Scripture Nugget 11.18.2015

“‘…But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.’

After they had set a day to meet with him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe. So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: ‘The Holy Spirit is right saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, 

“Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and

you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn – and I would heal them.” Let it be known to you then that salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.’

He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” Acts 28:22-30

Scripture Nugget 11.17.2015

“”Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear his own voice; for you will be his witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.’” Acts 22:14-16

Scripture Nugget 11.16.2015

“I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house, as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus. And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:20-24

Scripture Nugget with Wesleyan Core Term - Offering Christ 11.14.2015

“As they went from town to town, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. (read Acts 15:1-21) So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily.” Acts 16:4-5

                                                                        Wesleyan

Core Term

                                                                            Offering

Christ

Although John Wesley did not use the precise phrase “offering Christ,” his entire life embodied this Christian concept. To offer Christ is to bear faithful witness to God’s love for the whole of humanity in Jesus Christ. We share our faith with others so they may know the way that leads to life. Yet we offer Christ not only by proclaiming or sharing God’s word but also through “works of mercy” or the good works we do in the world. Wesley believed that we offer Christ by visiting prisoners, helping the poor, educating children, and providing medical care to those who cannot afford it. When we offer Christ through our words and our actions, we become a means of grace through which someone may receive the gift of faith. When we offer Christ through our words and our actions, we serve as instruments of God’s grace and offer the possibility of salvation, the fullness of life. -Wesley Study Bible pg 1347

Scripture Nugget 11.13.2015

“Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’ Then Peter began to explain it to them step by step,…

‘I also heard a voice saying to me, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But I replied, “By no means Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” But a second time the voice answered from heaven, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.”…

At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.”

And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’ When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’” Acts 11:1-4, 7-18

Scripture Nugget 11.12.2015

“Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias.

The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’

The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’

But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people if Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’

And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ All who heard him were amazed and said, ‘Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?’ Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah. Acts 9:10-22

Prevenient Grace, the Grace of God that goes before, the Grace of God that calls, the Grace of God that sends. On the first line above; insert your home town and your name. Then re-read this passage continuing to insert your name for Ananias and prayerfully let the Lord reveal to you the person(s) whose names should replace Saul’s, in your life. How will you respond? Are you prepared for, are you expectant to witness similar results? Sight, Strength, Baptism by power of Holy Spirit, proclamation of the name of Jesus from the mouth of a notorious sinner, Hearing & acceptance of Jesus as Savior and the increasing power of Holy Spirit in the proclaimer – a healed sinner.

Or will you get stuck arguing with God……..

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW, WHOSE GRACE FALLS FREELY UPON ALL AS RAIN FALLS FROM THE SKIES!

Scipture Nugget 11.11.2015

“Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. … Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: ‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe this generation? For his life is taken away from earth.’ (Isaiah 53:7b-8a) The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ Acts 8:27b-28, 32-37

The eunuch would be returning from Jerusalem very disappointed, as he went there to worship but would not have been allowed in based on the rules – “No one whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD.” Deuteronomy 23:1

Imagine his glorious surprise and the joy he must have felt, when, climbing back into his chariot after being baptized and continuing to read the scroll of Isaiah’s letter, he comes across this phrase: “Do not let the foreigner joined to the LORD say, ‘The LORD will surely separate me from his people; and do not let the eunuch say, ‘I am just a dry tree.’ For thus says the LORD: To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.’ Isaiah 56:3-5

God’s grace abounds and brings us to the place and into the relationship He desires to have with us, regardless of our condition.

25+2+1 = 28

25+2+1=28

25+ “Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ …. ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:34-36, 40b

+2 “So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Acts 2:41-47

+1 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

=28 “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age’”. Matthew 28:16-20

                                                 25+2+1=28 Formula for Life,

life abundant in the Body of Christ.

Scripture Nugget 11.9.2015

11.9.2015 (Acts 1-3) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Acts 2:41-47

25+2+1=28