SERMON SPOTLIGHT * 1/2/22
Sunday, we looked at the twin realities of the church: The Church is shaped by grace and marked by holiness. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.
SERIES: Hopeful: The Book of Acts
TEXT: Acts 4:32-5:11
TITLE: The Day God Killed People At Church
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: The church is a community shaped by grace and marked by holiness—And God will have it no other way.
OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Is He safe? Safe? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King; I tell you—The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis)
POINTS:
1. The Church is Shaped by Grace
2. The Church is Marked by Holiness
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Joshua 7:1 But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.
Titus 2:9-10 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
1 Peter 5:6-9 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
Hebrews 3:12-13 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
APPLICATION:
Stay humble by celebrating grace as often as possible—in your life and others. It’s all too easy to forget that it’s all by grace. This is the difference between holy humility and sinful pride.
Never allow others to think more highly of you than they ought. Correct the record and deflect the glory to God.
Identify areas of sin you tend to commit while thinking to yourself—I know God will forgive me. At that moment, you aren’t living in the fear of God; you are living as if you don’t fear what God thinks about your sin.
Read The Joy of Fearing God by Jerry Bridges.