Series: Jonah: God's Sovereign Mercy
Text: Jonah 1:17-2:10
Theme: Jonah's progression from rebellion, to repentance, to restoration.

One: Historic but prophetic

• Jonah and Jesus were buried for 3 days
• Jonah and Jesus were raised the third days
• Jonah and Jesus proclaimed repentance
• [Remember, Jonah but Jesus]

Two: Punished but penitent

• God keeps us from the ruin of sin by a severe mercy
• In repentance, we desire God's presence

Three: Disobedient but delivered

• Sinners run from God, but he seeks and saves.
• God appoints the means and accomplishes the end of our salvation.

Salvation belongs to the Lord! ~ Jonah 2:9

Series: Jonah: God's Sovereign Mercy
Text: Jonah 1
Theme: Obeying God's Command

One: Commissioned but AWOL

• "Arise, go" vs. "rose to flee"
• What do I think of God's commands?

Two: Great but godless

• The gospel is better than any human standard of greatness.
• God is merciful to arrogant sinners.

Three: Hiding but seen

• We foolishly think we can hide from God.
• God sees and knows everything.

Salvation belongs to the Lord! ~ Jonah 2:9

Series: Jonah
Text: Jonah
Theme: A familiar story of mercy and salvation

Historical Context

• 2 Kings 14:25 - Jeroboam II; Northern tribes of Israel.
• c.750 BC; Israel falls to Assyria in 722 BC.

A Theme of Sovereign Mercy

Jonah, but Jesus

• The Old Testament begins a story that is completed in Christ.
• Jonah – buried for 3 days in the belly of the fish and brought up alive – is a vivid illustration of the death and resurrection of the Messiah.

A Prophecy in Story

• Of the universal scope of God's redeeming love
• Of the Jewish aversion to Gentile inclusion

Salvation belongs to the Lord! ~ Jonah 2:9

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 1:8; Acts 8:4
Theme: Tensions that shape our outreach strategies

Tension #6: Extended, ongoing relationships vs. brief, one-time encounters.

Tension #7: Scholarly defense of the gospel vs. simple statements of the gospel.

Tension #8: Sovereignty and the power of God's Word, vs. persuasion and the power of my words.

Tension #9: Testimony of words vs testimony of works.

Tension #10: Faith for risk vs wisdom for safety.

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 1:8; Acts 8:4
Theme: Tensions that shape our outreach strategy.

Tension #1: Awareness vs. engagement.

Tension #2: Individual effort vs. corporate program.

Tension #3: The sheer joy of witnessing vs. the stark obedience of witnessing.

Tension #4: Compassion for sinners vs. condemnation of sin.

Tension #5: Bold persistence vs. bold intolerance.

Special: Resurrection Sunday
Text: Acts 26:12-23
Theme: The light of the gospel shines from an empty tomb.

One: Gospel light has the power to transform lives.

• to open their eyes
• to turn them from darkness to light
• to turn them from the power of Satan to God
• to forgive sins
• to give them a place in God's family

Two: Gospel light is received by repentance and faith.

• Repentance = a turning FROM sin
• Faith = a turning TO God

Three: Gospel light is anchored to the power and hope of the resurrection.

Christ…being the first to rise from the dead…would proclaim light. ~ Acts 26:23

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 28:17-31
Theme: Last instructions for witnesses

One: Aim for opportunities to talk.

Two: Communicate a genuine hope.

Three: Anchor your witness to the Bible.

Four: Understand the possible results.

Five: Be ready in any context to speak of God.

Six: Believe in the gospel's success.

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 28:11-16
Theme: How do we keep in mind the big picture of kingdom advance?

One: View perceived delays as God's plan.

Two: Remember that you live as a witness among unbelief.

Three: Rest in God's promise-keeping.

Four: Be encouraged by other believers and their gifts.

Five: Trace the simple kindness of God in your life.

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 27:1 - 28:10
Theme: Advancing the kingdom when daily life is hard.

One: Know that everyone faces the storms of life.

Two: Believe that nothing hinders God's plan.

Three: Take courage from what God promises.

Four: Remember that you belong to God.

Five: Encourage others by sharing your hope.

Six: Use healing and rescue as <## data-preserve-html-node="true"> of the gospel.

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

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 25-26
Theme: See how the resurrection anchors the gospel.

One: Jesus died.

Two: Jesus rose from the dead.

Three: God has a plan to save sinners.

Four: Christians aren't crazy.

Five: Christians have hope.

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

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 24:1-27
Theme: You should consider how your Christian witness is perceived in order to give the right opinion of God.

Is your witness…

One: …concerned about truth?

Two: …peaceful in manner?

Three: …committed to God (and the word He gave us)?

Four: …confident in the resurrection?

Five: …consistent with behavior?

Six: …focused on faith?

Seven: …convicting with context?

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

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.