Living Your Life
With the End in Mind
Acts Series: “Completely Irreligious, Yet Radically Christian” Part 33
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters
compared to what lies within us.”
-Oliver Wendell Holmes
Pastor Jeff Christopherson
August 31, 2003
Acts 21-28
HOW TO I LIVE WITH THE END IN MIND?
1. By Facing the fact that there is an End.
“After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11
2. By Following God’s Agenda.
“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’” Acts 23:11
“I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Acts 26-17-18
3. By Frequent ‘Conscience Checks.’
“Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, ‘My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.’” Acts 23:1
“So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” Acts 24:16
“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.” Acts 26:19
4. By Finding Confidence in Jesus.
(Festus explaining Paul’s ‘crimes’ to Agrippa)
“When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.” Acts 25:18-19
(Paul speaking to Festus about Jesus’ Resurrection)
“What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.” Acts 26:25-26
5. By Forgetting Short-Term Convenience.
(Felix’ response to Paul’s message)
“He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.’” Acts 24:24-25
“Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ Paul replied, ‘Short time or long--I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.’” Acts 26:28-29
6. By Finishing on Purpose.
“They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.” Acts 28:23
“Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Acts 28:31 (the very last verse in Acts)
Scripture passages from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
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Home Church Discussion Guide: leaving a legacy
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On September 14th, 2003 we will be celebrating our 2nd anniversary as “The Sanctuary”. We want to encourage everyone to invite a friend to the celebration event that will follow the service on that Sunday. We realize that doing this may be asking you to step out of your comfort zone. We are commanded in His word to be His witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit Acts 1:8. This year we want to equip our church body to be effective and confident in communicating their faith to a lost world. The next 2 weeks in our home churches we will begin exploring what the Bible says about evangelism and take a look at some practical helps in sharing your faith. This will be followed by more in depth training and encouragement in the fall and continuing on until we see His Face.
Discussion Question:
When you think of the word “evangelism” what feelings come to mind?
If someone is thirsty we usually have no problem getting someone a tall glass of water temporarily quenching their physical thirst. However, when we meet someone who is spiritually thirsty we often times run away and leave them to find their own water. The tainted water the world offers leaves them unsatisfied and unfulfilled and leads to death. We know the Jesus “the thirst quencher”! Maybe we think we must be a bible scholar or a highly skilled teacher. Maybe we are afraid of rejection.
Discussion Question:
What scares you about sharing your faith?
Pray for the Holy Spirit to be your teacher as you look at His word. Read John 4: 1-42 (have each person read 2 or 3 verses aloud.) This story is personal evangelism at its best. Read and dissect this beautiful story in your group.
What verses reach out and grab you?
Example of someone sharing!
Verse 28 hit me right in the heart. It says that “she left her water pot and went into the city.” In other words, her search was over and her evangelism training was complete. She had found what she needed to quench her thirst. Jesus! And she was busting at the seams to tell the world. This is a beautiful salvation moment. The only prerequisite for sharing your faith is to have some. She changed the world and so can you. NO FEAR!!!!!!!”
So what do we do with this?
1. In what ways are your unchurched friends similar to the Samaritan woman?
2. In what ways can you follow Jesus’ example in sharing your faith?
3. What happened to the surrounding community because she could not contain what Jesus had done for her?
