prayed to

• Acts 7:55-60 ” But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” ⁵⁷ But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. ⁵⁸ Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
• 1 Cor. 1:1-2 “Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, ² To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:”

worshiped

• Matt. 2:2,11 “saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.””,”¹¹ And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”
• Matt14:33 “”And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.””
• Matt 28:9 “And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.”
• John 9:35-38 ” Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” ³⁶ He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” ³⁷ Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” ³⁸ He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.”
• Heb. 1:6 ” And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.””

called God

• John 20:28 “Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!””
• Heb. 1:8 “But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.”
• Isa. 9:6 “For to us a child is born  to us a son is given and the government shall be upon^[a] his shoulder  and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

the ONLY way to God

• John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
• Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

did not come to bring peace, but a sword

• Matt. 10:34 ““Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

tells us to fear God

• Matt. 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

tells us that the world will hate us

• John 15:18-19 ” “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
• John 17:14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

tells us Christians can expect to suffer

• Matt 5:45 ” so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
• John 16:33 ” I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
• Heb. 11:35-38 “Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. ³⁶ Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”
• 1 Pet. 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”
• 1 John 3:13 “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.”

commands us share the gospel

• Matt.28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
• Mark 16:15 “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
• Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””