Sermon Central
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Turning The World Upside Down
Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Jan 7, 2024 (message contributor)
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1. The Most Urgent Question Of Our Day
Contributed on Jan 7, 2024
Acts 1:1-5 teaches us that Jesus is the only hope for our world today.
Introduction What is the most urgent question of our day? I decided to ask my artificial intelligence (AI) application that question. Here is the answer I received: “Determining the most urgent question is subjective, but topics like climate change, healthcare, and social justice often top the ...read more
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2. The Commissioning Of The Apostles
Contributed on Jan 13, 2024
Acts 1:6-8 shows us that the mission that Jesus gave his apostles began with his commissioning of them.
Introduction Luke wrote two books. The first book is called The Gospel According to Luke. His second book is usually called The Acts of the Apostles. The two books together are part one and part two of the same story of Jesus. Luke said in Acts 1:1, “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt ...read more
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3. The Ascension Of Jesus
Contributed on Jan 19, 2024
Acts 1:9-11 shows us that the mission that Jesus gave his apostles included his ascension into heaven.
Introduction Edward Lorenz worked as a meteorology professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 1948 until his retirement in 1987. Lorenz was one of the early pioneers figuring out weather patterns using computers. He worked on computer programs that simulated weather ...read more
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4. Preparing For Growth
Contributed on Jan 26, 2024
Acts 1:12-26 shows us how the apostles prepared for the growth of the church.
Introduction Imagine for a moment that Jesus suddenly appeared in person at the next Session meeting. Stunned by his sudden appearance, one of the elders finally manages to blurt out, “Lord, why are you here? What’s going on?” Jesus replies, “As you know, I am building my church. And I am ...read more
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5. The Significance Of Pentecost
Contributed on Feb 1, 2024
Acts 2:13 shows us the significance of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Introduction Luke wrote the book of Acts to tell Theophilus about how Jesus turned the world upside down. Jesus commissioned his apostles to take the good news of his resurrection to the entire world, beginning “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts ...read more
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6. The Gospel For Today
Contributed on Feb 18, 2024
Acts 2:14-41 shows us that the gospel that Peter preached is still the gospel for today.
Introduction First sermons are either memorable or forgettable. My first sermon was forgettable. My pastor in Cape Town knew that I was headed to seminary to prepare for pastoral ministry. He also knew that there was a little church in beautiful Llandudno Bay that needed a preacher for an ...read more
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7. Characteristics Of A Spirit-Filled Church
Contributed on Feb 23, 2024
Acts 2:42-47 gives us the characteristics of a Spirit-filled church.
Introduction We live in deeply troubling times. We have two major wars—in Ukraine and Israel—going on at present that are significant for our country in different ways. Thousands of people are being killed. Billions of dollars are being spent. No end is in sight. Our country is facing a ...read more
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8. A Miraculous Healing
Contributed on Mar 1, 2024
Acts 3:1-10 shows us what Jesus did by a miraculous healing.
Introduction Jim Jones was the founder of the Peoples Temple, a religious movement that began as a progressive and racially integrated community in Indiana. Eventually, Jones and his church moved to San Francisco, CA. However, as Jones's influence grew, the group became increasingly ...read more
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9. Peter's Second Sermon
Contributed on Mar 8, 2024
Acts 3:11-26 shows us four notable features in Peter’s second sermon.
Introduction We continue our study in the Book of Acts in a sermon series called, “Turning the World Upside Down.” Jesus commissioned his apostles to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). After his ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and the other disciples ...read more
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10. The Persecution Of The Church
Contributed on Mar 15, 2024
Acts 4:1-22 shows us how the church handles persecution.
Introduction Open Doors is an organization that monitors the persecution of Christians around the world. According to their 2024 World Watch List, “more than 365 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith” (see ...read more
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11. The Church At Prayer
Contributed on Mar 22, 2024
Acts 4:23-31 gives us several reasons why prayer is relevant.
Introduction Have you ever prayed, and God clearly answered your prayer? In his book Say It With Love, Howard Hendricks has a delightful story about a little boy who saw God answer his simple prayer. Hendricks writes: We had a lovely couple in Dallas several years ago. He sold his business at a ...read more
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12. A Picture Of A Great Church
Contributed on Apr 12, 2024
The picture of a great church in Acts 4:32-37 shows us that the church was faithful in two key areas.
Introduction When you think of a great church, what comes to mind? We live in a day in which there is a lot of confusion over this question. Many churches are a reflection of our society which has become satiated with entertainment. Neil Postman, in his profound book titled, Amusing Ourselves ...read more
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13. The Trouble With Lying
Contributed on Apr 19, 2024
Acts 5:1-11 teaches us about the trouble with lying.
Introduction I asked ChatGPT the following question, “What is the trouble with lying?” Here is the partial answer I received, which is pretty good: The trouble with lying lies in its multiple negative consequences, both for the liar and those around them. Here are some key issues: (1) Erosion of ...read more
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14. Signs And Wonders
Contributed on Apr 26, 2024
Acts 5:12-16 shows us some keys to the accomplishment of the church’s mission.
Introduction John MacArthur wrote these words: A perennial problem the church of Jesus Christ faces is a lack of focus on its mission (John F. MacArthur Jr., Acts, vol. 1, MacArthur New Testament Commentary [Chicago: Moody Press, 1994], 159). He goes on to note that widespread confusion exists ...read more