Text: 1 Peter 1
Listen to the sermons as a podcast
Watch Services on YouTube
Series: Jonah: God's Sovereign Mercy
Text: Jonah 3
Theme: The Mercy of Repentance
One: Wicked…
- A description of their actions
- The condition of their hearts
…but receptive
- Faith = a turning to God
- Repentance = a turning from sin
- Marks of true repentance:
- A sorrow over sin
- An appeal for mercy
- A rejection of sin
Two: Undeserving but forgiven
- Sinners deserve judgment.
- Christ suffered God's judgment so sinners can be forgiven.
Salvation belongs to the Lord! ~ Jonah 2:9
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:
- Paul's ministry is characterized by the Spirit's leading.
- Paul's reasons for going to Jerusalem were good.
- Paul knew the Spirit's constraint to take this specific trip.
- The Spirit had revealed an awaiting danger.
- Danger was a part of Paul's commission to ministry.
- Paul doesn't consider this decision to be a mistake.
- Paul later considers this outcome as a gospel benefit.
- The people cannot press their conclusions on Paul, and yield to the will of God.
- We must consider what the Spirit actually said.
- 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