“But seek first the kingdom of

God and his righteousness

and all these things

shall be yours as well.”

Matthew 6:33

The “God First” Model...

Family

Work

Money

Health

R’ships

Jesus

1. Anatomy of a God idea

Acts 14:21 They preached the gospel in that city

and won a large number of disciples. Then they

returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22

strengthening the disciples and encouraging them

to remain true to the faith. “We must go through

many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they

said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for

them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,

committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put

their trust.

Ps 37:4 Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,

a light on my path.

2. You vs “You”

Acts 15:5 Then some of the believers who

belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood

up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised

and required to keep the law of Moses.”

6 The apostles and elders met to consider this

question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got

up and addressed them:

2 Cor 4:1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy

we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.2

Rather, we have renounced secret and

shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor

do we distort the word of God. On the contrary,

by setting forth the truth plainly we commend

ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight

of God.

3. Finding Peace

Acts 15: 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit

and to us not to burden you with anything

beyond the following requirements:

2 Cor 2:12 Now when I went to Troas to preach

the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord

had opened a door for me, 13 I still had no

peace of mind, because I did not find my

brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them

and went on to Macedonia.

4. The Role of Circumstances

Acts 16:6 Paul and his companions traveled

throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia,

having been kept by the Holy Spirit from

preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7

When they came to the border of Mysia, they

tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus

would not allow them to.

Acts 16:8 So they passed by Mysia and went

down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a

vision of a man of Macedonia standing and

begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and

help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we

got ready at once to leave for Macedonia,

concluding that God had called us to preach the

gospel to them.

Four Big Ideas 1. Anatomy of a God idea

2. You & “You”

3. Finding Holy Spirit Peace

4. The Role of Circumstances

Family

Work

Money

Health

R’ships

Jesus

And You?