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First Degree Murder
Acts 6:8–7:60 | This week in our study of the Book of Acts, a Jesus follower will be murdered. That is harsh and direct, but it's true. It is what happened. Why was he murdered? For his faith. We turn our attention to the first martyr of the church. Literally, this man pays the greatest earthly cost he could possibly pay because of his allegiance to Christ. He is willing to die for the one who died for him. There are three questions we need answers to this week as we look at someone who suffered the ultimate suffering because of their faith in Christ:1) Where was God in this? 2) What is God doing through this? 3) How does Stephen remain tender-hearted toward God and others in spite of this? The answer to these three questions may be answers we need for times of hardship and tragedy in our own life one day. Don't miss the important lessons to be learned from the church's first martyr.
Acts 6:8–7:60 | This week in our study of the Book of Acts, a Jesus follower will be murdered. That is harsh and direct, but it's true. It is what happened.
Why was he murdered? For his faith.
We turn our attention to the first martyr of the church. Literally, this man pays the greatest earthly cost he could possibly pay because of his allegiance to Christ. He is willing to die for the one who died for him.
There are three questions we need answers to this week as we look at someone who suffered the ultimate suffering because of their faith in Christ:
1) Where was God in this?
2) What is God doing through this?
3) How does Stephen remain tender-hearted toward God and others in spite of this?
The answer to these three questions may be answers we need for times of hardship and tragedy in our own life one day. Don't miss the important lessons to be learned from the church's first martyr.
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Prioritizing Prayer & The Word
Acts 6:1-7 | If we miss the lesson the apostles are teaching in these 7 verses in Acts, it could set the course of our body of Jesus followers on a very dangerous trajectory. We have to understand what happens in these 7 verses and why this is one of the most pivotal leadership decisions the apostles made in the early days of the Church.
Acts 6:1-7 | If we miss the lesson the apostles are teaching in these 7 verses in Acts, it could set the course of our body of Jesus followers on a very dangerous trajectory. We have to understand what happens in these 7 verses and why this is one of the most pivotal leadership decisions the apostles made in the early days of the Church.
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The Costly Cause of Christ
Acts 5:17-42 | Following Jesus is the most joy-giving, purpose-defining, heart captivating reality we can ever know. We were created to follow Jesus. We were made for the glory of the Father through knowing the Son. Following Jesus will at times be a costly commitment, though. In fact, Jesus Himself told people to count the cost before following Him. The cause of Christ will always lead to a cost for Christ. This week, we will watch the apostles pay a price for their devotion to Jesus. And it makes sense -- The Kingdom is growing, multitudes are coming to know Jesus, the church is bearing fruit. Anytime these things are happening, expect opposition. The key to this week is seeing how the apostles respond to the evil inflicted on them. Do they leave with their heads hung low, licking their wounds, and playing the victim card? Or do they leave with arms raised high in praise, rejoicing that the Lord would count them worthy to suffer like Christ? And if their response is the latter, what's the secret to us responding to the costly cause of Christ in the same way?
Acts 5:17-42 | Following Jesus is the most joy-giving, purpose-defining, heart captivating reality we can ever know. We were created to follow Jesus. We were made for the glory of the Father through knowing the Son.
Following Jesus will at times be a costly commitment, though. In fact, Jesus Himself told people to count the cost before following Him. The cause of Christ will always lead to a cost for Christ. This week, we will watch the apostles pay a price for their devotion to Jesus. And it makes sense -- The Kingdom is growing, multitudes are coming to know Jesus, the church is bearing fruit. Anytime these things are happening, expect opposition.
The key to this week is seeing how the apostles respond to the evil inflicted on them. Do they leave with their heads hung low, licking their wounds, and playing the victim card? Or do they leave with arms raised high in praise, rejoicing that the Lord would count them worthy to suffer like Christ? And if their response is the latter, what's the secret to us responding to the costly cause of Christ in the same way?
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The Ripple Effect
Acts 5:12-16 | A ripple effect is defined as: the continuing and spreading results of an event or action. The ripple effect of God's powerful work among the Christians in the church in Acts was having a significant impact among those who weren't yet in the church. God at work among the Christians was rippling out to effect those who weren't Christians. When God is at work among His people, those who don't yet know Him will be impacted by the ripple effect of what He is doing in and through His people. This week's passage leads us to ask three questions of our life and our church as to what kind of ripple effect we are having among those who don't yet know Christ.
Acts 5:12-16 | A ripple effect is defined as: the continuing and spreading results of an event or action.
The ripple effect of God's powerful work among the Christians in the church in Acts was having a significant impact among those who weren't yet in the church. God at work among the Christians was rippling out to effect those who weren't Christians.
When God is at work among His people, those who don't yet know Him will be impacted by the ripple effect of what He is doing in and through His people. This week's passage leads us to ask three questions of our life and our church as to what kind of ripple effect we are having among those who don't yet know Christ.
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Selfish Generosity
Acts 5:1-11 | Have you ever given something away and thought to yourself,“ Yeah, that was pretty awesome... I'm really generous... I hope someone acknowledges me for that.”? Let’s face it, if we are honest, we have all been there. It is safe to say that this is normal. Interestingly, last week, as we studied God’s Word, we learned that God is inviting us to step into a life of joyful, radical generosity. A generosity that is motivated by the gospel. The believers were in such unity that no one considered his belongings to be his own, but rather he was merely a steward of God’s resources. Inevitably, this created a warm and joyful time in the life of the church.
This week however, we are introduced to a married couple that brought about a massive shift in the church’s narrative, causing the scene to become dreadfully dark, dreary, and dangerous. The reason… “Selfish Generosity."
Acts 5:1-11 | Have you ever given something away and thought to yourself,
“Yeah, that was pretty awesome... I'm really generous... I hope someone acknowledges me for that.”?
Let’s face it, if we are honest, we have all been there. It is safe to say that this is normal. Interestingly, last week, as we studied God’s Word, we learned that God is inviting us to step into a life of joyful, radical generosity. A generosity that is motivated by the gospel. The believers were in such unity that no one considered his belongings to be his own, but rather he was merely a steward of God’s resources. Inevitably, this created a warm and joyful time in the life of the church.
This week however, we are introduced to a married couple that brought about a massive shift in the church’s narrative, causing the scene to become dreadfully dark, dreary, and dangerous. The reason… “Selfish Generosity."
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Radical Generosity
Acts 4:32-37 | It isn't normal or natural for people to give up things they do have for people who don't have. Something at our very core whispers to us to accumulate money and things for our own prestige, security, or comfort. Anytime you see someone joyfully sacrifice what they do have to meet the needs of others, you know there is a greater force at work in their life. In this week's message, we will watch the community of Jesus followers radically sacrificing what they have to meet the needs of others who don't have. And they aren't doing this because Peter got up and preached a message telling them that they should. They did this out of an overflow of love and joy for one another. Jesus invites us into the joy of a radically generous life. We study what this could look like for us, and talk specifically of the exciting season ahead for our church and how this will call each of us to joyfully, radically sacrifice.
Acts 4:32-37 | It isn't normal or natural for people to give up things they do have for people who don't have. Something at our very core whispers to us to accumulate money and things for our own prestige, security, or comfort. Anytime you see someone joyfully sacrifice what they do have to meet the needs of others, you know there is a greater force at work in their life.
In this week's message, we will watch the community of Jesus followers radically sacrificing what they have to meet the needs of others who don't have. And they aren't doing this because Peter got up and preached a message telling them that they should. They did this out of an overflow of love and joy for one another.
Jesus invites us into the joy of a radically generous life. We study what this could look like for us, and talk specifically of the exciting season ahead for our church and how this will call each of us to joyfully, radically sacrifice.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
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