Sermons on Purity
Peter’s Explanation
Acts 11:1-18 News that Peter visited the Gentiles and ate with them travelled quickly to Jerusalem.The apostles in Jerusalem accosted Peter, asking him for an explanation for his actions. Peter explains what happened, including that the Holy Spirit fell om the Gentiles.This is sometimes referred to as the Gentile Pentecost.~Peter finishes his argument strongly, saying “If God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could…
Peter’s Vision
Acts 10:1-23 Roman religion involves polytheism and emperor worship. But Cornelius rejected Roman religion and followed the one, true God. God sent angel to tell Cornelius that his prayers and charity had come up to God for a memorial. God sees everything you think and do. The angel told Cornelius to send for Peter. While Cornelius’ men were making their way to Peter, God gave Peter a vision. Down from heaven came a sheet full unclean animals, and a…
Lying to the Holy Spirit
Acts 5:1-17 In the context of great power being on the apostles and great grace on the church, people were selling property and bringing the proceeds to the apostles. It was a wonderful time But the devil hates the church, and was working against it both through external persecution and internal discord. Ananias and Sophira sold their land, but secretly kept part of the proceeds, and brought it to the apostles as if it was the whole amount. Ananias dropped…
The First Church
Acts 2:22-47 This four key pillars critical for all Churches. Each of them could be a whole study, buy we will just have a quick look at them today. Pillar 1: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” The Apostle’s Doctrine is the gospel of Jesus Christ, including that: Pillar 2: Fellowship, The word Fellowship here is a comprehensive word that means all of the following together at the same time: Pillar 3: The breaking of bread As well…
Grace
Mercy: You don’t get the consequences you deserve Grace: You get favour you don’t deserve Grace is freedom The gift of grace from Jesus is available for everyone God’s grace is much greater than sin The law demands purity before approaching God. Grace invites us to come to God and let Jesus purify you. Keep walking in grace, don’t drift back towards legalism. Grace teaches us to love and live for God. When you grow in grace you grow in…
Laodicea – The Lukewarm Church
Laodicea was a very wealthy fashion, banking and medical center The church belonging to the people, rather than Jesus Vulnerable to attack, and always allied to whichever power was stronger. Jesus has nothing good to say about the coach of Laodicea Representative of the Apostate Church age Exhortation: Jesus encourages them to go through trials to strengthen their faith and strive for righteousness Jesus warns them to be zealous and repent Jesus is not in the church of Laodicea –…
Sardis – The Dead Church
Sardis was the capital of the Lydian Empire, and very wealthy. Sardis was conquered by Alexander the Great in 334 BC, and 129 BC was given to the Romans by the last Greek king of the area. Sardis was very cosmopolitan, including with its religion. Under Roman rule it was a religious mixing pot, adopting the Roman pagan religion as well as others, including Judaism and Christianity.The Synagogue, which was supposed to be a holy place of worship to the…
Jesus Before Pilate
The trial of Jesus happened early in the morning, after a long, harrowing night Before the Last Supper, Passover was prophetic. After the Last Supper, Communion is a symbolic remembrance. But during the Last Supper it was real – He was about to be sacrificed for us. The Sanhedrin didn’t want to enter Pilate’s residence to remain pure, despite their lies and false charges. Pilate wanted to get out of the trial. He sent Jesus to Herod Then he tried…
Approaching Jesus
Mark 7:14-37 Accusing Pharisees The Pharisees approached Jesus with an accusing question, and instead of answering, he called out their hypocrisy Discussion about purity and impurity Jesus and the gentile woman The gentile woman approached Jesus humbly, willing to accept whatever Jesus was willing to offer her, with a simplicity of faith She received what she was seeking from Jesus Because of her faith her daughter was made well Jesus and the deaf and mute man The people wanted Jesus…