The Gospel On Trial In Jerusalem
Acts 15:1-21

Purpose: to show that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, salvation by faith and not by works, is the true Gospel and good news for all who believe.

1. The Gospel Challenged (Acts 15:1-5)

2. The Gospel Defended (Acts 15:6-12)

3. The Gospel Upheld (Acts 15:13-21)

Jesus did not come to add to our misery, but to free us from the burden sin has imposed.

Verses Steve Shares

Matthew 6:25-27 New American Standard Bible 1995
25 “For this reason I say to you, [a]do not be worried about your [b]life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the [c]air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single [d]hour to his [e]life?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 New American Standard Bible 1995
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 41:10 New American Standard Bible 1995
10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

1 Corinthians 10:31 New American Standard Bible 1995
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Philippians 2:11 New American Standard Bible 1995
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore…

Purpose: to take a look back as we move forward, investing our lives to glorify Christ in worship, discipleship, and mission in 2026 and beyond.

1. Why We Are Were We Are

2. What We Need To Make I Work

3. Who To Watch For Where To Go

How will You invest?

Finding Life, By Losing It

Purpose: To live life in and for the Lord Jesus Christ, in the light of eternity!

Intro: Finding Life, By Losing It (Matt 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24)

“Do all things for the sake of the gospel” (1 Cor 9:23; 2 Cor 4:15; 2 Tim 2:10)

1. For the Glory of Christ in Me (Gal 2:20; Rom 8:26-32)

2. For the Glory of Christ in His Church (Acts 20:27-28; Eph 1:7-10; 3:20-21; Titus 2:11-15;1 Pet 2:9-10)

3. For the Glory of Christ Among the Nations (Gen 12:3; Is 11:9, 49:6; Hab. 2:14; Matt 28:18-20; Gal 3:8)

4. For the Glory of Christ in Eternity (Matt 6:13; Rom 11:36, 16:27; Phil 4:20; 1 Tim 1:17; 2 Tim 4:18; Heb 13:20-21)

5. A Case Study (2 Cor 8-9)

Find Your Life, by Losing It

Surrender to Jesus Christ, believe the gospel

Join the church, the body of Christ, by being baptized

Worship together

Grow together in discipleship

Join the Lord on His Mission to be glorified among all the nations

We are not our Own: God Owns 100%, don’t think 10%, think 100%

Serve together as the body of Christ, as the priesthood of believers,
all members active

“Well done, good and faithful slave”

Glory to God?

Purpose: Only what’s done for Christ will last.

1. God-Given Spiritual Gifts
   Ephesians 4:7-8, 11-13
   1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 13

2. God-Given Skills
   James 1:17
   Ephesians 2:10
   Exodus 36:1-2
   1 Samuel 16:18

3. God-Glorifying Service
   2 Cor. 5:14-15
   Philippians 2:3-11
   1 Corinthians 10:31-33
   Colossians 3:23-24
   1 Peter 4:10-11

A Matter of Time

Purpose: The way we use our precious allotment of time in this life matters!

Introduction: You are not your own!

1. Number Your Days (Psalm 90)

    

    

    

    

2. For Your Lives Are A Vapor (James 4:13-15; Luke 12:16-21)

3. So, Redeem the Time (Ephesians 5:15-21)

Conclusion: Don’t waste your life!

Foundations of Christian Faith

Purpose: Foundations of Christian faith that lead to a great reward, a New Year Meditation

1. Singular Vision: Seek First His Kingdom
   (Matt. 6:19-34)

2. New Life: Dead to Sin, Alive to God
   (Jn. 3; Rom. 6:8-13; Gal. 2:20)

3. Under New Ownership: Not My Own, Bought With a Price (1 Cor. 6:18-20)

4. New Purpose: Ambassadors
   (2 Cor. 5:14-21)

5. Given to God
   (2 Cor. 8:1-5)

At the end of life, to hear “Well done good and faithful servant,” it all begins with these foundations of Christian faith. Biblical Christian faith is defined by Singular Vision, having New Life, being Under New Ownership, with a New Purpose, and being fully Given to God!

The Herald’s Call
Luke 3:1-20

Purpose: That people would have ears to hear the message of repentance and forgiveness of sin, in preparation for the redemption found in Jesus.

1. The Setting for John’s Ministry (Luke 3:1-3)

2. The Prophetic Basis for John’s Ministry (Luke 3:4-6)

3. The Execution of John’s Ministry (Luke 3:7-14)

4. The Response to John’s Ministry (Luke 3:15-20)

John the Baptist’s ministry was centered on preparing the way for King Jesus, by preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and teaching on the outworking of this redemption in the life of the believer. This gospel ministry was accepted by those with ears to hear it, and despised by those whose hearts were hardened against it.

A Savior Is Born For Men Like You
Matthew 1:1-25

Purpose: To show that Jesus was born for everyone, because we all need and have been promised a Savior.

1) Family Embraced (Matt. 1:1-17)

2) Foreigners Welcomed (Matt. 1:5)

3) Freedom Provided (Matt. 1:18-25)

For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, because we all needed a Savior. Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life.

God’s Gospel Glorified Among Gentiles

Acts 14

Purpose: to embrace that advancing the gospel will succeed, will bring persecution, and will glorify Jesus Christ!

1. Ingathering at Iconium (Acts 14:1-7)
       Large number of Jews and Gentiles believed in the Lord (v. 1)
       Jews again stir up opposition to Paul and Barnabas (v. 2)
       Bold proclamation of the gospel (vv. 1, 3, 7)
       God granted testifying signs (v. 3)
       The people choose sides (v. 4)
       Threat of capital punishment (v. 5)
       The missionaries move on (vv. 6-7)

2. The Lame Leaped in Lystra (Acts 14:8-20a)
       Healing of a lame man (vv. 8-10)
       Barnabas falsely called Zeus; Paul falsely called Hermes (vv. 11-13)
       Paul preaches the gospel and the Creator to Gentile crowd (vv. 14-17)
       The crowds fail to respond correctly (v. 18)
       Jews from Antioch and Iconium stir up opposition (v. 19)
       Paul is stoned and left for dead (v. 19)
       The missionaries move on (v. 20)

3. Declaration in Derbe (Acts 14:20-21)
       Paul and Barnabas preach the gospel and make many disciples

4. Account at Antioch (Acts 14:21-28)
       Back through Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch (v. 21)
       Strengthened the disciples and appointed elders in every church (v. 22)
       Through Pamphylia with stops at Perga and Attalia (v. 25)
       Back in Syrian Antioch (vv. 26)
       Accounted to their sending church all that God had done (v. 27, see Acts 13:1-3)
       Accounted how the Lord opened a door of faith to the Gentiles (v. 27)
       They spent a long time with the disciples in Syrian Antioch! (v. 28)

Advancing the gospel will succeed, will bring persecution, and will glorify Jesus Christ!

The Mission Takes a Turn
Acts 13:44-52

Purpose: to show God’s promise of salvation has always been for the nations.

1. The Message Desired and Denounced (Acts 13:44-45)

2. The Message Affirmed and Extended (Acts 13:46-47)
   Isaiah 49:6
   Acts 9:15

3. The Message Received with Rejoicing (Acts 13:48-49)

4. The Message Brings Cursing and Blessing (Acts 13:50-52)
   Matthew 10:14

The gospel brings joy to the nations: to all who receive the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Salvation in Jesus Christ, Promise Kept!

Acts 13:26-43

Purpose: to declare God’s fulfilled promise of salvation in the risen Jesus Christ!

1. Salvation in Jesus, Message Delivered! (Acts 13:26)
       “has been sent” means the message came from where?
       See Hebrews 1:1-4

2. Salvation in Jesus, Message Fulfilled! (Acts 13:27-30)
      The fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
         - Prophesied in the OT
         - They missed the Messiah they read about every Sabbath (v. 27; see Lk 4:14ff)
         - God fulfilled the prophets through men who condemned Jesus
         - Jesus was crucified on a cross, was buried, and then …
         - God raised Jesus Christ from the dead! (vv. 30-37; see 1 Cor 15)

3. Salvation in Jesus, Message Preached! (Acts 13:31-37)
       The risen Jesus Christ, God’s fulfillment of His Promise (vv. 32-33)
       OT Scriptures cited: Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 55:3; Psalm 16:10
       By His Resurrection Jesus Christ is Eternal King of God’s
       Eternal Kingdom! (Rom 6:9)

4. Salvation in Jesus, Message Received? (Acts 13:38-43)
       Christ’s blessings = forgiveness of sins, justification by faith (vv. 38-39).
       Paul’s Warning against unbelief! (v. 41 quoting Habakkuk 1:5)

The risen Jesus Christ is the very message and salvation of God. Have you received the risen Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior?

Rules of Faithful Gospel Engagement

Acts 13:14-25

Purpose: We have a specific objective in carrying out the gospel mission, the salvation of souls.

1. Stay Ready (Acts 13:14)

2. Seek the Opportunity (Acts 13:15-16)

3. Set the Context (Acts 13:17-22)

4. Show the Way Out (Acts 13:23-25)

How we prepare and what we share matters if we are to proclaim the gospel faithfully.