podcast archive

Whose Jurisdiction? (Acts 25-26)

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Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Whose Jurisdiction? (Acts 25-26)
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This is the 38th sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Discussion Questions:

  • Does it feel to you like God is ruling and reigning over the circumstances of your life? 
  • When have you been tempted towards discouragement with the circumstances of your life?  How did God make himself known to you?  How has God used those things in your life? 
  • Have you ever made a decision (like Paul appealing to Caesar) that you only realized later was part of God’s plan in your life?  

How To Be Faithful When Life Is Unfair (Acts 24:1-27)

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Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
How To Be Faithful When Life Is Unfair (Acts 24:1-27)
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This is the 37th sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Sermon Outline:

  1. An unfair trial with an unjust judge (24:1-9).
  2. The right confession in the midst of unfairness (24:10-21).
  3. Faithfulness amidst the unfair is an opportunity for mission (24:22-27).

Discussion Questions:

  • How do you typically respond when something feels unfair? How does the Gospel compel you to respond differently?
  • What are some things Christians in America feel are unfair? In light of this passage, how do you think Paul would respond?  
  • The Gospel is unfair. How does your heart respond to that sentence? How does 1 Pet. 2:19-24 impact your response?

Take Courage From Jesus (Acts 22:30-23:23)

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Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Take Courage From Jesus (Acts 22:30-23:23)
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This is the 36th sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Sermon Outline:

  1. Take courage from the presence of Jesus (22:30-23:11).
  2. Take courage from the sovereignty of Jesus (23:12-24).
  3. Take courage from our citizenship with Jesus (23:25-35).

Discussion Questions:

  • Are you most tempted to doubt that Jesus is with you, that He is for you, or that you belong to Him? When do those doubts typically come? How does this passage help?
  • What would a person who is confident Jesus is with, for, and over them look like? If you were to fully believe this, what would tangibly change about your upcoming week?  
  • What about this passage most helps you believe that, “It’s all going to be ok”?

Paul’s Arrest, the Gospel’s Opportunity (Acts 21:27-22:29)

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Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Paul’s Arrest, the Gospel’s Opportunity (Acts 21:27-22:29)
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This is the 35th sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Sermon Outline:

  1. Our identity in three words: People, Law, Place (21:27-40a).
  2. Your testimony is the Gospel’s opportunity (21:40b-22:21).
  3. Not every opportunity will be handled well (22:22-29).

Discussion Questions:

  • Who are the American church’s “gentiles” (Outsiders that we often fail to love)? How does this passage challenge us to love better? 
  • Think about some times you have heard Christians share their testimony. What was the experience like? How did it impact your own faith? Why are stories like those so powerful? 
  • In your DC: Tell us your story. What is your testimony? Think in terms of the 4 steps discussed today (1. Brokenness, 2. Personal conversion, 3. New family identity in the Church/baptism, 4. A redeemed vocation/calling/ministry).

Ministry Amidst Difficulty (Acts 21:1-26)

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Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Ministry Amidst Difficulty (Acts 21:1-26)
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This is the 34th sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Sermon Outline:

  1. Ministry often brings with it difficulty (21:1-16).
  2. That difficulty can be big or seemingly small (21:17-26).
  3. Jesus already endured difficulty on our behalf (Heb. 12:2-3).

Discussion Questions:

  • As we have asked throughout our study of Acts, what ministry(s) has Jesus called you to?
  • What does an “off ramp” from that ministry look like? How have you been tempted to take the off ramp? 
  • What tools has Jesus used to enable you to endure in your ministry these past two years?

What Is Godly Leadership? (Acts 20:17-38)

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Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
What Is Godly Leadership? (Acts 20:17-38)
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This is the 33rd sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Sermon Outline:

  1. God’s plan for leadership: A plurality of godly elders (20:17).
  2. Paul’s example of godly leadership (20:18-27).
  3. Paul’s encouragement to be godly leaders (20:28-35).
  4. Godly leaders and Gospel-goodbyes (20:36-38).

Discussion Questions:

  • As you think about the leaders you have respected most, what attributes have they had that were impactful? How do those attributes reflect the character of Jesus?
  • Where have you seen the American church pursue worldly leadership instead of godly leadership? What have been the consequences?
  • Where has God given you leadership influence? Which of the traits discussed today do you most need to grow in?

Resurrection Realities (Acts 20:1-16)

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Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Resurrection Realities (Acts 20:1-16)
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This is the 32nd sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Sermon Outline:

  1. Our future resurrection should be a source of current comfort for us.
  2. We will have an imperishable body.
  3. The resurrection will restore all that has been broken.

Discussion Questions:

  • What are you looking most forward to in the New Creation?
  • What are some practical ways to remind ourselves of the reality of our Resurrection?
  • Pray for encouragement and perseverance for others at your table, in whatever they are facing.  

Seek the Disruption of Our City (Acts 19:21-41)

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Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Seek the Disruption of Our City (Acts 19:21-41)
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This is the 31st sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Sermon Outline:

  1. Individual calling and vocational faithfulness (19:21-22).
  2. Idols and Gospel-disruption (19:23-27).
  3. Confusion and defending our gods (19:28-34).
  4. Competing idols and a temporary truce (19:35-41).

Discussion Questions:

  • What is your vocation? How does viewing it as a calling from God for ministry tangibly change your actions?
  • When are you most likely to become angry, anxious, or give in to despair? What might that show you about what your heart worships? How is Jesus better?
  • What would Gospel-disruption in our city look like? What cultural idols would be challenged? How would we know the Gospel is what is causing the disruption?

The Journey of Discipleship (Acts 18:24-19:20)

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Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
The Journey of Discipleship (Acts 18:24-19:20)
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This is the 30th sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Sermon Outline:

  1. Apollos’ discipleship journey (18:24-28).
  2. “Disciples” in Ephesus and their journey (19:1-10).
  3. Spiritual warfare, total surrender, and the discipleship journey (19:11-20).

Discussion Questions:

  • As you reflect on the past few months, how has Jesus worked in you? How has Jesus worked through you?
  • Which of the discipleship journeys that we studied today most connects with you? Why?
  • Why is the combination of gifting and humility (i.e. Apollos) so rare? How can we cultivate humility in our own lives?

Experiencing Jesus’ Presence in Our Mission (Acts 18:1-23)

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Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Acts: Jesus Builds His Church
Experiencing Jesus’ Presence in Our Mission (Acts 18:1-23)
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This is the 29th sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Sermon Outline:

  1. Presence in friendship (18:1-3).
  2. Presence in conversions (18:4-11).
  3. Presence in reminders of sovereignty (18:12-17).
  4. Presence in spiritual disciplines (18:18-23).

Notable Quote:

“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled…let not one go unwarned and un-prayed for.”         —C.H. Spurgeon

Discussion Questions:

  • Does evangelism/mission scare you? If so, why?
  • Have you ever felt depleted in ministry or your walk with Jesus? How would experiencing the presence of Jesus impact that? 
  • What means of grace, or spiritual disciplines, has Jesus used to show you that He is with you?