Peach State Challenge

Last Sunday I crossed the finish line at the Georgia - South Carolina State Line after walking up the 180 miles of I-85 that spans the state of Georgia.  Okay so it was in a figurative  way but I covered the milage during the past three months none the less.

The Peach State Challenge virtual race offers several options including covering the distance of Georgia's 285, I-85, I-75 or a combination of all.  Last summer I attempted to run the distance and failed when I hit a health snafu.  At the end of the time frame they sent me a medal and shirt for my effort.  Since I had not accomplished it, I threw away the medal and gave the t-shirt to Goodwill.  This year when I received info on the challenge, I knew running it would not happen but I felt like walking the 180 miles in three months was a doable challenge.  Basically it broke down to an average of 2 miles a day during the time period of June 21 to September 21.

Most of the miles were accomplished while circling the Brenau Mile, a mile loop around Brenau University which starts just yards from my house. These miles were gained while I talked on the phone, walked with a friend, listened to music or books and occasionally just practiced the art of being. Some of the miles were gained while circling the preschools playground as I supervised kids during our outside time.  This usually meant an accompaniment of  little people as I did so.  Basically I walked the  miles  just when and wherever I could fit it into my schedule.  Sometimes it felt like a burden yet it helped keep me accountable to keep moving.  My goal after accomplishing the 180 miles is 7 miles a week - one mile a day.  With the habit in place, it seemed so reasonable.  Okay so this week I think I only got in about 2 miles.  Lets just call it a bye week and I'll try again next week. 

I confess I am pretty proud of my accomplishment.  I didn't run it nor was my walking pace fast but I completed the challenge.  Its amazing what laying down $40 and the promise of a shirt and medal will do to keep me motivated.

 

Homiletics

 Acts 15: 1-41

Content:

1. Some Judean believers in Antioch teaching circumcision required for salvation. 1
2. Paul and Barnabas sharply disagree and lead delegation to Jerusalem to seek Apostles 2-4
3. Pharisee believers said gentile believers must follow Jewish law. 5
4. Peter says Gentiles are purified by faith just as Jews. 6-11
5. Paul and Barnabas tell of God's work among Gentile believers. 12
6. James points to Old Testament prophets for affirmation of God receiving Gentiles. 13-18
7. James lays down simple instructions for Gentile believers excluding circumcisions'. 19-21
8. Paul, Barnabas, Silas and Judas carry letter to Antioch. 22
9. Letter from Jerusalem confirms the senders 23-27
10. Instructed to abstain from idol sacrificed food, blood, meat of strangled animals and sexual immorality. 28-29
11. Antioch church encouraged by letter and the messengers. 30-32
12. Judas and Silas return as Paul and Barnabas continue Antioch ministry. 33-35
13. Barnabas and Paul's disagreement over John Mark lead to parting company. 36-39
14. Barnabas and John Mark head for Cypress. 39
15. Paul and Silas go through Syria and Cilica 40-41

Divisions: 

1. Disagreement over salvation requirements send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem seeking apostles help. 1-12
2. Apostles use God's word to conclude salvation does not require following Jewish law . 13-35
3. Paul and Barnabas disagreement lead to separate ministries. 36-41

Subject Sentence:

•  Resolving  theology disagreement unifies believers then personality disagreement divides ministries.

Aim: 

• TCMT to trust that God uses disagreements to draw believers to himself and further his kingdom.

Application:

1. Do I put unbiblical expectations on others or even myself based on traditions?  Do I seek Godly counsel for conflict involving living by Godly principles? 
2. Do I seek God's word for truth in resolving questions of spiritual matters? Do I draw closer to God and his words in time of conflict?  Am I adding any observations or behaviors putting it in conflict with truth that salvation is by Grace through faith in Jesus? 
3. Can I see the difference between conflict of biblical truth  and conflict of personal preference? What conflict of personality might God be using to expand the spread of the gospel.? As uncomfortable as conflict may feel, do I trust that God can bring good out of all things, including conflict?

Homiletics

 Acts 14:1-28

Content:

1. Paul and Barnabas preach and perform miracles in Iconium dividing the city with believers and scoffers. 1-4
2. Learning of threats in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas flee to Lystra where they continue to preach the gospel. 5-7
3. Paul seeing crippled man's faith, tells him to stand up and he begins to walk. 8-10
4. The crowd interpret healing as Paul and Barnabas being gods and begin worshiping them. 11-13
5. Paul and Barnabas strongly protest they are not god's but calling the people to turn from gods and worship the true God.14-15
6. Paul says God has shown himself in the world they live. 16-17
7. Even with protest the people want to worship them. 18
8. Iconium and Antioch Jews persuade same crowd to stone Paul leaving him for dead. 19
9. Paul revives and he and Barnabas go to Derbe. 20
10. Many in Derbe believe, becoming disciples before Paul and Barnabas return through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch to strengthen the disciples. 21-22
11. Paul and Barnabas appoint and commission leadership in these churches. 23
12. They continue through Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perga and Attalia. 24-25
13. At Attalia they sail to Antioch where they had been commissioned from. 26
14. At Antioch they tell what God has done through them, opening the Gospel to the Gentiles. 27
15. They remain at Antioch for a long time. 28

Divisions:

1. vs 1-20 Missionaries Paul and Barnabas experience varying types of personal affliction as they seek to share the gospel abroad.
2. vs 21-28 Paul and Barnabas are faithful to share the gospel, establish leadership in new churches and share what God is doing in Gentiles with those who sent them. 

Subject Sentence: Paul and Barnabas travel as missionaries sharing gospel of Jesus.

Aim: TCMT be faithful to share the gospel of Jesus Christ knowing there will be affliction as well as fruit.

Application: 

1. What conflict or affliction is keeping me from persevering in sharing the truth of the gospel?  What affliction might God be using to move me in a different direction so I can share the gospel with another group of people? Am I bold to speak the truth of Jesus whether I am being accused or exalted?
2. Do I seek to hear what God is doing in the lives of missionaries to be encouraged? Do I share with others  the fruit I see from my own life or ministry so that others are encouraged? 

Homiletics

 Acts 13:1-52

Content:

1. Paul and Barnabas sent off from Antioc1-3
2. Holy Spirit send them to Cypress where they traveled and preached. 4-5
3. Elymas (Bar Jesus) apposes Paul and Barnabas as they preach to proconsul Sergius Paulus. 6-8
4. Filled with HS Paul confronts Elymus who is blinded causing proconsul to believe. 9-12
5. Paul and company travel on where Paul is given opportunity to speak At Synagogue. 13-15
6. Paul briefly recaps 1st 450 years of Israel's history 16-20
7. He talks about King Saul and David. 21-22
8. Paul then tells them of Jesus coming from King David and John's preparation for him. 23-25
9. He tells of Israel's rejection of Jesus, the means for which he died and God's resurrection of him. 26-30
10. Witnesses can attest to his resurrection. 31
11. Paul connects the prophets words with events of Jesus. 32-37
12. Through Jesus is forgiveness of sin and justification. 38-41
13. Many believed and followed Paul and Barnabas. 42-43
14. Next Sabbath almost whole city came to hear but jealous Jews spoke abusively. 44-45
15. Paul declares Jesus given to Jews but they are rejecting so now they turn to Gentiles. 46-47
16. Gentiles honored and many believe. 48
17. Gospel spreads as does persecution of Paul and Barnabas who leave for Iconium. 49-51
18. Disciples filled with Joy and Holy Spirit. vs 52

Divisions:

1. Holy Spirit sends Paul and Barnabas to Cypress where Paul's bold confrontation leads to proconsuls belief.  1-12
2. In  Antioch, Paul speaks in Synagogue recounting Israel's history concluding with Jesus as means of forgiveness of sins. 13-43
3. Jealous Jew's rejection , lead Paul to declare gospel message now turning to Gentiles. 44-47
4. Gospel spreads among gentiles as persecution also increases.  48-52

Subject Sentence:

• Paul boldly proclaims gospel turning to gentiles as Jew's reject.

AIM:

• TCMT follow Holy Spirit's leading to boldly proclaim gospel whenever and to whomever the Holy Spirit leads me to.

Application:

1. Am I spending time tuned into God so that that I am aware of the Holy Spirit's leading me to the people he wants me to speak to?  Am I making space for the Holy Spirit so that I speak truth.?
2. Do I point to the scriptures for truth?  Do I always make Jesus as the forgiveness of sins the bottom line when I share with others.
3. Do I truly believe the gospel is for Everyone, willing to share the truth with anyone the Holy Spirit leads me to?
4. Do I trust that as persecution increases, so will the spread of the gospel?

Football Season

 It's Football Season.  Though I am not a big fan, Peter is a BIG FAN so there is excitement in the air.  He worked with his bosses to change his schedule to Monday through Friday instead of Thursday through Monday so he can watch Football.  He has been to a high school football game and a UGA game already.  He is paying for Cable so he has access to ALL the games.  It is fun to see him excited.  I know very little about football but one thing I know is the term, bye week.  A week where a team doesn't have a game. 

 You may have not noticed but last week was a bye week in Linda's Homiletics.  No specific reason other than there were things going on and it didn't happen.  And I gave myself enough grace to say it was okay.  The bottom line is there is not enough hours to do ALL the things I want to do.  So I am really trying to work out the balance of letting go, delegating, and saying no.  Therefore a bye week in Homiletics was needed.  But I am back this week with Acts 13.