God is wise and gracious. Our wise and gracious God makes sure that no kingdom lasts forever. Every kingdom will go away, don't put your faith in a man-made kingdom.


Question: Where should we put our faith, if not in earthly kingdoms?

Man made kingdoms don't last. Daniel 2:32-35

This week we learn that only God's Kingdom lasts forever. God is the all wise God. Trust him. God is the only one who knows the future. When we don't understand, trust God. 
 
 
Question: What kinds of situations make us want/need more trust in God?

This week we learn that only God's Kingdom lasts forever. God is the all wise God. Trust him. God is the only one who knows the future. When we don't understand, trust God. 


Question: What kinds of situations make us want/need more trust in God?

Trust the All-wise God. Daniel 2:27-28

God is sovereign even over the nations that conquered Israel. Nebuchadnezzar and his best wise guys aren't wise enough to solve the problem. 
 
Question: How do we learn that God is really in control and how does that help us put our faith more squarely on God?

God is sovereign even over the nations that conquered Israel. Nebuchadnezzar and his best wise guys aren't wise enough to solve the problem.

Question: How do we learn that God is really in control and how does that help us put our faith more squarely on God?

God is Lord, not Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 2:1-3

Yesterday we saw that Jonah is angry because God is saving people. God saved Jonah that makes him happy, but when God saves Nineveh then Jonah isn't happy. God is more concerned about our holiness than our happiness. Jonah's happiness isn't more important than Nineveh's salvation. 
 
Question: Do we ever put our happiness above the real problems, or salvation, of others?

Yesterday we saw that Jonah is angry because God is saving people. God saved Jonah that makes him happy, but when God saves Nineveh then Jonah isn't happy. God is more concerned about our holiness than our happiness. Jonah's happiness isn't more important than Nineveh's salvation.

Question: Do we ever put our happiness above the real problems, or salvation, of others?

Holiness over happiness. Jonah 4:5-9

This whole prayer starts from Jonah's distress in his life. He calls out to God and relies on God's character. He takes responsibility for his sin. Today Jonah receives forgiveness and changes the direction of his life. 
 
 
Question: What does it look like for us to repent and receive forgiveness?

This whole prayer starts from Jonah's distress in his life. He calls out to God and relies on God's character. He takes responsibility for his sin. Today Jonah receives forgiveness and changes the direction of his life.


Question: What does it look like for us to repent and receive forgiveness?

Repent and receive forgiveness. Jonah 2:6-9

In chapter 2 we find Jonah prays a great prayer. He relies on God's character because he's in a place of great distress. Today Jonah takes responsibility for his storm/sin. Part of getting right with God is admitting guilt (taking responsibility). 
 
Question: How might we take responsibility for the storm we cause?

In chapter 2 we find Jonah prays a great prayer.  He relies on God's character because he's in a place of great distress. Today Jonah takes responsibility for his storm/sin. Part of getting right with God is admitting guilt (taking responsibility).

Question: How might we take responsibility for the storm we cause?

Take responsibility for your sin. Jonah 2:3-6

Jonah's actions caused a storm. The storm that Jonah (or we) caused often hurts other people. 
 
 
Question: Can you think of a time when someone's storm messed with your life?

Jonah's actions caused a storm. The storm that Jonah (or we) caused often hurts other people. 


Question: Can you think of a time when someone's storm messed with your life?

Our storms hurt other people. Jonah 1:5-6

God has a church for his mission. We are his church. We are members of the body of Christ. As members we have been given a gift and we are expected to use our gifts for his glory! 
 
Question: how can you use your gift for God's mission and God's glory?

God has a church for his mission. We are his church. We are members of the body of Christ. As members we have been given a gift and we are expected to use our gifts for his glory!

Question: how can you use your gift for God's mission and God's glory?

Church, use your gift! 1 Peter 4:11-12

God has given us the church so that we would have others to pray for us and help us through our sin. 
 
 
Question: What are specific ways we can pray for one another and help one another overcome their struggles in life?

God has given us the church so that we would have others to pray for us and help us through our sin. 


Question: What are specific ways we can pray for one another and help one another overcome their struggles in life?

God has given us the church. 1  John 5:16-19

You can know Jesus is the Christ. John list three witnesses today - the Spirit, the Water, and the blood. 
 
Question: What other things (Biblical truths) testify that Jesus is the Christ?

You can know Jesus is the Christ. John list three witnesses today - the Spirit, the Water, and the blood. 

Question: What other things (Biblical truths) testify that Jesus is the Christ?

The Spirit, water and blood testify. 1 John 5:6-8

False teachers are from the World and so the World listens to them. But the World doesn't listen to us because we're not like them. False teachers will always be different than Authentic teachers of the Gospel. 
 
 
Maybe you've never trusted Jesus as you savior. Today is the day of salvation. 
 
 
Question: What are some ways you can strengthen your faith and know the spirit of truth?

False teachers are from the World and so the World listens to them. But the World doesn't listen to us because we're not like them. False teachers will always be different than Authentic teachers of the Gospel.


Maybe you've never trusted Jesus as you savior. Today is the day of salvation.


Question: What are some ways you can strengthen your faith and know the spirit of truth?

False teachers are from the world. 1 John 4:5-6

Children of God keep getting more and more like Christ. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning. In our lives we struggle with sin, there's something in us (Holy Spirit) that makes us want to be more like Jesus. 
 
 
Question: Can you feel that struggle that makes you want to be more like Christ?

Children of God keep getting more and more like Christ. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning. In our lives we struggle with sin, there's something in us (Holy Spirit) that makes us want to be more like Jesus.


Question: Can you feel that struggle that makes you want to be more like Christ?

Christians struggle with sin. 1 John 3:8-9

We're children of God. The world practices lawlessness, but the children of God continue to purify themselves as he is pure. A Christian practices a lifestyle of righteousness. 
 
 
Question: How do we know our life is different now than it was before we knew Christ? What evidence is there that you're a child of God?

We're children of God. The world practices lawlessness, but the children of God continue to purify themselves as he is pure. A Christian practices a lifestyle of righteousness.


Question: How do we know our life is different now than it was before we knew Christ? What evidence is there that you're a child of God?

Practice Righteousness. 1 John 3:6-7

False teachers want to take away the victory we have in Christ. It may seem like a losing battle, but false teachers are identifiable. We know they're false teachers because they've left the church -- they've left Christian orthodoxy to proclaim something else. 
 
 
Questions: 
1. What is it about leaving good doctrine that make false teachers easy to identify? 
2. How can we help others become aware and stay away from false teachers?

False teachers want to take away the victory we have in Christ. It may seem like a losing battle, but false teachers are identifiable. We know they're false teachers because they've left the church -- they've left Christian orthodoxy to proclaim something else.


Questions:
1. What is it about leaving good doctrine that make false teachers easy to identify?
2. How can we help others become aware and stay away from false teachers?

False teachers are identifiable. 1 John 2:19-20

You can know that you know Jesus because you keep his commands close. Not only that, but talk is cheap. In other words, just saying we know Jesus without seeing any change doesn't mean anything. 
 
 
Question: What is it about your life (not just your words) that demonstrate Jesus has changed you?

You can know that you know Jesus because you keep his commands close. Not only that, but talk is cheap. In other words, just saying we know Jesus without seeing any change doesn't mean anything.


Question: What is it about your life (not just your words) that demonstrate Jesus has changed you?

Talk is cheap. 1 John 2:4-5

There are a lot of fools in the world. Evil exists. But God exists too, and he is our refuge. Maybe you look around and see a lot evil and bad people. Remember, God acts as a refuge for the righteous. 
 
 
Question: Is God your refuge and how do you hold on to him when you experience evil in this world?

There are a lot of fools in the world. Evil exists. But God exists too, and he is our refuge. Maybe you look around and see a lot evil and bad people. Remember, God acts as a refuge for the righteous.


Question: Is God your refuge and how do you hold on to him when you experience evil in this world?

Albuquerque's First Baptist Church Videos