bpchurch Sermons

Have you ever had a friend tell you what they planned to do because their counselor said to, but the plan didn't quite ring true? We all benefit from sound advice, as Proverbs 11:14 says, "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." But how can you know if the advice you're given (or are giving) is godly or worldly? How can you know if your plans are true spiritual wisdom or just common sense? In Acts 21:1-16, Paul is given well-intended but faulty advice. God has recorded this incident for us, to help us recognize the true standard by which we can direct our steps.

We talked about the young man who fell asleep and out the window last week. What if that story is not just about a person? What if it's about a church, or the church leaders? I think Paul still had the Eutychus incident on his mind when he gave his farewell exhortation to the Elders from Ephesus. In Acts 20:17-38, we'll see what God says we must focus on to stay awake and fruitful and effective as a church.

The story of Eutychus falling asleep and out of the windows in Acts 20:1-16 is an odd incident with an important warning. In the midst of a significant moment of great opportunity we still might find ourselves asleep. But there's more to the story than a warning to stay awake and alert, there's also a pattern being laid, a bar set of what is normal for us in new life in Christ. This Sunday we will see God's grace for those who may fall asleep and the glory of waking to a new kind of life.

This weekend, on Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the foundational truths of the gospel: that Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead. On Good Friday we will remember Jesus’s faithfulness in his death for us. On Resurrection Sunday we will look at how a core invitation to believe, Romans 10:9,10, is rooted in the implications of Jesus the risen Lord.

Both of these services are a great opportunity to invite a friend to come with you. They will hear God’s invitation to receive his salvation by trusting in Jesus, in a way they may not have heard it before.

This weekend, on Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the foundational truths of the gospel: that Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead. On Good Friday we will remember Jesus’s faithfulness in his death for us. On Resurrection Sunday we will look at how a core invitation to believe, Romans 10:9,10, is rooted in the implications of Jesus the risen Lord.

Both of these services are a great opportunity to invite a friend to come with you. They will hear God’s invitation to receive his salvation by trusting in Jesus, in a way they may not have heard it before.

The riot in the theater in Ephesus is not only a culture clash and an economic and political storm. It is also a spiritual clash. The silversmiths are right about something; they are just wrong about what. They are afraid that if people believe Paul’s message everything will change. That is true, but that is not the danger. The danger is not if the Gospel changes things for them, the real danger is if the gospel changes nothing for them. And that is still the danger today. The gospel is true, the gospel is powerful, the gospel changes everything. But will it change anything for you? That’s what we will hear about from God’s word.

Acts 19:1-20 contains four intriguingly unusual stories: the Baptist's disciples are baptized again, Christians repurpose the Tyrant's hall, an unsuccessful exorcism and a book-burning party. Together, these seemingly random stories reveal some important things about where people might be in relation to Jesus. The question, "Who are you?" may come from a surprising source, but the answer to that question is important for eternity and for today.

Who have you been discipled by, or who has helped you to know and follow Jesus? That is the essence of discipleship, and it is the way that Christianity has been passed down generation to generation ever since Jesus stood on that mountain and told his disciples to go and make more disciples. We can easily loose sight of the importance of making disciples, either in our personal life, or even in the midst of good Church activity. And yet, without discipleship, if we stop making disciples, the Church will die. This must be the focus of our lives and the focus of our Church, which is why we will continue to repeat week after week "know and follow Jesus by helping others to know and follow Jesus." Join us as we learn from Paul and others how to do this very thing.

A common admonition from the Lord to His people is, "Do not be afraid." It suggests that we are at times afraid when we don't need to be. Even Paul at times was afraid or cautious, tempted to hold back. He even asked for prayer to have boldness to speak as he should speak (Eph 6:19-20). Do you need those same prayers at times? I do. When Paul comes to Corinth, as happened in other cities, soon there is opposition and reason to fear what might happen. But the Lord speaks to Paul, and through him to us. The Lord's word makes a difference and Paul continues there for 18 months! Jesus's promise to Paul is still true, for me and for you, so it will be our focus this Sunday.

In Acts 17:16-34, Paul starts a conversation about idols. He does this to gently and tactfully confront the cultural lies people easily believe and then point instead to the truth of God in Jesus. Our setting is not so different from Acts 17. We too live in a city full of idols, and I believe God calls us to learn from Paul's example how we might have idol conversations which lead to faith in Jesus. We'll talk about it this Sunday and then celebrate the Lord's table together.