No Better Place
Psalm 84

Purpose: To encourage the believer that there is no better place to be in all of time and space, than the presence of the LORD.

1. The LORD Our Stronghold (Psalm 84:1-4)

2. The LORD Our Sustainer (Psalm 84:5-8)

3. The LORD Our Shield (Psalm 84:9)

4. The LORD Our Satisfaction (Psalm 84:10-12)

In the presence of the LORD, we find more than we ever need or could ever desire.

God, Our Portion Forever
Psalm 73

Purpose: God really is good to His people. Even though the circumstances of this life might shake our confidence, when we enter into God’s presence for guidance and comfort, we find that He amply supplies everything that we need.

1. Circumstances Give Rise to Questions. (Psalm 73:1-12)

2. Questions Drive Us into the Presence of God. (Psalm 73:13-20)

3. God Takes Us by the Hand and Resolves All Questions. (Psalm 73:21-28)

Stephen’s Ultimate Testimony

Acts 7:54-8:3

Purpose: to rightly see salvation in Jesus Christ as our greatest treasure, even unto death

1. The Reaction (7:54)

2. The Final Testimony (7:55-56)
       Trinitarian!
       The Holy Spirit
       Jesus is Alive
       At the right hand of God

3. The Sentence Carried Out (7:57-58)

4. The Ultimate Testimony (7:59-60)
       Luke 23:34
       Revelation 6:9-11; 12:11

5. The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church (8:1-3)
       We must expect the Lord to grow His church through all means!
       Murderer turned Missionary: We are introduced to Saul/Paul, author of 13 NT books

Nothing will stop God from advancing His gospel of salvation to all the nations!

The Burning Bush and the Burning Church
Exodus 3:1–12 / Acts 2:1–4

Purpose: To remind the Church that the same Holy Spirit of Exodus and Acts still burns in us today.

1. God’s Presence — The Fire That Draws (Exodus 3:2–4)

2. God’s Holiness — The Ground That Trembles (Exodus 3:5)

3. God’s Mission — The Voice That Sends (Exodus 3:7–10)

4. God’s Spirit — The Flame That Stays (Exodus 3:12; Acts 2:1–4; Romans 8:11)

5. God’s People — The Church That Burns (Acts 2:3–4; Exodus 3:12)

God's fire in Exodus and Acts isn’t just a symbol of power—but of presence, purpose, and promise—and to remind the Church that the same Spirit still burns in us today.

God’s Promise Rejected
Acts 7:39-53

Purpose: To show the Need for People to Repent and Believe

1. A Failure to Be Faithful (Acts 7:39-43)

2. A Failure to Understand (Acts 7:44-50)

3. A Failure to Recognize the Redeemer (Acts 7:51-53)

Jesus Christ is the messiah and fulfillment of the law and true temple. Repent and place your trust in him.

God’s Promise Kept

Acts 7:17-38

Purpose: not to miss God’s way of salvation through Moses in the past, and in Jesus now!

1. From Abraham to Moses, God Kept His Promise (Acts 7:17-29)
       God’s promise to Abraham (7:17)
       God’s people in need of a Deliverer (7:18-19)
       Moses born, lovely in the sight of God (7:20)
       Moses arises in Egypt (7:21-22)
       Moses kills an Egyptian (7:23-24)
       Moses, God’s Deliverer Denied (7:25-28, esp. v. 25’s key theme!)
       Moses Flees Because of their Denial (7:26-29)

2. God Calls Moses (Acts 7:30-34)
       God came down to rescue them! (7:34)

3. The Deliverer: Abandoned by Men, Approved by God! (Acts 7:35-38)
       Jesus is the Prophet Like Moses (see Acts 3:18-22, Peter’s 2nd Sermon)
       Moses Taught You a Deliverer Would Come! (7:38)

In order to be saved, we must receive the Deliverer Jesus Christ, sent by God Himself!

God's Promise of Redemption
Acts 7:1-16

Purpose: To show that God has a plan for a people of His own possession.

1. God Promise Initiated (Acts 7:2-5)

2. God’s Promise Unchanged (Acts 7:6-10)

3. God’s Promise Sustained (Acts 7:11-16)

The promise to Abraham, explained by Stephen, is both a picture of His providential work in the Old Testament, and part of His greater promise of redemption to the world.

Living In & Living Out the Gospel!

Acts 6:1-15

Purpose: To solve conflict and prioritize biblical teaching, ensuring the church’s continued health and growth

1. Defined by Christ, not Conflict (Acts 6:1-6)
        Apostles Devoted to God’s Word!
        Deacons Designed for Unity!
        This is living in the gospel!

2. God-Given Growth (Acts 6:7)
     The Pattern of God-Given Growth
     when the Church is Faithful
        (Acts 2:41) 3,000 faithful to repentance and
                          baptism at Pentecost
        (Acts 2:46) adding to their number as they do
                           church together
        (Acts 4:4) number grows to 5,000 due to faithful
                         gospel preaching in spite of prison
        (Acts 5:14) multitudes added after ethical issues
                          are upheld in the body
        (Acts 6:1, 7) great increase
        This is living in and living out the gospel!

3. Witness to the World (Acts 6:8-15)
        Guard the Unity Within
        Expect Opposition from Without
        This is living out the gospel!

Living in and living out the gospel takes God-given unity, prioritizes God-given teaching, and results in God-given growth.

The Peace and Joy of Persecution
Acts 5:17-42

Purpose: There is peace and joy to be found in the midst of persecution.

1. The Persecution and Vindication of the Apostles (Acts 5:17-21a)

    

    

2. The Embarrassed Surprise of the Authorities (Acts 5:21b-25)

    

    

3. The Apostles’ Peaceful Response (Acts 5:26)

    

    

4. The Continued Witness of the Apostles (Acts 5:27-32)

    

    

5. The Practical Wisdom of Gamaliel (Acts 5:33-39)

    

    

6. The Increased Persecution of the Apostles (Acts 5:40)

    

    

7. The Apostles’ Joyful Response (Acts 5:41-42)

When we trust the LORD, peace is found in persecution, and persecution becomes a cause for joy.

Integrity for Gospel Advance!

Acts 4:32-5:16

Purpose: to uphold integrity in the church for the sake of gospel advance!

1. Unity that Glorifies Jesus (Acts 4:32-37)

2. Selfishness that Threatens Ministry (Acts 5:1-10)

3. Sin Corrected Restores Integrity, Advancing the Gospel! (Acts 5:11-16)

The church must uphold Christian integrity so that the witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ is unstained, and so that the message of salvation powerfully advances!

Jesus Christ Is Alive!

1 Corinthians 15:1-19; 50-58

Purpose: to believe in the risen Lord Jesus Christ, the foundation of our faith and the hope of our salvation!

1. Believe in the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ! (1 Cor 15:1-11)

2. What if? (1 Cor 15:12-19)

3. The Hope of Our Salvation: Death is Swallowed Up in Victory! (1 Cor 15:50-58)

The risen Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith and the hope of our salvation!

God’s Great Work of Salvation
Ephesians 1:3-14

Purpose: Each Person of the Trinity uniquely and perfectly participates in our salvation, so that we might rest confidently in God’s sovereign grace and rejoice in our spiritual inheritance in Christ.
   
God the Father planned it. The Son accomplished it.
The Holy Spirit applies it.

1. Salvation is a Work God Planned – (Ephesians 1:3–6)
        God the Father chose us before the foundation
        of the world, predestining us for adoption and
        blessing us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

2. Salvation is a Work the Son Accomplished – (Ephesians 1:7–12)
        Jesus redeemed us through His blood, forgiving
        our trespasses and revealing the mystery of
        God’s will to unite all things in Him.

3. Salvation is a Work the Spirit Applies – (Ephesians 1:13–14)
        The Holy Spirit seals us in Christ, guaranteeing
        our inheritance and marking us as His until the
        final redemption.

Reflection Question: Have you trusted in Christ and received the fullness of this great salvation—planned by the Father, accomplished by the Son, and applied by the Spirit?

Exalting the One True Creator and Savior Together!

Acts 4:13-31

Purpose: to trust the Creator God above all others as we proclaim Jesus the Savior and King

1. Collaborating Conspirators in the Courtroom (Acts 4:13-17)

2. Courageous Non-Compliance (Acts 4:18-20)

3. Phenomenal Proof (Acts 4:21-22)

4. Power-Filled Praise (Acts 4:23-28)
        Creator: Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 146:6
        King: Psalm 2:1-2

5. All Culminating in Confident Proclamation (Acts 4:29-31)

   When we proclaim Jesus Christ to the world, we are exalting the Creator-Savior-King!