Stephen, the Martyr
Acts 6:8-12, 7:51-60 The 1st to Preach the Gospel as a world-wide gospel. I: Stephen Confronts National Pride. 1. Pride and Prejudice, A Mark of the Nation. 2. They preferred their stuffy little world. 3. To open the gospel to all offended the Pharisees. 4. Stephan’s Message: a. Any ground is Holy Ground when one finds God there. b. Abraham called from a far country. c. Jacob lived much of his life in Egypt. He was buried in Shechim in despised Samaria. d. Moses was born and educated in Egypt. e. It was at Mt. Sinai, in Arabis, where the Law was given. 5. The Jews were in the Habit of rejecting Gods Will for their natural pride. 6. All this reached its climax in the crucifixion. II: “They were Cut to the Heart.” 1. Once too often they were faced...
The Divine Must
Acts 19:21, 20:1-38 “After the uproar was ceased, (A special offering was being raised).” Paul’s farewell to the Museum Fields of Asia. I: Macedonia and Much Exhortation: 1. A desire to visit and strengthen. 2. Much exhortation. “A calling near.” “To call near with much discourse.” a. “I haven’t shunned to declare unto you at the council of God.” vs. 27 b. “By the space of 3 yrs. I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.” c. “Exhort one another.” 3. The right attitudes: “with tears.” II: Eutychus and His Kin. vs. 6-12 1. Exhortation the Saints at Troas. 2. Sunday night a special meeting. 3. Many lights, Eutychus sat in the 3rd story window. 4. “Paul...
The 2nd Coming and the Resurrection
Acts 24:15, 4:33, Cor. 1 15:1-26, and 35-58 The resurrection and 2nd coming was the theme of much preaching in the Early Church. I: How Many Christians Really Believe? 1. Do we believe in a Literal Resurrections? 2. Can God raise up Man from the dust of time? 3. Do we refuse to have faith in that we don’t understand? II: Did the Saints of Old Believe in A Literal Resurrection? 1. Job said, “For I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day, upon the Earth and tho after my skin-worms destroy the body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” Job 19:25-26 2. Abraham believed Isaac would be raised from the dead. Heb. 11:19 3. Enoch and Elijah changed bodily and caught up. 4. Elisa’s bones gave life to a dead soldier....
The Steps of A Good Man
Acts 9:8-9, Galatians 1:15-17 The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord, and His stops. The pauses in Life can sometimes be as meaningful as the pause in good music. Paul had 3 periods of Retirement. I: The Pause for Confirmation. Acts 9:8-9 1. 3 days of darkness. 2. 3 days to confront a new life in Christ. 3. 3 days of earthshaking changes. 4. 3 days to hear the call to preach. 5. No fuss, no refusal, but a time of turning. What had happened to him? 6. The chief of Sinners had met Jesus. 7. Here he faced and accepted the demands of his new relationship (A bond slave). II: The Pause for Instruction. Gal. 1:15-17 1. Led by the Spirit into the Arabian desert. 2. Taught by Jesus to come to grips with giant issues. 3. No schooling better than this; short...
They Continued
Acts 2:41-47 People are drawn towarde those of good will and fellowship. Everyone liked to feel that they belong. I: The Results of Peters Message on the Church. 1. 3,000 added to the Membership. 2. They gladly received his word. 3. They were glad to be Baptized. 4. They became members gladly. 5. They took God for their God, and His people for their people. (There is no healthy Christian Life in isolation). Deliberate neglect of Christian Fellowship will bring about Spiritual Malnutrition. 6. “They continued steadfastly … in Doctrine.” “They applied themselves.” Jesus spoke of some that came with joy, but quit under pressure of the World. Matt. 13:20 7. They were constant in attendance to preaching and prayer. 8. Their prayer life...