Messages

A message from the series “Luke.”

A message from the series “Not Part of a Series.” Believing without Seeing
John 20:19-31

Main Point: Jesus, the Christ, has overcome death for us: We must believe & embrace Him – we receive forgiveness of our sins and new life in Him.

1. What proof/evidence is there that He rose from the dead?

a. An empty tomb: verses 1-9

*Fake News – Matthew 28:12-15

b. Numerous eyewitnesses: verses 14-20

I Corinthians 15:3-6 Apostle Paul – 500 witnesses – many of whom were killed for their testimony

c. A convinced Skeptic: verses 24-29 Thomas –
Jesus accommodates him – He will prove himself to you!

2. There are those here today who have encountered the living, resurrected Christ whose lives have been transformed!

3. If Jesus is who He claimed to be – the ‘Risen Christ, the Son of God’,’ what must response be?

*We must receive Him into our lives as the living Christ, and live our lives for Him as our Lord, our Master. .

Romans 10:9-10

A message from the series “Not Part of a Series.”

A message from the series “Not Part of a Series.” Who is This?!
Matthew 21:1-11
Main Point:
Do we have in mind His agenda or ?

1. The people praised Jesus when He came riding into Jerusalem as the ‘ ’, expecting that He would accomplish their agenda. verse 9

*Hosanna (Hebrew – ‘Hosha’na’) = ‘Save!’ – an exclamation of praise, but it had taken on a .

2. Jesus fulfilled the from Zechariah regarding the coming King in the line of David. verses 4-5

Zechariah 9:9
>Donkey – humble, but also used of kings (David II Sam 13:29)

Spreading the branches (verse 7) = an act of royal homage

3. Crowds believed Jesus was the ‘_______’ – they were right and wrong! verse 11

Deuteronomy 18:15 – but Jesus calls Himself ‘ ’ – v. 2

(Deuteronomy 34:10-12 > Hebrews 3:1-6 Jesus, the Son, worthy of greater honor than Moses)

*Luke 19:43-44 – “the time of God’s coming to you!” Let us never try to put Him in a box or manip. Him to do our bidding!

A message from the series “Acts of the Apostles.” No Other Name!
Acts 4:1-22
Main Point:
We can give bold of Jesus despite persecution through the power of the indwelling Spirit!

2000 more men added to the Kingdom! Verse 4

1. The Persecution: and Jailed! vvs. 3 -7

*They were persecuted, we will be persecuted for our faith. Settle it!

II Timothy 3:12 “In fact, everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

John 15:18

2. The Proclamation: No other Name but ! vs 10-12

Peter > Psalm 118:22 > Mt. 21:42 Jesus is the Cornerstone

3. The imPact: Threatened & commanded to _____! v.18

*Let your word & witness go forth! Luke 12:11-12

A message from the series “Acts of the Apostles.” Heirs of the Covenant
Acts 3:17-26

Main Point:
Through faith in Messiah Jesus, we become heirs of God’s covenant to Abraham and are blessed to be a blessing!

*Key verse – verse 25 ‘Heirs of the Prophets & Covenant’

1. Repent, turn to God, & put your faith in Messiah Jesus. Verse 19

The Jews, in the main, had disowned the Holy & Righteous One, Jesus; killed the Author of life. vvs.13-14

-But God raised Him from the dead. The Apostles are witnesses of this! v. 15

2. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Covenant to Abraham verses 24-26

He is the ‘Offspring’ of Abraham Gen 22:18

3. In this Covenant we are blessed to be a blessing! v. 26

We Gentiles are included – (Romans 11:13-18)

Why? God loves the world – people! That’s why He sends us to them! We are blessed to be a blessing to them!

A message from the series “Acts of the Apostles.”

A message from the series “Not Part of a Series.” Are You in the Family?

Ephesians 2:17-22

Main Point:
We are to embrace each other in Christ as God’s New Spiritual Family ; His living temple in which He dwells by His Spirit; and His instrument of reconciliation!

1. A new Family -God, not man, created the church as a living organism; a new family, not merely an organization.
(verses 18-19)
> Jesus, ‘I will build my church!’ Matthew 16:18

Galatians 3:26-28

*We must embrace each other in Christ as brothers and sisters in God’s new family. He gives us a new spiritual identity and belonging!

We read also in verse 20, that this new family is a household ‘built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone.’

So are you in this new Family, God’s living household, the church?! Romans 10:9-10

2. A living Temple – We, the church together, are a dwelling/habitation in which God lives by His Spirit! verses 21-22

3. An Instrument of Reconciliation – God created the church to be His instrument of reconciliation and redemption. We are
to take this message to all people near and afar! vvs. 17-18

A message from the series “Not Part of a Series.”

A message from the series “Acts of the Apostles.” What Are We Devoted to?
Acts 2:42-47
Lenis’ car – after being serviced at dealership, as she was driving home, wheel came off went rolling down the road!
Like four wheels on a car – keep it balanced, rolling, moving forward – so are these four pillars of the church!

We want our church to move forward and be dynamic, effective at accomplishing what the Lord has called us to… Reach people with the Gospel, Grow them as disciples, Equip them to Serve with their gifts/abilities. Jesus said He would build His church – we have to our part – be devoted to these pillars of the church. IAC is a good church with a lot of great people, we can be a great church – meaning more effective…

Main Point:
Our discipleship in Christ must translate into Devotion/commitment to these four pillars of the church: Apostle’s teaching; Fellowship; Breaking of Bread; and Prayer (Worship!)

>Those who were saved (3000+) committed, devoted themselves to these…

How did people around them know that they were Jesus’ disciples? Their discipleship, belonging, was first confirmed, first seen by their devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, and devotion to His people! Same for us!

‘Devoted’ = Steadfast attention and adherence. Committed to it! When we are devoted this way the life and power of Christ is manifest! (verses 43-45)

1. We must be devoted to the Apostle’s Teaching – Christ’s Word.

What is the ‘Apostle’s teaching’ = the Scriptures fulfilled in, and revealed/ fulfilled/expressed through Jesus Christ. (especially the Gospel – the fulfillment of God’s plan & purposes). verses 29-33

> Jesus ‘Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away.’ Matt. 24:35 ‘Father, sanctify them by the truth; your Word is truth!’ John 17:17

Isaiah 40:8 ‘…The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of the Lord stands forever.’

> Peter quotes (I Peter 1:24-25) and then says ‘And this is the Word that was preached to you.’

*This means I have embraced God’s Word as the truth, and am Submitted to the Authority of His Word, and especially to the authority of the teachings and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I live it, and it is my source of authority.

*I am submitting my ‘opinions!’

> I am learning and obeying it! Ps 119:105 ‘Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.’

2. We must be devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word, – and to the ‘fellowship’ – His Body! verse 42

You belong to me, I belong to you – we belong to each other – in Christ’s Body – a new identity, a new belonging.
‘Fellowship’ = participation, partnership, belonging (Spiritual oneness, belonging of the Body of Christ – given by the Spirit!).
Therefore, they were together > READ verse 44

God, thru the Spirit, created a new family, with a new identity and is building us a beautiful new dwelling place of God – called the church!

>Ephesians 2:19-22

3. We must be devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ – (His Word, Fellowship of His Body) and to the ‘Breaking of Bread.’
verses 42c & 46
We can call this community-
= Community – sharing life together and committed to/encouraging/caring for each other. (Example verse 44-45).

They also celebrated communion together in the context of the common meal – love feast – symbolized their oneness in Christ – I Corinthians 11:20-22; 33-34

They used their gifts to minister to one another! I Peter 4:10

4. We must be devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ – (His Word, Fellowship of His Body, Community) and to Prayer.
verse 42d

‘Prayer’ = Corporate Intercession, Praise & Worship

Acts 4:23-31

I Thess 5:17 ‘Pray continually’!