What Men Expect of Christians

December 14, 2014 PM

Text: Acts 3:1-11

A. Acts 3:5 "… expecting to receive something from them."

B. Unreasonable Expectations:

I. Unlimited Benevolence

A. Acts 3:1-11 - “silver and gold have I none”

B. Resources are limited.

II. Sinless Perfection

A. The Cry of Hypocrite

1. Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

2. 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin,…

3. 1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned,

4. 1 John 2:1-2 …And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate…

B. Imperfection: the reason for restoration - Gal 6:1

III. To Please Everybody

A. Gospel preachers do not preach to please men.

B. Gal 1:10 Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please

men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

IV. Adjust To the World

A. 1 Peter 4:4 And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with

them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you;

B. 1 Peter 4:3 For the time already past…

C. Rom 6:4 … might walk in newness of life.

1. Rom 6:6 that we should no longer be slaves to sin;

2. Rom 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that

you should obey its lusts,

3. Rom 6:13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body

to sin as instruments of unrighteousness…

D. Rom 12:1 … present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice

E. Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world,

F. Matt 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth;

G. Matt 5:14 "You are the light of the world.

H. Do not become again entangled in the defilements of the world - 2 Peter 2:20-22

V. Be Quiet About Faith

A. “We never discuss religion…”

B. Be ready to make a defense - 1 Peter 3:15

C. Faithful men will be able to teach others also. - 2 Tim 2:2

D. 2 Tim 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;

E. Rom 10:9-11 … Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

- Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

F. Will you confess Him or deny Him? - Matt 10:32-33

G. Acts 4:18 -20 for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.

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