The Book of Acts

Antioch Introduction Quick Recap – Acts (Pentecost, Holy spirit, Demon exorcisms, Miraculous healings, Church Growth, People dropping dead in the offerings, Stephen is martyred, Saul getting struck blind on his way to kill Christians, Philip is teleported to Azotus, Peter had a vision of the original pigs in a blanket, The spirit falls on the Gentiles, and at this point, the gospel has spread to Judea, Samaria, Ethiopia, Azotus, Damascus, Caesarea, Joppa, Now this morning Antioch.)  Acts 11:19-30 Context/Story Antioch…

When Churches Don’t Want To Change Happy Mothers day!  We are so grateful for all you do, you are wonderfully valuable to us. We have chocolate for you, and at the end of service we will have a baby dedication for those new Moms and Dads.   Our text this morning is the third time we go through the same story in 2 chapters.  Its repetition is there on purpose.  To help us to see the magnitude of this event.   Jews…

What Is The Gospel? Acts 10:34-48 Context/Story Peter has this dream… A great sheet coming down (the original pigs in a blanket is how i remember this story) I have never, and I will never eat those things.  This is significant because for 1400 years God had told them not to. For a southern Baptist pastor. What was hidden in the old testament – Rahab, Nineveh, Through the promise to Abraham (Through you all the nations of the world will…

To The Gentiles (Part 1) Introduction Throughout the book of Acts, one of the things we have seen is that the church is continually being sent out of their city, out of their culture, out of their ethnicity, and out of their comfort zones to engage the world around them with the Gospel.   And once again, this morning,  we are going to see the Gospel breaking down barriers between people who would normally never have anything to do with…

Jesus Christ Heals You Introduction Raise your hand if (death in the last year, You are sick, Someone you know is sick) Look around the room for a second. You know what that is? That’s everybody… or almost everybody. What this tells us is that this is a big problem.  Something is terribly wrong with this world if every one of us is currently seeing, or experiencing sickness, pain, and death. And it’s not like we’re not trying to fix…

Preach, Train, Send Introduction Easter is coming The Purpose of Saul is the purpose of the church.  It is the purpose for which we gather here in this building.  We are not here for entertainment, or to feel good about ourselves, or to be a social club.  Our mission is much sharper. Much more important.  It can be summed up in two words.  MAKE DISCIPLES (How? Preach, Train, Send) This will be our third and final week speaking on the…

A Chosen Instrument Introduction I don’t know about you, but I personally believe that Daylight Savings time is of the devil.  An invention of Satan to torture mankind. If you have your Bibles… Last week we left off our story with Saul and Jesus facing off.  Jesus shows up in a bright light, and puts him on the ground.  He blinds him.  Imagine what that must have been like…  early thirties, strong, healthy, in good shape, his entire life ahead…

I Am Jesus Whom You Are Persecuting That is what we like to do here at Celebration Church, We like to go through the Bible. We think Bibles are important.  If you didn’t bring your bible, we have them in the back of the sanctuary, make sure to grab one, and if you don’t own a Bible, take one of ours home with you, it’s our gift to you, because we believe everyone should have a copy of God’s word.…

Jesus In My Place Introduction Today we are going to look at the story about the first African who met Jesus.  We don’t know his name, but we know he is a powerful guy.  He was the secretary/treasurer for the entire southern kingdom of Africa.  On the outside he is a guy who has it all together.  He has money, Power, Fame.  But despite all that, on the inside, he doesn’t know God and he is Searching. And he doesn’t know Jesus…

Introduction We pick up from last week remembering that persecution has run amok in the early church.  Saul was ravaging the church, Christians are getting thrown into jail, Stephen is stoned.   Stephen’s trial really got to Saul, and he responded with frenetic violence.  Because, sometimes that is how people respond to conviction… lash out against the message AND its messengers. The people are scattered… The apostles stay in Jerusalem… regular Christians go and fulfill the great commission.  I believe…

Introduction Many People are bored in Church.  Just going through the motions.  (get up, get dressed, walk in, grab a doughnut, try to get through the service before the sugar crash.  Go home, do it all again next week)… and we are afflicted with a nagging sense that we ought to be doing something.  That there is some meaningful mission we are supposed to be a part of, but we can’t quite get their mind around what it is, or…

Acts 7:1-60 I have done dozens of funerals in my life. Everyone has something that they want to happen.  A song to be sung, a poem to be read.  A story to tell.  Some way to remember their loved one. To honor them.  To make the moment meaningful.   Imagine with me, you were able to preach at your own funeral.  What words would you say?  What would you want people to remember you by?  Your love of your family? Your…