The Unstoppable Gospel

INTRODUCTION (5)

WELCOME

SERIES INTRO/ REVIEW

We are in our final week in the book of Acts

We’ll be in the last chapter, 28, but then I also want us to see how some of the themes in this chapter can also be seen throughout the entire book.

I also want to draw some parallels between this chapter

Today is also Palm Sunday

The time of year we remember Jesus’ journey to Jersualem where he knew he was going to die

Crowds gathered around Jesus, saying, Hosanna, Glory to God in the Highest.” “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Jesus had spoken often about the ‘Kingdom of God’ drawing near.

The people thought this meant that Jesus was going to free the people from Roman Occupation by establishing his earthly rule. In fact, one historian in Jerusalem told me that the palm branches they laid at Jesus’ feet was also the image used by the rebellion against Rome. Maybe this is one of the reasons why the crowds go from singing his praises today to screaming “Crucify him” on Friday.

After Easter we will begin a new series going through the book of Ecclesiastes.

PRAY & READ

PALM SUNDAY / PAUL’S ENTRY INTO ROME

Next week is Easter so that means today in Palm Sunday, a time when we remember Jesus’ entry into the city of Jersalem.

Jesus knew he was coming here to die

Kingdom of God

People coming to meet him along the path

CONNECTING QUESTION

Three Words: Hope, Power, and Purpose

Hope - Jesus is victorious, the gospel cannot be stopped, The Kingdom of God is established and will reign for all time.

Personal Response:

Empowerment - As followers of Jesus, we are given the power and ability to supernaturally proclaim this truth

Conviction - deep convictions and all-satisfying values drive disciples to live sacrificially by surrendering to God and obeying his word.

THE UNSTOPPABLE GOSPEL (7)

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Today is Palm Sunday | Jesus entering Jerusalem and Paul entering Rome

Jesus’ first messages were, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Though the people longed for God’s earthly rule - Jesus had to first establish his spiritual kingdom.

Meaning, God had to establish is rule in our hearts by dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Without his sacrifice, not of us would be able to dwell in his presence forever.

Jesus speaking about the Kingdom of God

The beginning

What is the Kingdom of God

The rule and reign of Jesus, not just the people of the kingdom but the reign of the King.

Jesus saving sinners

1) establishes his rule and reign in our hearts (spiritually)

2) establishing his rule and reign over the new heavens and the new earth (physically)

Paul proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ...”

This theme of God’s Kingdom runs through the gospels and from the beginning to the end of Acts.

God is building his kingdom

God is building his kingdom in our hearts

He will return and establish his rule and reign in the new heavens and on the new earth.

POWERFUL PROCLAMATION - What does this look like?

Think of Paul’s life up to this point

He withstood Elymas the sorcerer face to face

When he was stone in Lystra and disciples mourned over his supposed corpse - he revived and went right back to Lystra.

He was beaten in Philippi and then he and Silas gave the first gospel concert in europe

He stood up to the intellectualism in Athens

The corruption in Corinth

The violence in Ephesus.

He went to Jerusalem knowing he would be arrested as friends pleaded with him not to go

He was arrested and spent two years in prison in Caesarea.

He finally begins the journey to Rome and he is ship wrecked - the boat was stuck on a reef as the waves ripped the boat apart.

You swim to land - and the locals are kind and have built a fire. You decide to help gather wood and are bitten by a viper.

Everyone is watching and waiting for you to die thinking this is justice.

You spend three months on the island and God uses Paul to heal the sick and no doubt proclaim the gospel.

Christians greeting Paul as he walked the final miles to Rome

Paul wrote the book of Romans to the believers here some 3 years prior

From the port (modern Naples) to Rome was 140 miles

Market of Appius was 43 miles outside Rome and believers began to meet him on the journey

The Three Taverns was 10 miles closer

Now a crowd was with Paul as he entered the city

Numerous commentaries pointed out similarities between Paul’s journey to Jerusalem to that of Jesus. Here we see additional similarities to Jesus entry in jerusalem to Paul’s entry in Rome.

2.5 years after God told Paul he would be in Rome, Paul finally steps foot in the city.

To the Jewish Leaders in Rome

after 3 days,,,Proclaim with hope, even though not everyone believes

Some believed but some didn’t.

Paul lived there for two years under house arrest

During this time Paul wrote Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and the last book was 2 Timothy.

He also wrote a letter to Philemon. A man’s whose servants, Onesimus, ran away and then Paul met while in prison. Paul says, “I became a father to Oneismus while in prison.

Donkey Head - Jailors

Even Paul’s guards seem to have come to Christ while Paul was in prison

Today in Rome you can see a square of plaster cut from the wall of the barracks in the palace of the Ceasars. On it is scratched a human figure with a donkey’s head. The figure is nailed to a cross and a man in pictured kneeling before it. This artwork is an obvious insult to a roman soldier who converted to Christianity for the picture bears the inscription “Anexamenos worships his God.”

Philemon

END OF THE BEGINNING

The book is finished, but the mission Jesus assigned the church was just beginning.

The book ends in the same way it began - with the proclamation of the kingdom of God

We join the drama of spreading the good news to the nations. While God replaces messengers over time, the message and the mission remain unchanged until Jesus returns.

The story continues - our worship here this morning - talking about Jesus is a continuation of the book of Acts.

One of my prayers is that we leave here with hope

God has established his kingdom (spiritually) “It is finished!” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit (John 19:30)

God will establish his rule permanently (physically) “It is done!” I am the alphas and the omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give the spring of water of life without payment.” (Rev. 21:6)

How Do We Participate in the Mission of God?

THE EMPOWERED DISCIPLE (7)

THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERMENT

Holy Spirit is God, bringing glory to Jesus through the church

Paul

THE WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Throught

Throughout Acts

In Chapter 28

Malta - snake bite, leader, others

Rome - Jewish leaders

A DISCIPLE SURRENDERS CONTROL

Definition of a Disciple - someone who worships Jesus through ongoing surrender and obedience to God in everyday life, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Surrender and Empowerment

Surrender is needed to become empowered.

Mykala Preston is like a daughter to our family and her truck’s engine just died. She had it completely rebuilt and now it is running again.

I see our hearts a bit like this. Our hearts are dead in their sin. You can try changing the oil - fixing things - but it just won’t work.

We need a new heart in the way that her truck needed a new engine - and this isn’t something we can do ourselves but something that God must do within us.

This means we have to surrender

The battle for values in our hearts

Money - selling possessions, paying for his own imprisonment

Direction - Philip, going one way then another, Paul

Direction - Philip, going one way then another

Life - Stephen is martyred

Life - Stephen is martyred

Freedom - thrown in jail

Freedom - thrown in jail

Safety & Security - Riots, beatings, prison

Safety & Security - Riots

Time - how we spend out time, how we invest our time

Gifting/Abilities -

A disciple of Jesus pursues ongoing surrender and obedience to God in everyday life - by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reality - this is costly

Mykala Preston is like a daughter to our family and her truck’s engine just died. She had it completely rebuilt and now it is running again.

I see our hearts a bit like this. Our hearts are dead in their sin. You can try changing the oil - fixing things - but it just won’t work.

We need a new heart in the way that her truck needed a new engine - and this isn’t something we can do ourselves but something that God must do within us.

This means we have to surrender

THE COST OF COMMITMENT (7)

JESUS - TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME

Deny yourself, Take up your cross and follow me - jesus (Matt. 16)

To Paul - you will suffer for the sake of my name.

To Us -

if the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

A servant is not greater than his master - they persecuted me and they will persecute you

ACTS - DISCIPLES

Privacy - it’s just me and God but God makes us part of his family with lots of brothers and sisters

Direction - Philip, going one way then another

Money - where your treasure is there you heart will be also (house, car or in generosity toward others)

Time

Life - Stephen is martyred

Safety

Freedom - thrown in jail

American Dream - in my time at PIONEERS training missionaries I met numerous 2nd generation immigrant families who did not support their children’s desires to became missionaries, requiring them to ask others for support.

Safety & Security - Riots

US - FOLLOWERS OF JESUS

As Jesus’ mission continues

God may call you to leave your comfort, leave your culture, leave your job, home, cars, etc - to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to those who have never heard.

Is there any biblical evidence that we should expect to receive:

As part of Jesus’ body - we have needs among us

CPK - training the next generation, being faithful to pass on

Riches, Safety, Freedom, Easy Life - as we follow Jesus?

Connections - environment of hospitality, greeting people, welcoming them in your foyer and inviting them in, helping them to feel comfortable

Set-up - when you have people over for a meal you set the table and sweep the floor. The family boogie. Everybody has a part to play.

Some kids all of a sudden need to use the bathroom

Kids mysteriously disappear

It is easier to not help but if we all pull together then it isn’t that hard and it can actually be fun.

This is part of where we are as a church:

107 Partners, with roughly 20% not currently serving on a Sunday morning

For some of those there is a very real reason

For others, not so much

Family Needs - Needs new people to step up

Life Transitions - Pregnancies, Job Transfers, Military Enlistment

Leaders Needed -

CONCLUSION/ APPLICATION (5)

WHAT IS THE OBJECT OF YOUR FAITH?

Jesus is the King and his kingdom is eternal and moves throughout history without hinderance.

ARE YOU LIVING SURRENDERED TO GOD’S EMPOWERMENT?

THERE IS A COST, WHAT DO YOU VALUE?