Sermon Central
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The Book Of Acts
Contributed by Mark Strauss on May 4, 2006 (message contributor)
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1. The Book Of Acts, Part 1- What Happened Next
Contributed on May 4, 2006
We are going to begin a study of the greatest revolution in human history. •A revolution that began with a single man; and when that man died he had little more than a hundred followers. •Yet the revolution he began has changed the world. It has chan
“What Happened Next” Intro to Acts Acts 1:1-11 Introduction I flew up to Portland this weekend (I had a paper I was delivering at a biblical studies conference). As I was flying, I got bored and was flipping through the in-flight magazine and I came across an editorial John Kelly, the CEO ...read more
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2. The Book Of Acts, Part 2- Power From Above
Contributed on May 4, 2006
This morning we are going to look at the event which sparked the beginning of the Church, pouring out of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.
Power from Above The Spirit Comes at Pentecost Acts 2:1-21 Sometimes the most foolish sounding ideas turn out to produce the most extraordinary results. Listen to these real statements made about people and products. •In 1876, a Western Union internal memo read this, “This ’telephone’ ...read more
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3. The Book Of Acts, Part 3- Recipe For Revival
Contributed on May 4, 2006
Throughout the book of Acts we see phenomenal growth. In 2:47: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved"; •By chapter 4 the church has exploded to over 5000. •And throughout Acts, the growth of the church is a common re
“Recipe for Revival” Acts 2:42-46 What’s the key to success in life? Walk into any bookstore and you’ll see shelves of books on how to be successful. How to be successful in business; in relationships; in personal financial planning; in athletics. One man who knew about success in sports was ...read more
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4. The Book Of Acts, Part 4- Something Better Than Gold (Or Rise Up And Walk)
Contributed on May 4, 2006
In Acts 3 we meet a man whose life is about to change. •For over forty years his life has been the same (4:22). •But now he is about to receive the greatest gift of his life.
Something Better Than Gold (or, Rise up and Walk) The Healing of the Lame Man Acts 3 For all of us there are momentous events in our lives that change us forever. •Meeting that special person you will “Your eyes meet across the room...” •Having your first child; or adopting first child. ...read more
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5. The Book Of Acts, Part 5- Standing Firm On A Solid Foundation
Contributed on May 4, 2006
When we meet Peter and John in Acts 4, they are in a situation that we would expect to produce fear. Fear is a rational response. •They have been arrested and thrown in prison. Their very lives are threatened. •Yet instead of fear, we see boldness a
Standing Firm on a Solid Foundation 4:1-21 Fear. It is perhaps the common human emotion. And we all have things we are afraid of. •There are scientific names for every fear imaginable. •There is claustrophobia, the fear of enclosed places; acrophobia, the fear of high places; agoraphobia, ...read more
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6. The Book Of Acts, Part 6- Sharing All Things
Contributed on May 4, 2006
We live in a society that is obsessed with self-fulfillment and self-centeredness. •And Christians often share that obsession, buying into this “me first” attitude. •Yet when we examine the book of Acts, we see in the Church a community characterized b
“Sharing All Things” The Church’s Example in Giving Acts 4:32-37 One of the things we learn from children is their natural, inborn tendency toward selfishness. •From a baby’s perspective, “What’s mine is mine, What’s yours is mine, and whatever I want is mine.” •And this natural selfishness ...read more
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7. The Book Of Acts, Part 7- The Price Of Impurity
Contributed on May 4, 2006
In Acts chapter 5 we meet a Church that is suddenly in the grip of fear. •But this is not a fear provoked by being strapped to a tower 254 feet high.. •It is not fear brought about by some natural phenomenon like a hurricane or earthquake. •It is not
“The Price of Impurity” The tragic story of Ananias and Sapphira 5:1-16 Good morning. It’s good to be back with you. While I was gone we as a family took a week’s vacation and one of the things we did was took the kids to Knott’s Berry Farm. •It’s a whole different experience going to an ...read more
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8. The Book Of Acts, Part 8- Big Problems? God's Bigger
Contributed on May 4, 2006
The Church is thriving. Jesus’ disciples, the apostles are in great form. You might say pitching shutouts. And the Church is winning. Everything is going great. •There is wonderful unity: Sharing all things in common. •There is wonderful growth: We
Big Problems? God’s Bigger Acts 5:17-42 One of the great modern stories of a sports hero who has experienced great adversity and yet persevered is that of Dave Dravecky, star pitcher of the S.F. Giants. I’m sure many of you know his story. •In 1987 Dravecky was playing his best baseball. He ...read more
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9. The Book Of Acts, Part 9- A Few Good Men; Seven Servants Made A Difference
Contributed on May 4, 2006
When we pick up our study of the Early Church in Acts 6, it is thriving and growing. They are having unprecedented success. •External persecution has only made the Church stronger. •We learned at the end of chapter five that after being beaten for thei
A Few Good Men Seven Servants Who Made a Difference Acts 6:1-7 One of the great classics of Western literature is Edward Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. It races the history of the decline of the Roman Empire over a thousand year period, from the second century to the final ...read more
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10. The Book Of Acts, Part 10- Dying To Please Jesus; The Martyrdom Of Stephen
Contributed on May 4, 2006
Let’s see how it begins: •Verse 8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. •Stephen is obviously a multi-talented individual. He not only takes care of the widows, but he’s out there on
“Dying to Please Jesus” The Martyrdom of Stephen Acts 6:8-7:59 One of great movies of recent years is Amadeus, a mostly fictional account of the life of the great composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. •The story is told from the perspective of Antonio Salieri, a fellow composer. •As a young boy, ...read more
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11. The Book Of Acts, Part 11- Available To God; What To Do Before Your Call
Contributed on May 4, 2006
We’re going to look at a man named Philip •Philip is what we might call a "minor character of Acts" •We know great characters of Peter and Paul. •When we meet Philip: -Not a professional missionary; great evangelist; powerful preacher -Just an o
Available to God (or, “What to do before your call”) Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:1-8) 1982 was a momentous year in my life. After 12 yrs. of school and 4 yrs. of college, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree. It was a wonderful accomplishment. •Unfortunately, like many college graduates my ...read more
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12. The Book Of Acts, Part 12- Counterfeit Faith; Simon The Sorcerer
Contributed on May 4, 2006
In Acts 8 we meet just such a leader. •A man with a following; a man who is viewed by those around him as powerful and dynamic and charismatic. •Yet whose spirituality is just as phony as David Koresh or Marshall Applewhite.
Counterfeit Faith Simon the Sorcerer; 8:9-25 It was Nov. 18, 1978. Congressman Leo Ryan from San Francisco had decided to fly a fact-finding mission to a place called Jonestown Guyana, South America. His mission is to investigate alleged human rights abuses at a religious cult known as the ...read more