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Sep 03, 2017

And the Story Continues...

And the Story Continues...

Passage: Acts 28:16-31

Speaker: Ben Seneker

Series: Acts: The Perpetual Power of the Gospel

This Sunday will conclude our series on the Book of Acts. Parts of this week’s passage will be familiar to us, others will be new. What’s most striking, however, is the fact that, two-thousand years later, the story continues. We have been invited to partake in a story that spans centuries and people groups, social classes and languages. It is truly a story of good news, and the need for the gospel of Jesus continues with each new generation.

Call To Worship: Romans 1:16-17 ESV

LEADER: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written,

ALL: “The righteous shall live by faith.

Reading: Ezekiel 36:25-27 NIV

LEADER: 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.

ALL: 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

LEADER: 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Video Montage: Acts Review


Sermon Title:  And the Story Continues...

Central Text: Acts 28:16-31 ESV

16 And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him. 17 After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 19 But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. 20 For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” 21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.” 23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. 25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 26 “‘Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. 27 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ 28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” 30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Response: Faith (adapted from The Valley of Vision)

ALL: O Gracious and Redeeming God, grant us the eyes of faith.

LEADER: To see You as Father. To know You as covenant God. To experience Your love through the work of Your Son.

ALL: Be pleased to live and move within us. Breathing in our prayers. Inhabiting our praises. Moving in our actions. Growing in Your grace.

LEADER: Holy Spirit, fan this divine spark into glowing flame. Awaken our faith by Thy living Word. Embolden our hearts to faith and good works.

 

ALL: Fill our souls with the fullness of Christ.

   

Benediction: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 ESV

LEADER: 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

ALL: Amen   

Post-Service Text: Acts 28:31 ESV

31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Discussion Questions & Applications:

  1. How would you describe the mood of 28:30-31?  Why do you think Luke chose to conclude his two-volume work in this way?
  2. Once again, we find Paul trying desperately to convince the Jewish leaders the Jesus is the Messiah, the long-awaited savior of Israel.  Their refusal to believe prompts Paul to quote the prophet Isaiah.  What was it about his quote that upset the Jewish leaders so much?  Where is the hope when we, too, are blind and deaf to our own sinfulness and self-righteousness?
  3. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of Jesus continues on earth as we witness the ongoing growth of the Church.  As you reflect on this, what is your response in knowing that you have been invited into something that spans centuries, language groups, socio-economic statuses, and races?
  4. Looking back over our (roughly) 8-month study on the Book of Acts, what has most surprised you?  What has left a lasting impression?  If you had one question to ask Luke, who authored both his gospel and Acts, what would it be?

 

Quotes:

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” - Stephen R. Covey

“I think being skeptical is not just great but necessary for citizens in this information landscape,” Adams said. “But that means asking more questions...Your skepticism is the beginning of a process, where you’re trying to confirm the details and facts. Cynicism in my view is turning away from the possibility of knowing. If you believe that nothing is knowable unless “I see it myself, I don’t trust anyone to tell me anything,” you’re really ending inquiry. You’re not finding out. You’re not willing to believe anyone and that’s ultimately very disempowering personally, but also for the country.” - USA Today 8/30/17 (Hurricane Harvey - That Shark Photo is Fake and part of a bigger problem.)

"The only way to doubt Christianity rightly and fairly is to discern the alternate belief under each of your doubts and then ask yourself what reasons you have for believing it. How do you know your belief is true? It would be inconsistent to require more justification for Christian belief than you do for your own, but that is frequently what happens. In fairness you must doubt your doubts. My thesis is that if you come to recognize the beliefs on which your doubts about Christianity are based, and if you seek as much proof for those beliefs as you seek from Christians for theirs; you will discover that your doubts are not as solid as they first appeared." - Timothy J. Keller

Sermons:

Finishing Well by Timothy J. Keller; Acts 28:30-31

How To Avoid Intimacy With God by Chas Morris; Acts 28:17-27

Doubt: What Should I Do With My Doubts by David Bisgrove; John 20:1-18

The Stony Heart Removed by Charles H. Spurgeon; Ezekiel 36:26

Related Media:

InView Media 9.03.17