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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
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
Four Questions:
- A Ransom From What?
- A Ransom By What?
- A Ransom To What?
- A Ransom Paid to Whom?
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.
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