Sermon Central
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Acts: A Blueprint For The New Testament Church
Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on May 4, 2022 (message contributor)
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1. The Story Of Dr. Luke
Contributed on May 4, 2022
From Dr. Luke we learn to be faithful and resourceful in all we do to build the Kingdom of God.
THE STORY OF DR. LUKE Text: Col. 4:14, Luke 1:1-4, Acts 1:1-4, 2 Tim. 4:11 Introduction 1. Illustration: When our daughter-in-law, Emily, graduated from nursing school I told her, “Welcome to the family business!” You see, my mother was head nurse in the nursery at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, ...read more
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2. Second Work Of Grace
Contributed on Jun 8, 2022
If God wants to give you a gift, know that it is a good gift (it’s nothing to be afraid of), and if this second work of grace is going to make you a witness for Jesus, then use it for his glory.
A SECOND WORK OF GRACE Text: Acts 1:4-11 Introduction 1. This series through the Book of Acts I am entitling “The Blueprint for the New Testament Church,” I believe it is God’s guidebook for what a New Testament Church should be. In other words, if we want what they got, we need to do what they ...read more
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3. United In Prayer
Contributed on Jun 8, 2022
If we are going to be a NT church, we need to be a praying church.
United In Prayer Text: Acts 1:12-26 Introduction 1. Illustration: In the 1850s, the United States was in a weak spiritual state, as people were preoccupied with concern for material things. In 1857 a quiet forty-six-year-old businessman, Jeremiah Lanphier, felt led to start a noon-time weekly ...read more
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4. Four Signs Of The Spirit
Contributed on Jun 22, 2022
Just as the 120 disciples did, we need to embrace the power of the Holy Spirit.
Four Signs of the Spirit Text: Acts 2:1-4 Introduction 1. Illustration: Without Pentecost the Christ even – life, death, and the resurrection of Jesus - remains imprisoned in history as something to remember, think about and reflect on. The Spirit of Jesus comes to dwell within us, so that we can ...read more
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5. Amazed And Confused
Contributed on Jul 4, 2022
The power of the Holy Spirit empowers us to fulfill the Great Commission.
AMAZED AND CONFUSSED Text: Acts 2:5-13 Introduction 1. Illustration: When you strip it of everything else, Pentecost stands for power and life. That's what came into the church when the Holy Spirit came down on the day of Pentecost. – David Wilkerson 2. Last week we talked about how the power ...read more
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6. Transformed By The Spirit
Contributed on Aug 24, 2022
We are transformed when we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit.
Transformed By the Spirit Text: Acts 2:14-21 Introduction 1. Illustration: A woman testified to the transformation in her life that had resulted through her experience in conversion. She declared, "I’m so glad I got religion. I have an uncle I used to hate so much I vowed I’d never go to his ...read more
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7. Both Lord And Christ
Contributed on Aug 24, 2022
God’s plan to save us centered around declaring Jesus both Lord and Messiah.
Both Lord and Messiah Text: Acts 2:22-36 Introduction 1. Illustration: “The cornerstone of God’s plan is the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Hugo Montoya). 2. As God always does, he had a plan B. He set us up with paradise, but that wasn’t good enough for us, we had to have more. So, we ...read more
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8. Repent And Turn
Contributed on Aug 24, 2022
Conviction is not enough; we must repent and turn from our sins.
REPENT AND TURN Text: Acts 2:37-41 Introduction 1. Illustration: If there is no repentance, there can be no pardon. Some years ago, a murderer was sentenced to death. The murderer’s brother, to whom the State was deeply indebted for former services, asked the governor of the State for his ...read more
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9. Hopelessly Devoted
Contributed on Aug 24, 2022
Our goal as a church should be devotion to The Word, Fellowship and Prayer.A
Hopelessly Devoted Text: Acts 2:42-47 Introduction 1. Illustration: Recently Tina and I traveled to Ohio for my brother-in-law’s funeral. He was a lifelong farmer who fought cancer courageously for over 12 years. At his funeral, two of my nieces got up and talked about their Dad. They said that ...read more
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10. Silver And Gold
Contributed on Aug 24, 2022
We should always expect God to open the door for us to share the Gospel.
Silver and Gold Text: Acts 3:1-11 Introduction 1. Illustration: Mark Roberts wrote of a time when he visited the Capitol as a guest of Congressman John Campbell. If he was with the congressman, he could walk freely around the Capitol, entering many areas that were reserved "for authorized ...read more
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11. Seizing The Opportunity
Contributed on Aug 31, 2022
You don’t have to be a Bible scholar, theologian, or pastor to share the Gospel with people.
SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY Text: Acts 3:12-26 Introduction 1. Illustration: “There is a big difference in seeing an opportunity and seizing an opportunity” – Jim Moore 2. Last week we talked about expecting opportunities to share the Gospel. Today we are going to talk about how to seize those ...read more
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12. Salvation Only In Jesus
Contributed on Sep 16, 2022
There is only one way to heaven, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
SALVATION ONLY IN JESUS Text: Acts 4:1-12 Introduction 1. Illustration: Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the late Dr. Billy Graham, recently posted on his Facebook page a troubling article. Here’s what it said: a. 39% of “evangelical” pastors surveyed recently said there is no absolute moral truth ...read more
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13. Who Should We Obey?
Contributed on Oct 5, 2022
As followers of Jesus, we need to share the Gospel courageously and actively with everyone we meet.
WHO SHOULD WE OBEY? Text: Acts 4:13-22 Introduction 1. “Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) 2. The question I want us to ponder this morning is should we obey God or people? 3. According to Peter and ...read more
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14. Shake The Building
Contributed on Oct 5, 2022
The way to deal with persecution is through the power of prayer!
SHAKE THE BUILDING Text: Acts 4:23-31 Introduction 1. Illustration: John Stott has pointed out that “persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.” That clash is what we are seeing now, and it is ultimately between those who believe, trust, and love the God of the ...read more
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15. It's Good To Share
Contributed on Oct 5, 2022
A unified church works together to make a difference in their community.
IT’S GOOD TO SHARE Text: Acts 4:32-37 Introduction 1. Illustration: When we pray together and work together in fellowship there is a strengthening bond that forms. There is strength in numbers. Vance Havner said: “Snowflakes are frail, but if enough of them get together they can stop traffic.” If ...read more
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16. Don't Lie To The Holy Spirit
Contributed on Oct 5, 2022
God calls his people to live lives of integrity, being honest and genuine in all we do.
Don’t Lie to the Holy Spirit Text: Acts 4:36-5:11 Introduction 1. Illustration: “You can fool some of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool Mom.” (Captain Penny). 2. You can take this wisdom from Captain Penny and appropriate into our spiritual ...read more
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17. God Still Heals
Contributed on Nov 7, 2022
The God that lived in the Book of Acts is still the same today.
God Still Heals Text: Acts 5:12-16 Introduction 1. Illustration: God is moving powerfully in and amongst children in this hour. You will see MANY children raised up to preach, heal, prophesy, move in miracles, signs, and wonders. (Patricia King). 2. Church, our God is still in the miracle working ...read more
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18. Dealing With Opposition
Contributed on Nov 7, 2022
When dealing with opposition, realize that God has your back.
Dealing With Opposition Text: Acts 5:17-32 Introduction 1. Illustration: I’m reminded of an old song called “I’ve Been Redeemed.” It’s an old chorus that’s got like a million verse to it. One of those verses says, “Oh, the devil’s mad, and I’m so glad. Oh, the devil’s mad and I’m so glad. Oh, the ...read more
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19. Fighting Against God
Contributed on Nov 7, 2022
When ever someone tries to stop the Gospel or the church of Jesus Christ, God always wins!
FIGHTING AGAINST GOD Text: Acts 5:33-42 Introduction 1. Illustration: When I first got interested in music, the first artist that I took a liking to was a man named Jim Croce. He is famous for songs like Bad, Bad Leroy Brown and Time In a Bottle. I was thinking this week of another one of his ...read more
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20. Serving In The Church
Contributed on Nov 11, 2022
The church is at its best when we are all following our calling.
SERVING IN THE CHURCH Text: Acts 6:1-7 Introduction 1. Illustration: C. Peter Wagner states in his book Your Spiritual Gifts on page 19: "Martin Luther permanently changed Christendom when he rediscovered the priesthood of all believers. Still, Lutheranism retained much of the clericalism of ...read more
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21. Falsely Accused
Contributed on Jan 4, 2023
Like Stephen, we need to be bold in the face of opposition.
FALSELY ACCUSED TEXT: ACTS 6:8-15 Introduction 1. Illustration: The author, Antonio Socci, claims the untold story of the 20th century is the murder of 45 million Christians, mostly at the hands of communist and Islamic regimes, and that massacres continue to this day. Drawing heavily from the ...read more
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22. The Call Of Abraham
Contributed on Jan 11, 2023
We are Abraham’s children only if we obey God in faith like he did.
THE CALL OF ABRAHAM Text: Acts 7:1-8 Introduction 1. How many of us remember the old Sunday school song “Father Abraham?” The song goes like this “Father Abraham had many sons, and many sons had Father Abraham. I am one of them and so are you. So, let’s just praise the Lord!” 2. Abraham is known ...read more
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23. God's Got This
Contributed on Jan 18, 2023
In the troubles we have in life, God is there making a way when there seems to be no way.
God’s Got This Text: Acts 7:9-16 Introduction 1. Illustration: God spared Joseph’s life, and through these adverse circumstances, that are recorded in our text, God is oversaw his safety. This is the sovereign purpose of God at work. The Midianites and the Ishmaelites only saw Joseph as a ...read more
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24. My Deliverer
Contributed on Feb 1, 2023
It is essential that we embrace Jesus, our deliverer, as Lord of our lives.
My Deliverer Text: Acts 7:17-37 Introduction 1. Joseph took his wife and her child, and they went to Africa To escape the rage of a deadly king There along the banks of the Nile, Jesus listened to the song That the captive children used to sing They were singin' a. My Deliverer is ...read more
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25. Stephen The Martyr
Contributed on Mar 6, 2023
We need to be led by the Spirit and not resist his leading.
STEPHEN THE MARTYR Text: Acts 7:51-60 Introduction 1. Illustration: The author, Antonio Socci, claims the untold story of the 20th century is the murder of 45 million Christians, mostly at the hands of communist and Islamic regimes, and that massacres continue to this day. Drawing heavily from ...read more
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26. Trying To Bottle The Holy Spirit
Contributed on Mar 23, 2023
The Holy Spirit cannot be bottled, but he will go where he is welcomed.
TRYING TO BOTTLE THE HOLY SPIRIT Text: Acts 8:9-25 Introduction 1. Illustration: Dr. John Maxwell said, “Manipulation is moving together for my advantage. Motivation is moving together for mutual advantage.” 2. The Holy Spirit was given to the Church for the benefit of the Church, not the ...read more
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27. Saul The Apostle Paul
Contributed on Apr 20, 2023
God is in control of our lives, and we need to follow where he leads us.
SAUL THE APOSTLE PAUL Text: Acts 9:1-19 Introduction 1. Illustration: Years ago, when I was a young Christian, my chief form of fellowship was Christian coffee houses. This is much different from what Christian coffee houses look like today. There would be refreshments, but the main goal of these ...read more
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28. Jesus Christ Heals You
Contributed on May 12, 2023
Jesus still works miracles through us and in us if we believe.
JESUS CHRIST HEALS YOU Text: Acts 9:32-43 Introduction 1. There are some well-meaning Christians who believe that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. They teach the gifts of the Spirit were only for the apostles, and once the cannon of Scripture was completed, these gifts ceased. 2. I am not one ...read more
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29. Your Prayers Have Been Received
Contributed on May 29, 2023
2. God’s Word tells us that if we ask anything in Jesus’ name we will receive, therefore, we should believe God will hears us and our prayers of faith.
YOUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED Text: Acts 10:1-8 Introduction 1. Illustration: One of my favorite parts of our worship service is the time of sharing our praises, when we testify about ways God has answered our prayers. The reasons I like this time in our worship service is because it reaffirms ...read more
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30. Surprise, Surprise, Surprise
Contributed on May 29, 2023
The one that had been the enemy of the church has now become the champion of the church.
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise Text: Acts 9:20-31 Introduction 1. When I was growing up, my three favorite TV shows were the Beverly Hillbillies, the Andy Griffith Show, and Gomer Pyle USMC. There are certain lines from these shows that always make me think of them. Like the Beverly Hillbillies, ...read more