Grand Parkway Baptist Church Grand Parkway Baptist Church

Apr 21, 2024 
GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor

Lessons Along The Way
Acts 16:1-15


1. Our experiences are not always intended for our benefit, v.1-5

2. God leads by closing doors as well, v. 6-10

God doesn’t always send you where you want to go. He puts you where you need to be in order to hear what you need to hear which prepares you for what you will need to do. This is so that when you get there, your faith is proportional to the task at hand.

Three things about a closed door in your life…

a) it’s not punishment but invitation
b) it’s not no but better
c) it’s not now but later

3. Evidence of faith is what you do with your stuff, v. 11-15

Here are some other successful business women in Acts...

leading women of Thessalonica, 17:4
women of high standing in Berea, 17:12
Damaris in Athens, 17:34
Priscilla in Corinth, 18:2

Notice two things in this section…

a) they thought differently about family back then
b) they thought differently about their stuff

There is a difference in entertaining and showing hospitality…

Entertaining is about impressing people with your home, your decor, my cooking. Hospitality seeks to minister, it doesn’t try to impress but to serve. 
Entertaining puts things before people. “As soon as I get the house finished, the living room decorated, my house just like I want it- then I will start having people over.” Hospitality puts people before things. “We have no furniture; we’ll eat on the floor.”
Entertaining subtly declares, “This is mine- these rooms, this decor; this is an expression of who and what I am. Hospitality whispers, “What’s mine is yours.” 
              -Karen Mains, Open Heart, Open Home


Mental worship…

1. Are other Believers strengthened in the faith by the way you live out your faith?
2. Has God ever closed a door in your life and how did you respond to it?
3. How do you use your stuff/home as a tool for ministry?
4. How do you think about your family? Corporate or individual?
5. Have you been baptized since professing faith in Christ?

Apr 7, 2024 
GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor

How to Disagree to the Glory of God
Acts 15:36-41


1. Be aware of your assumptions

Positive assumptions to shape how we disagree…

a) not everybody has to think or act the way I do or would
b) disagreeing with me does not deserve punishment
c) them being wrong or doing wrong doesn’t give me permission
d) it’s not different with family

2. Be clear about the principles you are standing on

A principle is a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of beliefs or behavior or a chain of reasoning.

“I will never compromise Truth for the sake of getting along with people who can only get along when we agree.”                ― D.R. Silva


“Now Paul and his companion set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and return to Jerusalem…”               -Acts 13:13


3. Engage all avenues of reconciliation

To shape your theology of disagreement ask questions like...

How is God represented by my behavior?
What does the Gospel make me capable of?
What can I do to demonstrate this capacity?

Two reasons we don’t reconcile..

a) uncertainty- I don’ know what to do
b) effort- I don’t want to exert that much effort.

“A brother/sister offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.”

             -Proverbs 18:19


“Friends become wiser together through a healthy clash of viewpoints.” 

      - Timothy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage



4. You engage in the disagreement in a way that makes reconciliation possible down he road

“Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.”

             -2 Timothy 4:9-11



Mental worship...

1. Is there anybody in your life that you have categorized?  If so, what does the Gospel make you capable of and responsible for in relation to this person?
2. As an outworking of what you heard this morning, is there a conversation you need to initiate?
3. What is your theology of disagreement?
4. Which is the source of more disagreement in your relationships: your beliefs or your preferences?
5. Are there any friendships/relationships where you have given yourself permission the Gospel does not?

Mar 31, 2024 
GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
Answering The Resurrection Question
I Corinthians 15:1-24


1. The consequences of unbelief are increasingly personal, v. 12-18

a) not even Christ has been raised, v. 13
b) preaching is in vain, v. 14
c) faith is in vain, v. 14
d) we are misrepresenting God, v. 15
e) you are still in your sin, v. 17
f) those who have fallen asleep have perished, v. 18
g) we have hope in this life only, v. 19

2. The consequences of belief are increasingly helpful, v. 20-24

a) there is life after death, v. 20
b) there is a universal problem and solution, v. 21-22
c) there is an order, v. 23

tagma- "that which has been arranged.”

d) there is an end, v. 24

“ And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

           -Matthew 24:14

Knowing that there is an end coming does three things for us…

1) informs our priorities

“Since everything will be destroy in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?”

          - 2 Peter 3:11

2) invites personal change

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

          - 2 Corinthians 5:10

3) initiates the question of peace      

Mental worship…

1. When did people get “in sin” and how did they get there?
2. Do you believe there is life after death, heaven and hell, if so how does a person get to either one?
3. Given all that is going on in the world, do you believe that there is an order to it? That Someone is ultimately in charge? 
4. Is the life you are living on earth going to be recognized in heaven?
5. If you had to make a change today would it be in the area of priorities, personal change or peace?

Mar 24, 2024 
GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor

The Trajectory of the Kingdom
Luke 19:28-40


1. It comes in God’s timing

a) chronos- time runs out
b) kairos- time fills up

“When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”

              -Luke 9:51

“They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.”

              -Mark 9:30-32

“And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

              - Matthew 20:17-19 

“From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

              - Matthew 16:21-23



2. It comes in keeping with history

“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: “This month is to be the beginning of months for you; it is the first month of your year.  Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they must each select an animal of the flock according to their fathers’ households, one animal per household.  If the household is too small for a whole animal, that person and the neighbor nearest his house are to select one based on the combined number of people; you should apportion the animal according to what each person will eat.  You must have an unblemished animal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats.  You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight.”

                 -Exodus 12:1-6

a) the day Jesus enters Jerusalem is lamb selection day
b) they had to keep the animal for five days to inspect it
c) the animal; had to be without blemish or defect
d) Jesus will be crucified as the Passover lambs re being sacrificed


3. It comes because of a sense of purpose, v. 38

“Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in

Mar 17, 2024 
GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor

Christian Essentials In An Ever Changing Culture
Acts 15:22-35


1. Gospel clarity, v. 24

Jesus + politics = not the Gospel!
Jesus + Christian nationalism = not the Gospel!
Jesus + prosperity = not the Gospel!
Jesus + my preferred style of worship = not the Gospel!
Jesus + socialism = not the Gospel!
Jesus + cultural universalism  = not the Gospel!
Jesus + activism = not the Gospel!

Jesus + nothing = Gospel


2. Decision making order, v. 28

v. 22- “it seemed good”
v. 25- “it has seemed good”
v. 28- “it has seemed good”

3. Relational sensitivity, v 29

The Jews asked for consideration in four areas…
a) abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols
b) from blood
c) from what had been strangled

Leviticus 17:10-12
Hebrews 10: 29

d) from sexual immorality
                 
I Thessalonians 4:1-8

4. The practice of remaining, v. 35

“So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord…” -Acts 14:3
“And they remained no little time with the disciples.” - Acts 14:28
“But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching and teaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.” -Acts 15:35
“We remained in this city some days.” - Acts 16:12
“Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.” -Acts 17:14

I Thessalonians 2:7-8

= = = = = = = = = =

Mental worship…

1. Who or what determines “good” in your life and how do you define it?
2. In what relationship could you practice more relational sensitivity? 
3. Should anything change in the way you make decisions?
4. Does the pace of your life allow for meaningful relational engagement? i.e. “remaining”
5. Are you ever guilty of adding something to the Gospel that isn’t the Gospel? What need does this meet in you?

Mar 10, 2024 
GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
Leo Almeida, Teaching Pastor

Salvation and Its Importance
Acts 15:1-21

1. Salvation is a topic worth fighting about.

Look at verse 1-2
Galatians 1:8-9

 2. Salvation creates repetitive celebrators.

Look at verse 3-4
Luke 15:32

3. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Look at verses 6-11
Romans 8:3
John 6:29

4. Salvation was God’s plan from the beginning. 

verse 12-21

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QUESTION:

1. All chapter long these men were fighting the good fight of faith. What does that look like for you?

2. How often do you take time to celebrate the reality that you were saved, are being saved, and will be saved? 

3. If you have grown up in the church…what are some things you can look back on now and say “those were unnecessary distinctions”? What is an unnecessary distinction Christians make today? 

4. What has been your relationship with the Scriptures lately?