Acts -Week 5

Choose the Life: Exploring a Faith that Embraces Discipleship Becoming Gently Intolerant of Fringe Christianity

• Believe what Jesus believed (transformed mind)

• Live as Jesus lived (transformed character)

• Love as Jesus loved (transformed relationships)

• Minister as Jesus ministered (transformed service)

• Lead as Jesus led (transformed influence)

11While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.

11While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.

Intro

We have talked about:

The history of the Jewish people and their understanding of the Shema and of Rabbi’s

The way that Jesus taught his disciples at a speed that they would grow. He didn’t tell them right away that he was going to die for their sins.

The disciples of Jesus were ordinary men and women that Jesus taught and loved until they became the people that we see in the book of Acts.

(ESV)

11While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.

12And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

16And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

18But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

19Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

21whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

22Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

23And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’

24And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.

12And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

12And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

25You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

26God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Jesus went all the way back to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob

You have rejected God’s plan

God has been faithful to you because of his love for you

13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

His way is redeeming

His plans for the world is a plan that reaches from the beginning of time to the end of time.

Everything he has done has been to love us as a parent loves a child.

11While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.

12And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

16And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

18But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

19Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

21whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

22Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

23And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’

14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

24And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.

25You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

26God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

When Jesus came he had a two fold plan:

16And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

16And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Die for the forgiveness of sins which bring the promised death - The Cross

17“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

17“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

A way to be connected back to God - The Church

Christ was a man for others. He claimed it and he lived it: “The son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many” ( NKJV). It makes sense, then, that all disciples of Jesus exist for others, and his church exists for others. Just as faith is real only when there is obedience, the church is real only when its faith leads it to become a community for others.

Believe what Jesus believed (transformed mind)

Live as Jesus lived (transformed character)

Love as Jesus loved (transformed relationships)

Minister as Jesus ministered (transformed service)

Lead as Jesus led (transformed influence)

Choose the Life: Exploring a Faith that Embraces Discipleship Becoming Gently Intolerant of Fringe Christianity

• Believe what Jesus believed (transformed mind)

• Live as Jesus lived (transformed character)

• Love as Jesus loved (transformed relationships)

• Minister as Jesus ministered (transformed service)

• Lead as Jesus led (transformed influence)

18But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

18But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

19Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

19Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

21whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

21whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

22Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

22Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

23And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’

23And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’

He told them discipleship was not optional

24And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.

24And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.

He told them that being spiritually transformed is the primary and exclusive work of the church

25You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

25You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

He told them the evidence of being a follower of Jesus is following Jesus.

He told them that believing the right things was not enough; the faith Jesus taught and lived includes producing fruit to serve others and give up our own lives.

He showed them and told them that we don’t drift into it or amble our way halfheartedly down the path of obedience.

26God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

26God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

The life of following Jesus is the life that is the answer to the weakness of the church and the boring ineffectiveness of our lives.

Choose the Life: Exploring a Faith that Embraces Discipleship Christ Existed for Others

Christ was a man for others. He claimed it and he lived it: “The son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28 NKJV). It makes sense, then, that all disciples of Jesus exist for others, and his church exists for others. Just as faith is real only when there is obedience, the church is real only when its faith leads it to become a community for others.

Choose the Life: Exploring a Faith that Embraces Discipleship Chapter 1: How I Got to This Point

I told them discipleship was not optional; being spiritually transformed is the primary and exclusive work of the church. I told them the evidence of being a follower of Jesus is following Jesus. I told them believing the right things was not enough; the faith Jesus taught and lived includes behavioral evidence. I told them the most important question we face is who is saved and who is not. I told them discipleship is a choice; we don’t drift into it or amble our way halfheartedly down the path of obedience. I told them I was going to evangelize them. I was going to ask them to choose the life—the life of following Jesus, the life that is the answer to the weakness of the church and the boring ineffectiveness of our lives.

11While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.

12And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

16And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

18But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

19Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

21whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

22Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

23And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’

24And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.

25You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

26God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”