This past week we took a deeper look at the ministry and arrest of Stephen in the book of Acts and its implications for our own lives. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Hopeful: The Book of Acts
TEXT: Acts 6:8-14
TITLE: A Worthy Example
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: As Christians, we have the Word of God AND the Spirit of God. THEREFORE, we should be HOPEFUL—that is our hearts should be filled with expectation that God will work in us and through us to advance the gospel and build His church by bringing salvation to sinners.

POINTS: 
1.  Full of Grace 
2. Full of Power
3. Full of Wisdom

SERMON EXCERPTS:
“There was a genuine sweetness, a gentleness, a winsomeness about Stephen. He wasn’t just a pleasant guy to be around. He didn’t merely have a likeable personality. God’s grace toward him flowed out to others. There was an authentic Christ-likeness about him—He was full of grace.” 

“Do you expect God to do amazing things as you courageously speak truth in the power of the Spirit?“ 

“Stephen’s powerful ministry was fruit of the grace and power of the Spirit at work through him. And though separated by millennia and cultures, it is the same for us today. Effective ministry, both personally and collectively, is based on grace, power, and wisdom from above.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
1 Peter 3:15 - “…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

John 14:25-26 - “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

QUOTES:
Eckhard Schnabel - “Christians living in the West are in danger of being to thoroughly influenced by a culture that values technical skills, management strategies, and methodical planning. While expertise in these areas are not unimportant, it can easily obscure the fact that ministries, particularly mission and evangelism, are not rendered effective by techniques but by the power of God, who empowers his witness through his Spirit”

APPLICATION:
How do we prepare and position ourselves for the Holy Spirit empowered ministry and witness?    

1. Be a student of the Word. If the Word is in your heart, the Word will be at the heart of your words!

2. Embrace your dependance on the Spirit. It’s the Spirit that makes truth alive in our minds and hearts and it’s the Spirit that makes our ministry efforts fruitful.

   • How do we embrace our dependance? Prayer—Lord, fill me up freshly with your Spirt for the strength and power to have: 

     • Humility—be full of grace!

     • Clarity

     • Boldness

     • Discernment and wisdom in the moment

     • Right words at right time

     • Fruit

3. Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing! Salvation is the goal and the gospel is the only way. So Give them Jesus—the Way, the Truth, the Life.

4. Don’t be surprised by opposition. Jesus promised it. History has proven it. Don’t be surprised by opposition. If you are, you will probably be silenced by opposition.

We heard from guest Pastor Mark Alderton, from our Aurora, CO church, about being a Word AND Spirit-led church. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

TEXT: Luke 24:44-49, Acts 1:6-9
TITLE: Becoming A “Word and Spirit” Church
PREACHER: Guest Pastor Mark Alderton
BIG IDEA: God’s word is not enough to transform people…without the Holy Spirit.

POINTS: 
1. We can expect God to be working apart from us   
2. We can expect God to speak to us directly
3. We can expect to be placed in uncomfortable ministry situations that require dependence on the Spirit
4. We can expect God to do amazing things

SERMON EXCERPTS:
”The biblical church is a word and spirit church. It’s not either/or; it’s both/and. It’s a church that is anchored in the clear and careful teaching of God’s word, and that also leaves room for and asks for the Spirit of God to empower that teaching and do things outside of that teaching for the good of the church and the conversion of unbelievers.”

“This story starts with Cornelius, not Peter. God is preparing this man to hear the gospel through a supernatural work, a vision of an angel of God, before Peter even knows of his existence. …Do you expect God to be doing that in our day? Do you think that the Spirit of God might be operating on someone right now, placing in their minds something that makes them suddenly open to the gospel – totally apart from you?”

“…we have a category for this. It’s what we might call the revelatory gifts. I would put prophecy, tongues with interpretation, the utterance of knowledge and the discerning of spirits in that category, all gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12. They are strange, but they are in the Bible. And the Spirit works through them as part of the package of building up the church and advancing the gospel.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Acts 10:1-48
John 16:7-14

APPLICATION:
- What would it look like if we are more intentional about relying on the Holy Spirit in our lives?
- Anything can displace Jesus from the center, especially good things like the Spirit’s broad ministry. But not if we keep the word and the Spirit together.

• God’s written word points to Jesus everywhere as the hero of the redemption story in this fallen world.

• And the Spirit also points us to Jesus

On Sunday, in an effort to stir you up by way of reminder and prepare you for our Family Meeting next Sunday night, we decided to seize the moment to be reminded how Scripture speaks to Deacons and the biblical office they hold. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Hopeful: The Book of Acts
TEXT: Acts 6:1-7
TITLE: We Are Deacon Dependent
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Deacons are unique and vital expressions of God’s wisdom, goodness, and care for His church.

POINTS: 
1. Deacons Exist to Serve the Pastors   
2. Deacons Serve the Pastors by Serving the People
3. Deacons are Difference Makers in Our Gospel Mission

QUOTES:
Alexander Strauch - “Church shepherds must radically insist on a schedule that affirms the spiritual priorities of prayer and the ministry of God’s Word. The deacons of the church, also, need to fix these priorities firmly in their minds.”

Sovereign Grace Church Deacon Policy - “Deacons are men uniquely called and qualified by God to serve the pastors by serving the people. They do this in various ways and with delegated authority and responsibility from their pastors. This ensures there are no unserved people and no unmet needs in the church while at the same time ensuring the pastors can govern the church and devote themselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
1 Timothy 3:8-13 - Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:17 - Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

APPLICATION:
Join us the evening of Sunday, January 30th (RSVP HERE) as we install Scott Mcleod and Bob Rabe as deacons. It will be a marker in the life of our church as well as a celebration of God’s wisdom and goodness toward us through these men. 

What areas of your life do you wish God would hit the fast-forward button? In what areas do you feel stuck? On Sunday we learned that when it comes to revival God can do in a moment what we could never do in a lifetime! Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

TEXT: Psalm 85
PREACHER: Guest Pastor, Dustin Smetona
BIG IDEA: Pray and prepare for revival!

POINTS: 
1.  Revival is our family history. (vs. 1-3)   
2. Revival is our present need. (vs. 4-7)
3. Revival is our future state. (vs. 8-13)

OPENING ILLUSTRATION & QUESTIONS:
”As I was talking to [my six-year-old son] about his anger I told him, ‘Buddy, you’ve got to remember to talk back to your anger and say no to it.’ Without missing a beat he responded, ‘Dad I’m trying! But my anger just won’t listen to me and it’s so loud that I can’t talk over it.’

My son felt stuck.
What are those areas for you?

• Does anger have a grip on you?

• Are you spiritually dry or joyless? Depressed?

• Do you lack direction and vision for what God wants you to do?

• Are you stuck in a pattern of sin and feel like you can’t get out?

Wouldn’t you be so relieved if God hit the fast-forward button on that?”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Romans 8 - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

QUOTES:
Ray Ortlund - “Revival is a season in the life of the church when God causes the normal ministry of the gospel to surge forward with extraordinary spiritual power. Revival is seasonal, not perennial. God causes it; we do not. It is the normal ministry of the gospel, not something eccentric or even different from what the church is always charged to do. What sets revival apart is simply that our usual efforts greatly accelerate in their spiritual effects. God hits the fast-forward button.”

Martyn Lloyd-Jones - “The history of the church is a history of revivals.”

Jonathan Edwards - “This work of God, as it was carried on, and the number of true saints multiplied, soon made a glorious alteration in the town: so that in the spring and summer following, the town seemed to be full of the presence of God: it never was so full of love, nor of joy, and yet so full of distress, as it was then. There were remarkable tokens of God’s presence in almost every house. It was a time of joy in families on account of salvation being brought to them; parents rejoicing over their children as newborn, and husbands over their wives, and wives over their husbands. Our public assemblies were then beautiful: the congregation was alive in God’s service, every one earnestly intent on the public worship, every hearer eager to drink in the words of the minister as they came from his mouth; the assembly in general were, from time to time, in tears while the word was preached; some weeping with sorrow and distress, others with joy and love, others with pity and concern for the souls of their neighbors.”

Richard Lovelace - “[Revival] is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit which restores the people of God to normal spiritual life after a period of corporate decline. Periods of spiritual decline occur in history because the gravity of indwelling sin keeps pulling believers first into formal religion and then into open apostasy. Periods of awakening alternate with these as God graciously breathes new life into his people.”

John Piper - “The only life I have left to live is future life. The past is not in my hands to offer or alter. It is gone. Not even God will change the past. All the expectations of God are future expectations. All the possibilities of faith and love are future possibilities. And all the power that touches me with help to live in love is future power. As precious as the bygone blessings of God may be, if He leaves me only with the memory of those, and not with the promise of more, I will be undone. My hope for future goodness and future glory is future grace.”

This last Sunday we learned that Jesus is our King and we belong to Him. He is with us even now calling us to GET BACK TO IT and never give up no matter what may come! Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Hopeful: The Book of Acts
TEXT: Acts 5:12-42
TITLE: Go and Stand Firm
PREACHER: Guest Pastor, Tom Wilkins
BIG IDEA: The Church is commissioned in the Gospel of Jesus that will advance in power no matter what!

POINTS: 
1.  The Church’s Gospel Mission Advances In Power   
2. The Church’s Gospel Mission Advances In Opposition
3. The Church’s Gospel Mission Advances In Suffering

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
James 5:7-11 - Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

QUOTES:
Kent Hughes - “All of these died knowing that God can deliver his people anytime he wants. Scripture says that when waves of persecution or trial come, God can deliver us if he so wills. No matter how dark or oppressive the wave, he can rescue us. Believe it!”

Charles Spurgeon’s sermon “A Happy Christian” - “The worldling blesses God while he gives him plenty, but the Christian blesses him when he smites him: he believes him to be too wise to err and too good to be unkind; he trusts him where he cannot trace him, looks up to him in the darkest hour, and believes that all is well.”

John Newton: “Are not you amazed sometimes that you should have so much as a hope, that, poor and needy as you are, the Lord thinketh of you? But let not all you feel discourage you. For if our Physician is almighty, our disease cannot be desperate and if He casts none out that come to Him, why should you fear?”

APPLICATION:

1. Obey GOD rather than man! The rage, the opposition, the suffering is just waiting for us. But, we are called to obey God rather than man! There are situations in which we will be called to be Shadrach Meshach and Abednego - so moved by obedience to God that they MUST do so no matter if He delivers them or not!

2. Get Back To It! - Obedience that is met with God’s power
   Church, we are called to get back to it! Get back to the proclamation, back to the witness, back to “this life!” 

3. Never Give Up In It! - Perseverance that sustains 

   “Stand “ Firm - Hold Your Ground - Vs. 20
   “Every day” - do not stop preaching that the Christ is Jesus!!!! Vs. 42
   “Counted worthy to suffer” - Get back to it - NO MATTER what may come - opposition, suffering is worth it because Jesus is worth it.

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:

1. 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.

2. Never allow others to think more highly of you than they ought. Correct the record and deflect the glory to God.

3. 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.

4. Read The Joy of Fearing God by Jerry Bridges.

James begins his brief letter to the scattered and battered Jewish Christians with a radical and seemingly irrational command—Count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds. Below are a few words from the sermon on 2/21/21 that show the brilliant rationale to such a radical command.

Scripture

We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance - Romans 5:3

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. - Colossians 3:1-4

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Quotes

“Frankly, many of us would prefer that this passage was not in the Bible! But it may also be one of the most profound and crucial for truly mature Christian living.” - Craig Blomberg

“James is commending the conscious embrace of a Christian understanding of life that brings joy into the trials.” - Kent Hughes

A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God's Love

By Vincent, Milton

Buy on Amazon

“More than anything else I could ever do, the gospel enables me to embrace my tribulations and thereby position myself to gain full benefit from them. For the gospel is the one great permanent circumstance in which I live and move; and every hardship in my life is allowed by God only because it serves His gospel purposes in me. When I view my circumstances in this light, I realize that the gospel is not just one piece of good news that fits into my life somewhere among all the bad. I realize that the gospel makes genuinely good news out of every other aspect of my life, including my severest trials. The good news about my trials is that God is forcing them to bow to His gospel purposes and do good unto me by improving my character and making me more conformed to the image of Christ. Preaching the gospel to myself each day provides a lens through which I can view my trials in this way and see the true cause for rejoicing that exists in them. I can then embrace trials as friends and allow them to do God’s good work in me.” - Milton Vincent, The Gospel Primer