Sermon Central
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Will The Mission Be Accomplished? (Series On The Book Of Acts)
Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Feb 23, 2011 (message contributor)
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1. Accepting The Challenge
Contributed on Feb 23, 2011
Will the church accept the challenge of Christ to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth?
"Accepting the Challenge" (Acts 1:1-11) INTRODUCTION Now that Christ was physically gone, he gave the disciples (and the church) their "job description." * Matthew 28:18-20 * Mark 16:15-16 * John 20:21 The perpetual message and challenge for believers is to go and transform the ...read more
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2. The Kind Of Person God Uses To Transform The World
Contributed on Feb 23, 2011
What kind of person does God use to change his/her community with the Gospel?
INTRODUCTION * God has chosen to accomplish his task of redemption through the efforts of...YOU AND ME! * We have been appointed and chosen to change the world. John 15:16 1 Cor. 12:28 Eph. 4:11 * Before God can use us for this mission, we must become "usable." The kind of person God uses ...read more
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3. Doing The Impossible
Contributed on Mar 6, 2011
This sermon explains how the disciples (and the church today) were able to do a seemingly impossible task: taking the Gospel to the world
* Assignment from Acts 1:8 is impossible in Acts 1 because the disciples have no spiritual power to help them * Explain Holy Spirit’s role, pre-Acts 2 (came upon isolated individuals or small groups for a specific purpose or on a special occasion) * Disciples know the facts about Jesus but lack ...read more
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4. Divine Dynamite
Contributed on Mar 7, 2011
This is a sermon on the power of God (divine dynamite) and what it can do
* Dynamite = power // Divine Dynamite = power of God * What we mean when we say we need to "live in the power of God" or we need to have the power of God: the ability to act in a situation so as to produce an effect or to exercise authority over something or someone * Living in God’s power means ...read more
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5. Why You Need The Church
Contributed on Mar 7, 2011
This sermon explains three reasons why every believer needs the church
* The church doesn’t need us in order to be the church nearly as much as we need the church in order to be the person God created us to be. * The importance of the church is based upon its mission * Wrong question: "What can the church do for me?" // Right question: "What can I do for the ...read more
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6. A Changed Church Changes The World
Contributed on Mar 7, 2011
This sermon explains a few lessons about how a changed church can change the world
* Change: to make the form, content, future course, etc., of something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone; a transformation or modification; alteration * Change is often resisted in the church. Yet one could sum up a church’s purpose with one word: change - We must ...read more
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7. Dealing With Difficulty
Contributed on Mar 7, 2011
This sermon focuses on the first persecution of the church and helps us understand how to deal with difficulty today
* When something big happens, new people come out (i.e, winning the lottery) * There’s both a positive and negative reaction when God does something big (he just did something big in the first church) * Jesus warned that persecution and adversity would occur (John 15:18-19) * Text: First ...read more
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8. The Message Of The Church
Contributed on Mar 7, 2011
This sermon examines what the message of the church should consist of.
* The "real" message a church sends determines that church’s reputation - If always bickering and fighting, the message is sent: "We don’t like each other...or you." - If always doing things for self, the message is sent: "It’s all about us, not you." - If never reaching out, the message is ...read more
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9. The Facts Of Church Life
Contributed on Mar 13, 2011
Acts 4:32 - 5:11 reveals some facts about church life, both the good and the bad.
* "You take the good, you take bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life." * Scripture does not omit the "bad" aspects of various people (i.e., Noah, Moses, David, Jonah, Elijah) * The church in Acts has been all "good" so far: the Holy Spirit’s arrival; multiple conversions; ...read more
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10. How The World Was Won
Contributed on Mar 13, 2011
By studying how the church in Acts won so many souls the church today can learn how to be faithful and fruitful in our mission.
* The primary task of the church must be to carry on the work that Christ began. * His work = Luke 19:10 * Of all the "work" the church does, evangelism (reaching the world with the gospel) is the only duty of the church that cannot be better done in heaven! * The church in Acts understood their ...read more
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11. Growing Pains
Contributed on Mar 13, 2011
The early church’s response to an internal problem teaches the contemporary church some valuable lessons.
* The dramatic growth of the early church: last count (4:4) around 5,000 men (probably around 20,000 total) * Such growth led to a “good” problem: many more needed to be ministered to than there were people to minister * The 12 did not have the ability to both effectively deliver the Word and ...read more
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12. The First
Contributed on Mar 14, 2011
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, teaches us how we can be prepared to live and die for Christ.
* Our culture’s love of records and stats (i.e., longest hitting streak; first to land on moon; etc.) * Our culture’s love of “firsts” = they set the standard and give an example to everyone who will ever follow them * Stephen’s role as one among those who did something first...the first ...read more
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13. The Persecuted Church
Contributed on Mar 16, 2011
(Preached on July 4th): This message focuses on the first church-wide persecution in Acts. Attention is given to the implications the Gospel has for believers as members of both God's kingdom and a country.
* The difficulty in approaching a July 4th message: - We sometimes "read" America into Scripture when we shouldn't - Bible doesn't reference America as a country of predict the events of July, 1776 * If we're not careful, we end up using today to exalt a nation instead of Christ - We do not ...read more
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14. Faith That Is Worthless
Contributed on Mar 16, 2011
This sermon examines the worthless faith of Simon. It explains why his faith was worthless and how we can avoid a worthless faith today.
* Popular notion: "As long as you believe something you'll be okay before God." * It is possible to believe in the wrong person or to believe the wrong thing. * When this occurs, faith becomes worthless; when what or who we have faith in is not correct * Examples of worthless faith... - People ...read more
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15. When God Speaks
Contributed on Mar 16, 2011
In this text, Philip gives us an example of how we, as the people of God, should interact with God when he speaks to us today.
* The power of words (use examples of powerful words) * The power of God's words ("God said" is used over 1000 times in Scripture) - Creation: "And God said" -- "and it was so" - Jesus raised the dead when he spoke - Jesus calmed the sea when he spoke - Jesus drove out evil spirits and healed ...read more
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16. Before Optimus Prime...
Contributed on Mar 16, 2011
This message looks at the lessons we can learn from the conversion of Saul.
* "Transformers" = "more than meets the eye" * Concept of transformation: a complete change; to change into another form (inward and outward) which, under the power of God, will find expression in character and conduct * 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18 * The man who wrote more about ...read more
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17. How To Be A Servant
Contributed on Mar 16, 2011
Peter's example in this text reveals to us some qualities of who a servant is and what a servant does.
* Concept of serving others and God is woven throughout Scripture * Why serving others/God is important: - It's commanded (Gal. 5:13) - Service to God is linked to worship (Matt. 4:10) - When we serve others, we are actually serving God (Matt. 25:40) - When we serve others, we follow Jesus' ...read more
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18. Pride & Prejudice
Contributed on Mar 16, 2011
Peter came to a point where he was able to overcome his prejudice. This sermon examines how he came to that point, and shares how we can get there, too.
* "The most segregated house in America is 11:00 on Sunday." * The reality/existence of prejudice in Christianity and the church... * Prejudice in the church takes many forms... * Not a new issue for the church to face: it has existed for almost as long as the church itself * The problem that ...read more
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19. Real Christians
Contributed on Mar 17, 2011
The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. This message takes a look at what a "real," biblical Christian looks like and does.
* Explain how the meanings of many words have changed over time (i.e., spam; cell; wicked; awful; etc.) * How the meaning of "Christian" has changed: today there are many "types" of Christians (i.e., active/inactive; marginal; radical; involved/uninvolved; secret; casual; etc.) * The most ...read more
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20. Why God Cannot Be Defeated
Contributed on Mar 17, 2011
Acts 12 records another attempt of Satan to defeat God and his plan for the church. However, God cannot be defeated. This sermon explains why.
* Concept of being undefeated: a rare occurrence - Only 1 NFL team; 7 NCAA basketball teams; no NBA or MLB teams * Being undefeated symbolizes that no one was able to be better, play harder, or accomplish more * It's practically impossible to always be undefeated: the longer you play, the less ...read more
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21. What A Biblical Church Looks Like
Contributed on Mar 17, 2011
The church in Antioch was filled with "real" Christians and shows us what a biblical church looks like.
* The book of Acts holds up a mirror to our church today so we can get an accurate picture of how well we are functioning as a biblical church. * Many outward things about the church has changed in 2000 years, but what the church is and what we are to do has not...nor will it ever. * Yet a ...read more
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22. Jesus, According To Paul
Contributed on Aug 4, 2011
This sermon explores the Apostle Paul's understanding of the person of Jesus Christ
INTRODUCTION * Paul’s life before Christ and after Christ - from persecuting the church to planting churches - from arresting Christians physically to arresting unbelievers spiritually - from hindering the work of Christ to hindering the work of Satan - from being openly opposed to ...read more
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23. Are You A Spectator Or A Participant?
Contributed on Aug 4, 2011
This sermon focuses on whether believers will simply watch others accomplish God's mission or if they will actually take part in accomplishing the mission of God
INTRODUCTION * Difference between a spectator and a participant: - Spectator doesn’t understand all that’s involved in the game = participant does - Spectator doesn’t understand the true goal = participant does - Spectator falsely believes that he can make a different in the ...read more
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24. The Law Verses Grace
Contributed on Oct 13, 2011
This sermon examines Paul's teaching on the law and grace
INTRODUCTION * Text = a clash between those who want to strictly follow what they feel is the Law and those who want to abandon that Law and cling to God’s grace regarding salvation - the Covenant of Circumcision (Gen. 17) and Passover requirements (Ex. 12:48-49) * Some believed that the ...read more
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25. The Job Description Of A Life-Changer
Contributed on Oct 13, 2011
In this message we'll examine the characteristics of the person God uses to change the lives of others
INTRODUCTION * Purpose of a job description: describes responsibilities and expected actions of a person in a particular job setting...mostly imperative * A job description often defines a person - “What do you do?” - We do what we do because of who we are * The job description of ...read more
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26. The Change
Contributed on Oct 13, 2011
What kind of change occurs in a person's heart when they accept Christ as Savior?
INTRODUCTION * A subject often found in Acts: change - Christ changes the heart and status of a person before God, resulting in... - Christ calling the church and believers to change their culture with the Gospel * Focus is often on outward change because it’s visible: the presence of ...read more
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27. What God Does With Pain
Contributed on Oct 13, 2011
In this message the "stages" of experiencing pain are examined, with the goal of God using our pain to point others to him
INTRODUCTION * God’s sovereignty: he is in control of all; clearest demonstration of God’s sovereignty is making good come out of bad * How God demonstrated this in Scripture: - Joseph’s life (innocence - sold into servitude - rises in power in Egypt - incident with ...read more
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28. Paul's European Tour
Contributed on Oct 13, 2011
This message looks at the lessons we can learn from Paul's teaching as he traveled throughout Europe with the Gospel message
INTRODUCTION * Progression in the book of Acts: - started with a group of men, given a challenge by Christ to take the message of Christ to all the world - these and faithful to share that message, as were those they shared it with; a successive chain of evangelism - the growth/flourish of the ...read more
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29. Getting To Know God
Contributed on Oct 13, 2011
This sermon focuses on how Paul revealed God's heart and desire at Athens
INTRODUCTION * To know God biblically means to know him as the Bible reveals him, not as we imagine him or as someone portrays him * The importance of knowing God biblically: Proverbs 9:10 = knowing God helps us understand life better than if we do not know him biblically * The paradox of ...read more
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30. Moving To Commitment
Contributed on Oct 13, 2011
In this message a contrast is drawn between involvement and commitment. Special attention is given to the need for commitment to be a part of God's plan.
INTRODUCTION * Difference between involvement and commitment - involvement = to include as a condition; to engage or employ; to include - commitment = to give in trust; to pledge oneself to a position; to bind or obligate - involvement is partial; commitment is total - involvement means I take ...read more