Summary
Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning and rumblings and peels of thunder and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches which are the seven spirits of God and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass like crystal around the throne and on each side of the throne are four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind the first living creature like a lion the second living creature like an ox the third living creature with a face like a human like a human face and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle and the four living creatures each of them with six wings are full of eyes all around and inside day and night without ceasing they sing holy holy holy the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come and whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne who lives forever and ever the 24 elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever they cast their crowns before the throne singing you are worthy our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created so this is where we are in the throne room this is where we're gonna step for a little bit so the purpose of the vision of God's heavenly court is to show us the the the coronation to show the church the coronation and enthronement enthronement of Jesus Christ the crucified and risen Lord so we're going to get to his enthronement after we talk about the throne room but but if we think about acts if you hold your hand here and then go back to the book of Acts chapter 1 books or the book of Acts chapter 1 so this is right after the gospel of John and this is this is the continuation Luke wrote the book of Acts and so when Luke's gospel and it picks up again then right here in the book of Acts so chapter 1 beginning in verse 6 of the book of Acts so when they had come together this is the the apostles they asked him Lord is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel he replied it is not for you to know the times or periods that the father has set by his own authority but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem in Al Judeian Samaria and to the ends of the earth when he had said this as they were watching he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight while he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven suddenly two men in white robes stood by them and so then angels talked to him so this is that's the earthly perspective of the ascension of Christ to the father now we're going to go back to to Revelation because this is where we receive the heavenly perspective of Christ entering or returning to the father so so we have it's the same thing but here in Revelation we get heaven's perspective of when Christ when Christ is received by the father so John sees the throne of God he sees the throne of God he sees the one sitting on it the one is the object of all worship there's a lot of worship happening here he doesn't give us any specific facial or bodily characteristics so he doesn't describe the one on the throne but says that his appearance is like the precious stones of Jasper and some say Sardius and some this one says Carnelian and then there's a rainbow of emerald around it doesn't mean that God is a stone it does not mean that God is a stone but the appearance of God's glory think of when you hold a precious stone in the sunlight and the light reflects through and the rays shine through and is cast out like put out everywhere so the appearance of God's glory it reflects it reflects the brilliance of his presence as precious stones reflect rays of the sun so we can't look directly at the sun but we can catch a glimpse of the beauty of the sun through the reflection of those rays so so God is not a stone but his glory is brilliant his glory is brilliant Isaiah and Ezekiel also have scenes within the throne room we're not going to study those today but I thought as I was studying I thought oh that would be a really fun small group so not this coming year but look for it in the future because I think that would be a fun one so the stones Jasper Sardius emerald those are all part of the breastplate that the high priest was told to wear in Exodus when when they got all the the instructions those stones were on the breastplate of the high priest and the high priest represented Israel before the throne or before God offering sacrifice for a tonement so this is this is the setting that we're in we get to the 24 elders these 24 elders are sitting on thrones they are wearing crowns and they are they are wearing white robes they are sitting and they are wearing robes and crowns they are not angels they are not heavenly beings or heavenly creatures they are elevated saints they're elevated saints and the 24 elders are the church of the Old Testament of Israel who believed in the New Testament we have the 12 tribes of Israel or the the 12 tribes from Jacob right those are represented for the Old Testament and we have the 12 apostles which are the saints of the New Church or of the church so we have the 24 right there together they're representing the totality of God's people they sit on thrones and they wear crowns because they are victorious in Christ they wear the crown of victory they have white robes because they have been cleansed through the blood of Christ they're in his presence they're in God's presence representing the church they're in God's presence because that by grace is exactly where they belong which is good news that is good news that the church belongs in the presence of God the other thing I want to talk about here is that glassy see that glassy see that is before before the throne there are a couple of things that are really interesting about this so so first of all there is there is that representation of a separation right and while we remain here on earth there is a separation between us and and God we're still separated from the eternal glory when he calls us to home to be in his presence then we will not be separated from his eternal glory but here on earth we are still separated from the eternal glory also think about how the sea is often portrayed or what it symbolizes in Scripture so often it's a raging steep sea it's chaotic it's tormenting and it's it's really representative of the evil and the wickedness and the chaos of our sinful lives and here the the sea is like crystal it's a glassy sea that is transparent it's like crystal it's still it's calm the turmoil of our sin which separates us from God before the throne of God it has been still it has been still it has been conquered and it is tranquil we don't have to fear the torment of the chaos we don't have to fear the the torment or the chaos of wrath of God's wrath and judgment because all is peaceful all is peaceful between God and his creation before the throne just calls for all of us to just take a deep breath and we know that all is at peace before the throne then we have these winged creatures that are flying to and fro Isaiah refers to them as Sarah Femme Ezekiel refers to them as Cherubem John doesn't give them either of those names he sees that that they are closer to God than any other creature and I like how one author says that they can be thought of as the choir masters leading the heavenly host in the song of praise and worship they sing praises of the Lord they initiate the worship the angels and the saints they join in as these flying creatures sing holy holy holy and that song that song continues throughout it comes up several times in revelation and there will be stanzas added to it we see this time in the throne or in the throne room it's a time of complete worship it is it is a time of singing and praising and honoring God God who is so brilliant that he can't be described this this is the scene in which we were seeing or that John John shows us so they're singing holy holy holy all the heavenly hosts are praising God the church on earth praises God and sings this song we sing this song even in suffering because we are still called to worship the Lord and we still can worship the Lord even in the midst of suffering so now we get to the really exciting part of the throne room we get to the lamb okay so we're going to go back to Revelation chapter 5 and we're going to just read the whole thing because it's so exciting it's so wonderful okay so so he's he's in the throne room he is seeing all of these heavenly hosts and the winged creatures singing and and and the majestic one the brilliant one on the throne and the church represented by the 24 elders and he says and then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back sealed okay so he sees the scroll in the right hand of God God's right hand works salvation for his people the contents of the scroll have ultimate good and glory of God's people the completeness of its contents is sealed but we know that there's a completeness of contents because it's written on the inside and on the back so it's fully fully written but it's sealed so the message is hidden the revelation is hidden it would remain closed and unknown until the worthy person came to claim it okay so let's keep going back in here so we're back to to a verse two and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals and no one no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it no one had earned the privilege or the ability to open this sealed scroll and John says I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it then one of the elders said to me do not weep see the lion of the tribe of Judah the root of David has conquered so that he can open the scroll and it's seven seals so no one was found to be worthy no one in all of God's creation no no no one not even that an angel was worthy to open this scroll and to stand before the presence of God and lay legal claim to this scroll and then an elder an elder one of the church tells this weeping John who is so saddened so saddened that no one is found to be worthy and he's weeping bitterly and an elder representing the church he says look look to the lamb look to the lamb and he calls him the lion of Judah the lion was a messianic symbol of royal rain and power and when you think of a lion you think of a lot of power I mean we most of us have heard of or read the Chronicles of Narnia and God is depicted as the lion aslan you know and it's this powerful powerful being and so so we have the elder saying seeing the lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered so he can open the scroll and it seven seals and then verse six then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth this is an amazing picture that we have here we have the angel announcing who's worthy who's worthy John weeping bitterly because there's no one who is worthy to open this scroll and elder says no no no look check out it's the lion of Judah and so John turns expecting a lion of Judah and he sees Jesus he sees the lamb the lamb who was slain who shows the marks of the crucifixion the lion of Judah is a lamb standing in the midst of them all this is a beautiful witness of the crucifixion of Christ because he stands the lamb as one who has been slain but it also is a beautiful testimony of the resurrection because it is the lamb who stands he stands there in the midst of them all living forever so we have both the crucifixion and the victory of the resurrection right there in that verse it's amazing I had one cohort who said he pictured this scene like a boxing ring where you you know they say oh and in this corner and there's just this light that shines on and all of a sudden it's the slain lamb in the light and so this is where we have him he has ascended to the Father he is right there all the heavenly hosts see him and we continue yes we continue so so he went this is verse 7 he went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne when he had taken the scroll the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell before the lamb each holding a harp and golden bowls of full of incense which are the prayers of the saints in that beautiful the church the heavenly beings they bring the prayers of the saints that's us that's us brought to the right hand of the Lord the lamb who has the right and legal claim to the scroll who has the right the legal claim to all of human history they sing a new song you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God and they will reign on earth then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands singing with full voice worthy is the lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and glory and honor and blessing then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them singing to the one seated on the throne and to the lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever this is not a mass Exodus of the of the Sunday school I'm just saying they are going to sing with the saints and the four living creatures said amen and the elders fell down and worshipped so the action of receiving the scroll is very very important because the lamb not only reveals human humanity's destiny but it shows that he also has control he has control no one anywhere can dominate over the contents of the scroll so what is in the scroll no one can dominate over it no one else has the power or authority over it they can't even receive the scroll only the chosen lamb only Christ himself can receive that he alone determines the outcome of human history he rules on behalf of his father and for the benefit of his church so that the church will be protected in faith and will be protected in hope and we'll be able to carry out the mission that it has been given so receiving the scroll that's the coronation of Jesus Christ he is the king of kings the Lord of Lords this is the beginning of the everlasting reign of Jesus Christ of God's righteousness through the exalted sun it's a reign that is consummated at the end at the resurrection that you and I will be a part of and in that new heaven and earth which we are going to talk about the new heaven and earth next week we're going to stay here this week remember in all of these cycles how I said that there were interludes so there are interludes that happen in here and I don't think it's a mistake that interludes happen because you read any of these plagues, scenes of the end and it's a lot you know and John receiving this vision there's no way that he's not filled with fear he's seeing all of this happen and so there is that is that is scary so we're going to turn to Revelation chapter 7 we're going to talk about the church triumphant and the church militant so the 144,000 beginning in Revelation chapter 7 verse 1 so we're going to start here and this is after the horses or the horsemen have come so after this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on earth or see against any tree I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun having the seal of the living God and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea saying do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads and I heard the number of those who were sealed 144,000 sealed out of every tribe of the people of Israel and then it goes through and it's 12,000 from any names all the tribes so the 144,000 that represents God's people on earth there are at least one cult of Christianity that claims that only 144,000 people will be in heaven we're going to see that that's wrong but this is representative of the church on earth of God's people who are in perfect order there is perfection in that order and they are ready to march it is the church militant poised and ready to carry out the mission that it has been given so we today are part of the church militant we are this side of heaven we have a mission given by the Lord to go to all nations making disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded we read right before the ascension in the book of Acts he said you will be my witnesses to go so we are the church militant with that mission so then we go down to chapter 9 of chapter 7 where it says after this I looked and there was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation from all tribes and peoples and languages standing before the throne and before the Lamb robed in white with palm branches in their hands they cried out in a loud voice saying salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb and all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God and it continues well actually know we are going to continue because it is too beautiful not to and all the angels worship God singing amen blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever amen then one of the elders addressed me saying who are these robed in white and where have they come from I said to him sir you are the one that knows then he said to me these are they who have come out of the great ordeal they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb for this reason they are before the throne of God and worship him day and night within his temple and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them they will hunger no more and thirst no more the sun will not strike them nor any scorching heat for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd and he will guide them to springs of the water of life and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes it's just incredible absolutely incredible John in this vision sees a multitude of people before God's heavenly throne from every nation every tribe the number is so great that it cannot be counted this is the church triumphant John is allowed to see God's people he's allowed to see that God's people on earth are ready to carry out their mission as the church militant they are ready to enter into the valley of the shadow of death and then before they are taken he sees them sealed the ceiling that they receive means that no matter what no matter how much he John and God's people no matter how much suffering we endure this side of heaven the mission will be fulfilled the mission will be fulfilled and God will protect us in faith God will protect the church militant in the faith there will be faith suffering there will be death we all die we all have our soul separate from our bodies we all do die but we won't lose faith the church does not lose faith and God will defend the faith in the end the church then becomes the church militant then becomes the church triumphant because we are all brought into the presence of God the church is sealed and kept in faith and elevated to glorify Christ and to live in his glory when John sees this great church triumphant he's filled with joy he's filled with joy because he knows they are coming out of tribulation they are coming out of suffering but they have been protected and brought to glory in Christ in Revelation in verse three of chapter seven it says that they've been sealed so God knows exactly who belongs to him and he seals them so the Christian and I had to write this exactly how it was written because it's so beautiful and it's such a comforting word that the Christian can be absolutely certain and sure of his salvation and faith because it rests on the truth of God's word and God's seal within that word the Lord knows who's who are his it's through his word that God seals his people assures them by his spirit that they belong to him and that he will protect them in faith Paul says Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit given to the Christian as God's pledge or guarantee of the inheritance that God has promised it's the pledge of God's promise that seals the Christian in his heart the seal then assures the believer that he belongs to God and is known by God the Holy Spirit does this through the word of God's promise which has been brought to fulfillment by Jesus Christ the throne room the lamb that sits upon the throne the church militant continuing to march we are a part of that but we have the assurance of God's protection we have the assurance of his promise we have the assurance that we have been sealed what do we do every single baptize or every single baptism we seal that person in the name of the Father the Holy Spirit that they are sealed sealed in the spirit of God they are claimed the Lord knows who are his and we are promised and we should find great comfort that regardless of the suffering that we have this side of heaven that we are promised that we will be part of the multitude that is countless that we'll be singing the praises and worshiping the Father in that glorious throne room Lord, we thank you. A carousine burning stove were all strangely puzzling to the inquisitive swamp merchants clinging together for moral support they watched the two on and the neonia that his wife with their baby they observed closely as the two on lifted a steaming bowl of food and began serving some of it onto his plate their eyes growing wide with mingle fascination and horror they glanced at each other and trembled then one of them put into words what they were all thinking a semmol hap ke maken these were a cannibal people they ate other humans but they never ate the brain they never ate the brain and so they ran out into the tribe and they were telling everyone about this to on who was eating brains it's true one of them exclaimed in words unintelligible to us it's true indeed the two on his eating brains wondering what the excitement was all about i lifted another fork full of macaroni to my lips it's a different world two world colliding how how was he going to be able to share the gospel of jesus christ with these people it was very very difficult the the warring villages of the sawi people had come together there were three tribes that had come together in the excitement of the two on and his family being there these three tribes that stayed at a distance from one another at all times unless they were hunting one another or seeking revenge because they were bound to war with one another if they got in close proximity but all of them wanted to be close to this white spirit all of them wanted to figure out what was happening all of them wanted the steel act and the match stick and the razors and the tin cups they were so excited about these tin cups because they would hold water otherwise they would go to the river throw up water into the air and try to catch it in their mouth because that was the same way to drink their water so they all wanted to be there and so dawn is trying to figure out how to speak to these people that are constantly warring with each other constantly fighting with each other he's trying to learn a language that had no written form he's just picking up what he can and making his many notes and writing everything he can to figure out how this language works and he's supposed to take this and communicate Jesus how is that going to happen and not with a very peaceful people though they were kind to him and his wife at that point so he gets to the point of trying to share Jesus trying to share the good news I spoke of God creating man in the midst of a beauty is some of the world the advent of evil into the human community the age old promise of a deliverer and finally the wondrous appearance of that deliverer I was approaching the climax of my narrative describing the ministry of Jesus among the Jewish people when suddenly my own yawned out loud and reached for his knife in a piece of split vine lying on the map beside him he was bored he didn't care about the story he didn't care about what he was hearing only once did my presentation win a ringing response from the them I was describing Judas is scary it's the trail of the son of God about halfway through the description I noticed they were all listening intently they noted the details for three years Judas had kept close company with Jesus sharing the same food traveling the same road at the climax of the story Maum who had whistle or who had yawned earlier whistled a bird called admiration Connie and several others touched their fingertips to their chest and off still others chuckled at first I sat there confused then the realization broke through they were claiming Judas as the hero of the story yes Judas the one whom I had portrayed as the satanically motivated enemy of truth and goodness and Connie leaned forward and exclaimed that was real to a son I man to a son I means to do with a man as one would do with a pig to fatten him with friendship for an unsuspected slaughter I saw now that the saw we were not only cruel but honored cruelty their highest pleasure depended upon the misery and despair of others overt killing no longer held real pleasure for them they would even risk letting an intended victim escape in order to pursue the more sophisticated ideal expressed in to a son I man that was why the story of Judas is scary it had aroused them it had touched the cold for of their psyche awakening a deep almost the blimminal response Judas was a super saw and Christ the object of Judas's treachery meant nothing to the men in the man house they honored the cruelty they honored the betrayal and the treachery they thought that was an ideal they lived to find the greatest treachery they could they lived to kill their enemy by tricking him first by inviting him in befriending him fattening him with friendship in order to betray him and kill him and eat him it was great honor in that culture so dawn was kind of stuck he's finally at a point where he can share Jesus and they hear about Jesus and they're cheering for Judas he knows the word he can speak with the saw he tribes but it doesn't matter because there is no hope for peace among these people there is no hope for them to understand Jesus in the words that he's using because even when someone is befriended in these tribes there is no guarantee that it's real there's no guarantee that these relationships these feelings these good vibes with these other tribes is real there's no trust there at all and so dawn is stuck because he's got three tribes of the sawi people living near him fighting with one another every single day no one had been killed at that point but he knew it was coming there was bloodshed every day over minor things in dawn's perspective and so he finally realized and announced Carol and Stephen and I need to leave you need to be able to live bar a part because there will be no peace amongst you if we stay you need to be in distance from each other so he announced that they were leaving and quickly the tribal leaders had meetings in each of their tribes and all my life long they were talking and they dawn and his wife could hear talking all night from these different tribal camps and in the morning they met together in a scene where the tribes were coming together the women were wailing and clawing at the men the men were carrying their children and don't know what was going on and so he watched and he saw two leaders kio and maehore they stood face to face maehore kio challenged will you plead the words of kimura among your people yes maehore responded I will plead the words of kimura among my people then I give you my son and with him my name and kio held for his son and maehore received him gently into his arms and then maehang held a lot one of his baby sons and cried kio will you plead the words of him and among your people yes then I give you my son and with him my name I give you my son and with him my name and don't watch as each of these men carried the other man's baby to his respective tribe and don't couldn't decide if he should stop this if they were going to kill these baby what was going on he didn't know what to do but he was also extremely curious at what was taking place he announced that he was going to leave because there could be no peace and all of the sudden these men are giving each other their babies and walking away and he didn't know what was happening and so he asked he asked a young man and the man said kio had given his son to him as a tarot tim a peace child and the hand in return has given a tarot tim to us why is this necessary I asked to on you have been urging us to make peace don't you know it's impossible to have peace without a peace child among the sawi demonstration of friendship with suspect except one if a man would actually give his own son to two his enemies that man could be trusted so they had a peace child and of course dawn Richard's in realized there's a way there's a way to communicate this there's a way to communicate after all when dawn had given up all hope when dawn thought there was absolutely no way to reach these people with the gospel of Jesus Christ right there in their own culture prepared way before dawn had ever heard of the sawi tried prepared for him for that moment to bring the gospel they had something within their culture within their culture of hate and cruelty they had something that was the peace child because my okodon this is dawn talking and he had named god in the sawi language he said my okodon it's the greatest spirit that's how he could explain who god is because my my okodon wants men to find peace with him and with each other he decided to choose a once for all tarot child good enough and strong enough to establish peace not just for a while but forever because all of the peace children that these warring tribes would give to each other eventually that that child would die because we all die as human beings and so then that war would pick up again until another peace child was offered and so he explained that Jesus because none of man's peace children were good enough that god had to send his own son to establish that peace forever for among all human children there was no son good enough or strong enough to be an eternal tarot I paused and searched their faces the curiosity level was rising whoever did he choose asked Mahane toasting a stick of beetle grubs over his cooking fire I answered with another question did kio give another man's son or his own he gave his own son they replied did you make him give another man's son or your own I gave my own he replied remembering the agony so did god they all it's that it clicked with them it made sense they heard it may have looked at me and asked if he the one you've been telling us about Jesus he's the very one I replied but you said a friend betrayed him if Jesus was a tarot it was very wrong to betray him we have a name for that we call it tarot gummon it's the worst thing anyone could do you're right again I said looking at me and in the eye despising the tarot child of god is the worst thing anyone can do I'm used inwardly before this moment jude jude has been a super saw me now now he was a villain tell us more man said laying aside his stick of toasted beetle grubs finally it made sense finally dawn had broken through with their own customs that still were not enough but Jesus Jesus the great spirit gave his son Jesus and all of a sudden it clicked and from there he started to be able to open up more and more of the gospel in this culture and language and try tried that had otherwise been closed at best and he was able to get the gospel into their lives and they started converting and he had some of the elders in the tribes who converted to Christianity and the peace children those two boys they grew up one died a young man that he was a Christian and the other one ended up getting getting educated and coming back to teach and he also lived a Christian life and think within those tribes how many they were able to save of that indigenous people just incredible I love that story so not only not only did dawn need the words of peace he needed that to click that message of peace through Jesus Christ he also needed the people to be of peace and open to receiving that word and that's nothing that dawn had done that was prepared beforehand by the grace of God that there would be a moment in their heart and hearts where they would be open they would be people of peace to hear that word and to receive that joy and that forgiveness so I wanted to share that story with you and if any of you ever want to read this you're welcome to borrow it it's a it's a fascinating fascinating story I'm still reading about cannibals who was twisted so our our gospel or our scriptural person of peace or experience of peace we're going to open up to act the 10th chapter it's the story of Peter and Cornelius and they spoke the same language they could understand each other but Peter was he was a Christian that at that point you know in Acts he was you know sharing the news of Jesus but he was sharing with other Jews and Cornelius was you the Gentile so it was still two cultures that were colliding still two cultures that could easily talk past one another but Cornelius Cornelius had been prepared by God he knew he knew that there was something and so it says if we pick up in verse 1 in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius a centurion of the Italian co-hort as it was called he was a devout man who feared God with all his household he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God that interesting he had not heard of Jesus at this point or Jesus Christ as the Savior who did not have that belief in Jesus but he was praying to God and giving alms he was starting his heart was warmed he was ready to receive and one afternoon at about three o'clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him Cornelius he stared at him in terror and said what is it Lord he answered your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God now send men to Jafa for a certain Simon who is called Peter he is lodging with Simon and Tanner whose house is by the seas seaside and when the angel who spoke to him had left he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him and after telling them everything he sent them to Jafa we continue with Peters side about noon the next day as they were on their journey and approaching the city Peter went up to the roof to pray he became hungry and wanted something to eat and while it was being prepared he fell into a trance he saw the heaven opened in something like a large sheet coming down being lowered to the ground by its four corners in it were all kinds of for footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air then he heard a voice saying get up Peter kill and eat but Peter said by no means Lord for I have never eaten anything that is good but he was a profane or unclean the voice said to him again a second time what God has made clean you must not call profane this happened three times and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had had or had seen suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared they invite him they tell him to come he goes to Cornelius and we're going to pick up we're going to pick up just a couple verses later in verse 23 the second part the next day he got up and went with them and some of the believers from Japa accompanied them the following day they came to Cessaria Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends on Peter's arrival Cornelius met him and falling at his feet worshipped him but Peter made him get up saying stand up I'm only immortal like the two on the two on the saw we people thought that Don Richardson was a spirit that he was a God of thought and Don had to correct them and say no no no no no get up just as Cornelius had to be told get up don't worship me I am not God and as he talked with him he went in and found that many had assembled and he said to them you yourself know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean so when I was sent for I came without objection now may I ask why you sent for me he was making it clear we have different cultures we are a different people but God has shown to me that you are not profane why am I here right we've got two cultures meeting not colliding meeting two people had been prepared for this Cornelius had been prepared Peter had been prepared for this and Peter picking up down in verse 34 Peter began to speak to them I truly understand that God shows no partiality but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him you know the message he sent to the people of Israel preaching peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all that message spread throughout Judea beginning in Galilee after the baptism and John announced how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with him we are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem they put him to death by hanging him on a tree but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead all the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name he had the opening from Cornelius you have a word for me Peter what is this word the saw we tried they wanted to hear what Dawn had to say they didn't know what he had to say and it didn't click Cornelius knew he wanted to hear what Peter had to say and what does Peter tell him he tells him exactly who Jesus was exactly what happened to Jesus and exactly who Jesus is picking up in 44 while Peter was still speaking the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God then Peter said can anyone withhold water for baptising these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have so he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ then they invited him to stay for several days good news good news shared and think when this when this word of the gospel when the good news of Jesus Christ was opened to the Gentiles it continued to spread out and out and out that is how we have this word because Cornelius was open to it Peter was told by God that the Gentiles were not profane take this word to them Cornelius heard it his family heard it his household heard it they were filled with the Holy Spirit they were baptized and they took that message out to their whole household was baptized their whole household was converted these tribes the men of the tribes the others of the tribes heard the word of the Lord and they were baptized and they took it out God's word is promised to reach the ends of the earth and it does God's word is performative it does what it says and that's where this is so exciting to see these real people from scripture and from real today history that they took this word of the Lord and they reached out and they reached across barriers and they've reached across language barriers and they've reached across other cultures and they've shared Jesus and Jesus as the word of God does what he said and he forgives sin and he brings and calls them calls us as sinners to himself so what this means I guess for us today is that we don't quite know always who God is calling us to be amongst and sometimes there are these absolutely impossible situations like dawn where I got to wash my hands of this I need to leave because this isn't working I'm not getting through we don't ever know who God is calling us to be amongst but he is always preparing a way for us he's always preparing people preparing their hearts to hear the word of the Lord and if God was open an entry point with a savage and cannibalistic people certainly he has opened an entry point for you and for I to share our faith with someone maybe our favorite barista at the coffee shop maybe our children the other parents at our children's sports events maybe a coworker maybe someone in Chicago or Navajo New Mexico or Costa Rica or Dove Elementary we never know who God is preparing for us to share that word with but we know he's preparing it and we know we have that word so even when we're called out of our comfort zone even when we called into a new culture we have the word and we will be given that moment that in like the peace child will have that connecting moment with whom we're supposed to be sharing the gospel so learn the people learn the people that you interact with learn about who they are where they come from that's the beauty of being everyday missionaries as we are we get to learn our neighbors we get to learn the different cultures and what makes people tick and then we get to share the word and we need to remember that we're not the savior Jesus is we're not swooping in to save anyone Jesus has already saved us we get to deliver that news so that other people may be saved as well we are the messengers Jesus is the savior and God has prepared for us the peace child whatever that may be because God gave us his peace child I feel like I have to end saying that's really good news it's just incredible so I really I really do encourage you to to go out this week and keep in mind who God is putting in your lives and the different cultures even if it's someone from the Northeast if that's the different culture then why is God putting that person in your life and how can you connect and how can you share Jesus you So we are going to get started. We are called into this one body with Christ at the head to be in communion with one another in a loving relationship with one another and by His grace and by His spirit He empowers us so that in His command to love one another as He has loved us it is not a burden but it is a shared joy that we are allowed the opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters in need to love our neighbor who has not yet known the love of Jesus Christ and just serve the Lord by serving one another and loving one another by putting the other ahead of the self the if of our relationship with Jesus the if of the friendship that has been answered the if as a conditional has been eliminated because Jesus loves you Jesus claims you and Jesus has sealed you in His spirit offering you choosing you and claiming you as His friend now and forever would you open your Bibles please with me to the ninth chapter of the book of Acts acts the 9th chapter for our study today if you're using a Pew Edition you'll find in front of you or underneath you the ninth chapter of Acts is in the New Testament page 112 acts the 9th chapter for our study today so you feel like a cup of coffee you pull into the drive-thru of your favorite place you've done this quite a few times you've even established a little bit of a relationship with those that work there the line is about what it normally is and when you get up to the window and you reach for your credit card and you hand it to the person there the person says oh no no no no no no no the person in front of you paid for your cup of coffee you think to yourself well that's really kind that's that's really nice of them to to do that and so the thought Dawns on you then to do the same thing for the person behind you and that's exactly what you do and as you drive away you wonder I wonder how long that chain lasted a random act of kindness kindness you know that that phrase and really kind of that movement if you want to put that term on it that really started 40 years ago now there's even a foundation and I don't know who designates days but February 17th each and every year is designated as random act of kindness day good good it's good to do kind things what I want to examine with you today is that phrase random acts of kindness I want to compare it to what the scriptures have to say with regard to kindness for does the scripture reveal something deeper at the end of our text for today the text ends with a resurrection one is brought back to life we see several examples of resurrections in Holy Scripture outside of the example of course of the resurrection of our Lord and savior the Lord Jesus we we see various examples for example there's the Widow's son at zerath who was raised from the dead there was the Widow's son at na as Jesus stops the funeral procession and raises the young man back to life there's gyrus his daughter a 12-year-old girl and Jesus raises her back to life there's there's Lazarus of course the brother of Mary and Martha friend of the Lord Jesus Lazarus dies and Jesus delays his coming so that his glory might be manifest and when he comes he goes to the tomb and says Lazarus come out and out comes Lazarus having been raised to life there are many examples of resurrections in scripture so also Al in our text for today our text for today has to do about a woman by the name of Tabo she's also known in the Greek version as Dorcas she has died they summon Peter to come and God is going to perform a miracle through Peter Peter doesn't perform the miracle God performs The Miracle through Peter look with me please at verse 40 of our text Peter put all of them outside and then he knelt down and prayed he turned to the body and said Tabatha get up then she opened her eyes and seeing Peter she sat up he gave her his hand and helped her up then calling the Saints and the widows he showed her to be alive this became known throughout japa and many believed in the Lord well why did the Lord raise Dorcas was it because of her goodness no no it was a sheer Act of grace of God as we look here at the text what else do we learn about Dorcas look please at verse 36 now in japa there was a disciple whose name was Tabatha which in Greek is Dorcas she was devoted to good works and acts of Charity isn't that a lovely thing to be said about someone they were devoted to doing good and acts of Charity what was this doing good that she was doing what were these acts of Charity that she was doing verse 37 at that time she became ill and died when they had washed her they laid her in a room upstairs since L was near japa the disciples who heard that Peter was there sent two men to him with the request please come to us without DeLay So Peter got up and went with them and when he arrived they took him to the room upstairs all the widows Stood Beside him weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them ah that was the good that she was doing making clothing and tunics for the widows in ancient day if one was a widow that put the woman in a particularly difficult spot not only of course the loss of her husband but in ancient day if you were widowed you had a high chance of becoming destitute in the Society of the day and so Dorcas what beautiful acts that she did making clothing and tunics for the women so that there she is there's her body Peter comes and you see it in your mind's eye these women ga gathered around and they're showing look what Dorcas did look what she gave me how this how this helped me at the heart of dorcas's Friendship with the women at the heart of it was kindness kindness so often we think of kindness as being the same thing as as niceness don't we kindness is being nice well here's a Bible trivia Pop Quiz are you ready how many times does the word nice appear in Holy Scripture can can you Hazard a guess is it is it 50 is it 100 is it is it is it 200 how many times does nice appear in the Bible do you have a number in your mind guess what the number is zero zero the word nice doesn't occur one time doesn't occur one time in Genesis to Revelation but the word kind or kindness that's all over the place the Biblical word for for kindness it means being useful it means it means serving it means being gracious and what's so interesting is so often the word kindness is matched in proximity with patience and with compassion for example Paul writes 2 Corinthians the 6th chapter he's he's commending the ministry he gives a a long list with regard to his ministry as as he's commending his ministry and included in the list he says patience and compassion they're they're held together he says patience compassion and then guess what kindness kindness in Ephesians the fourth chapter he says and be kind to one another tenderhearted other words be be compassionate when when you think about it right kindness is so often birthed out of patience and compassion isn't it kindness gives the gives the legs it makes the the patience and the compassion walk random acts of kindness good good what's the problem with random acts of kindness the problem the problem is they're random right that's the problem they're they're subject to our own whims our own kind of terms with regard to expressing kindness biblical kindness biblical kindness when you see example after example in the scripture bi biblical kindness has to do with being in relationship with another there's there's a there's a context to it there's a a regularity to it random acts of kindness good yep yep but the problem is it's random biblical kindness biblical kindness is seen in Dorcas right who is involved in the lives of those widows who expresses that graciousness and service to those widows it's expressed in regularity dorcus Dorcas is a perfect example of biblical kindness that's so needed isn't it it's really needed as we look at our our world today it seems as if the world is just getting meaner in how we can talk with one another or in plans or purposes and priorities it seems like the world is getting getting meaner and when we experience unkindness from someone we can be tempted to respond in kind so when we experience unkindness from someone we can be tempted to think even act out you know what goes around comes around when we experience unkindness from someone else we can be tempted to act act in kind we can be tempted to think to ourselves or to act out maybe you just need a little taste of your own medicine we experience a lack of kindness from the others we can be tempted to respond in kind we can be tempted to respond with a see how you like it see how you like it it's easier to be nice isn't it it's easier to be nice but being kind that's a different bird isn't it it's a different bird and here's the thing every single one of us fall short every single one of us fall short including Dorcas yep including Dorcas why because Dorcas was a human being because Dorcas was a sinner too and every single one of us fall short in the expression of kindness so what does God do what does God do Paul writes in Titus the third chapter he says but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our savior appeared when the goodness of God his kindness appeared then it says he saved us notice the direction we don't save ourselves he saves us he saves us he saved us not because of Any works of righteousness that we had done in other words not because of anything good that we do not because we're trying to make ourselves righteous before God we can't make ourselves righteous before God he saved us not because of Any righte works of righteousness that we had done but according to his his Mercy his mercy and then it defines where his Mercy is is expressed according to his Mercy through the water of rebirth and Renewal by the Holy Spirit well what's the water of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit what is that it's baptism isn't it where God takes his word of Victory one through the cross God takes that word of forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus where all of our unkindness in in thought and in word and in deed and all of our sin was laid Upon Jesus in our place the righteous for the unrighteous and that word of forgiveness then comes to us and we're washed in that word we're washed in it so that we know that that word is for us that's the the kindness of God isn't it the kindness of God raising Jesus out of the Tomb so we know that the sacrifice for sin has been accepted the the kindness of God and the kindness of God births kindness in US Colossians the thir chapter it's says as God's chosen one that's who we are God chooses us as his own in the waters of baptism as God's chosen one and then it says holy and beloved because that's what we're made in the waters of baptism we're made holy we're cloaked in the righteous Garment of the Lord Jesus Christ as God's chosen one holy and beloved that's his goodness that's his that's his kindness that's his grace that's his mercy and then it says clothe yourselves with compassion guess what comes next kindness humility meekness patience Paul then goes on to say in Ephesians the 4th chapter he says put away from you all all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slam put put it away put it away put it away together with all malice he says and be kind to one another guess what comes next tenderhearted compassionate forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you kindness biblical kindness that's that being useful and serving and gracious that's beyond niceness isn't it it's beyond niceness and it's beyond random it's regular it's regular and Grace upon Grace this kindness is a gift this this biblical kindness here it's not something that we we drum up we drum up in ourselves and say okay that's the kind of kind person I'm going to be and we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps here and we try and be kind no the kindness is a gift as God comes to us and produces and births that kindness in US Galatians the 5th chapter it says the fruit of the spirit the fruit of the spirit not the fruit of our own initiative the fruit of God the fruit of the spirit the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace patience guess what's next kindness generosity faithfulness gentleness self-control that's God at work in us through word and Sacrament that's God at work in us to bring forth the kindness in us that he wants we're all works in progress we're all works in progress and we'll be a work in progress until our dying day when the Lord takes us home and that old Adam and old Eve just go away at that point until then we're all works of progress God is at work in us through word and Sacrament chisling us to be more and more like Christ that fruit of the spirit manifesting that in our lives as God brings forth from us kindness you see biblical kindness biblical kindness It's a gift it's a gift of God so buy the cup of coffee for the person behind you yes yes February 17th acts of random kindness day nice nice but biblical kindness biblical kindness that's a gift of the holy spirit that he is producing and bringing forth from you so who's going to be the recipients this week who's going to be the recipients of God's kindness through you who's going to be the recipients because you know today is regular acts of kindness day and in fact tomorrow is regular acts of kindness day and in fact the day after tomorrow and the day after and the day after and after [Music] What you open your Bibles, please, with me to the 15th chapter of the book of Acts for our study today. They're encouraging because we're promised that Jesus will return and they're encouraging because we know that though Jesus will come like a thief in the night he will be here when we least expect it or don't know that it's coming that he's coming we have nothing to fear because we are not children of the darkness we are no longer children of sin captive and bonded with in the slavery of sin but instead we are children of light think about when Jesus appeared first to his disciples after his resurrection they were hiding there was chaos there was fear they were trembling and Jesus did not knock waiting for them to answer waiting for them to invite him in they had to be really scared when all of a sudden he was just standing there he didn't ask he just entered much like his disciples his first disciples where he just entered he did not wait for them to invite him in and Jesus is not knocking at the door of your life waiting until you can clean up and waiting until you will graciously open the door for him to come in the beauty and the wonderment of our Lord Jesus Christ is that the messy the chaos it doesn't frighten him he is not obliged and does not feel obliged to wait outside until we can get our house in order our houses in order messy doesn't frighten Jesus not even hoarding messy hoarding messy doesn't frighten Jesus it doesn't scare him off you look at his ministry he healed a woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years he physically touched the leper he would speak to the adulterous and the prostitute he wasn't frightened off by the man possessed by legion the many demons he walked with tax collectors he called for Lazarus who had been dead for days to be brought out of the tomb messy didn't scare Jesus in his ministry and messy certainly does not scare Jesus as our resurrected Lord Jesus went throughout his ministry not fearing those whose lives were messy not fearing those who were in a chaotic state whether they were possessed by demons or diseased with leprosy he continued to go forth facing the very messy crucifixion that was looming ahead of him he knew fully well what his messy death would mean in Isaiah the prophet wrote see my servant shall prosper he shall be exalted and lifted up and shall be very high just as there were many who were astonished at him so marred was his appearance beyond human semblance and his form beyond that of mortals his body would be abused and tortured so badly that he would be completely disfigured and unrecognizable he hung there tortured with my sin he was disfigured with your sin he was made unrecognizable by the sin of all creation in the series that we've had over the past couple of months resolution gods resolutions we went through several ways in the resolutions that God had made and how he would act toward his people toward his chosen disciples of whom we can be counted he was resolved to forget sin he was resolved to lift the burden of the law he was resolved to give us a new heart and a new spirit to never leave us to have plans for our future he was resolved to instruct us he was resolved that he would be with us so that we would not be overwhelmed or consumed by the problems of this world that he would be the God of the Exodus of the past present and future making us new and throughout this series we have seen with each of these resolutions how indeed he did come through our resolution the final resolution we are talking about today is the resolution that he will come again God is resolved to come again he has promised to come again if you look at Revelation chapter 22 verse 20 the one who testifies to these things says surely I am coming soon Jesus promised that he would come again and not only come again but to come soon what is soon what is soon no one knows we don't have the date we don't have the time we don't know how much time there is to clean up we don't know how much time there is to tell people that Jesus is coming and coming soon but we can look around us we can look at the world around us and we see that it is full of war and rumors of war the earth groans under the weight of men we disregard others come Lord Jesus come and this side of heaven as we await the coming of Christ as we look for him to come this side of heaven is not easy this side of heaven though we are saints we still struggle with the old Adam or the old evil a Eve sorry the nature of the flesh that is hemorrhaging in sin the lepros disease of greed and selfishness the adulterous bride of God who is unfaithful to Christ her bride groom the nature in which we are dead in sin if we continue in our reading the final words of God holy and living word for the saints is the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints amen the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints the grace the free freely given freeing love and mercy of Jesus Christ be with you as long as we remain on this side of heaven those who have been called into faith by the Holy Spirit will continue to need the constant grace and continued grace of God and we are promised that he will continue to pour out his grace upon us to pour out his mercy, his love, his forgiveness upon us and we will be carried in his grace the messy of the sin did not scare or frightened Christ the messy of our sin is exactly the messy that he experienced upon the cross the messy of our sin is exactly what he exchanged with us so that we could be given his unblemished holy and completely clean righteousness and we are carried through constantly turning over again and again the sins which are so messy in our lives and again and again we are promised the grace of Jesus Christ is with us we are promised to be carried in his righteousness and given his righteousness so when we think of this world when we consider the world around us it makes sense to cry out in that leak come come come Lord Jesus because we know that he is coming indeed and we know that we are assured that we are children of light because we have been forgiven our sin has been forgiven our messy has been taken from us and we have been cleansed completely through the blood of Jesus Christ so we can cry out come with all insurance but then we look around or we think of people who we know who those words come Lord Jesus strikes fear into their heart because they don't know Jesus and they don't know the offer that Jesus has for them they only know it if it is told to them my brothers and sisters you are the saints the disciples of today the disciples who are to carry his word his promise of love mercy and forgiveness to the ends of the earth the commission that he has given to all his disciples so that there would be more disciples for him together when he comes again who do you know who do you know who is not ready for Christ to pop in who do you know that is looking at the house in the chaos and mess and disarray and fears the truth of Christ go to them call them speak to them share with them the cleansing word of Jesus Christ who does not fear the messy but cleanses the messy disgusting torture of sin and takes it from them and cleans them with his blood with his forgiveness because he loves them go to them share that word with them Jesus promised that he would come again Jesus is resolved to come again and we know that indeed he will come again he said surely I am coming soon and so we too with the Apostle John proclaim Amen come Lord Jesus In this sermon series, we are talking about resolutions, God's, that is God's resolutions, and how he acts towards us, how he is resolved to act toward us. Paul was angry as you looked around Athens he was infuriated when he saw all of these false gods in this idol worship why was Paul so angry because God hates idolatry let's go on verse 17 of chapter 17 so he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons here are God fearing Gentiles so he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons and also in the marketplace every day with those who happen to be there also some epicurian and stoic philosophers debated with him some says what this is babler want to say what is this babler want to say that's closer that word babler there is a really ugly insult it's really ugly literally in the in the Greek it means seed picker and the image is of birds indiscriminately picking and pecking and eating seeds like someone who picks up pieces of knowledge but really doesn't know what they're talking about it's not just someone who keeps going on and on and on and on of them out here this is a really ugly ugly insult he's a seed picker we go on second part of verse 18 other said he seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities this was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection so they took him and brought him to the aryopagus and asked him may we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting in the past the aryopagus was the highest court at this point it's no longer the highest court in fact it was a it was a place and the court was identified by the place the aryopagus and what the aryopagus did what this court did is they would pronounce judgment on religions and philosophies and so here's Paul talking about this foreign deity it sounded like to them and so they go to the aryopagus because they want a judgment here they want a judgment on this religion or this philosophy or whatever it is that Paul is talking about we go on verse 20 it sounded rather strange to us so we would like to know what it means now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new they were always searching but never finding they were enthralled with a new religion or philosophy they were just enthralled if something was new and what were some of the ideas that were being with him some said what does this seed picker want to say some epicurian philosophers well that goes back to epicurius about three and a half centuries before the birth of Jesus one of the ideas that was being bantied about three and a half centuries old and everything old is exactly what they were experiencing see epicurius came along and said God is indifferent to his creation God really doesn't care about his creation there's there's no afterlife so really you just try and live a good and virtuous life and then you've been he call it good and by this now the first century it had now wrapped in the understanding of hedonism which is you simply pursue pleasure you simply want to keep upon yourself as much pleasure as you be married for tomorrow you die and everything old is then you had these stoic philosophers those back to about the same time as epicurius this two is old it's three and a half centuries old goes back to this philosopher by the name of Xenocene that what is really important in life is self mastery self mastery and detachment you detach from happiness you detach from pain you become indifferent to life you just detach it was also pantheistic which meant that God was like like the soul of the universe so here you have these ideas being bantied about some of them from epicurian philosophy some of them from stoic philosophy in the over three centuries old everything old this yeah but when you reflect on our lives it's interesting isn't it how everything that's old can become new again in our lives I don't know one person here today that would say I'm an epicurian an uphunter how in the subtlest of ways that old epicurian philosophy can become new in our life where we and even the subtlest of ways think that well God must let's just be indifferent to me I pray and another never seems to happen maybe God is just kind of past me over that sense of epicurian philosophy even in the most subtle of ways where it's that understanding that God is indifferent that epicurian philosophy of eat drink and be merry for tomorrow you die nothing now be honest here is that ever creep in subtly no we gotta get the most out of this life because the years are really fleeting here is ever crossed your mind you ever think and maybe there is nothing after this you're tempted to think that where the sense of the desires that we have becomes paramount the sense of well you know life is about making myself happy and so how can I bring the pleasures of life more into my life when nobody comes right out and says I'm an epicurian nobody comes right out and says my philosophy for life is eat drink and be merry for tomorrow you die will you get that in the secular world I don't think there'd be one of us here that would ever say well that's my philosophy of life but does it creep in in one fashion or another and when it does you know what it is it's everything old is now same thing about stoicism I'm not talking about a personality difference among all of us you know I'm a difficult time some people can be more emotionally reserved than others come some can be more expressive and that term they're more stoic is applied to them I'm not talking about that at all here talking about the creeping in our lives of what can occur in terms of of of an difference a pulling back a cocooning of ourselves so that there isn't there's in relationships with others on deep and meaningful ways it's a cocooning of ourselves where we would prefer just simply shut the blinds and just be alone it's it's a pullback from interfacing with our neighbor and caring with our neighbor it's a it's a it's a pullback all of a sudden the world we are in different to it and someone comes to us and says I'm not religious but I'm spiritual do we ever not our head because think what was just said what does that mean I'm religious or I'm not religious but then I'm spiritual do we ever in the subtlest of ways start to create our own God devoid of the understanding and self definition of God of himself in Holy Scripture and we defined our own walk of faith with a God of our own creating and in the subtlest of ways we find ourselves leaning more towards those who simply say I don't associate with any religion I'm just I'm just creep in so subtle so subtle but it can creep in for us do you know what happens when it does well everything old is but amidst the creeping of that which is old into the newness of our lives God comes with his song and his lyric look at the second part of verse 18 again others said he seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities this was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection the good news about Jesus this is even then an old story by this point it's the old story of the Lord Jesus Christ who brings the newness of the victory of the cross and the resurrection into our lives it is the newness of the gospel that comes every time it is proclaimed it is the newness of that old gospel when we receive that word of absolute that word of forgiveness and we are struck a new that indeed today because of that old old story that old old lyric it's all new in the forgiveness of the Lord Jesus Christ it's God's lyric of forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus it's God's lyric of life eternal that the tomb is empty it is God's lyric of being claimed in waters of baptism it is God's lyric that this is not all there is but that this is one more day in all of eternity for the Christian it's that old old lyric that is new again for us each day out of a fester put it this way every time the gospel is proclaimed we are hit a new with a lightning bolt of the good news absolutely absolutely and the old becomes new Paul experienced that everything old was new again in the worst possible way and what we see through the proclamation of Paul is that there's the experience that everything old is new again in the most glorious way as the gospel of Jesus Christ makes it all new new to live in his forgiveness now that's why we sang before the sermon now is the moment now is the time now in the darkness of today through the blood of Jesus and so we sing and even though you beat 845 may I encourage even greater boldness at the end of the sermon we sing today with joy that everything old is amen We're all familiar with Thomas Edison. names of churches interest me I've always maintained that this church she has a great name living word why it refers to the word the Lord Jesus Christ it refers to Scripture it draws on the Hebrew verses there in terms of the word being living and active it is an incredible and wonderful name for a church some churches will designate themselves numerically sometimes you'll hear First Lutheran Church your second Baptist Church etc I came across recently a church and the name of the church was the tenth Presbyterian Church you have to do some serious accounting in a community there to make sure you've got your numbers right for that right today I want to use the numerical approach to naming a church and I'd like to name a church that we see in Holy Scripture it doesn't reveal this name to us in the Word of God but I think this name would be appropriate specifically the first Church of the Gentiles the first Church of the Gentiles and what we're going to see today is what occurred in the First Church of the Gentiles what they were called in the first Church of the Gentiles and what they did in the first Church of the Gentiles now to put this into a context for us you'll recall that in acts the tenth chapter you have it's an incredibly important chapter that's why we spent so much time in it in the tenth chapter of the book of Acts you have the message that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is not only for the Jew but it's for the non Jew it's for the Gentile in the 11th Peter goes and he goes back to the church in Jerusalem and tells them what God has been doing among the Gentiles and the response take a look at chapter 11 verse 18 when they heard this they were silenced and they praised God saying then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life you then have more witnessing to the Gentiles notice in verse 21 please chapter 11 the scripture says the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord Barnabas then comes from the church in Jerusalem he comes to encourage these new believers he calls and exhorts them to remain faithful and to be devoted and what you have here in Antioch is the birth of a church and the name I'd like to give it this morning the first church of the Gentiles the first church of the Gentiles so let's pick up our story let's go to verse 25 now chapter 11 then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch you remember Saul Saul had dedicated his life to the eradication of Christianity Saul said if I run across a Christian they're gonna be thrown into prison we're gonna kill these Christians we're gonna eradicate this movement God met him on the road to Damascus transformed his heart turned him into a believer and the last we heard about Saul was back in the ninth chapter and Saul was going guess where to Tarsus de Tarsus so Barnabas Barnabas knows exactly who he wants to help him here in Antioch and so he goes to Tarsus to look for Saul Galatians tells us that during that period from the ninth chapter of Acts to the eleventh chapter of acts that paul had gone into syria and cilicia we know from Scripture that churches were born certainly Paul would have founded them and now Barnabas is gonna team up with Paul team up and they're gonna minister to this new church the first church of the Gentiles just reflect on this a second that is quite a team isn't it that is quite a pastoral team for the church church for the first Church of the Gentiles in Antioch to have Barnabas and pull that's a strong team strong team what do they do there at the first church look please halfway through verse 25 so it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people they talked remember back in the sixth chapter of Acts when you had the food distribution to the widows and the Apostle says we need to bring together a team that can do this they said and we ourselves will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word they understood that their calling was to teach notice what happens look at chapter 13 verse 1 scripture says now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers so as the pastoral team ven of Barnabas and Paul Minister in Antioch as they're teaching who's born but more teachers right they're instructed and now they themselves will teach what occurred at the First Church of the Gentiles they taught and they talked and they talked that's why there's Sunday school for age three through adult that's why Sunday school never ends until the Lord takes you home that's why there's small groups that gather together and study that's why there's a men's group and a women's group and they study that's why when the youths get together they study that's why when the kids go in for music on Wednesday nights they study what it is that they're singing what the words are that's why they're taught the great hymns of the church they're taught how come this hymn has remained for centuries here they're taught how great hymns preach that's why pastor malonic and I are working on the formation of an Academy here at Living Word we're gonna roll it out in the fall this is an academy it's a three-year program some thirteen classes that we're gonna combine together and we're going to teach it's gonna be theology it's gonna be doctrine it's gonna be biblical studies it's gonna be Christian caregiving it's gonna be witnessing there is no other Church in the Metroplex that is doing this and our prayer is is that every single person will enroll in this Academy will go through this three-year program receive the certificate that other churches in the area will become a part of it this is like a mini seminary that we are putting together for the expressed purpose of equipping the Saints for the work of ministry and what's going to be at the heart of it we're gonna teach and we're gonna teach and we're gonna tee and we're gonna make teachers that then go out and in even greater ways defend the faith why when someone in our faith community when they move out of our service area often times they'll say pastor can you recommend a church to me sometimes I can other times I can't but in the times that I can't what I do is I share with them please do this when you go to choose a church choose the church based upon what she teaches what she teaches it doesn't matter whether it's large doesn't matter whether it's small doesn't matter what's medium or in the whole full range of how churches come choose the church I'll say based upon what she teaches don't choose it based upon program is you can have the greatest program and the life of a church since the Lord Jesus walked this earth but if the teaching is bad what does it matter don't don't choose it based upon friend lines his friends come and go people come and move away don't choose it because your next-door neighbor has a friend of your child and they go to this particular church don't use it that way don't use it based upon the demographics don't choose it for any other reason than what the Church teaches because you see it's the teaching that forms us it's the teaching that God uses to transform us into who he wants to be it's the teaching that remains for your children it's the teaching that they then will pass on to the next generation when the church in Antioch the first Church of the Gentiles when they gathered they didn't gather to be entertained they didn't gather to have their ears tickled with cute stories from the preacher they didn't gather to have their opinions validated by the preacher they gathered they gathered to be taught because the teaching was paramount what they do in the First Church of the Gentiles what occurred they just taught and they just kept on teaching because that's by God's grace how mature disciples are born what were they called in the first church of the Gentiles look with me please at the last part of verse 26 and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians Christians the first place in scripture where Christians are ever referred to as Christians called a lot of things are called witnesses brothers and sisters followers of the way there's many different designations this is the first use of Christians and you know what the birth of this designation was not a compliment it was a form of derision it was born out of the derision of the pagans Christian honey the Greek word there means the party of Christ you belong to Christ so they said ah you belong to the party of Christ aren't you you are you're a Christian they'd say you don't belong to the party of Caesar like we do you belong to the party of Christ and so Christians was a term of derision derision the early Christians they wore that with a badge of honor badge of honor Becki the historian Eusebius says of an early martyr he turned to his torturers and said to his torturers I am a Christian I'm they belong to Christ they belong to him they didn't deserve that none of us deserve it we're sinners every last one of us we sin against him in thought word indeed what we've done and what we've left undone what we deserve is Hell itself but the Lord Jesus Christ has borne our sins on the cross his tomb is empty the sacrifice has been accepted God comes and claims us as his own in the waters of Baptism gives us the gifts of life eternal in faith and the Holy Spirit and eternal life he makes us a member of the family he says to us you're mine you're mine [Music] that's why Paul says in Romans the fourteenth chapter he says whether we live or whether we die we are the Lord's it's the Christian they belong to Christ they belong to him what occurred they taught what were they called Christians what they do what they do look when they please at verse 27 at that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch one of them named Agabus stood up predicted by the spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world and this took place during the reign of Claudius which is a little aside here Claudius reigned from 41 to 54 there are several historians secular historians from the day who recorded severe famines that affected Israel in 44 and 45 exactly as what was predicted exactly so what they do verse 29 the disciples determined that according to their ability each would send relief to the believers living in Judea this they did sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul that's what they do they loved in Jesus name and who they loved they loved the Jews the very people who for so long just hated them hated them didn't matter didn't matter they just loved them they gave proportionately those who had more gave more those who had less they gave less but both was proportional sacrifice they loved they had been claimed by the Lord Jesus Christ they were followers of him they belong to him Jesus Christ had given his all dying for them and rising for them and so as the act of service to the one who had served them through the cross and the resurrection they lived out their faith and they just loved they loved them they said here's help here's help they thought they were called Christians and they lived out their name they lived out their name today seven eighth graders are about ready to go through the rite of confirmation this is the time of year when you see a lot of gowns academic gowns they're gown is different this isn't a gallon of achievement it's a gallon of giftedness it's white because God has claimed them as his own in the waters of baptism and has given to them of the righteous garment of the Lord Jesus Christ this is not a gown of academic achievement this is a gown of rejoicing it's a gift when they rise they're not going to make their decision for Jesus today because Jesus has already made his decision about them in the waters of baptism when Jesus said calling them each by name you're mine you are mine no if ands or buts about it and he took his word 1 through the cross and the empty tomb and just washed the in the promises these confrim ends have been taught two years Wednesday night we've studied the small catechism of Martin Luther you see four years in Sunday school they learned the Bible stories and the doctrine and then they get the confirmation and they learned the doctrine and go right back to the Bible stories you see it comes out in both ways for two years studied they were taught and their gown today does not mean it's graduation day it's not graduation day from being taught it's a declaration that indeed the teaching of Almighty God goes on and on and on until that day when he takes us home and so when they rise we're gonna see people that have been taught and that continue to be taught when they rise we're gonna see Christians Christians and they wear that name proudly because they have been made one who belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ and that is solely God's gracious act on their life as he transformed them into believers when they stand these ones who have been taught they stand as Christians and when they stand that is a declaration to the congregation that indeed having completed this period of study in their life they are ready to take on a greater responsibility in the life of Christ's Church they are saying in a specific way to each one of us today that they're ready in in greater ways to live out who they are Christians call to love and serve in the name of Christ when they stand it is a reminder to us that the First Church of the Gentiles they were taught named and they lived out their name and in living word lutheran church in Grapevine Texas taught named and living out their name and the same thing that happened in the First Church of the Gentiles by God's grace happens right here right here amen [Music] Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 19th chapter of the Book of Luke?
Video citations
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- “The Feet and Heart Connection” 8-27-23 — Would you open up your Bibles please with me to Psalm 86 for our study this morning? Psalm 86 in the Old Testament if you're using a Pue edition page 507 Psalm 86. The Gospel writer Luke was a…
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- "The Point" 5-28-23 — Would you open your Bibles' please on this Pentacos Sunday to the second chapter of the book of Acts, if you're using a Pue edition, you're going to find that on page 103 in the New Testament Acts…
- "Instruct One Another" 1-22-23 — Would you open your Bibles, please? With me for our time of study today to Romans the 15th chapter. Romans chapter 15, if you're using a Pue edition, you're going to find that on page 143. Romans…
- “For You” 11-27-22 — One of my favorite stories to read in this season leading up to the Christmas season is a Christmas Carol. It's a wonderful story written by Charles Dickens and in it we have a main character. It's…
- “All Circumstances” 11-6-22 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me? For our study today, to first desolonyans, the fifth chapter. First desolonyans, chapter five, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're…
- “Praying for the City” 10-9-22 — With your Bibles, please, with me to Jeremiah the 29th chapter for our study today. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find Jeremiah the 29th chapter on page 690 in the…
- "Pure in Heart" 9-18-22 — Would you open your Bibles please with me today to Matthew the fifth chapter for our study? If you're using a Puedition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find the fifth chapter of Matthew on page 3…
- “What We Need to Hear” 5-15-22 — Let us open our Bibles' Please for our study today. So first Corinthians, the sixth chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find that on page 148. First Corinthians, the…
- "Grammar Lesson" 5-8-22 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to second Corinthians the fourth chapter for our study today if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find that in the New Testament on…
- "The Lone Ranger" 5-1-22 — Would you open your Bibles please with me to first Corinthians the first chapter for our study today? If you're using a Pue edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New Testament,…
- “More Grace to Bestow” 2-13-22 — Welcome to your Bible's Please with me, too. The Gospel of Mark the 5th chapter, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 34 for our study today, Mark the…
- “Serve” 12-19-21 — Would you open your Bibles please with me this morning to first Peter the fourth chapter for our study? If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, please find that on page 207. Page 207. First…
- "Tomorrow" 11-21-21 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to the fourth chapter of the book of James for our study today? If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that page 200 and 4,…
- “Today ” 11-14-21 — Would you open your Bible's please with me this morning to Psalm 118. An easy way of course to find the book of Psalms is simply to go to the very center of Scripture open it up. You're going to…
- "If I Believe in Jesus, Do I Still Have to Follow the Law?" 7-4-21 — If you would please open your Bibles to Galatians the 5th chapter, we're going to be studying out of Galatians the 5th chapter. It's Independence Day, July 4th, and this is such a wonderful time to…
- "New Name" (4-4-21) — Would you open your Bible, please, with me, to Revelation chapter 2 for our study on this great day, Revelation the second chapter. The sound of feet, were they moving rather slowly along the path,…
- “Come, Lord Jesus!” — If you would please open your Bibles to Revelation chapter 22, that's the last book in all of Scripture, Revelation chapter 22. Okay, we're going to think about a scene and you tell me if this is…
- "With You" 12-27-20 — In this sermon series, we are talking about resolutions, God's, that is God's resolutions, and how he acts towards us, how he is resolved to act toward us. We have talked about how God was resolved…
- "I, I am He" — Let's open our Bibles, please. To Isaiah, the 43rd chapter for our study today, Isaiah chapter 43. It has come to that time of the year in which perhaps our minds start to drift. Drift to…
- "In His Presence" — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to Psalm 16 for our study today? Psalm 16 and we're going to focus in on one particular verse, that is verse 11. But we're going to explore all of this…
- "Lois and Eunice" — Would you open your Bible please with me for our study today? The Book of Second Timothy, Second Timothy, the very first chapter for our study this morning, Second Timothy, Chapter 1. Sluggins,…
- "Formed" — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to Isaiah the 64th chapter for our study this morning, Isaiah chapter 64. One of the great revelations of Holy Scripture is the communication of Scripture…
- "Those Who Wait" Isaiah 40:28-31 — Let's open our Bibles, please, to the 40th chapter of the book of Isaiah for our study this morning. Isaiah the 40th chapter. A recent survey was done. Research was done and it came to these…
- Mistaken Identity: 3-29-20 — I'd like to invite you to open your Bibles to the Book of Acts the 21st chapter. The Book of Acts the 21st chapter. Have you ever looked for stories on mistaken identity? There are some really…
- "For the Greater Purpose" — Would you open your Bibles' Please with me to the 21st chapter of the Book of Acts for our continued study in this great book. The 21st chapter of the Book of Acts for our study this morning. We've…
- "Instructions" — Instructions these days seem to be coming more and more with pictures. And sometimes the pictures don't exactly fit what it is you're putting together. Sometimes you long for words don't you? To go…
- Keeping On Keeping On — When I was in my 30s, way back when, when I was in my 30s, I thought it would be a great thing for me to be a runner. And I signed up for a race, a 10k, and I was very gung-ho and I trained…
- Living the Story — When you look at various figures, throughout the scriptures, oftentimes you can associate a word with them. For example, Adam and Eve, Apple, Noah, Flood, Abraham, and Sarah, covenant, David,…
- "Awestruck" — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 19th chapter of the Book of Acts? The seven sons of Skiva. Those band of boys were bad news. They were exorcists that went around, traveling…
- "11 to 4, and Evenings" — Schedules, we all have them, rhythms to life. Sometimes those schedules are kept in our phones or in our daytimeers or maybe sometimes even just in our minds. But we all have the rhythms that we…
- Gathered In — Let us pray together. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for your infelible word. We give you thanks, O Lord, that as we open up the pages of Scripture, the voice that we hear is your…
- This is the Church — Okay, so we've all heard the saying, it takes a village, right? We all know this saying it's not uncommon in our daily usage. It's actually an African proverb, and it means that an entire community…
- If God Wills — The Bible tells us about a person by the name of Gideon. Gideon knew what the will of God was, but he just wanted confirmation. And so he said, God, I'm going to take this fleece of wool. I'm going…
- "Hindsight" December 8, 2019 — Hinesite, hindsight. Perhaps you've heard the phrase or you've used it yourself. Hinesite is 100% or hindsight is 2020. In other words, when you're looking over your shoulder at something that is…
- Next Steps — I love games. I love interactive games. I love physical games, not much of an athlete, but I like physical games. One of my favorite games to play in a youth group is a trust game. Have you ever…
- Unknown to Known — It was a talk show and the topic for the day does God exist. The guest was an avowed atheist and the host and the guest were having a debate for the entire hour. As the show was starting to wrap up…
- When Everything Old is New Again — You know, through the years there have been various shows that were based upon the premise seeing if you could guess what the next lyric was or what the song title was. Well, I'm banking on the fact…
- "Relentless" — We're all familiar with Thomas Edison. We know who that is, a famous inventor, famous, possibly most famous for inventing the light bulb. Right? We enjoy the fruits of his invention in our modern…
- "Driven to the Knees" — It is my favorite math problem. Take whatever number you want, whatever number you want. Double it, then add 10 to it. Divide it in half, and then take the original number, and subtract it, and you…
- Rejoice Reaction — reactions. Reactions. We all have them. Don't we? That's sometimes the best thing is just not to react, right? But if you want to press the point, even not reacting is a reaction, right? Reaction…
- "Purple and White" 9-29-19 — Courtney Bennett's, a delightful lady that was part of the congregation that I served when I was in Washington. Courtney had a flare about her, and she also had a very distinctive voice. It had a…
- Declaration — The last few weeks we have been studying out of this great chapter, the 15th chapter of Acts. And specifically, we have been looking at the three D's. We hope that it's a simple little memory device…
- "Itinerary" — As we come to the conclusion of the 14th chapter of Acts, we come really to a transition point in the book of Acts. This marks the end of what is called Paul's first missionary journey. The first…
- "Two Fold Witness" 8-11-19 — As one studies the miracles of our Lord, we see various reactions that occur. I think for example of the miracle in which Jesus comes the wind. He's walked on the sea. He's then with the disciples…
- "The Greater Healing" 8-4-19 — There are a host of healings recorded in Holy Scripture. And as you read the account of these healings, they are tremendously moving, aren't they? Does the Lord Jesus Christ still heal this side of…
- "Chutzpah" July 14, 2019 — So there was a little old lady who was selling pretzels on the street corner day after day selling pretzels just a dollar of pretzel and every day a young gentleman would pass by and pretty soon…
- A People That Point July 7, 2019 — So as I said, we are right at the tail end of Paul's sermon. And we have studied for the past couple of weeks. This sermon of Paul's, he was invited to proclaim a word. He's in a synagogue and they…
- Promise Fulfilled June 30, 2019 — The two brothers were having a serious discussion in the grocery store. It was one of those discussions that as you passed by them, as they were doing their shopping with their parents, you could…
- "Providential Care" June 23, 2019 — One of the great joys of studying through the Book of Acts is that you come across some amazing, amazing sermons. By Justin Art studies so far, we have studied the great sermon of Peter at the time…
- "Herzpunkt" June 9, 2019 — Hearspunked. Hearspunked. It's a German word. And it means the heart point, the central point. With Luther would preach, Luther would always look for the hearspunked. As he would study a portion of…
- "Glimpse" June 16, 2019 — You'll recall that the book of Acts is the second volume. The first volume was written by the gospel writer Luke and then Luke writes the second volume, which is the book of Acts. In the first…
- "Unexpected Surprise" June 2, 2019 — We are smack dab in the middle of a really exciting story of rescue and deliverance out of a miracle of God And as I was studying this text and I was trying to think of a great way to open this…
- "Rescued" May 26, 2019 — Rescues. Rescues. We see them throughout Holy Scripture. I think for example of the rescue of Jonah from the belly of the whale, that was the rescue, wasn't it? Or how about the rescue of Shadrack,…
- "Christians" May 12, 2019 Sermon — names of churches interest me I've always maintained that this church she has a great name living word why it refers to the word the Lord Jesus Christ it refers to Scripture it draws on the Hebrew…
- "Entrance Hymn" Palm Sunday Sermon — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 19th chapter of the Book of Luke? We're going to pause our study and Acts as we enter into this holy week. As we follow the texts, this great…
- The Have and Have Nots Acts 10:44-48 — Let's open our Bible's, please, to the 10th chapter of the Book of Acts. We come to the conclusion of this great, great chapter. And we have been spending several weeks in this chapter. It is one of…
- "Essentials" Acts 10:34-43 (3-31-19) — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the 10th chapter of the Book of Acts? The sermon, the sermon. The proclamation of the anerrant and an enthelable word of mighty God. As we've studied,…
- The Gathering 3-24-19 — The gathering, the gathering. We see various gatherings throughout Holy Scripture. I think for example in numbers, when people are complaining against Moses and their thirsty, and so God grants them…
- Verboten 3-17-19 — So we're going to do a quick review of last week because where we're picking up today is right in the middle of a really really important and key story within all of Scripture. Last week in the…
- "Clinging" March 10, 2019 — Would you open your Bible please with me to the 10th chapter of the book of Acts for our study this morning? As we enter the 10th chapter today, we come to one of the most important chapters in the…
- " Presented Alive" March 3, 2019 — So in today's text, we have two stories of miracles that are performed by Peter. The last that we had heard about Peter or seen Peter was when he was evangelizing in Samaria. In chapter eight before…
- After Some Time February 24, 2019 — You're open your Bible's please with me to the ninth chapter of the Book of Acts as we continue our study in this wonderful book. The Book of Acts is filled with action. Is it not? Why there are…
- Now Is The Time February 3, 2019 — So we're going to have a really quick confession moment. This is not rhetorical. You don't have to shout it out. But raise your hand. Who here is a procrastinator? Yep. It is always good to know…
- Intensely Personal February 10, 2019 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to the ninth chapter of the Book of Acts? His name was John Newton. And John Newton penned the hymn that we just sang, amazing grace. Before John Newton…
- Perplexity and Opportunity January 27, 2019 — Would you open your Bible please with me to the eighth chapter of the book of Acts? His name was Philip. And Philip can be one of those well forgotten people in Scripture. You have huge names in…
- Moving Out January 13, 2019 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the book of Acts the 8th chapter this morning? As we return to our study of this great book. The book of Acts, you will recall, gives us 30 years of…
- Transformation and Struggle Acts 8:9-25 1-20-19 — Would you open your Bible, please, with May 2 8th chapter of the Book of Acts? You'll recall last week as we moved into the 8th chapter of the Book of Acts. That was a very, very important…
- "Eureka" January 6, 2019 — I've never had one of those, ah ha, ah ha moments when everything becomes clear and everything just makes sense. My kids and I have been watching an old detective show and recently in toward the end…
- Similar Story ... Just Better — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to the seventh chapter of the book of Acts? When you pick up a book, as you start to read it, the theme of the book oftentimes is very apparent, isn't it?…
- "Server" Nov 11, 2018 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Mark for our study today? These past several weeks, we have been studying in the sermon series entitled The Mission.…
- "Heartbeat" Nov 4, 2018 — Alright, honest, honest question, how many of you have had this hymn stuck in your heads for a couple weeks now? Anyone? Anyone? I see a couple hymns. I was driving along and last week, just,…
- "Light" October 28, 2018 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me, to the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. We are in a four-week study that I have entitled the Mission. Leveraging off of our study in the Book of…
- "The Crux" October 21, 2018 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to first Corinthians, the 6-second chapter? There are several phrases that over the years seem to be used. If someone says, that person gave 110%. Why…
- "Not Just A History Lesson" Acts 7:9-16 — We are working through Act still and we're in Chapter 7, looking at Stephen's sermon picking up in verse 9, but we will get there. First I want to tell you a little story. When I was in ninth grade,…
- The Bridge — Would you open your Bible, please, to the sixth chapter of the Book of Acts for our study together? I did my internship when I was in seminary in a place called Navato, California. It was 30 miles…
- Sermon September 16, 2018 — In our modern day, we talk a lot about people getting triggered, getting really, really upset. It's when something is so upsetting that you fly off the handle. You lose all reason, all peace of…
- Sermon September 9, 2018 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the fifth chapter of the Book of Acts, as we continue our study this morning from this great book. You recall as we were in the fifth chapter last week,…
- Sermon September 2, 2018 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the fifth chapter of the book of Acts? As an old children song, the lyric is simply this. I am the church. You are the church. We are the church…
- "When Does God Judge Us?" Mt:25:31-46 — To open your Bible, please, with me to the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew for our study this morning. Throughout this summer, we have been dealing in the sermon series, questions and answers.…
- Sermon June 24, 2018 The Conscience — Would you open your Bible, please, with me, to the first chapter of First Timothy, the first chapter for our study this morning? Brian Wolf Moller writes of a conversation that he had with one of…
- Sermon June 10, 2018 — Would you open your Bible please with me to the third chapter of the book of Romans? Are people basically good? Are people basically good? It's an interesting question, isn't it? For we hear the…
- Sermon- May 27 "Perfect Church" — Today's a look for loop holes. I remember when I was a kid, there was a little bit of confession time. When I was a kid, I was tasked with changing the, the litter or the bedding of our rats cage.…
- Sermon 5-6-18 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the fourth chapter of the book of Acts as we continue our study in this great chapter and this great book of God's infelible, holy word. If you had to…
- Sermon 4-29-18 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the fourth chapter of the wonderful book of Acts. We're going to pick up where we left off last week. Silence can be such an interesting phenomenon,…
- Sermon 4-22-18 — You open your Bible, please, with me to the fourth chapter of the Book of Acts, as we continue our study in this great gift that God has given us this great book of Acts. In the first chapter of the…
- To Do List — To do lists, to do lists. Do you have any of those? Why they can be lists of the rather mundane things and also lists of rather important things? Here's my question for you this morning. Did Jesus…
- While We Wait — Let's open our Bible's please to the very first chapter of the Book of Acts. We began our journey in this incredible book last Sunday and I just want to recap what we went over. Because the first…
- For The Price — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to the very first chapter of the Book of Acts, as we continue our study, has last we left the early disciples. They were obeying and praying, weren't…
- Apostleship — Would you open up your Bible please with me to the very first chapter of the book of Acts? The Twelve. The Twelve. They're known as the Twelve. They're known as disciples. And when you look at this…
- In Our Own Language — Would you open your Bible please with me to the second chapter of the Book of Acts as we pick up from where we left off last week as we moved out of the first chapter of the Book of Acts. Remember…
- The Single Reason — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the second chapter of the Book of Acts? Will we gather on Christmas Eve, a glorious Christmas Eve service? We studied from the second chapter of the…
- Proof — Would you open your Bible, please, with me? To the second chapter of the Book of Acts, is we continue this wonderful study of this great book, Acts of the Apostles. Provent. Provent. Why in a court…
- Know With Certainty — You open your Bible Please with me to the second chapter of the Book of Acts as we continue our study in this great book. The sermon. The sermon. The sermon is a unique form of speech, isn't it? The…
- The Promise For You — How many times in your life have you heard the words I promise? And how many times in your life have you said the words I promise? I was thinking about what promises we make in our lives every day.…
- Devoted — Okay, we're going to start with some church statistics. Yes, statistics. But this is important. This is important to know and to think about this is from the 2016 Barner Report on the state of the…
- Validation — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the third chapter of the Book of Acts, as we continue our study in this great book, healings. Healing's. We see in Holy Scripture great, great healings.…
- Utterly Astonishing — Okay, I have a fun surprise for you today. I'm going to do magic. Nothing, my sleeves, nothing in my hands. There's going to be something in my hands. I have here a plain cup of water and a second…
- Need Effect Basis — Would you open your Bible, please, with me this morning to the third chapter of the Book of Acts. Repent. Repent. So often when we hear those words, we get an image of someone standing on the street…