Sermon Central
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The Church In Acts
Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 3, 2008 (message contributor)
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1. Waiting For The Promise
Contributed on Jan 3, 2008
God’s plan to save this world requires the fulfillment of His promise to believers.
Waiting for the Promise Acts 1:1-8 Intro: Some people say that promises were made to be broken. That might be reality in some relationships, but with God, this is not the case. When He makes a promise, He keeps it! When people make promises to Him, He expects them to keep those promises, with ...read more
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2. Watching, Waiting, & Working
Contributed on Jan 3, 2008
Christ’s work is finished, but He left us with important work to do, esp. sharing the good news about Him.
Watching, Waiting, & Working (Don’t Just Stand There!) Acts 1:9-14 Intro: Have you ever seen something really spectacular? Have you ever seen something that just caused your jaw to drop and your eyes to bug out as you stood there and gazed at it? If you’ve ever watched Extreme Makeover ...read more
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3. Taking Care Of Business
Contributed on Jan 3, 2008
We can know God’s will if we keep our hearts right and trust Him completely.
Taking Care of Business “Discerning God’s Will” Acts 1:15-26 Intro: This might be the 1st church business meeting in history. Prop: We can know God’s will if we keep our hearts right and trust Him completely. Interrogative: How do we do that? TS: The following perspectives will help us ...read more
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4. In This Thing Together
Contributed on Jan 3, 2008
God wants us to live an empowered life in unity with other believers.
In This Thing Together Acts 2:1-13 Intro: Isn’t it nice to know that you are not alone? I’m sure there have been times when you’ve felt alone, but if you have a relationship with Jesus, you are never alone. He promised never to leave us or forsake us. His plan for the church is that no ...read more
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5. Under The Influence
Contributed on Jan 3, 2008
Peter’s Pentecost sermon shows us that we need to be under the influence of the HS in order to boldly speak the truth.
Under the Influence: Sipping Saints or Holy Boldness? Acts 2:14-36 Intro: The believers who were gathered on the Day of Pentecost had all just been filled with the HS and had spoken in other tongues. People from various language groups understood what they were saying. Part of the reason ...read more
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6. How To Deal With Conviction
Contributed on Jan 3, 2008
The proper response to guilty feelings will help us live in right relationship w/ God.
How to Deal with Conviction “When Something Good Makes You Feel Bad” Acts 2:36-41 Intro: Last week we talked about being under the influence (not of intoxicants, stimulants, or any illegal substance, but under the influence of the Holy Spirit). Peter was under the influence when he stood up ...read more
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7. Anatomy Of A Growing Church
Contributed on Jan 3, 2008
We can learn from the early church how to grow both individually and together.
Anatomy of a Growing Church Acts 2:41-47 Intro: After Peter had been filled with the Holy Spirit and had preached the sermon we read in Acts 2, 3000 people responded and became followers of Jesus. We see in the passage we just read that their lives took on a particular pattern. They began to ...read more
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8. Giving The Right Stuff
Contributed on Jan 3, 2008
We are called to give what we have, but we must make sure that what we have is the right stuff.
Giving the Right Stuff Acts 3:1-10 Intro: As we look at the background of this passage, Peter and John were together again. They had done a lot together when Jesus was around. When Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, there is a good chance that Peter and John were paired together. Now ...read more
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9. Times Of Refreshing
Contributed on Jan 3, 2008
We can be continually refreshed, if we will live in right relationship with God.
Times of Refreshing Acts 3:11-26 Intro: What is the most refreshing thing you can think of? For some of you, perhaps Coke is it! For others, when you’ve been working hard and perspiring profusely, a nice tall glass of iced tea is just the ticket. Still for others, there is nothing like cool ...read more
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10. The Disturbing Good News
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
The disturbing good news about Jesus can bring healing and forgiveness to all who believe in Him.
Disturbing Good News Acts 4:1-12 Intro: While staying in a hotel this past week, I saw the little signs they put in your room that you hang on your door when you don’t want to be bothered. You know what they say: DO NOT DISTURB! Or in espanol, no moleste. The idea is this: “I’m busy doing what ...read more
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11. Being With Jesus
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
If we will spend time with Jesus, we can boldly go and do His will, facing anything that comes our way.
Being with Jesus Acts 4:13-22 Intro: Matthew 19:26 says, “With God all things are possible.” The disciples spent 3½ years with Jesus, the very Son of God. Jesus told them, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Jesus had always accurately represented His Father to the ...read more
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12. Life-Shaking Prayer
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
God will shake our lives in a good way, when we ask Him for courage and power to do His will.
Life-Shaking Prayer Acts 4:23-31 Intro: Peter, John, and the other believers gathered together and prayed a prayer that shook the Church. I’ve never experienced a church-quake in response to my prayers. Why do you suppose God did this for the early church? Perhaps it was God’s way of saying, ...read more
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13. Living A Life Of Grace
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
God’s grace finds expression in the way we treat both people and possessions.
Living a Life of Grace Acts 4:32-37 32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon ...read more
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14. Living A Life Of Integrity
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
As our merciful God is working His goodness into our hearts and lives, He requires sincerity and integrity from us.
Living a Life of Integrity Acts 5:1-11 Intro: This is almost an unbelievable story to most people today. Can you imagine something like this happening today? I think it is safe to conclude that God does not always choose to work in this way. We do have some examples from the OT where God ...read more
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15. Reaching Your Jerusalem
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
God expects His people to make a difference in the world around them.
REACHING YOUR JERUSALEM Acts 5:12-16 Intro: People have all kinds of expectations about how things should happen in life. Husbands and wives have different expectations of each other. Bosses and workers have different expectations. Kids & parents; Govt. officials and citizens, etc. Something ...read more
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16. Free To Follow
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
God gives us freedom so we can be free to follow His plan for our lives.
FREE TO FOLLOW Acts 5:17-25 Intro: On this weekend of Independence Day, most of us will at least give passing thought to the freedom we enjoy here in America. Amid the screams of illegal airborne bottlerockets, and the frequent explosions of more illegal firecrackers, many Americans will pause ...read more
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17. The Necessity Of Obedience
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
Obedience is a must for those who want to have a right relationship with God.
The Necessity of Obedience [Give background of text- jailed & miraculously freed] Acts 5:25-32 Intro: If you know the story of the first man and woman in the Bible, you know that God gave them only one restriction: Don’t eat from one certain tree or you will certainly die. With a little ...read more
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18. The Unstoppable Work Of God
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
Because God’s purpose is unstoppable, we would do well to cooperate with Him, pursuing His will for our lives.
The Unstoppable Work of God [Give background of passage: Arrested for healing/ freed from jail by an angel who told them to go and tell more people about new life in Jesus/ brought before the Sanhedrin, who confronted them concerning their disobedience/ Peter replied that they should obey God ...read more
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19. God's Dream Team
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
God wants His people to work as a team as they go about His unstoppable work.
God’s Dream Team Acts 6:1-7 Intro: [Define synergy & relate how the body of Christ can accomplish much more together than separately.] Prop: God wants His people to work as a team as they go about His unstoppable work. Interrogative: How can we do this? How can Christians be team ...read more
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20. How To Deal With False Accusations
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
With God’s help, we can respond appropriately to those who treat us badly.
How to Deal with False Accusations Acts 6:8-15 Intro: Have you ever been falsely accused of something? How did that make you feel? In high school I was accused of something I would never have thought of doing. One of the city policemen told one of my friends that he’d heard from a reliable ...read more
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21. The Truth Will Set You Free
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
Truth will bring freedom to those who receive it.
The Truth Will Set You Free Acts 7:1-60 Intro: [Review Stephen’s ministry, arrest, and the charges against Him.] Acts 6:8 ”Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.” He faced opposition from other Greek-speaking Jews who falsely ...read more
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22. The Prevailing Purpose Of God
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
God’s most basic purpose - bringing people into a loving relationship with Him - will prevail in our lives if we say YES to Him.
The Prevailing Purpose of God Acts 8:1-8 Intro: One might imagine after Stephen was unjustly put to death by the Sanhedrin, that Stephen’s friends were disappointed, discouraged, and depressed as they mourned the loss of their godly friend. Maybe some of them were asking, “God, what are you ...read more
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23. Amazed By Grace
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
The truth about Jesus will have a powerful effect on those who receive it and live it.
Amazed by Grace Acts 8:9-13 Intro: These Samaritans had been amazed and seduced by magic and sorcery for a long time and had become addicted to Simon and his deception. However, they were even more amazed by the straightforward truth of the good news, and they believed on Jesus. Simon himself ...read more
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24. The Heart Of A Minister
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
If our hearts are right with God, we have an active part in the ministry of God.
The Heart of a Minister Acts 8:14-25 Intro: A number of questions arise from this passage. Why hadn’t the Samaritans received the HS under Philip’s ministry? When the apostles laid hands on them and prayed that they would receive the HS, what happened? When the Samaritans received the HS, was ...read more
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25. Following The Spirit's Lead
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
The more we learn to listen to the Holy Spirit, the more God will use us to help others come to know Him.
Following the Spirit’s Lead Acts 8:26-40 Intro: Do you ever feel guilty for failing to be an effective witness for Jesus? How many times have you been told that you need to introduce the Lord to your neighbors, friends, and acquaintances, but you have to admit that you’ve not been very ...read more
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26. Arrested By Love
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
God wants to put a stop to our old way of living so that we might experience His restoration and know His love.
Arrested by Love Acts 9:1-19 Intro: In my nearly 40 years, I’ve never been arrested. I did receive 3 speeding tickets and a traffic violation soon after I turned 16. Then I got another speeding ticket 3 years later- back when the interstate was still 55 MPH in ID, rather than 75. Of course I ...read more
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27. Growing In Christ
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
Every person who receives Jesus as their forgiver and leader needs to keep on growing in their faith.
Growing in Christ Acts 9:20-31 Intro: Saul had repented of his former way of living and had put his trust in Jesus. He had been forgiven for all of his sins, and had invited the Lord to be the leader of his life. Now what did that look like in Saul’s life? Did it make any difference in what ...read more
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28. The Need-Meeting God
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
God wants to reveal Himself to people by meeting the needs in their lives.
The Need-Meeting God Acts 9:32-43 Intro: [Review] Have you ever tried to help somebody, but as you were doing so, you wondered, “Hey! Am I really helping this person, or is this just a temporary fix for a deeper problem?” I am sure we’ve all felt that at times, but that doesn’t mean that we ...read more
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29. Accepted!
Contributed on Jan 10, 2008
Every believer is a living telegram [text message]of God’s love and acceptance.
Accepted! Acts 10:1-23 Intro: Have you ever been part of a group where you had a sense that your acceptance was tentative at best? In some ways, my memories of Jr. high and high school are like that. I was accepted because I was considered a good athlete, a nice guy, one of the cool kids. ...read more
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30. You've Got Mail!
Contributed on Jan 21, 2008
God has an instant message of love that He wants to send to everyone.
You’ve Got Mail! Acts 10:23-48 Intro: Most people like to check the mail. It is especially nice when you receive a personal letter from a friend, sharing things that only friends would share. There are always important bills and other business-related things that we need to keep track of. ...read more