God Saves His People
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
A Ransom for Many
Four Questions:
- A Ransom From What?
- A Ransom By What?
- A Ransom To What?
- A Ransom Paid to Whom?
God Keeps His Promises
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.
The Role of Careful Oversight
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
An Exemplary Life
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
The Need for Encouragement
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.
Threats to Thanksgiving
Text: 2 Kings 6:24-7:20
- We become selfish about good stuff
- We become silent about good news
- We become skeptical of a good God
The Name of the Lord Jesus
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
Gifts for Kingdom Advance
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
Fear in Sharing the Gospel
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
The Void Sin Leaves
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.
The Healing of the Soul by The Son of Man
Series: The Gospel of Mark
Text: Mark 1:35-2:12
The Leper
- The condition of the man
- The compassion of Jesus
- The contradiction of gratitude
The Paralytic
- The description of the man
- The diagnosis of Jesus
- The discrediting of the scribes
Turning the World Upside Down
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.