Acts: The Gospel in the City PART XIX
Rev. Leo Schuster
14 April 2013
Acts 15:1-11, 22-29
1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the customs taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3The church sent them on their way, and as they travelled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses."
6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believer. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders amont the believers. 23With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you troubling your minds by what they said. 25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with out dear friends Barnabas and Paul--26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements. 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
GRACE THAT FREES
--Controversy over circumcision.
--Paul is sent to deal with it.
--Grace is good news in light of bad news.
--Grace is getting what we don't deseve.
--Rule of law becomes a burden and a yoke because we fail.
--Matthew 23:4
--Our identity is grounded in what God thinks of us.
FREEDOM THAT LOVES
--Be sensitive.
--Higher goal is love and respect.
--Don't be dismissive.
--Obey God even when it's hard.
--Don't allow the dilution of the gospel by worldly things.
LOVE THAT PURIFIES
--Love of Jesus purifies us.
--Friends in which we can be completely honest and transparent.
Friday, May 31, 2013
The Gospel for the Pagan
Acts-The Gospel in the City PART XVII
Dr. Timothy Keller
07 April 2013
Acts 14:8-23
8In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. 9He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.
11When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" 12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15"Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from those worhtless things to the living God, who made heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 16In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." 18Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crownd from sacrificing to them.
19Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
21They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. 23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Ministering to the polytheistic
LOVE THE NEEDY
--Paul preaches and heals--ministry through words and deeds.
--Pour yourself out to the needs of our neighbors.
--Give money and time away.
IDENTIFY IDOLS
--v.15 Turn from worthles things--they promise fulfillment but leaves us empty.
--Everyone lives for something and its mastering you--makes you angry, etc.
--God will satisfy you and if you fail, he will forgive.
ENDURE HARDSHIPS
--If life is about finding happiness, then suffering disrupts that.
--Suffering is part of Christ.
--When you suffer, you become like him.
Our longings are fulfilled through Jesus.
Dr. Timothy Keller
07 April 2013
Acts 14:8-23
8In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. 9He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.
11When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" 12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15"Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from those worhtless things to the living God, who made heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 16In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." 18Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crownd from sacrificing to them.
19Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
21They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. 23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Ministering to the polytheistic
LOVE THE NEEDY
--Paul preaches and heals--ministry through words and deeds.
--Pour yourself out to the needs of our neighbors.
--Give money and time away.
IDENTIFY IDOLS
--v.15 Turn from worthles things--they promise fulfillment but leaves us empty.
--Everyone lives for something and its mastering you--makes you angry, etc.
--God will satisfy you and if you fail, he will forgive.
ENDURE HARDSHIPS
--If life is about finding happiness, then suffering disrupts that.
--Suffering is part of Christ.
--When you suffer, you become like him.
Our longings are fulfilled through Jesus.
But God Raised Him (Easter Sunday)
Acts-The Gospel in the City PART XVII
Dr. Timothy Keller
31 March 2013
Acts 13:26-31
26Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are ready every Sabbath. 28Though they found no proper grounds for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead, 31and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people
Acts 13:38-39
38Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain inder the law of Moses.
RESURRECTION
--Was preached as a fact and a fulfillment.
--How much evidence do I need for the truth of the resurrection?
--Doctrine fulfilled our deepest longings.
--It speaks of a future.
FUTURE
--That is certain.
--That is personal.
--That is unimaginably wonderful.
Resurrection proves that the Cross paid for our sins and provides the body and life you never had.
Dr. Timothy Keller
31 March 2013
Acts 13:26-31
26Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are ready every Sabbath. 28Though they found no proper grounds for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead, 31and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people
Acts 13:38-39
38Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain inder the law of Moses.
RESURRECTION
--Was preached as a fact and a fulfillment.
--How much evidence do I need for the truth of the resurrection?
--Doctrine fulfilled our deepest longings.
--It speaks of a future.
FUTURE
--That is certain.
--That is personal.
--That is unimaginably wonderful.
Resurrection proves that the Cross paid for our sins and provides the body and life you never had.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
The Gospel Church
Acts: The Gospel in the City PART XVI
Dr. Timothy Keller
24 March 2013
Acts 11: 19-27
19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20Some of them however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21Then Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22News of this reached the church in Jersusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
27During this time some prophets came down from Jersusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus, stood ip and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gifts to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 13:1-3
13Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said." 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Ministry of Barnabas
WHAT IT IS
--v.23: Sympathetic, loving, and insistence on the Truth.
IMPORTANCE
--Intense, personal ministry to people.
--Be surrounded by people who are characterized by Truth and Love.
--Insecurity: we're always self-justifying.
--Your sin is usually the one you see the least.
--We need help from other people.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
--Encouragement
--Transparent enough about your own struggles so that people open up.
--But not so transparent where it's only about me.
HOW DOES JESUS FILL PEOPLE WITH COURAGE TO DO THIS
--First Advocate is Jesus Christ: speaks FOR you TO God
--God sees us as beautiful through Jesus
--Second Advocate is the Holy Spirtit: speaks TO you FOR you.
--Talks to you about Jesus.
--Look at what Jesus has done for you.
--Why are you so upset or worried?
--GROUND YOUR IDENITY IN JESUS CHRIST TO FACE ANYTHING.
Dr. Timothy Keller
24 March 2013
Acts 11: 19-27
19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20Some of them however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21Then Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22News of this reached the church in Jersusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
27During this time some prophets came down from Jersusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus, stood ip and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gifts to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 13:1-3
13Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said." 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Ministry of Barnabas
WHAT IT IS
--v.23: Sympathetic, loving, and insistence on the Truth.
IMPORTANCE
--Intense, personal ministry to people.
--Be surrounded by people who are characterized by Truth and Love.
--Insecurity: we're always self-justifying.
--Your sin is usually the one you see the least.
--We need help from other people.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
--Encouragement
--Transparent enough about your own struggles so that people open up.
--But not so transparent where it's only about me.
HOW DOES JESUS FILL PEOPLE WITH COURAGE TO DO THIS
--First Advocate is Jesus Christ: speaks FOR you TO God
--God sees us as beautiful through Jesus
--Second Advocate is the Holy Spirtit: speaks TO you FOR you.
--Talks to you about Jesus.
--Look at what Jesus has done for you.
--Why are you so upset or worried?
--GROUND YOUR IDENITY IN JESUS CHRIST TO FACE ANYTHING.
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