Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 4:23-37
Theme: The church's boldness must be anchored in the sovereignty of God.

God's sovereignty is revealed in...

One: ...the authority of the master over the servant – v.24ff

Two: ...His creation of all things – v.24

Three: ...His rule over rebel nations – v.25-26

Four: ...the death of Christ in the plan of God – v.27-28

Five: ...the boldness of the church to speak truth – v.29

Six: ...the resurrection of Jesus from the dead – v.33

Seven: ...the church's generosity at personal cost – v.32

You will receive power...you will be my witnesses... ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 4:1-22
Theme: We must be clear that Jesus - only Jesus - is the way to heaven.

"Jesus, Only Jesus" represents...

One: ...an irritation to unbelievers - v.1-3

Two: ...the power of God for salvation - v.4

Three: ...the Spirit-enabled answer for our hope - v.5-10

Four: ...the exclusive way to eternal life - v.11-12

Five: ...the testimony of life transformation - v.13-14

Six: ...the measure of true authority - v.15-22

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 3:1-26
Theme: Jesus can transform your life.

A Sign: from lame to leaping

(About Miraculous Gifts)

• God can do miracles.
• Miraculous gifts are observed in 4 primary eras: Moses; Elijah & Elisha; Jesus; Apostles.
• The purpose is to authenticate God's revelation.

A Sermon

• Sinners are trapped in sin's ruin.
• The gospel is the power of God for salvation.
• Salvation will culminate in the full restoration of a new creation.

Conclusion

• What did Peter have? ("what I do have I give to you")
• A: the gospel of the transforming power of Jesus Christ

You will receive power...you will be my witnesses... ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 2:41-47
Theme: As the family of God, we must commit to living our Christian lives together.

One: Commit to the Apostles' Teaching

• Jesus' commission
• Peter's example : Jesus is the risen Christ and the ruling Lord
• The written record (the canon of Scripture)

Two: Commit to Fellowship = something in common

• Celebrating our bond
• Sharing our needs

Three: Commit to Breaking of Bread

• The Lord's Supper
• The common meals

Four: Commit to Prayer

• For understanding and application of the Word
• For one another's needs
• For daily bread and love to share it
• For God's work among us: awe, favor, & fruit

You will receive power...you will be my witnesses... ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 2:22-41
Theme: Jesus Christ is Lord

Taking Notes on Peter's Sermon

Jesus of Nazareth - v.22

• God's agent of redemption
• Confirmed by signs

Crucified and Killed - v.23

• The sinful plan of men
• The definite plan on God

God Raised Him Up - v.24

• The death of death
• According to God's plan

Exalted at the right hand of God - v.33

• Jesus gave the Spirit
• For the advance of the Kingdom

God Has Made Him Both Lord and Christ - v.36

• Certainty of His rule
• Certainty of our guilt

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 2:1-21
Theme: God gives the Spirit to empower his witnesses to advance the kingdom.

What Makes Pentecost So Significant?

One: The Building of God's Church

Two: The Wonder of God's Presence

Three: The Filling by God's Spirit

Four: The Certainty of God's Word

Five: The Invitation of God's Salvation

You will receive power...you will be my witnesses... ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 1:12-26
Theme: We must take steps of faith while waiting on God's plan.

One: Remember that Jesus is Lord.

• What he said we should do.
• What he said he would do.

Two: Find the value of unity in the family of God.

Three: Pray with other Christians.

Four: Seek to determine God's will.

• Know God's word.
• Pray for direction.
• Surrender your control.

You will receive power...you will be my witnesses ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts
Text: Acts 1:6-11

One: You must understand the kingdom.

1. Its nature: it is spiritual
2. Its scope: it is universal
3. Its time: now and then

Two: You must understand kingdom advance.

1. How? The power of the Spirit
2. What? Be witnesses
3. Where? Everywhere

Three: You must understand the kingdom's King.

1. Taken to heaven
2. Coming again

You will receive power...you will be my witnesses... ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts
Text: Acts 1:1-5

The Story Continues

1. Acts is the sequel to the Gospel of Luke.
2. Luke traveled with Paul.
3. The apostles, the church, and the Holy Spirit all glorify the work of Jesus Christ.

3 Realities that Enable that Continuing Gospel Story

1. The hope of the resurrection
2. The victory of the Kingdom
3. The presence of the Holy Spirit

Theme of the Continuing Story

• The advancement of the Kingdom

In the first book...all that Jesus began to do and teach... ~ Acts 1:1

Series: Haggai: Consider Your Ways
Text: Haggai 2:20-23

God's reign is seen in two promised events:

1. The judgment of the nations
2. The triumph of the Messiah.

Reasons for our hope in God's reign:

1. Because our God is the Lord of Hosts
2. Because our God is faithful to his covenant promises
3. Because the gospel is the power of God
4. Because Christ is King

Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. ~ Haggai 1:5

Series: Haggai: Consider Your Ways
Text: Haggai 2:10-19

The Hope of Holiness

One: Holiness doesn't just happen.

Two: Sin never ultimately satisfies.

Three: Mercy makes for new beginnings.

Four: Grace gives blessing for nothing.

Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. ~ Haggai 1:5

Series: Haggai: Consider Your Ways
Text: Haggai 2:1-9

Finding Your Significance in God's Plan

Discouragement: A longing for obvious significance.

Encouragement: An understanding of present significance.

• God's presence with us
• God's purpose for us
  • Be strong
  • Work
  • Fear not

Encouragement: A hope in future significance.

• God will receive glory through Christ in the church.

Conclusions:

• Don't search for significance in shallow comparisons.
• Invest in God's agenda.
• Rest in the victory that will be fully revealed.

Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. ~ Haggai 1:5

Series: Consider Your Ways
Text: Haggai 1:1-15

What does it look like to consider our ways?

One: Stop trying to justify your apathy.

Two: Examine closely the evidence of your priorities.

Three: Recognize the cause of your dissatisfaction.

Four: Take practical steps of worshipful obedience.

Four: Renew your mind with what God says.

Six: Yield to the Spirit's leading to do kingdom work.

Series: Haggai: Consider Your Ways
Text: Haggai

All Scripture is Profitable.

The Role of the Prophet: to reveal God's truth to the people by the Spirit.

Two Challenges:

1. Prophetic fog - intentional ambiguity; we don't get all the details
2. Prophetic form - the use of figurative language and a sense of imminence

The Big Question: What did the prophets say that stirred these people to do God's work?

The Theme of Haggai: Consider your ways!

Lessons for us:

• Trust God's control.
• Receive God's grace.
• Believe God's word.

Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. ~ Haggai 1:5

Series: Beginning with Moses: Bible Overview 4 of 4
Text: Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

The New Testament

One: The Gospels: the introduction to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Two: The Acts: the proclamation of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Three: The Letters: the explanation of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Four: Revelation: the consummation of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

• The Old Testament is the preparation for a person.
• The New Testament is the manifestation of that person.
• The whole Bible is the revelation of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:20

Series: Beginning with Moses: Bible Overview 3 of 4
Text: Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

The Books of the Prophecy

One: The Content of the Books of Prophecy.

• Preaching
• Predictions

Two: The Issue of the Books of Prophecy.

• The issue is loyalty.

Three: The Function of the Books of Prophecy

• To prepare us for a perfect Prophet with a perfect message.

Conclusion: The Old Testament is unsatisfying.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:20

Series: Beginning with Moses: Bible Overview 2 of 4
Text: Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

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The Books of History

One: The Content of the Books of History

• Hope
• Disappointment

Two: The Issue of the Books of History

• The issue is Leadership

Three: The Function of the Books of History

• To prepare us for a perfect King with a perfect kingdom.

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The Books of Poetry
(Wisdom Literature)

One: The Content of the Books of Poetry

• Psalms = the will of the perfect Leader
• Proverbs = the wisdom of the perfect Leader
• Ecclesiastes = the values of the perfect Leader
• Song of Solomon = the heart of the perfect Leader

Two: The Issue of the Books of Poetry

• The issue is character

Three: The Function of the Books of Poetry

• To create a longing for the perfect Leader.

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For all the promises of God find their Yes in Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:20

Series: Beginning with Moses: Bible Overview 1 of 4
Text: Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

The Books of the Law
(The Torah in Hebrew; the Pentateuch in Greek = 5 books)

One: The content of the Books of the Law

• Laws
• Sacrifices

Two: The issue of the Books of the Law

• The issue is holiness.
• God is holy, and man is sinful.

Three: The function of the Books of the Law

• To prepare us for a perfect Priest with a perfect sacrifice.
• To create a longing for a better covenant.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:20

Theme: New beginnings give us hope for the New Year.

One: New beginnings are God's idea.

Two: God graciously offers us the continual hope of new beginnings.

1. New beginnings reflect the power and goodness of creation.
2. New beginnings in this life are not without groanings.
3. New beginnings are possible because of God's promises.
4. New beginnings unfold the gospel of a new creation.
5. New beginnings sustain our daily endurance.
6. New beginnings shape our future hope.

The steadfast lof of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ~ Lamentations 3:22-23

Series: Finding Joy in the Nativity
Text: Luke 1-2
Theme: You must find joy in knowing the Savior.

Jesus is the joy!

Why do we need to be reminded that Jesus is the joy?

One: At times we want the material blessings from Jesus more than we want Jesus.

Two: At times we ask lesser things than Jesus to satisfy our craving for joy.

Three: At times we settle for partial joys of lesser things.

Four: Lest we send a mixed message about the Good News of great joy for all people.

Five: At times we think that Jesus leads to joy.