Somewhere out there, sometime this week, God has people waiting for us. Because the gospel mission is God’s mission. Salvation is His plan. Building the church is His responsibility. Are we listening when he says, “GO!” Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Hopeful: The Book of Acts
TEXT: Acts 8:26-40
TITLE: God’s Plan, Our Participation
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: God has a plan—Are we listening?

SERMON EXCERPTS:
”As important as it is to live for Jesus, people must hear about Jesus. We must open our mouths and tell of the good news of Jesus. Faith comes by hearing, not watching. And how will others hear if we do not open our mouths and tell? Live for Jesus by all means. But don’t stop there—let’s open our mouths and tell others about Jesus.”

“When they ask, Can I, Do I move people’s questions about God and the Bible to the good news of the Gospel? Whether it’s Creation. End Times. Genealogies. Good morals. Can I, Do I connect it all to Jesus?”

“Key to our sanctification and witness, like Phillip, is allowing our lives and well-laid plans to be interrupted and directed by the Spirit for the sake of the salvation of others—yes, even spontaneously.”

“For some of us, our personalities may make it more difficult, but it never ABSOLVES us from obeying the voice of the Lord. And when we use personality, busyness, or effectiveness as an excuse, we end up quenching the Spirit in the moment and missing opportunities to experience His grace and witness His glory.”

QUOTES:
Eckhard Schnabel - “Christians must not miss the promptings of God’s Spirit to initiate spontaneous conversations in unforeseen circumstances”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Isaiah 55:8
Isaiah 52:10
Isaiah 54:10
Isaiah 55:1-3
Isaiah 56:3-8
Luke 24:27
Proverbs 16:9

APPLICATION:
Three simple ways to prepare your heart to listen and speak:
1. Remind yourself—Whatever reason you are where you are, the GREATEST reason is to bear witness to Jesus.

2. Pray—Lord, fill me with your Spirit to be your instrument, use me as you will.

3. Engage redemptively—More than your sympathetic ear, enthusiastic interest, or stimulating conversation, they need Jesus. Listen and connect the dots.

Have you given up sharing the gospel with someone—child, spouse, co-worker? Have you become skeptical about the power of the gospel or lost heart in your call to evangelism because you don’t see fruit? Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Hopeful: The Book of Acts
TEXT: Acts 8:9-25
TITLE: Remaining Faithful
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Hope for our mission is not in what we see, it’s in what we know—The gospel breaks all barriers!

SERMON EXCERPTS:
”…while we might not shell out cash, we all have a little Simon in us. It’s easy and subtle to make our relationship with God about getting something we want—respect and success, sense of belonging and purpose, impressive family and model marriage. No one is immune from using God as Simon tried to.”

“The gospel is breaking barriers. But not through the power or influence of man. The power of God isn’t a commodity. The gospel is breaking barriers through bold preaching, the Spirit’s regenerating work, and repentance and faith.”

“Three principles from this story that should encourage us in and produce hope for our gospel mission:

1. The Gospel has broken all barriers, but not every heart is broken by the gospel—Simon wasn’t saved but Samaritans were, just as God promised. 

2. We are called to be a faithful witness to others, not the Savior of others—Phillip preached to Simon but he couldn’t save Simon. He had to trust Simon to God to DO what God alone can do.

3. God’s kingdom is still being built, we are not in heaven YET—So as it says in vs. 25, we keep preaching the unstoppable gospel that gives joy and life to the world around us.“

QUOTES:
John Stott - “The most natural explanation of the delayed gift of the Spirit is that this was the first occasion on which the gospel had been proclaimed not only outside Jerusalem but inside Samaria….The delay was only temporary, however, until the apostles had come down to investigate, had endorsed Phillip’s bold policy of Samaritan evangelism, had prayed for the converts, had laid hands on them as a token of fellowship and solidarity, and had thus given a public sign to the whole church, as well as to the Samaritan converts themselves, that they were bona fide Christians, to be incorporated into the redeemed community on precisely the same terms as Jewish converts”

Bryan Vickers - “Even in the midst of a dramatic move in the trajectory of the gospel [salvation for Samaritans], an obstacle arises, a reminder that the church is moving toward the fulfillment of the kingdom but has not yet reached it fully”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Acts 1:8
John 4:9
Ephesians 1:13-14
Ephesians 5:18
Psalm 139:23

APPLICATION:
Have you given up sharing the gospel with someone—child, spouse, co-worker? Have you become skeptical about the power of the gospel or lost heart in your call to evangelism because you don’t see fruit? God is at work saving and sanctifying sinners, building His church, and spreading His glory. THEREFORE, Remain FAITHFUL remembering: Hope for your mission is not in what you see, it’s in what you know—The gospel breaks all barriers!

With our text on Sunday, begins a NEW CHAPTER in the history of the church—The Book of Acts: Part Two. It is transitional in two ways: it introduces Saul, the main character from here on out in Acts, and launches the gospel into the known world. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Hopeful: The Book of Acts
TEXT: Acts 8:1-8
TITLE: An Odd Couple
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: God ordains and uses the persecution and suffering of His people to bring the eternal blessing and joy of salvation to others.

SERMON EXCERPTS:
”Saul wasn’t content to merely harass or upset the church. He set out to viscously and utterly destroy them“ 

“If you didn’t know any better, you would think the story is over. It’s not. There are 20 more chapters in Acts. This disturbing report of THAT DAY and the days that followed miraculously lead to the same AMAZING results of the prior four progress reports.”

“It’s An Odd Couple for sure, persecution and joy, but it’s God’s infinite wisdom to build His eternal kingdom”

“This is the work God wants to do in us—Make His Son more precious to us than any amenities or pleasures this world offers.”

“Persecution is not the church’s greatest enemy; prosperity and convenience are. God uses persecution to serve his gospel mission, including purging the church (us) of anything that hinders that mission. God is most concerned with His glory, not our convenience.” 

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Acts 22:4-5, 20 - I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished….And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him

Acts 26:9-11 - I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities

Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth

Luke 21:12-13 - But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness

APPLICATION:
Are we ready when the opportunity arrives?
Two principles for our readiness:
1. Remember God Alone is God
When you suffer on account of your faith, in the classroom, the workplace, the neighborhood, or the family, remember—God Alone is God! History is His divine script to establish His eternal kingdom and in that glorious mission, He is unstoppable.
2. Remember Jesus is our joy
Is he mine? Can I increasingly say (not just with my lips, with my life)—Once I was lost but now I see, and I owe it all to Jesus, who is my eternal treasure worth suffering and even dying for:

• Jesus is more precious than my job

• Jesus is more precious than my hobbies

• Jesus is more precious than my spouse

• Jesus is more precious than my kids

• Jesus is more precious than my house

• Jesus is more precious than my reputation

• Jesus is more precious than the praises of my neighbor

• Jesus is more precious than my comfort and convenience

Spiritual Revival is an inward work before it’s an outward reality. And the inward work needed is highlighted in the last stand of the first Christian martyr in Acts. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Hopeful: The Book of Acts
TEXT: Acts 7:54-60
TITLE: The Lord is Doing Something
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet

POINTS: 
1.  Filled With The Spirit
2. Fixed On Christ
3. Centered On God

SERMON EXCERPTS:
”Chances are, none of us in this room will have the door of heaven opened like Stephen did. Yet, by faith his vision is our vision. We too live and breathe and witness and serve, toil and suffer in the glorious realities of eternity with Jesus.“ 

”Christian perseverance is anchored in an eternal perspective. Where it’s not, vulnerability to losing heart is sure.”

”The opposition shouldn’t surprise us. Doing the right thing doesn’t guarantee a good outcome. But don’t lose heart. The Lord is doing something, including filling your eyes up more and more with Jesus who has already done the greatest thing at Calvary!”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Daniel 7
Luke 9
Matthew 25

QUOTES:
Derek Thomas - “There could hardly be a greater contrast in the way Luke described what happened following Stephen’s sermon. The Sanhedrin became irritational, hot with rage, murderous in their thoughts, utterly consumed with anger. Stephen was contemplative, calm, and seraphic”

Kevin DeYoung - “It is for this reason: He has stood to receive Stephen’s testimony and to be his advocate. He has stood that he might come forward to be the judge of those who will trample upon God’s prophet. Jesus is rising from his throne to come to Stephen’s defense and to judge his persecutors”

APPLICATION:
Is my first impulse to invite the Spirit to work in and through me?

Three habits God uses to cultivate Eternal Perspective:
- Visit your testimony often—Preach Christ to yourself more and listen to yourself less
- Read about heaven regularly—Heaven on the heart puts earthly troubles on the run 
- Prioritize your church—The gathering is a heavenly oasis here on earth 

When it comes to those who oppose you for your faith, which are you more aware of: what they are doing to you or what God will one day do to them?

Jonah was the odd prophet who got published for his disobedience. But through the lens of the Gospel, we see that the Lord uses his life to teach us something very important! Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

TEXT: Jonah 2
TITLE: Deep Work
PREACHER: Guest Pastor Ron Boomsma
BIG IDEA: God is doing a deeper work helping us understand who we are in Christ and who we are as a church. He is giving us a deeper understanding of our mission - the real purpose that God has for us on this earth for these few short years. 

POINTS: 
1. Jonah 2 - Deep Work
2. Four Ingredients of A Deep Work
A. Jonah’s Unique and Deep Gratefulness
B. Jonah Could Recognize God at Work
C. Jonah Returned to God’s Word
D. Jonah Looked to the Temple
3. You Know God has Done a Deep Work in You When…
A. You can look in the mirror and say, “salvation belongs to the Lord”
B. You can look at your life and see God at work
C. Your Bible is a living book
D. When you look to the Cross as your greatest hope and security

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 18:4-5 - The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
Psalm 42:7 - Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.

SERMON EXCERPTS:
”We have a man who rejected his calling, his purpose in life; a man who thought God’s plan wasn’t a good plan; a man who thought that his plan for this life was the better plan. He was going to decide where he was going to live and work, who he was going to speak and interact with, not God. But as the book unfolds, we realize that his disobedience came from somewhere. Yes, his disobedience was a problem, but it turns out it was the problem beneath the problem. The problem beneath the problem was that he did not truly grasp the grace of God.” 

”The genuine realization that our sins call for our death but that we did not die but instead have been saved, this is the beginning of a deep work. You know God is doing a deep work when you are truly grateful to be saved. And you know you are in need of a deep work when you aren’t.”

”When the divine perspective influences you more than the human perspective, you know God is doing a deep work in your soul.”

”You know you need a deep work of God in your life when his words carry less and less weight in your life; when other voices, other narratives, become the predominant influences in your life. Our mission in our generation will stand or fall depending upon how much of God’s word controls the narrative of our lives.” 

In Acts this past week, Stephen highlights key men and key moments in Jewish history. And two themes dominate his argument: God’s active presence isn’t limited to a Temple and God’s people have a history of rejecting Him. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Hopeful: The Book of Acts
TEXT: Acts 7:1-53
TITLE: A History Lesson for the Ages
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Jesus is Everything. Jesus is Supreme. Jesus is Sufficient. Jesus is Everything.

POINTS: 
1.  Stephen’s Argument
a. Abraham and the Promise
b. Joseph and the Famine
c. Moses and the Exodus
d. David and the Temple
2. Stephen’s Accusation

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Genesis 12-25
Genesis 37-50
The Book of Exodus

APPLICATION:
How will you respond to truth?

1. Assurance. Is my faith and hope for this life and the life to come in the person and work of Christ? If the answer is yes, have assurance, you are on the right side of history. You need nothing else. You have Jesus!

2. Warning. John Calvin said The heart is an idol factory. He was right. Every believer struggles with worshipping the created instead of the Creator. We all reject God and resist His Spirit for the little golden calves in our lives. Whatever that is for you, yield to the merciful and gracious sanctifying work of the Spirit. 

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