Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
This sermon explores the book of Acts, focusing on the concept of living "unhindered" as followers of Christ, inspired by the disciples who spread the message of love, forgiveness, and salvation.
Who here has ever felt hindered or held back in some fashion or circumstance. You may have felt that you had more to give, more to offer, more to contribute… And what about in your faith? Have you ever felt like there was something more? Some piece that you may have been missing out on as you read through the gospels and Acts? The miracles, healings, transformation, and boldness of the early church leaves you wanting for more.
If that sounds like you, I’ve got good news for you today, you’re not alone. Over the centuries this is something that the people of God have thought a lot about. In fact, the entire reformation movement from the 16th century was rooted in this idea that something was missing in the experience of the people of God. They knew there was more.
When I think of being hindered, I imagine a thoroughbred racing horse, standing just behind the starting gate, waiting for it to open. (If possible, share a photo of a horse at a starting gate). Once that gate opens up that horse is running free, beautiful, and majestic. That racing horse is meant to run, but the gate hinders its movement and freedom. The gate is the obstacle, holding the horse back.
What is holding you back today? As a church, what’s holding us back? What more does God have for us to experience in our faith?
As you roll those questions around, I’m excited to share with you that today we’re beginning a 4-week series called Unhindered. Using the book of Acts as our starting point, we’re going to unpack several of the ways we are called and released to live “unhindered” lives of faith.
What is holding you back today? As a church, what’s holding us back? What more does God have for us to experience in our faith?
First of all, there’s something very special about the book of Acts.
“Historically, the book serves as a vital link between the Gospels and the epistles. (Explain gospels and epistles) It bridges the gap between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith. In the Gospels, Jesus is preaching; in the epistles, Jesus is being preached. The book of Acts explains how the messenger became the center of the message.
Unlike most history books, Acts is filled with references to God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The story simply wouldn’t have been possible without God. He started it, motivated it and gave it direction, energy, purpose, message and protection. Luke does not give us a systematic description of God, but he describes what God did with the church.”
So as you go through the book of Acts it's important to remember that everything points to Christ and His church. It’s story after miraculous story of God’s provision, power, and protection of His Church. It’s Peter and John preaching to the Jewish Sanhedrin, it’s all the believer’s being of one heart and one mind; selling all their possessions and sharing everything with one another, it’s Philip baptizing an Ethiopian eunuch and then being Holy spirit star trek beamed away, it’s Saul’s conversion to Paul, Peter’s miraculous escape from prison, and the list could go on and on.
The book of Acts is not a list of attributes to memorize or bullet points to fit into a spreadsheet. It tells the story of the birth of Christianity and the very beginnings of the spread of the Gospel.
And when you’re going through the book of Acts there’s one specific word that brings it all together, actually it’s the very last word of the book, Unhindered.
Let’s skip to the end…
Read Acts 28:30-31
“Paul stayed two full years in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.” NASB Acts 28:30-31
What’s going on in this passage? Let’s go through it together…
“Now Paul stayed two full years in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him…”
Paul was sent by Agrippa and Festus to Rome where he waited 2 years to be seen by Ceasar.
Paul is sitting under house arrest.
He rents his own space, theoretically funded by other church members, and he welcomed anyone and everyone who came to him.
“...preaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ …”
He was preaching and teaching… Just like Jesus did, cf. Matthew 4:23
He was obeying the Great Commission
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