A converted heart will be evidenced by a converted wallet. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

APRIL OFFERING 2022
TEXT: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
TITLE: True New Testament Giving
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: A converted heart will be evidenced by a converted wallet.

POINTS:
1. Two Types of Givers
2. One Generous God

SERMON EXCERPTS:
”Whether it’s regular tithe, Fifth Sunday or the April offering, we know generous giving is never about a budget goal—It’s about grateful hearts for the gospel and a passionate desire to see the gospel mission advanced through the local church.”

“If you want to know what God expects from His people as it relates to giving, look no further than 2 Corinthians 8 & 9. At the heart of Paul’s instruction isn’t a percentage or amount but an attitude, an attitude of GENEROSITY.”

“Generosity is the fruit of faith in God, that He is able to sufficiently supply for one’s needs and contentment in how He supplies for those needs. Generous, cheerful, faith-filled giving. That’s the NT focus and if that’s you today, thank God today by saying: I get the joy of giving…God gets all the glory in the giving!”

“If God never gave you another good thing in this life, salvation in Jesus would still be enough to be the basis and motivation for every penny you give in grateful worship for what He has done for you in Christ.”

“God generously gives to us, not so we can live our best lives now, but so we can generously give to His mission.”

QUOTES:
John Piper - “To give sparingly is to give from a heart that deep inside wants to hold back. There are enough external constraints and pressures to make us give something. But the real feeling of our heart is not to think how much can we give, but how much can we keep”

ESV Study Bible - “God will provide for the Corinthian's needs so that they can continue generously meeting others' needs and giving resources to advance the gospel”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Luke 21:1-4
Acts 8:1-15
Psalm 37:25
Philippians 4:19

APPLICATION:
The point is not to Give all your money to the April offering because it’s sinful to spend money on yourself. The point is God wants us to view His generosity toward us not primarily for our sole benefit and enjoyment, but for His redemptive purposes.

In light of 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, from the poorest to the wealthiest in the room, would you prayerfully consider how God is calling you to give on the last Sunday of April from a generous, cheerful, faith-filled heart for the sake of our gospel mission together and the pleasure and glory of God.

For the last couple of weeks, we’ve had a front-row seat to the salvation of UNLIKELY candidates. Such is the mercy of God and the power of the gospel! Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Hopeful: The Book of Acts
TEXT: Acts 9:1-10
TITLE: An Unlikely Candidate
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet

POINTS:
Now that Jesus has Saul’s attention, he does three things-
1. Questions Saul
2. Reveals Himself to Saul
3. Commissions Saul

SERMON EXCERPTS:
”Remember what Jesus taught his disciples—If they receive you, they receive me. If they reject you, they reject me. Such is the union between Christ and his people—What you do to Jesus’ people you do to Jesus.”

“Jesus knew Saul before Saul knew Jesus. Same with you—Before you knew Jesus, He knew you. Before you had affections for Christ, He set his affections on you.”

“If you’re not a Christian, whatever you think you need—you need Jesus more right now. If you are a Christian, allow amazing grace to amaze you once again.”

”HUMANELY speaking, none of us are LIKELY candidates to live for and be used by God. But God is infinite in wisdom and sovereign in salvation. He has supreme power and authority in the work of saving people from their sin.”

QUOTES:
John Calvin - “Saul was an untamed beast who was a rabid, blood-thirsty enemy of the church.”

Justin Holcomb - “Just as Paul had shattered the lives of many of God’s people, God shattered Paul’s pride and self-sufficiency, forcing him to seek as a blind supplicant the mercy of the people he hated”

John Piper - “God’s mercy and power are not limited to people who have been set up for Christianity by a good family or a church association or a clean moral track record. The chief of sinners was converted. And that means hope in evangelism and in your own faltering walk with the Lord”

Derek Thomas - “Paul was arrested in midflight, breathing murderous thoughts! This should give us cause for great hope about those who appear to be utterly indifferent, hostile toward the gospel. There is no telling what God can do, in an instant”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Deuteronomy 21:23
Galatians 3:13
Isaiah 6
Colossians 1:21
Titus 3:3
Ephesians 2:1-3
Romans 5:8,10
2 Corinthians 5:21

APPLICATION:
Who is the UNLIKELY candidate God has put in your life? Is there someone you aren’t sharing the gospel with, not because of fear, but for one reason - you don’t think they would ever believe on account of their:

• Lifestyle and sexual choices

• Politics

• Past conversations—values and philosophies of life

• Religious upbringing

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