1. Welcome! www.SunsetChurchofChrist.net
Bibles and copies of sermons are available Please silence your cell phones
Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM

2. Acts 18

3. Ephesus Population: c. 200,000

4. Ephesus Harbor avenue

5. Ephesus: Temple of Artemis

6. Ephesus: Temple of Artemis

7. Welcome! www.SunsetChurchofChrist.net
Bibles and copies of sermons are available Please silence your cell phones
Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM

8. Psalm 98:1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song
Psalm 98:1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His Right Hand and His Holy Arm Have gained Him the victory!
Hymns
Invitation
Red Songbook -
Supplemental
2 Corinthians 11:8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.
1Co 9:14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

9. The Merciful Father Luke 15:20-32
Many do not know that “Prodigal” means “Wasteful”. Perhaps we are meant to see that this was the great sin – wasting the blessings of the father. How might we be guilty of the same?

10. God Our Father
An adoption by Grace – Romans 8:15 No longer Jehovah to us Jesus – first among His brothers – Hebrews 2:11 Necessity of His death to our adoption God’s eternal desire: Children – Hebrews 2:10, Malachi 2:15
The joy of an adoption story
Ro 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
Heb 2:10 ¶ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Mal 2:15 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring

11. We Learn About Our Father:
1. Our Father permits us to leave - He will not stop us if we leave - Leaving will break His heart
1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons

12. We Learn About Our Father:
2. Our Father cannot pursue us in sin - When we leave we are dead to Him - He does not hear us in sin – John 9:31
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Joh 9:31 "Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.
Sin is defined as the absence of God. God cannot change; therefore God cannot enter sin

13. We Learn About Our Father:
3. Our Father waits for our return - He desires all men to be saved – 2 Peter 3:9 - He detests souls being lost – Ezekiel 18:23,32 - His mercy glorifies Him – Isaiah 30:18
Romans 15:5
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
2Pe 3:9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Eze 18:23 "Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?
Eze 18:32 "For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and live!"
Isa 30:18 ¶ Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

14. We Learn About Our Father:
4. Our Father accepts our repentance - Repentance & a broken heart – Isaiah 57:15 - He has unmeasurable mercy to repentance - He cannot accept anyone who won’t repent
Romans 1:5
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God
Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 16 For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made.
Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-These, O God, You will not despise.

15. We Learn About Our Father:
5. Our Father has done EVERYTHING He can
- He has paid for the path to His home – Acts 20:28
- He has paid the price for entry – Revelation 5:9
- He has posted signs to the estate – 2 Peter 1:3
- He has told us how to get back – 1 John 1:9
Ac 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.Re 5:9 And they *sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
2Pe 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

16. We Learn About Our Father:
1. Our Father permits us to leave 2. Our Father cannot pursue us in sin 3. Our Father waits for our return 4. Our Father accepts our repentance 5. Our Father has done EVERYTHING He can

18. Obtaining the Adoption by Grace
"For whoever does the will of My Father
who is in heaven, he is My brother
and sister and mother.“
Matthew 12:50

19. Obtaining the Adoption by Grace
Hearing and believing in Jesus – Romans 10:17
Confessing Jesus as Lord – Matthew 10:32
Repenting of your sins – Acts 2:38
Being baptized – 1 Peter 3:21
Remaining His child
Faithful to the end – Matthew 24:13