Grateful for Secondary Benefits
We are called to verbalize to our generation the saving grace of the gospel of Christ, while always promoting the preserving and enriching grace of good and beneficial deeds.
Acts
Motivated by the Martyrs
No matter how much pressure and opposition we get from our culture to be quiet about our Christianity, we must resolve to continue telling the truth about Christ and his gospel.
The Pushback Against the Messengers
We shouldn’t be surprised at pushback from people when we faithfully deliver the gospel, because God always uses it for the unpleasant work of exposing sin and guilt before he uses it to save.
The Places of Worship for Israel
We should humbly worship our infinitely transcendent God because he has mercifully reached into every corner of the world to seek and save the lost.
The Paganism of the People
It is always more costly than we think to follow our wayward enticements, and to turn away from obedience to Christ’s life-giving words.
The Provision Through Moses
We must learn to fully trust in the omniscient and compassionate triune God who has thoughtfully planned our salvation and will walk us through this life until our redemption is complete.
The Postponement for Moses
The vindication of the gospel always involves waiting, difficulties, and rejection—but God provides the resources to patiently and resolutely endure.
The Preparation of Moses
We have every reason to fully trust in God’s good promises, knowing how he has faithfully worked and is providentially working to deliver on them all.
The Preservation Through Joseph
We must be ready to endure the disapproval and hostility of many to fulfill our purpose in restraining evil around us and winning some for Christ.
The Promises Through Abraham
We ought to be gratefully reassured by the impeccable promises of God which have guaranteed us a future salvation through the work of the Jewish Messiah.
And Our Champions
A godly fear of the Lord will prompt us to sincerely love and highly esteem his fruitful servants who courageously set an example of fighting for truth.
And Our Needs
We must fear the Lord as our omnipotent Provider who will graciously meet all our needs to accomplish all he requires.
And Our Suffering
Being faithful and obedient to Christ in a fallen culture will always come with painful consequences for which we should be prepared and be willing to gladly endure for Christ’s sake.
And Our Government
When our governing authorities actively oppose the work of the Church, Christians must remember that for the good of all we must fear God and be loyal to the King of kings.
And Our Leaders
Like the early church and the Apostles, today’s Christians ought to sincerely love and highly esteem their church leaders who are gifted, called, trained, and qualified to lead them and their churches into greater fruitfulness.
And Our Behavior
We must take sin seriously, longing to please our Redeemer and fearing his discipline as we focus on our mission, doing nothing to detract from its effectiveness.
Enjoying God’s Growing Family
When the church is functioning as it ought, it serves as a strengthening and emboldening oasis for us as we venture out each day to point people to Christ in our anti-Christian culture.
Praying for Courage
We must draw together with other Christians to find strength as we ask our sovereign God to grant us courage and boldness in our evangelism.
Resolved to Keep Speaking
In view of our divine mandate to take the saving message of the gospel to our generation, we must solemnly resolve to keep speaking up for Christ regardless of the pressure to do otherwise.
Unashamed of God’s One Way
God has promised and we should expect his Spirit’s strong support in our efforts to promote his Son as the indispensable and exclusive means of the forgiveness of our sins.
Expecting Opposition
We must keep the prize of Christ’s growing and victorious church in view as we courageously incur any of the adverse consequences of engaging in the good fight of promoting the gospel in our generation.
Declaring the Blessings of Obedience
As messengers of the gospel we must fully appreciate and clearly communicate, not only the eternal benefits of salvation, but also the present benefits of being a follower of Christ.
Calling for Repentance
We, like Peter, must proclaim the offer of forgiveness in Christ by calling people to repentance and the hope of a promised future inheritance in God’s coming kingdom.
Telling the Truth
We must be careful in our evangelism to be painfully honest about the universal problem of human rebellion against God always keeping the focus on Christ and his power and not ourselves.
Proclaiming Christ’s Power
We must be more attuned to the effects of sin in our world and boldly proclaim the power of a Savior who will not only instantaneously forgive our transgressions, but will one day reverse all the systemic consequences of sin.
The Unrivaled Fellowship of His Church
Even with all its current imperfections, Christ’s Church is a unique institution which provides God’s people with unrivaled fellowship, support, protection, joy, and love.
The Life-Changing Message of His Church
We have the great privilege of being the agents of God’s powerful saving gospel which convicts hearts, transforms minds, and integrates people into the life of the Church.
The Invincible Lord of His Church
The Church should always and forever be about Christ – devoted to his teachings, confident in his sovereignty, hoping to share in his resurrection, and striving to be obedient to his commands.
The Prophetic Anticipation of His Church
We can derive strength, courage, and perspective from God’s longstanding and indomitable plan to build his Church in preparation of the establishment of his coming kingdom on earth.
The Miraculous Launch of His Church
The supernatural launch of God’s Church should provide us with a sense of privilege for our inclusion in it, as well as motivating us to drive toward the completion of his work in filling it, both here and abroad.