Sermon Central
-
Seeking A Life Of Impact Series
Contributed by Dave Bentley on Feb 6, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: The Church is to IMPACT the Climate and Culture around us. We need to understand this and move out in that understanding.
IMPACT Series Introduction
Things that leave an IMPACT –
• Meteors Leave Craters
• Volcanoes Clear Forests and Bury Cities
• Automobiles Leave Dents
• Golf Clubs Leave Concussions (Why Andie doesn’t play w/ me)
When Something Has Made an IMPACT
You Know That Something Significant Happened
There’s An Impression Left that can’t be Denied
There is a Change in the Location of the IMPACT
God is calling all believers and churches to have an eternal impact on the lives around us. We have the potential to live a life of IMPACT serving a God of IMPACT securing a future of IMPACT sharing a message of IMPACT.
Make a difference.
SEEKING A LIFE OF IMPACT – We are More than Conquerors
Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, AND ALL THE POWERS OF HELL WILL NOT CONQUER IT.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? [36] (Even the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.") [37] No, despite all these things, OVERWHELMING VICTORY IS OURS THROUGH CHRIST, who loved us.
Like sheep being led to slaughter the early church leaders were persecuted, imprisoned, and beaten for proclaiming and teaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, through Jesus Christ they overwhelmingly conquered. As we follow their footprints I pray that we will see for ourselves God’s powerful victory in their lives, and come to realize that this same power and victory is ours today as disciples of Jesus Christ.
I. POWER ON THE PORCH (12-16)
A. Solomon’s Porch – A roofed area stretching along the eastern side of the temple courtyard.
B. Spirit’s Presence – The many signs and wonders were evidence of the Spirit’s presence and power in the apostles.
C. Servants Passion – These were ordinary men who were willing to be used in extraordinary ways
i. They were the Voice of Jesus – Teaching/Preaching
ii. They were the Hands of Jesus – Healing/Touching
iii. They were the Body of Jesus – Receiving/Embracing
II. JOY IN THE JAIL (17-20)
A. Reaction to a Radical Switch (17-18)
i. They were FILLED with Jealousy.
ii. They were MOVED to React.
iii. Nothing they did made any sense…rationally.
B. Response of a Radical Savior (19-20)
i. Removing the boundaries for the mission.
ii. Recounting the basis of the message.
GIVE THE PEOPLE THE MESSAGE OF LIFE!!
God doesn’t want us to stay silent about our experience with Christ, but to proclaim the message we have and the new life we have experienced…to speakwhenever possible about the LIFE he gives.
III. TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE (21-26)
A. The Urgency of the Apostles (21)
B. The Confusion of the Council (22-24)
i. They missed When God works it often defies explanation
ii. They resisted the Evidence of the Power of the Spirit
iii. They rejected the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
“WONDERING WHERE IT WOULD ALL END”
IV. COURAGE BEFORE THE COURT
A. The Charges Against them
i. Rebelling against their Order to Cease and Desist
ii. Blaming them for the death of Jesus (sounds familiar)
B. The Response of the Apostles
i. Note that it is Peter AND the Apostles
ii. Clear declaration of who they would obey. (29)
iii. Clear profession of what they would believe (30-32)
C. The Fury of the Council (33)
i. I imagine they were getting really frustrated with Jesus
ii. They could only think of one response…KILL THEM
D. The Voice of Reason Amid the Storm (34-40)
Gamaliel – A Voice of Reason
i. He was the teacher of Paul
ii. He was wise and rational
iii. He earned respect and popularity
V. CELEBRATING IN THE STREETS (41-42)
A. We have the Same Message to Proclaim
B. We have a Wide Variety of Means to Preach It
C. Do we have the Same Passion and Fire?
