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Big Apple Chapel is a New Testament based church in New York City, modeled after the pattern of the early church, with a strong emphasis on following Christ as a community of His disciples.

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  • Sunday - 10:30 am
  • 520 8th Ave, 16th floor
    New York, NY
  • phone: +1 (973) 837-1041
 

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BAC Sermons

What God Wants - Part 2: Great Commandments

2010-03-21 James 2:12

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Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.
 1 Cor 6: 12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful… I will not be brought under the power of any.
 James 2:12: So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
 2 Cor 5:10 we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive things done in the body…good or bad.
 Mt 22:37 Jesus said to him, "‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38  "This is the first and great commandment. 39 "And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

1. Discernment, about God, teaching, inheritance, deception, companions (Learn the Truth – Love God)

Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits….18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
 1 Tim 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for so you will save yourself and those who hear you.
 Ga 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
 1 Co 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise… let him become a fool that he may become wise.
 Jas 1:14  each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed….Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
 1 Cor 15:33  Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

2. Relationships amongst believers (Love others with the Truth, focus on believers – Love Others)

A. Making God look good in the eyes of others

 Mr 9 50 … if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.
 Ga 5:13 .. you have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
 1Pe 1 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart. 1Pe 2 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
 Mt 5:24 leave your gift there before the altar... First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
 2Co 13 11 Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
 Eph 4 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
 1Th 5 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
 

B. Help each-other do better at the day of judgment

 Heb 3 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
 Jas 5 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
 2Th 3 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

3. Sanctification (Live the Truth – Love Yourself)

A. Do’s and Don’ts: put to death the fruits of the flesh and develop the fruits of the Spirit

 Ro 6 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
 Eph 5 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
 Col 3 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.; 1Th 5 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
 Col 3 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
 Php 4 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
 Col 3 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
 2Pe 1 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
 Jas 1 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
 

B. It’s hard work, a process resulting in holiness

 Php 2 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
 1Ti 4 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
 1Pe 2 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
 2Pe 3 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. 
 1Jo 2 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
 1Pe 1 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

 

What God Wants - Part 1

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response

  1. Why are most ‘commandments’ of the New Testament about discernment? Does that fit with the greatest commandment?
  2.  
  3. Why is there so much more focus on relationships with other believers than on our relationships with unbelievers?
  4.  
  5. When will you have made enough progress in your sanctification process? Can you take a break?
  6.  
  7. What can you do this week to make the body look better? And to help another believer do better before the judgment seat?
  8.  
  9. Which fruits of the Spirit would God want you to focus on? What can you do this week to make progress in that area?
  10.  

 
 

 

Category

Count

Key verse / example

Discernment

57

Col 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, 

Relationships - Church

53

1Th 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another,

Sanctification

38

Col 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

Listening

38

Re 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Transformation

33

Ro 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind

Relationships - Neighbor

29

Lu 6:31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

Following Jesus

25

Mt 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Knowing / Thinking

22

1Ti 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

Perseverance

21

Re 3:11   I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, may no one take your crown.

Prayer

19

Col 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Relationships - Enemies

17

Lu 6 27   But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Security

17

Lu 12:22 do not worry about your life, what you will eat… what you will put on.

Relationships - Marriage

14

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
 Eph 5: 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church

Rewards

14

Mt 6:20   but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven

Be ready

13

Mt 24:44 you also be ready, the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Contentment

13

Php 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,

Relationships – Parents / Kids

13

Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
 Col 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Teaching

13

Mr 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Relationships - Leadership of church

13

Heb 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.

Money

12

Ro 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another

Speech

12

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Humility

11

Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

End times

11

Lu 21:31 when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

Church conduct

10

1Co 14:26 Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

Fear

10

Lu 12:4   And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

Eating

9

1Co 10:25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;

Relationships - God

8

Jas 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Rejoice

8

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Spiritual Gifts

8

1Co 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

Be saved

7

Mr 1:15 …the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.

Have Faith

7

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

Relationships - Master/Slave

7

Eph 6:5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; Col 4:1 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Glorifying God

6

1Co 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Good works

6

Mt 6:1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Spiritual warfare

6

Jas 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Relationships - Government

5

Ro 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Appearance

5

1Pe 3:3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward––arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel––

Relationships - Unbelievers

4

2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?