Posts

Paul’s Arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 22:1-24)

Image
  Sermon for Milledgeville and Centenary UMC... [Slide] Paul’s Arrest in Jerusalem ( Acts 22:1-24 )   Last Sunday Paul and Silas were released from jail in Philippi. He left Luke behind to mentor the new congregation there.   [Slide] Paul, Silas and Timothy travel to Thessaloniki. Many Jews and Greeks come to faith in Christ at Paul’s preaching, but some turned the people against him and ran them out of town. Paul left for Berea.   The Berean Jews were much more open, but Thessalonians followed Paul and stirred up the Bereans against him. Paul left for Athens, but left behind Silas and Timothy to mentor the church.   [Slide] At Athens, Paul preached Jesus to a city filled with pagan shrines and idols. They brought him to Mars Hill to speak at the public forum called the Areopagus. Paul masterfully speaks to his Greek audience drawing upon their own poets and philosophers. When he told them of the resurrection of Jesus, however, some scoffed, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Beaten, Chained, and Free (Acts 16:16-34)

Image
 Sermon for Milledgeville and Centenary UMC... [Slide] Beaten, Chained, and Free (Acts 16:16-34)   Paul and Silas in a Philippi Jail Today we continue our study of the Book of Acts with Paul’s second missionary journey. After his first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas returned to Syrian Antioch. [Slide] During this time, some Jewish Christians from Jerusalem visited the church in Antioch and told the Gentile Christians, “Unless you are circumcised, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1) Paul and Barnabas strongly opposed them. [Slide] This led to the famous Jerusalem Council recorded in Acts 15. Peter reminded them that God gave the Holy Spirit to Gentiles just as He had to Jewish followers of Jesus. God made no distinction. “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” (Acts 15:11)   The Church acknowledged that salvation was through the grace of Jesus, not the law of Moses. The Jerusalem Church issued a form...
Post a Comment
Read more

Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 14:8-20)

Image
 Sermon for Milledgeville and Centenary UMC... [Slide] Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 14:8-20)   After today we will be halfway through Acts. We are moving from the ministry centered in Jerusalem and Peter, to the ministry of Paul among the Gentiles. I thought it might be fun to see what we have retained during these summer months. It’s Bible Trivia time! [Slide]   ·        [Slide] How many days after His resurrection did Jesus appear to his disciples before he ascended into heaven? [Slide] Forty   He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.  (Acts 1:3)   ·        [Slide] How many people came to faith in Christ on the Day of Pentecost? [Slide] Around 3000 (Acts 2:41) ·        [Slide] Who was the first person to die because of their witness for Christ? [Slide] Stephen (Acts 7:59...
Post a Comment
Read more

Be Careful What You Pray For (Acts 12:1-18)

Image
 Sermon for Milledgeville and Centenary UMC... [Slide] Be Careful What You Pray For ( Acts 12:1-18 )   After the conversion of Saul, the church experienced a time of peace for roughly 8-10 years. That peace ended when King Herod Agrippa I decided to execute the apostle James in 44 A.D.   [Slide] Herod Agrippa was grandson to Herod the Great. Herod the Great tried to kill Jesus when he was a baby. He ordered the slaughter of all boys in Bethlehem, 2 years and younger. Herod Antipas beheaded John the Baptist when the prophet confronted his adulterous marriage to his step-brother Philip’s wife, Herodias. Herodias was sister to Agrippa, making Antipas both his brother-in-law and uncle. Antipas met with Jesus prior to his crucifixion.   Herod the Great executed Agrippa’s father, Aristobulus. From the age of 3, Herod Agrippa lived in the imperial palace in Rome. [Slide] He became friends with the imperial princes, Caligula and Claudius. His close friendshi...
Post a Comment
Read more