Just a little funny

My Tuesday Talks have been quiet - been busy and haven't had much to say that I thought was of real value.  You don't want to hear me whine about my continual struggle healthy living so to deal with physical issues or how "busy and overwhelm" I think I am.  So lets scratch my expectations of Tuesday Talks and go with "Whatever, Whenever , probably not a Wednesday" post. Here is the first one.

Here is just a little funny preschool story.  I have finished 4 weeks with my new littles and my FANTASTIC co-worker Mrs. Lisa.  The kids are cute but of course high maintenance.  And Lisa is a godsend!  A seasoned teacher with such a servant spirit.  However she usually leaves before nap and sometimes it is just me with 11 squirmy littles, some who can't wait to sleep and others who will do ANYTHING to stay awake.  Somedays I worry I will lose me job for fear of what will come out of my mouth!!.  It can be testing to say the least.  It was in the middle of one such day that the following story appeared, lightening my total frustration and feeling of insanity.

E does not want to sleep and has tried all the tricks in the book.  These tricks tend to be noisy and disruptive, occasionally destructive.  After attending, bribing, and threatening I was now trying ignoring.  So E is on the mat singing.  I am ignoring the behavior when I caught a couple of words.  I paused and listened to make sure I heard right.  E was singing the chorus to London Bridges that I had taught them the day before.  However E's version sounded like this "Take the key and knock her up, knock her up, knock her up......"  That little funny probably saved us both!!

Homiletics

 Acts 12:1- 25 

Content

1. King Herod persecutes the church. 1
2. Herod has James brother of John killed by the sword. 2
3. Pleasing the Jews, Herod goes after Peter. 3
4. Peter is imprisoned under high guard awaiting post Passover trial. 4
5. Church praying for Peter. 5
6. Angel of the Lord appears to Peter, waking him and releasing him from chains. 6-7
7. Angel instructs Peter to follow him out of prison. 8-9
8. Gates opened by itself and Peter finds himself alone at street. 10
9. Peter knew God had rescued him.  11
10. Peter appears to Mary Mother of John Marks house startling the servant girl. 12-14
11. Crowd doesn't believe her. 15
12. Peter keeps knocking until they let him in and tells them to tell the disciples then leaves. 16-17
13. Mayhem breaks out at the prison as a result. 18-19
14. Herod goes to Caesarea on business. 20
15. Herod dies by worms for accepting praise as a god. 21-22
16. The word of God continues to spread. 24
17. Barnabas, Saul and John Mark leave Jerusalem for Antioch. 25

Divisions:

1. Under persecution from Herod, the church prays for imprisoned Peter. 1-5
2. Peter experiences miraculous release from prison by Angel of the Lord. 6-11
3. Church marvels and prison breaks into mayhem at discovery of Peter's miraculous release. 12-19
4. Herod dies and gospel spreads in the aftermath. 20-25

Subject Sentence.

• Herod persecutes church imprisoning Peter whom Angel miraculously delivers. 

Aim:

• TCMT not be afraid but to trust that persecution will spread not suppress the Gospel .

Aim:

1. Do I pray for those who are being imprisoned for their commitment to Jesus Christ?
2. Do I seek to know stories of God's miraculous deliverance for the persecuted church so that I am encouraged and my faith is enlarged?
3. Do I recognize that behind the chaos and Mayhem in this world, there are many coming to know and follow the Gospel.  How am I encourage be this?  How do I contribute to this spread of the Gospel?
4. Do I praise, thank and trust God for his justice over the wicked and his care for his own?

Homiletics

 Acts 11

Content:

1. Peter is criticized by circumcised believers for dining with Gentiles. 1-3
2. Peter tells of the vision and voice telling him to eat unclean animals. 4-7
3. Peter says he too questioned but three times he heard the voice. 8-10
4. Peter continues telling about the Caesarean men appearing and Holy Spirit assuring him to go with them. 11-12
5. Peter relays how upon going, Cornelius tells how God lead him to call for him. 13-14
6. Peter tells of Holy Spirit coming upon believers, his recalling Jesus' words and his acceptance this was from God. 15-17
7. Jewish believers accept God granted Gentiles repentance into life through Jesus. 18
8. Persecution spreads gospel to Jews in Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. 19
9. In Antioch, Greeks began to hear gospel and turn to God. 20-21
10. Jerusalem church hears of Antioch and sends Barnabas to encourage. 22-23
11. Barnabas full of Holy Spirit and faith brought many to the Lord. 24
12. Barnabas gets Saul and brings him to Antioch where they teach for a year. 25-26
13. Antioch believers first called Christians. 26
14. Agabus from Jerusalem predicts famine in Roman world. 27-28
15. Antioch Disciples choose to send provisions for Judean Christians via Barnabas and Saul 29-30

Divisions:

1. Peter's testimony leads Jerusalem counsel to agree repentance into life is for ALL people, Jews and Gentiles. 1-18
2. Paul and Barnabas teach gentile believers in Antioch. 18-26
3. Gentile believers share generously with Jewish believers in Jerusalem. 27-30

Subject Sentence:

• Peter confirms salvation for gentiles and Barnabas goes disciple gentiles.

Aim:

• To cause me to not limit whom I discuss the gospel of Jesus Christ with knowing God orchestrates encounters so all may hear and know.

Application:

1. Am I listen to the Holy Spirit's leading so that I can share the gospel with those God is preparing to hear it? Do I believe the gospel is for all and does my speaking of Jesus reflect it?
2. Is there someone God is asking me to teach about Jesus?  Is there someone God is asking me to bring along in doing so? 
3. Is there a ministry or people God is asking me to support with provisions?

Homiletics

 Acts 10: 1- 48

Content:

1. Devout God fearing Caesarean man, Cornelius has vision of Angel of God. 1-3
2. Angel tells him to send for Simon Peter in J0ppa. 4-6
3. Cornelius deploys servants to Joppa for Simon Peter. 7-8
4. Meanwhile Peter is praying and sees a vision. 9-10
5. A large sheet with pure and impure animals descends and Peter is told to kill and eat. 11-13
6. Peter questions the impurity but God says he has made it clean; interchange repeats 3 times. 14-16
7. While Peter is wondering, Cornelius' men find him and Holy Spirit sends Peter to them. 17-22
8. Peter goes to Caesarea to Cornelius who is expecting him. 23-26
9. Peter addresses gathered crowd as to his coming, then ask why they sent for him. 27-29
10. Cornelius explains his angelic visitor and obedience to call for Peter 30-33
11. Peter says God accepts all people. 34-35
12. Peter speaks of God's message to Israel through Jesus. 36-38
13. Peter speaks as witness testifying to Jesus death and resurrection. 39-41
14. Peter says commanded to preach Jesus as prophecy's fulfillment and means of purification. 42-43
15. Holy Spirit descends on these Gentiles to the amazement of witnessing Jews. 44-46
16. Peter calls for water baptism and stays with them awhile. 47-48

Divisions:

1. Cornelius obeys angelic vision sending for Simon Peter. 1-8
2. God prepares Peter to answer and obey Cornelius call to go to Caesarea. 9-26
3. Peter uses opportunity to preach Jesus and through him the forgiveness of sins for ALL people. 27-43
4. Descension of Holy Spirit on the gathered Caesareans confirmed Peter's words of inclusion of Gentiles. 44-48

Subject Sentence

• Peter tells Caesareans, Jesus is means of forgiveness for ALL people.

Aim:

TCMT go to whomever God is sending me, believing and declaring that Jesus is the source of forgiveness of sins and healing for ALL people.

Application:

1. Am I spending time with God to hear him speak.  Am I obedient to be with people God is asking me to be with?
2. Do I trust that God will be preparing the people he is telling me to share biblical truth with?
3. What opportunity is God giving me to speak of Jesus forgiveness of sins for All people?  Does my life testify to this truth?
4. How do I see the evidence of the Holy Spirit working in those who hear the truth of God's forgiveness of sin for ALL people?

Homiletics

 Acts 9:1-43

Content:

1. Saul headed to Damascus to imprison Jesus followers 1-2
2. Saul encounters bright light and voice of Jesus asking why he was persecuting him. 3-6
3. Saul follows instructions of Jesus and now blinded goes to Damascus with help of companions. 7-8
4. In vision the Lord calls Ananias to go to Saul and restore his sight. 9-12
5. Ananias reluctant yet God reassures Saul is God's chosen instrument. 13-16
6. Anenias goes, lays hands on Saul who is immediately physically and spiritually able to see. 17-19
7. Saul baffled crowd as he preached Jesus as the Christ. 20-22
8. Saul lowered in basket to escape city and persecuting Jews there in Damascus. 23-25
9. Jerusalem disciples afraid of him but Barnabus stood up for him. 26-27
10. Saul taught in Jerusalem until threats sent him to Tarsus. 28-30
11. the church experiences a time of peace. 31
12. Peter heals Aeneas of 8 year paralysis in Lydda, leading many to the Lord. 32-35
13. Disciples call for Peter to come and heal Tabitha (Dorcus) who did in Joppa. 36-38
14. Peter goes, removes mourners and prays then Dorcus is restored to life. 39-40
15. Miracle draws many believers in Joppa where Peter remains for a time. 41-43

Divisions:

1. Saul encounters Jesus on Damascus Road and with help of Ananias receives new vision, becoming follower of Jesus. 1-19
2. Saul experiences persecution, support and growth as new believer. 20-31
3. Peter heals Aeneas and Dorcas in Lydda and Joppa resulting in many believers. 32-43

Subject Sentence:

• Saul encounters Jesus becoming follower while Peter continues to heal.
• (alternative*) Believers increase as Saul receives sight, Aeneas mobility and Dorcas life. 

Aim:

• TCMT act upon the truth that as God does his work of healing through the obedient act of believers, more will come to know and believe in Jesus.

Application:

1. Where is fear keeping me from going to some one or a group of people to help them see the truth of the gospel? What is God asking me to do to impart spiritual vision to another?
2. Who is God asking me to support as they grow in spiritual truth?
3. What  ministry of healing is God calling me to for the advancement of his kingdom.  Am I trusting God to draw followers as I am obedient to serve where he puts me.
4. Here is an extra application question related more to my second subject sentence than an individual division)  - How might I to be involved in helping people see spiritual truth?  How might I to be involved in giving mobility - enabling others to go and do something they have been paralyzed to do? How might I to be involved in restoring life?

* Here is a little side note on subject sentence.  I am giving two of which both I think are appropriate.  The first one seems the most straight forward in being  identifiable of which passage in scripture it is as it points specifically to Saul's  conversion and Peters continued ministry of healing.  However the second one while hopefully points to the scripture also pulled out for me the idea of believers resulting from experiencing the work of healing in the life of others (in this case Saul, Aeneas and Dorcas.)