Sermons About Acts
The Unstoppable, Spirit-filled, Missional Mess Known as the Church
Our journey through Acts is now taking a new turn. The book is honing in on a second generation of leadership, shifting attention away from the "original apostles" to new gospel-carriers like Stephen and Paul. Sandwiched between these two men is an evangelist often overlooked -- Philip. Yet Luke (the author of Acts) shows Philip to be a uniquely gifted and qualified man for the specific ministries God had in store for him. Today we mine the depths of Philip's ministry in chapter 8, and we'll hopefully pull out a few gems of wisdom that profoundly inform who we are and what we do as Christ's body. Some of our discoveries will be inspiring and reassuring; others will be sobering and harshly honest. We'll spend some time parsing out important technicalities of theology. We'll also pause for moments of deep personal introspection. Acts 8 really is all over the map, just as Philip was!
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The Holy Spirit, The Church & Mission
In this message Jed poses the question, "what if?" What if God shaped each of us by His Spirit to be Holy; wholly committed to Him; Holy in our love; Holy in our selfless service of others; Holy in our comassion and our generosity? What impact would be made in people's lives, in their families, and in their communities if the Spirit of God begins to work among them in power. The book of Acts documents this very occurance in the early church and this sermon begins an eight week in-depth look at the results and their ramifications for us today.
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The Gospel Plus...
In this message we look at the first major crisis of the early church. After Paul and Barnabas returned from their first missionary journey, in which the gospel was received by the Gentiles, men from Jerusalem began teaching these new believers that they had to become Jewish before they could become Christian. Paul and Barnabas debated strongly with them, and it was decided that the church in Jerusalem had to weigh in on this matter. Acts 15 is the account of this Council. As we look at this story, we will also be looking at the first New Testament letter: Galatians. Paul's purpose for writing these new churches was to warn them of the danger of adding anything to the Gospel. Though we may not be calling people to circumcision today, we too are often guilty of this. The remedy is daily repentance and a holding fast to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Acts 21:17-36 - No compromise
Paul has finally arrived in Jerusalem after his 3rd missionary journey. He relates the works of God among the Gentiles to James and the elders, but then James informs him of a group of Jews that believe roomers that Paul is castigating the Moses and the Law in such a way that it is offensive to Jewish sensibilities. Paul agrees with the elders to submit with 4 other men in the process of a Nazarite cleansing ceremony and offerings, but before he is able to finish this ceremonial cleansing, the people pull Paul out to accuse him of teaching against the people and the law. Paul is beaten for doing what is right, and Eventually the authorities (the tribune – v. 31) have to step in to stop the beating of Paul by arresting him and imprisoning him. Paul did not compromise his convictions concerning the gospel as some people believe, but was able to accommodate to Jewish sensibilities (He became a Jew to win the Jews (1 Cor. 9:20) He did not allow his freedom to tear down weaker brothers. The Jews in this chapter are the weaker Christians and the Gentiles the Stronger. In Acts 15 the Jerusalem counsel including James decided that the Gentiles did not need to keep the Jewish laws in order to be saved. Here in Acts 21, Paul is showing us that in a Jewish culture that one should be accommodating to weaker brothers when it doesn't involve denying the Gospel. You don't need to compromise your beliefs, but you can accommodate weaker brothers in Christ. One should always remember that even if accommodation is the right thing to do, it doesn't guarantee that everything will turn out right. Christians will suffer for doing what is Right, just don't compromise for the sake of unity – stick to your convictions.
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Jesus...Beginning With The Old Testament
God's mission in the book of Acts is the culmination of a story going back to the Old Testament. Are you able to point people to Christ from the Old Testament?
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When It's All Been Said and Done
This morning we continue our study through the book of Acts and look at chapters 6 and 7. The title this morning is taken from the song by Jim Cowen. As we look at the first martyr of the early Church and the way in which God used Stephen both in living and in dying, it gives us pause to examine our own lives and the legacy that will be left behind - a legacy that needs to be examined while there is still time. A plaque that hung over the kitchen table where I grew up, I shall never forget: Only one life will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last- or in Paul’s words to the Romans, If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (14:8). When it’s all said and done, there’s just one thing that matters - Did I do my best to live for Truth? Did I live my life for You?
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First Missionary Journey
Seventeen years have passed since the church was birthed at Pentecost, and God's plan for reaching the ends of the earth is about to take on a new dimension as Paul and Barnabas are sent out by the Holy Spirit. Over the next 2-3 years these two men go to cities where the "Jesus" has never been heard. They proclaim the gospel, and the gospel does what the gospel is supposed to do: it bears fruit. The result is that lives are transformed and churches are started.
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The Story Still Being Written
The last recorded message in Acts links with the emphasis of the resurrected Christ in chapter 1. The story still continues today. (- apologies for poor sound quality)
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Integrate
The church belongs to God. So it is not our responsibility to make church what we think it should be rather it is our responsibility to seek our through scripture what God called the church to be and follow His direction.
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Peter's Conversion
God's plan throughout history has been to reconcile ALL peoples to back to Him. Peter had been taught from an early age that it was a sin to even enter into the home of a Gentile, so the events of this chapter baffled him. Even so, he had to decide whether or not he would say Yes to God, even though it went against everything he knew.
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