June 30, 2024
GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor
Gospel Modeling Behaviors
Acts 18:18-28
1. Vows, v. 18
A vow is an informed expression of understanding that one submits
themselves to in order to express gratitude, need or understanding.
“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to
listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know
that they are doing evil. 2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your
heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and
you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream
comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words. 4
When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no
pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not
vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead
you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a
mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work
of your hands? 7 For when dreams increase and words grow many,
there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.”
-Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
2. If God wills, v. 21
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such
and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”
— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life?
For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15
Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or
that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it
is sin.”
- James 4:13-17
3. A teachable spirit, v. 24-28
Four things that will help you become a more teachable person…
a) Seek honest feedback by asking honest questions of honest people
b) Get better at listening- Hearing is the auditory function of the ear.
Listening is an emotional commitment to the person talking.
c) Get thicker skin- seek to be convicted more than offended.
d) Ingest and implement- people come to see you as teachable when
they see things they have shared with you show up in your life.
Mental worship…
1. Is there a vow you need to make or want to make, for the next
month, that would communicate gratitude, need or understanding?
2. If you wanted to change something about your life, what question
would you ask and who would you ask?
3. How do you express your dependence on God in decision
making?
4. Are you better at hearing or listening? How would your spouse/
significant other answer?
5. What is one thing you want to better understand about
Christianity?
6. Can you learn from anybody? If not, what type of person is it hard
for
you to learn from.