Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 23:11-35
Theme: You can know, and then rest in, the providence of God.

One: God has a plan.

Two: God is faithful to his promises.

Three: God is with us on our pilgrim journey.

Four: God knows all things.

Five: God accomplishes his will – sometimes through unique ways.

Six: We must not define providence solely by our comfort.

Seven: We must trust God to work all things for his glory and for our good.

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

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 22:30-23:11
Theme: You can have a confident witness in the face of constant opposition.

One: Know the world you live in.

• Expect opposition.
• Exercise your rights in service of the gospel.

Two: Keep your conscience clear.

• Definition = your standard for right and wrong.
• Your conscience must be shaped by God's truth about right and wrong.

Three: Be wise with your use of truth.

• Aim for the heart of the matter.
• Aim to unsettle the unbelief.

Four: Rest in God's faithfulness.

• Remember God's presence.
• Remember God's purpose.

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

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 21:37-22:21
Theme: You must be ready to tell your story of faith in Jesus.

One: As a witness…engage people strategically.

• Be asertive
• Be defensive
• Be relational
• Build a bridge

Two: As a witness…follow the rescue storyline.

• Before faith in Christ
• Encountering Christ
• Living for Christ

Three: As a witness…trust God with the results.

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

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 21:17-36
Theme: We must accept suffering as God's will.

One: Doing God's will includes suffering.

• That's the story of Paul's ministry.
• That's the truth of Bible teaching.
• That's the example of stormy seas.
• That's the reason for God's promise.

Two: God uses suffering to accomplish his will.

• The advance of the gospel.
• The gospel itself.

Three: We must trust God's perfect plan to use our suffering.

Four: We must trust God's faithful promise to end our suffering.

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

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 21:1-16
Theme: Doing God's will in the face of suffering.

Question: Was Paul right or wrong to go to Jerusalem?

Answer to the Question: Paul was right to go.

Reasons that Support the Answer:

1. Paul's ministry is characterized by the Spirit's leading.
2. Paul's reasons for going to Jerusalem were good.
3. Paul knew the Spirit's constraint to take this specific trip.
4. The Spirit had revealed an awaiting danger.
5. Danger was a part of Paul's commission to ministry.
6. Paul doesn't consider this decision to be a mistake.
7. Paul later considers this outcome as a gospel benefit.
8. The people cannot press their conclusions on Paul, and yield to the will of God.
9. We must consider what the Spirit actually said.
10. The Lord's confirmation of the visit to Jerusalem.

Applications:

• Daily cultivate a heart that is submissive to the Spirit.
• Define God's will by his revealed Word.
• Face uncertainty and known hardships with faith.

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

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 20:28-38
Theme: What should a congregation expect from overseers?

One: A congregation should expect to be warned about false teaching.

• The means: distort truth and draw away
• The end: harm to the flock

Two: A congregation should expect to be encouraged in meaningful relationships.

• Investment of time
• Investment of truth

Three: A congregation should expect to be directed to the Chief Shepherd.

• Commended to the person of God
• Commended to the promises of God

Four: A congregation should expect to be called to diligent service.

• Hard work to help the weak
• True gain comes by giving

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

Series: Series: Christmas Hope
Text: Matthew 1; John 1
Theme: The Light shines in the darkness.

One: Rejoice that you are in the Light.

Two: Trust the Light for daily guidance.

Three: Shine the Light in the darkness.

Four: Hope in the victory of the Light.

Series: Christmas Hope
Text: Matthew 1
Theme: God uses broken people.

One: Brokenness is every person's story.

Two: Brokenness points to our need for a Savior.

Three: Brokenness reveals the wonder of grace.

Four: Brokenness itself will be broken.

Series: Christmas Hope
Text: Matthew 1
Theme: God saves his people.

One: We are sinners.

• We have rejected the rule of God = rebels.
• We have earned the wages of sin = death.

Two: We need to be rescued.

• From the future consequences of sin = eternal judgment
• From the present consequences of sin = futility and self-destruction

Three: God rescues his people through Jesus.

• Jesus = God saves
• Immanuel = God with us

Series: Christmas Hope
Text: Matthew 1
Theme: God keeps his promises.

One: God's promises revealed the hope of gospel remedy.

Two: God's promises pictured the work of our Messiah.

Three: God's promises emphasized a son as the savior.

Four: God's promises anticipate a final victory and a new creation.

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 20:28
Theme: The Role of Careful Oversight

One: Careful oversight…

Two: …should be diligently exercised…

• Inward - over self
• Outward - over disciples

Three: …by qualified elders

• About elders…
  • Multiple elders in each church
  • Also called bishop & pastor
• Following the Holy Spirit
• Imitating the work of Christ

Four: …over God's church.

• Purchased with his blood
• Secured by his love

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 20:17-27
Theme: How can you live a model life?

One: Serve with humility.

• As to the Lord
• When life is hard

Two: Speak with truth.

• The truth of the Word's benefit
• The truth of the gospel's demands

Three: Live by faith.

• Faith - in the Spirit's leading
• Faith - in the face of uncertainty
• Faith - in the light of eternal values

Four: Rest in grace.

• Enabling grace
• Forgiving grace

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 20:1-16
Theme: Encouragement is essential in the daily work of kingdom living.

One: Encouragement is purposeful in giving.

Two: Encouragement is necessary for weakness.

Three: Encouragement is fostered by cooperation.

Four: Encouragement is anchored to God's Word.

Five: Encouragement is representative of new life.

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 19:1-41
Theme: The name of the Lord Jesus is the power for Kingdom advance.

One: The power for discipleship based on the truth.

Two: The power for boldness in the face of unbelief.

Three: The power for healing as a picture of salvation.

Four: The power for holiness in response to Christ's value.

Five: The power for protection in the midst of opposition.

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

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 18:18-28
Theme: God uses the unique gifts of his people for the advance of the kingdom.

One: Paul – off the stage.

Two: Apollos – a rising star.

• Eloquent, competent in the Word
• Instructed, fervent, accurate
• Bold, humble

Three: Priscilla & Aquila – behind the scenes.

• A gentle approach
• An encouraging approach
• A truth-based approach

Conclusion

• You must pursue competence in the Word.
• You must use your gifts in the church.

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

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 18:1-17
Theme: We must hear the Lord's encouragement to offset our fear in sharing the gospel.

One: A Common Hurdle

• God's people have often struggled with fear.
• How do we know Paul was afraid?

Two: The Simple Instructions

• Stop being afraid.
• Keep on speaking.

Three: The Convincing Reason

• God's powerful presence
• God's sovereign electiom
  • Election glorifies God
  • Election fuels evangelism

Conclusion: Believe God's promise to you; proclaim God's gospel to others.

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

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 17:16-34
Theme: We must share the gospel; it fills the void that sin leaves

One: The void sin leaves reveals sin's lie.

Two: The void sin leaves masquerades as enlightenment.

Three: The void sin leaves drives a perpetual search.

Four: The void sin leaves rejects God's revelation.

Five: The void sin leaves leads to final judgment.

Six: The void sin leaves necessitates a gospel witness.

Seven: The void sin leaves is remedied by repentence and faith in Jesus.

Series: The Gospel of Mark
Text: Mark 1:35-2:12

The Leper

1. The condition of the man
2. The compassion of Jesus
3. The contradiction of gratitude

The Paralytic

1. The description of the man
2. The diagnosis of Jesus
3. The discrediting of the scribes

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 17:1-15
Theme: You must speak the truth that can transform an unbeliever's heart – that can turn his world upside down.

One: The tool of turning the world upside down: the gospel.

• The righteous life of Christ
• The atoning death of Christ
• The victorious resurrection of Christ
• The advancing kingdom of Christ

Two: The method of turning the world upside down: Biblical conversation.

Three: The cost of turning the world upside down: antagonism.

Four: The result of turning the world upside down: conversion.

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 16:11-40
Theme: God opens hearts to salvation...

One: ...through our obedience to the Great Commission.

Two: ...as illustrated by the freedom from spiritual darkness.

Three: ...by circumstances that we may not like or understand.

Four: ...in the simple message of faith in Jesus.

Conclusion:

• Be clear with the good news.
• Be sure that God can save.
• Be aware that today's circumstances may be ordained to open hearts.
• Be ready with the answer.

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