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.

• Romans 15:5 - Patience and Encouragement
• Romans 15:7 - Welcome
• Romans 15:14 - Goodness, Knowledge
• Romans 16:16 - Greet one another

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: How We Related to Each Other: a study of the "one another" passages in the New Testament.
Texts: Colossians 3:9-10, Titus 3:1-7, James 4:11-12, James 5:7-9