Sermon 07.21.13

Acts 6:1-7

The King of Culture

Acts 1:8

8 But you will receive power when the

Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will

be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in

all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends

of the earth.”

Acts 2:4-8

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and

began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit

enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-

fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6

When they heard this sound, a crowd came

together in bewilderment, because each one

heard their own language being spoken. 7

Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these

who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it

that each of us hears them in our native

language?

Acts 2:41

41 Those who accepted his message

were baptized, and about three

thousand were added to their number

that day.

Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching

and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to

prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many

wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All

the believers were together and had everything in

common. 45 They sold property and possessions to

give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they

continued to meet together in the temple courts. They

broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad

and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the

favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their

number daily those who were being saved.

Mark 8:34-36

34 Then he called the crowd to him along

with his disciples and said:“Whoever

wants to be my disciple must deny

themselves and take up their cross and

follow me. 35 For whoever wants to

save their life will lose it, but whoever

loses their life for me and for the gospel

will save it. 36 What good is it for

someone to gain the whole world, yet

forfeit their soul?

Question

Why do we have to do all the moving?

Why do we have to give up what we like

to go to them?

Why can’t they give up what they like to

come to us?

Philippians 2:1-8

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from

being united with Christ, if any comfort from his

love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any

tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my

joy complete by being like-minded, having the

same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain

conceit. Rather, in humility value others above

yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests

but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2:1-8

5 In your relationships with one another, have the

same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to

be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself by becoming obedient to

death— even death on a cross!

John 20:21-23

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you!

As the Father has sent me, I am

sending you.” 22 And with that he

breathed on them and said, “Receive

the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive

anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if

you do not forgive them, they are not

forgiven.”

Question

Don’t they need to look like us

at some point?

Acts 6:1-7

In those days when the number of disciples was

increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them

complained against the Hebraic Jews because

their widows were being overlooked in the daily

distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all

the disciples together and said, “It would not be

right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of

God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and

sisters, choose seven men from among you who

are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.

Acts 6:1-7

We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and

will give our attention to prayer and the ministry

of the word.” 5 This proposal pleased the whole

group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith

and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus,

Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from

Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented

these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid

their hands on them. 7 So the word of God

spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem

increased rapidly, and a large number of priests

became obedient to the faith.

Acts 6:9

9 Opposition arose, however, from

members of the Synagogue of the

Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of

Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the

provinces of Cilicia and Asia— who

began to argue with Stephen.

Acts 8:1

On that day a great persecution broke out

against the church in Jerusalem, and all

except the apostles were scattered

throughout Judea and Samaria.

Acts 8:1

On that day a great persecution broke out

against the church in Jerusalem, and all

except the apostles were scattered

throughout Judea and Samaria.

Acts 1:8 8 But you will receive power when the Holy

Spirit comes on you; and you will be my

witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea

and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”