Sermons on Acts (Page 2)
The Need for Gospel Church
Many Christians treat church like an option. Attendance and commitment is really dependent on how they feel on any given day. We know that we don’t need to attend church in order to be saved… but in Acts wherever the new believers have travelled and carried the gospel churches have sprung up. As we look at the first real expression of church in the Gentile world we will see some of the essential marks of gospel community and more importantly,…
The Gospel Severs the Root of Racism
As we have been following the new community of Jesus followers we have seen a theme developing. The further the gospel expands the further the disciples are pulled out of their comfort zones. This is the unique wonder of the gospel; it simultaneously saves sinners and sanctifies saints. Well as we come to chapter 10 we find that God is going to confront Peter with one of the most ingrained attitudes of the human heart… racism. And as this attitude…
The Gospel Does the Impossible
In chapters 7 and 8 Luke beautifully weaves the story of Saul of Tarsus in with the story of the church to show how these two rapidly rising forces were set on an inevitable course for collision. IN chapter 9 we see them collide in stunning fashion as the risen Christ confronts His greatest enemy on the road to Damascus. As we look at this encounter we will see the power of God in salvation and the ramifications this has…
Sharing the Christ
Before Jesus ascended into Heaven he said to the apostles present, “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the world. In his encounter with Ethiopian eunuch, Phillip is fulfilling this command as the eunuch represents the ends of the earth. These words of Christ apply to his followers today and while the ends of the earth maybe a far away land it could also be those in a local…
The Gospel Advances
Up to this point in Acts, the church has remained in Jerusalem. As we reach chapter 8, the gospel begins to advance out of the city into the surrounding areas of Judea and Samaria. The gospel advances by the disruption caused by persecution, among unlikely audiences, and despite the messiness of sinful agendas. Jesus continues to advance his gospel and grow his church despite the obstacles that we encounter in the mission.
The Gospel Won’t Be Killed
We have seen tensions brewing around the new and rapidly growing movement of Jesus followers. The religious authorities in Jerusalem have tried to squash the impact of the church: they threatened them with a muzzle, but the church kept talking; and they imprisoned them and beat them, but the church broke free! Now as the church is coming to terms with their own growth and the complications that brought, a man named Stephen will be set apart for ministry only…
The Gospel Won’t Be Stopped
The passion, power & and generosity of the church was winning the favour of so many people in Jerusalem that it was growing exponentially. It seemed as though everybody was captivated by this new movement. Well everybody it seems except the High Priest and the leaders of Israel. Instead of being captivated by the new church and their gospel, they were filled with jealousy. This morning we see this jealousy overflow to action… and as it does we will learn…
The Gospel Won’t be Corrupted
Riding high on a wave of excitement, joy, and gospel zeal the Apostles and the community of Jesus were growing in both number and unity. But as things seem to be going better than ever a new threat would arise that had the potential to derail the whole movement. As Pastor Joe examines this confronting event we will see the heart of God for His community and how our hearts need to be brought in line with His.
The Gospel Won’t be Muzzled
As the church continues to grow the disciples of Jesus continue their daily custom of heading the the temple to pray. It is here that they meet a man born lame and God does an amazing act of supernatural power. This draws a crowd who hear the gospel and many respond. It also draws the attention of the authorities who haul Peter and John before their tribunal. It is here on this ominous stage, with the most influential people of the…
The Essential Church
Last week we saw that God powerfully fulfilled His promise to pour out His Spirit on His people… and 3000 people received the reality of the gospel and repented of their sin and were baptised into Jesus. Last week we heard that this repentance and baptism was effectively the people rejecting their own pride-filled leadership of their lives and embracing the perfect reign of Christ… well this week Pastor Joe unpacks what kind of community this new people would form…