Christ Community Church of Pembroke Pines

  Church Life, “A Providential Plot”

                     Acts 23:12-35

The Conspiracy (vv. 12-22)

The Communication (vv. 23-30)

The Control (vv. 31-35)

           - Providence Through Prayer: 

- The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 18 & Ezek. 16).

- Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (Exodus).

- Christ’s resurrection (Psa. 22:19–22).

- The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Jo. 14).

- Your conversion

God Rises        

                                  John 20:24-29

The Doubt (vv.24-25)

1 Cor. 15:5-7  5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Lu. 1:3-4 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

The Discovery (vv. 26-28)

1 Cor. 15:42-44a-b, 51-52 42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. ... 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 

The Declaration (v. 29)

1 Pet. 1:8-9 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

In the Appeal He Makes (22:22-29)

In the Testimony He Gives (22:30-23:10)

- 1 Cor. 15:3-8; 12-14,17,19, 20,23

In the Call He Receives (23:11)

Isa. 46:8-10 8 “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, 9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

Church Life book of Acts

Church Life, “A Life of Persecution”

                    Acts 21:27-22:1

False Accusations (vv. 27-29)  

Mob Violence (vv. 30-36)

Appeal to Justice (vv.37-2:2)

The Joy and Work of Fellowship

                   Philippians 1:3-6                       

Reasons to Give Thanks (vv. 3-5)

Guarantee of Success (v. 6)  

 Isa. 55:11 .. my word be that goes out from my mouth;it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Ro. 8:28-29a  28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son ….  

 1 Pet. 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Ro. 5:3-4  3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

Ro. 8:18, 21 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us... 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God..... 

CUE for PP slide "We want our people to be Christ-conscious, Christ-committed and Christ contagious. That’s how our church construction project works at CCC. We do that climbing those 3 steps:

Church Life, “The Testimony of a Missionary, Pt. 1”

                                    Acts 20:17-24

In Service (vv. 17-19)

-           Humility (Phil. 2:3-8)

-           Heart (Eph. 1:15b-16; 6:21) .

-           Endurance 

In the Word (vv. 20-21)

Ma. 1:15b-c  the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (these may have been the 1st words of JC ever uttered in public when he launched his ministry.

Jo. 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes (places their faith, trusts) in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Ro. 10:9b-10  if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Lu. 9:23-24 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

2 Cor. 5:17-20 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[c] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[d] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

In Perseverance (vv. 22-24)

1 Pet. 4:12-14 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Church Life

                                      “Mission Adventures”

                          Acts 20:1-16

Maturing Disciples (vv. 1-5)

                    A Barnabas Encourager:

1) Provide materially – meet  needs.

2) Drop a line – send notes of encouragement (email, DMs, text).

3) Reach out and touch – give an appropriate touch ( a pat, hug, etc.)

4) Listen up – listen actively.

5) Empathize – comfort others in their pain.

6) Give of your time – give your undivided attention.

 Rescuing Disciples (vv. 6-12)

2 Cor. 7:5-7 5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

 Multiplying Disciples (vv. 13-16)

2 Tim. 4:1a-2-5  I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

 ” (James 2:15-17)

   Sanctity of Life Sunday

         ⁠                  ⁠“Living Faith

The Demonstration (vv. 15-16) 

1 Jo. 3:17 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Pro. 24:11-12 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. 12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this, does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?

The Definition (v. 17)

Matt. 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” 

What do we offer? Justice, hope and help.

-        Justice: is the truth about abortion, voting and speaking Christianly (Psa. 82:3-4). 

-        Hope: reject abortion as the moral wrong (sin) that it is. 

          -   Help: tangible (foster care, adoption, body & soul care).

Christ Community Church January 11th, 2025 Rev. Bernie Diaz

Church Life

                                “Kingdoms in Conflict and Confrontation”

                         Acts 19:21-41

Spirit Led Persecution (vv.21-23)

Satan Led Accusation (vv. 24-29)

Ro. 1:22-23, 25 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.... 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator,

Jo. 15:18-19  18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

2 Pet. 2:1-3, 14-15a 1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep... 14 They have eyes full of adultery,[a] insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! 15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray.

Spirit Blessed Resolution (vv. 30-41)