Sermons on Listen Before Acting:

Made To Make A Difference (Acts 1) Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Dec 5, 2011

This sermon series is adapted from Max Lucado's book, Out Live Your Life, and credit for most the series belong to him. This message focuses on what they first Christians believed and how it affected them. They believed Jesus is Risen, Jesus is Ruling, an

Made to Make a Difference: Acts 1 Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 6/19/2011 There is an old story about an elderly man walking the beach at dawn. He noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea. Catching up with the youth, he asked the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

Denomination: Christian Church

Corruption From Within (Acts 5) Series

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Apr 13, 2003

This is an exposition of the Ananias and Saphira passage

INTRODUCTION: Bruce Olsen, a single American, (his fine book is Bruchko), has in effect become a Motilone Indian, of South America. He was taken hostage by communist Guerillas in the late 1980s. He taught the communists to read with the beautitudes. The recognized that the kingdom of God was ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

An Outline For Acts 18:1-17

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 7, 2023

This outline covers Paul's early ministry in Corinth. Feel free to use this as the Lord leads.

Introduction: Acts 18 has three major topics. The first several verses record Paul’s ministry in Corinth; the middle section, Paul’ brief first ministry in Ephesus with Aquila and Priscilla; and the final verses describe the ministry of Apollos, and how Aquila and Priscilla helped him. 1 Paul as a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Persecution & Growth (Acts 12)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 26, 2025

Do persecution and church growth sometimes go hand in hand?

Does the word of God continue to grow even under sometimes severe persecution? Let’s look at Acts 12. Was James murdered by Herod? Was Peter imprisoned? Are Christians still murdered for their faith in places like Nigeria, North Korea, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, China, India, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline For Acts 18:18-23

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 8, 2023

This outline is admittedly brief but covers a section of Paul's life where a lot of things took place. The passage and outline might be good for a devotional or lesson. Feel free to use this as the Lord leads.

Introduction: This passage is brief but covers a good bit of time during Paul's life and work. Text: Acts 18:18-23, KJV: 18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:18-23

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 7 (Expanded Version)

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 24, 2021

This chapter contains Stephen's reply to the high priest and others who charged and questioned him (see chapter 6). Even though Stephen was martyred for his faith, his testimony still lives on.

Introduction: Acts 7 begins with a question from the High Priest to Stephen, one of the original seven men sometimes called deacons. The rest of the chapter contains Stephen’s review of Israel’s history and his reply to the charge/s against him (see Acts 6) and the response of those who heard him. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How Should I Act, Anyway?

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Mar 15, 2007

How many times have we heard someone say as an excuse to the way they act, "That’s just the way I am and I can’t help it"? Christ is concerned with the way we act, and there are certain characteristics he wants us to develop in our lives.

HOW SHOULD I ACT, ANYWAY? A. Have you been in an UNCOMFORTABLE situation where you didn’t know how to ACT? 1. Undoubtedly we all have at one time. ILLUSTRATION: It could be that you started work at a new JOB and you had no idea what you were supposed to DO or how to ACT. When you went to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Perceptive Art Of A Receptive Heart Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Jan 24, 2018

What's the main difference between the people who have hard hearts, shallow hearts, crowded hearts, and the one who has an open heart? The person with the open heart hears it and does it.

INTRODUCTION Here’s Bob and here’s Jerry. They’re both in Celebration Worship at Green Acres listening to the Pastor. They’ve both been Christians for over twenty years. But there’s a big difference between Bob and Jerry. During the message, Bob has his Bible open and he’s taking notes. He ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 28:1-16

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 14, 2024

Paul, Luke, and several other people had been shipwrecked on Malta. After staying there, these men and possibly others made the last leg of their journey to Rome itself. The journey wasn't always easy, though.

Introduction: this last chapter of Acts begins with Paul and others on the island of Malta, and closes with Paul arriving at Rome, just as the Lord had promised (Acts 23:11, 27:24). Luke summarized nearly 30 years of church growth in one volume, from Jerusalem to Rome and then to other parts of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 19:8-12

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 21, 2023

Paul arrived at Ephesus and tried to share the Gospel with the Jews in the synagogue. After they rejected him, Paul found another place to teach. He also found a ministry of healing in Ephesus, too.

Introduction: Paul had just arrived in Ephesus and had finished ministering to a group of men who claimed to be disciples of John the Baptist (verses 1-7). Now he’s moving on into his pattern, “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (or Gentile, Romans 1:16)”. There’s another pattern, so to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:8-12, Romans 1:16

Denomination: Baptist

Go! And Do Not Listen To Lies - Jeremiah 23:16 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Sep 11, 2025

We are surrounded by voices—news channels, social media influencers, politicians, friends, and even preachers. But not every voice that speaks with authority is a voice of truth. Some voices soothe, some voices flatter, but some voices deceive.

Go! And Do Not Listen to Lies - Jeremiah 23:16 Introduction Church, I want to begin with a question: Whose voice are you listening to? In our world today, we are surrounded by voices—news channels, social media influencers, politicians, friends, and even preachers. But not every voice that ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:16, Matthew 7:15, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Acts 20:29-30, John 14:6, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 10:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

An Outline Of Acts 12:1-17

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 17, 2022

Acts 12:1-17 has the story how Peter was condemned to death, but an angel saw to it that he was made free! Peter then found a group of believers, explained the situation, and then left the area.

An outline of Acts 12:1-17 1 Peter was a marked man Text, Acts 12:1-5, KJV: 1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Made To Make A Difference (Acts 5) Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Mar 14, 2012

This expository sermon series is adapted from Max Lucado's book, Out Live Your Life, and credit for most the series belong to him. Outlines are original. In Acts 5, we find the early church doing good deeds authentically, abundantly, and adventurously! Cu

Made to Make a Difference: Acts 5 Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 7/17/2011 This series is inspired by and portions adapted from Max Lucado’s Out Live Your Life. Even after their first taste of persecution and prison food, the message of the resurrection of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:1-39

Denomination: Christian Church

Acts Of The Apostles (3of 39)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 14, 2022

If you were to ask church members today what was the greatest day in their church, some might say:

• The greatest day in our church, was after we all had worked and sacrificed for a long time to build it, and had it completed, and were finally able to dedicate it to the Lord, and begin worshipping in it." • Others might say the greatest day in our church, was when we made the last ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Denomination: Baptist

Opposition From Without (Acts 5) Series

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Apr 13, 2003

THis is a study the waves of persecution following after the Jewish persecution of the church chronicled in Acts.

INTRODUCTION: History of Opposition without: There were about 10 waves of persecution following after the Jewish persecution of the church chronicled in Acts. Nero (54-68) Domitian (81-90) Marcus Aurelius (161-180) Decius (249-251) thousands died for refusing to sacrifice to the imperial ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:19-37

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed