Celebration Worship Series

Celebration Worship

The Power of Praise

Acts 3:1-10

I. One Example of Celebration Worship.

A. The Lame Man’s Handicap.

1Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.

B. The Lame Man’s Healing.

3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

4Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting a gift. 6But Peter said, “I don’t have any money for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

7Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and anklebones were healed and strengthened.

C. The Lame Man’s Worship.

8He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

D. The Lame Man’s Witness.

9All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

II. Three Reasons for Celebration Worship.

A. We celebrate because of where we were yesterday.

1Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. Eph 2:1-3

13For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. Col 1:13 (NLT)

B. We celebrate because of where we are today.

12I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. Phil 3:12

C. We celebrate because of where we will be tomorrow.

19And if we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world.

"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John 3:2