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Rev. Ronald C. Purkey claims no originality for this Bible study outline.
However,
every outline posted on this website has been taught by Rev. Purkey.
To see more Bible study
outlines go to page two: More Bible Study Outlines.
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INTRODUCTION:
A. MVP… when we hear those three letters put
together, they usually mean one thing to us.
1. Someone
who has excelled in some sort of team sporting event.
2. How would
you like to be an MVP?
3. It is
possible.
4. More than
possible, it is necessary!
5. Not for the success of some sports
endeavor, but for the greatest endeavor of all…reaching this community for
Christ.
6. We must
have a determination to become an MVP.
7. MVP = Most Valuable Person.
B. We can all become MVP's if we will determine to
do so.
1. It has to
do with sharing the Most Valuable Product = the Word of God.
(John 6:35) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of
life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me
shall never thirst.
C. Some are convinced that God could never use
them…that they could never become MVP's, but that simply isn't true!
1. In our text this morning we find
some individuals who may not have known a lot of things…but they knew the
important things!
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2.
READ background to text…
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Read:
3. They are
described as “ignorant and unlearned”.
4. Perhaps that was true from the world's
perspective, but as far as the Lord was concerned they were MVP's.
5. They serve as examples for each of
us this morning, and remind us that we can become MVP's for the Lord.
6. They were “ignorant and unlearned” but they knew the important things…
GOD
by Charles R. Swindoll
You can earn
four Ph.D. degrees and never gain wisdom or understanding. You'll certainly not
get a grasp of the fear of the Lord from higher learning. Even in the finest of
universities, there's no course offered on the fear of the Lord. The source?
God and God alone. By "fear of the Lord" I'm referring to an awesome
respect for God accompanied by a personal hatred for sin. Now we can see why
Solomon wrote, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the
knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs
I. THEY KNEW THE SAVIOR.
A. They had been with Jesus.
1. This speaks
of a relationship, not just a casual meeting.
2. They were men of varying
backgrounds, but all that changed when they met Jesus.
3. That’s the
way it works…when Jesus comes into our lives things change.
B. The world needs people who have been with
Jesus.
1. Many know
about science, but few know the Savior.
2. Many know
about mathematics, but few know about the Master.
3. Many know
about space, but few know about Grace.
4. Many know
about politics, but few know about God's plan.
5. Many know about psychology,
but few know the One who solves all problems.
6. The world
needs people who have been with Jesus!
C. They knew the power of knowing Jesus Christ.
(Acts
1. They clearly understood the
power of the name of Jesus…He changed them and they knew He could change
others.
2. They couldn't
offer the lame man any medical help…
3. They didn't
have any money to give him…
4. But they
gave him something far more valuable…
5. They shared
the Savior with him.
6. Sometimes, people think they
need this or that, but what they
really need is to know Jesus!
Knowing God Personally
A. God made known His mighty acts to the people of
1.
2. [Moses] wanted to know God and His
plans for His people more than to see another mighty miracle.
3. No wonder the Lord conversed with
him "as a man speaks to his
friend" (Exodus 33:11).
B. Commenting on the difference between ways
and acts, F. B. Meyer wrote,…
"Ways, or plans, are only made known to
the inner circle of the saints; the ordinary congregation learns only His
acts."
C. A talented [woman named] Jennifer learned this
difference after spending several years in a wheelchair.
1. One day she tearfully prayed,
"Lord, I could have done so much for You, if only I could have been
healthy."
2. God's response was inaudible but clear:
"Many people work for Me, but very few are willing to be My friend."
D.
If you desire to know God personally more than you long to see His mighty
miracles, you'll be satisfied. – Joanie Yoder, Our Daily Bread,
II. THEY KNEW THE SCRIPTURES.
(Acts
A. The world in which we now live has more knowledge
and understanding about things than ever before.
1. But they
are no closer to God…
2. Our own
3. Most great
universities in
B. These men were not Old Testament
scholars.
1. These were
common laborers…fishermen.
2. But now
they are quoting and accurately applying the Scripture.
(Psalms
118:22) The stone which the builders
refused is become the head stone of the corner.
3. This is one
of the reasons that the priests of the day were so amazed.
4. Their
knowledge of the Scripture equipped them to serve.
5. The apostle
Paul would later identify that Rock as Jesus Christ.
1. There was a
time when most Americans respected the Bible, and could quote it with
authority. In 1963, according to
2. There was a
time when most Americans were familiar with biblical doctrine. You could say,
"Believe in Jesus,” and at least they knew what you meant. But today most
would be mystified.
3. Newsweek
tells of a child who saw a crucifix and asked, "Mommy, what's that man
doing"?
4. There was a
time when most Americans accepted absolute standards. They might disagree on
what those absolutes were, but they knew that some things are really right or
wrong. Today 70% reject moral absolutes.
-- Chuck Colson, Christianity
Today,
III. THEY KNEW SALVATION.
(Acts
A. “Salvation” is an important word.
1. To Noah,
the ark meant salvation while others perished.
2. To
3. To Jonah
salvation came about through the belly of the whale.
4. The word
simply means “deliverance”.
B. People are trapped by problems and perplexed
with no answers.
1. They need deliverance…they
need salvation.
2. They need Jesus Christ!
3. These “unlearned
and ignorant” men knew the salvation of the Lord.
4. They were
willing to tell others…even if it meant persecution!
C. The Lord has called us to be salt and light.
(Matthew
5:13-16) Ye are the salt of the earth:
but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall
it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be
trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on
an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light
unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
1. As “salt”
we are to be an influence in this world.
2. As “light”
we are to dispel the darkness.
3. These men
could tell people how to get
rid of the problem of sin.
4. These men
could tell people how to get to heaven.
5. As a result
they were MVP's
6. MVP = Most Valuable Person.
It's Too Easy
A. I read about an instant cake mix that was a big
flop.
1. The
instructions said all you had to do was add water and bake.
2. The company couldn't understand why
it didn't sell -- until their research
discovered that the buying public felt uneasy about a mix that required only
water.
3.People
thought it was too easy.
4. So the company altered the formula
and changed the recipe to call for adding water and an egg to the mix.
5. The idea
worked, and sales jumped dramatically.
B. That story reminds me of how some people react
to the plan of salvation.
1. To them it sounds too easy and
simple to be true, even though the Bible
says,…
"By grace you have been saved through
faith, . . . it is the gift of God, not of works" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
2. They feel that there is something
more they must do, something they must add to God's
"recipe" for salvation.
3. They
think they must perform good works to gain God's favor and earn
eternal life.
4. But the Bible is clear -- we are
saved "not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy" (Titus
3:5).
C. Unlike the cake-mix manufacturer, God has
not changed His "formula" to make salvation more marketable.
1. The gospel we proclaim must be free
of works, even though it may sound too easy.
-- Richard De Haan,
Our Daily Bread,
I. Peter and
John Knew the Savior.
II. Peter and
John Knew the Scriptures.
THEY WERE
GOD’S MVP’s
CONCLUSION:
A. In much the same way, you and I can become
MVP's as well.
B. Most Valuable People sharing the Most
Valuable Product … salvation through
Jesus Christ.
C. How?
D. It may be that the need in your life this
morning is to get to know Jesus personally.
1. You have
never come to Him by faith and received this salvation.
2. Come
today…do not delay.
E. Christian, are you an MVP?
1. Why not
come this morning and re-commit your life to the Lord.
2. Determine
that you will make a difference for all eternity.
F. Whatever the need, the invitation is for
you to come to Jesus.
REFERENCES: References used in the Bible study are the King
James Bible (KJV), the Scofield Study Bible, the Believer’s Bible Commentary,
Charles J. Woodbridge Bible Outlines, Lee Roberson’s Sermons, Don Robinson’s
Bible Outlines, Women’s Study Bible, The Bible Reader’s Companion Ed. 3, The
Nelson Study Bible: New King James Version, KJV Bible Commentary, Thru the
Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines of the New Testament
ed. 4, Cliff Robinson’s Bible Outlines, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines of the
Old Testament, With the Word Bible Commentary, Wiersbe’s “Be” Series: Old &
New Testaments, selected illustrations, and other references.
E-Mail: Ronald
Purkey
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