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Jul 23, 2017

More Than a Recipe

More Than a Recipe

Passage: Acts 24:10-17

Speaker: Ben Seneker

Series: Acts: The Perpetual Power of the Gospel

This week we will be looking at a scene in Acts where Paul engages a Roman governor on some pretty heavy topics, namely: righteousness, self-control, and judgment. This governor had a superficial knowledge of Christianity, but when Paul engaged him on a heart level, the governor would have none of it. God desires to engage us with both our minds as well as our hearts, but as we’ll see, we often struggle with surrendering our whole heart to Jesus. This is, however, what he desires - and nothing less.
Worship Order

Call To Worship: Psalm 145:8-9

Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:30-31

Central Text: Acts 24:10-27 ESV

Sermon Title:  More Than a Recipe

Benediction:  Psalm 34:8

 

Scripture Readings

Pre-Service Text: Acts 24:21
21 “It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.”


Call To Worship: Psalm 145:8-9
LEADER: The Lord is gracious and merciful,

ALL: Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

LEADER: The Lord is good to all,

ALL: And his mercy is over all that he has made.


Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
LEADER: And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

ALL: So that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”


Central Text: Acts 24:10-27 ESV
10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience towards both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— 19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’” 22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs. 24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Sermon Title:  More Than a Recipe
     
Benediction:  Psalm 34:8
LEADER: Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

ALL: Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him!


Post-Service Text: Romans 13:8
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

 Discussion Questions

  1.  What are some recent instances of your heart disagreeing with your head over something? (and vice versa)  Does one tend to win out more than the other?
  2. What are some examples of “head” knowledge of Christianity?  Likewise, what are some examples of “heart”/emotion-driven responses to Christianity?  What are the positives of each?  At the same time, what might be some of the dangers of having too much of one without the other?
  3. Becoming a follower of Christ, however, is more than just having the right head and heart knowledge; there is also a cost in following Jesus.  Jesus wants to be Lord and Savior of your whole life, not just portions of it.  What costs were the Pharisees unwilling to give up to follow Christ?  In the same way, what costs were Felix (as an educated, Roman politician) unwilling to give up?  What examples are there from your own life?  What portions of your life have yet to be fully handed over to Christ?

Quotes

“The great mistake made by most of the Lord’s people is in hoping to discover in themselves that which is to be found in Christ alone.”  ~Arthur Pink

“Scripture speaks of both a holiness we already possess in Christ before God and a holiness in which we are to grow more and more.  The first is the work of Christ for us; the second is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit in us.”  ~Jerry Bridges

Related Sermons

The Scariest Thing Jesus Ever Said, by Scott Sauls; Matthew 7:21-23