“We came With A Straight Course”
Acts 16:10-24 “Losing from Taros we came with a straight course.” I: The World of Macedonia, (A Roman Colony). 1. The Center of Greek Culture would be found in Macedonia. 2. Rome, the Mighty Power of the World. 3. Phillippi was a place where roads from East and West crossed. (Paul sought such places to preach). 4. Phillippi was a miniature colony of Rome. II: The People of Macedonia. 1. The town of Phillippi was named about Phillip of Macedonia, father of Alexander. 2. Romans, Greeks, and Barbarians. 3. Science, Medicine, Merchants and Roman Law. 4. Here Paul could feel the heart heat of new worlds. 5. Here there were not enough Jews for a synagogue. 6. Here Paul would confront 2 different types of women with the Power of the Gospel. III: The Power of...
Whosoever
Acts 2:14-21 This great message was addressed to Jews gathered from over the Roman Empire. Jew designated 1 as a member of the Nation or an Inhabitant of Judea. Israelite designated 1 as religiously the “chosen people.” I: No Longer just the “Chosen People.” 1. The 1st message of the empowered church was an appeal to all mankind. 2. This was the part of the Gospel Message that was the hardest for the early Church to accept. 3. The Jews Persecution of the Church was based on the Universal Appeal. 4. The Bonds of Tradition were strong and their National Pride was deep rooted. 5. Stephen saw Christianity as a world wide religion. a. The Jews were confronted with their National Pride and Racial Prejudice and preferring to cling to it they...
Finished Work
For Me to Live is Christ. Acts 20:17-27, Tim. 2 4:1-7 I fought, ran, wrestled, compelled, and pressed. I: “I Could Bound in the Spirit.” 1. The Compelling Spirit was upon him. 2. The Spirit moved him to finish the course. 3. He was sure of the job to be done but didn’t know the price to be paid. 4. If we will not grieve Him, the Spirit will lead us to finish our work. II: “None of These Things Move Me.” 1. The rattle of the Roman Chains didn’t cause him to falter. 2. Afflictions didn’t make him quit. 3. Shipwreck, hunger, cold, heat, wild beasts, forsaken friends, etc… III: “Neither Count in My Life Dear.” 1. Satan said: “All that a man has he will give for his life.” 2. There are more...
Hard Hearts, Deaf Ears, Blind Eyes
Acts 28:11-31, Issiah 6: I: Hospitality and its Reward on Malta. 1. Paul was at his best in storm or adversity. 2. He soon made himself useful on Malta. 3. God honored the Gospel preaching and worked Miricles. 4. The Hospitality of the Barbarians was rewarded. 5. They entertained angels unawares. II: The Last Miles to Rome. 1. After 3 months they sailed again for Rome. (182 miles). 2. The Boy of Naples and the Island of Capra. a. The Imperial Fleet anchored there. b. Here the Admiral of the Fleet would be buried by a Volcano a few years hence. c. The Jewish Princess wife of Felix, and her child would be intoned. 3. Putolia, the place of departure for Roman legions, and the landing place of Ambassador from Carthage. III: The Apian Way: 1. The most traveled and...
Holy Spirit and Spirit
“There are 2 ways of testing a religion: one is to investigate its views, the other is to examine its power.” I: The Gospel is Power: 1. Power to save. 2. “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” 3. “Ye shall be witnesses unto me.” 4. “In Jerusalem, and in all of Judea, and in Samaria.” 5. “And unto the uttermost part of the Earth.” 6. Tho they had spent years with the Master Teacher, they needed more that they had to perform the task set before them. II: “Christ in You the Hope of Glory.” 1. “He shall be with you and shall be in you.” John 14:15 a. “In all man-made religions, God is on the outside of the individual a being to appeased.” b....
“It is I”
Acts 23:1-11, Matthew 14:22-33 “We speak our not to Communisim, when we say our yes to Christ.” Hemmingway: “It is time America realized that we are in a battle for the eharts and minds of men and that this is a Spiritual battle.” “One-third of our Church Members contradict the teachings of the Church by their very lives.” Dr. Criswell: “When the World is at its worst we must be at our best.” Dr. R.G. Lee “We hear the Gospel by bucket-fulls and live it by the drop.” I: We Must Realize the danger We Face. 1. The Disciples were in danger of accepting the Spirit of the Crowd, (They would make Jesus King). 2. They were in danger of the Sea where they were familiar. 3. They were in danger because their...
Men Who Dare for God
Acts 15:22-29, Heb. 11:32-40 Our trouble today is Pygmies in a world of crisis. Dr. Theodore Speers said on Aug. 11, 1946, at the Central Presbyterian Church: Much of the World’s Misery is caused by childish adults, self conscious, self-important, unwillingness to accept responsibility, always present to throw sand in the wheels of progress and growth. (R.G. Lee’s description of Mediocrity — pg. 129) Mr. Woods-worth on Mediocrity in Religion: “Shallow streams of piety that flows on Sabbath Days a fresher course.” Vance Harner: “Salvation has become a night cap instead of a helmet. We have those in our churches who have plenty of sentiment but no sacrifice; who sing lustily in the World all week, the kind of people who, when...
Messengers of the Good News
Acts 8:4-8 I: “They that Were Scattered.” 1. These were blood bought slaves. 2. They had of their own free wills chosen to be servants of Christ. 3. Everything was to come under His control. 4. They had witnessed miracles and some had seen Jesus after the Resurrection. 5. They had witnessed a tremendous growth in the local Church. 6. They were commissioned to tell the whole world about Jesus. II: “Scattered.” 1. “At that time there was great persecution against the church.” 2. Their peaceful waters were stirred. 3. What they would not do willingly, God allowed Satan to make them willing. God’s people are always in danger of complacency. 4. People were dying in Sin while their people kept the good news from them. III:...
Not Now
Acts 24:1-24 I: Paul on Trial before Felix: 1. The High Priest came with others. 2. Their burning desire was to see Paul killed. 3. They brought an Orator Tertulles to speak for them. 4. Paul accused of being: “A Pestilent disturber of the peace, Nazareth sect.” “He was on the point of discerning the Temple.” 5. Paul’s defense: No flattery of Felix, his personal testimony, his denial of the accusations. He accused the Jews of falling short of Gods Will for them. 6. Felix adjourned the Case. II: 2 Men on Trial: 1. Felix “Happy” was a freed slave that exercised the authority of a King with the Spirit of a slave. He was cruel and immoral. 2. Felix was a man of Perpetual Compromise. 3. Felix trembled while Paul reasoned with...
Exhortint Them to Continue
Acts 14:21-28 I: “They Returned.” 1. Before them lay the shortest route home. Behind them were miles of dangerous roads. 2. Before them were friendly cities. Behind them lay hostile cities. 3. Before them was Christians of Maturity and proven faith. Behind them were small bands of immature Christians surrounded by hostile neighbors. 4. Before them was the Home Church. Behind them were Christians who must be organized into churches. 5. Only the Love of God turned them back to the path that nature rebelled against. “They became fools for Christ’s sake!” II: Comfirming the Souls of the Disciples. 1. Confirm “To make firm, add strength to settle, to bind, strengthen in habit, to make certain, strengthen the recipient in Christian...
Early New Testament Churches
The Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are the same. The Church and the Kingdom aren’t the same. Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God 112 times, but only 2 times of the Church. The Church is thee divine agency for promoting the Kingdom. The Word Church was never used to refer to a house of worship. 117 times the Church is mentioned in the New Testament, 19 times in Acts, 62 times in the Epistles of Paul, once in Hebrews, once in James, and 23 times in the writings of John. Acts 6:1-7 I: No Complete History of Growth: 1. Many Churches in 1st century (500,000 Christians). 2. Meet in Homes, Temples, etc. 3. No distinctive name but designated by the city in which they were. 4. No definite plan of organization. 5. Jerusalem seemed to be the Mother Church. Acts...
Contrary Winds
Acts 27:1-44 I: “So We came to Rome.” 1. If we had no way of knowing the end of Paul’s journey, we would have said, “He will never make it.” 2. Paul must witness at Rome and couldn’t die at Sea. 3. Not even a 14 day storm at Sea could stop him. 4. Man, Beast, and Elements couldn’t stop him. II: Popular Opinion and Paul’s Opinion. 1. Popular Opinion: a. This place isn’t fit to Winter in. b. A gentle wind deceived them. c. They lost their anchor and sailed. 2. Paul believed it unwise to follow such a course. III: The North Eastern: 1. Caught them and took them out to Sea. 2. Danger of loss of ship and life. 3. 14 days and nights of fear. 4. Man’s hearts failed for fear. IV: “There Stood by Me this...
