Preparing themselves for Pentecost, the disciples pursue appointing a 12th Apostle to succeed Judas. They seek the will of God for his replacement through God’s Word, prayer, the Lord’s guidance, and the sovereignty of God shown through His providence. Matthias is appointed, readying the Apostles for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:21-26 “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

Sermon - “God’s Providence for His Church”

Series - “Acts: Christ’s Church Built”

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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In the ten days between Christ’s ascension and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the disciples obey Jesus’ commands, staying in Jerusalem. While there, they pray together earnestly, they teach the Word of God, they rely on the Lord’s sovereignty, and rejoice in the freedom of their salvation in Christ, as those who by repentance have been given peace with God, as opposed to Judas, who was once among them, who died apart from this peace, without repentance.

Acts 1:12-20 "Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, 'May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and 'Let another take his office.'"

Sermon - “As the Disciples Waited”

Series - “Acts: Christ’s Church Built”

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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We see the ascension also as a crucial work of Christ upon which the entirety of Acts following is founded. Christ is ascended, enthroned, ruling, mediating, and building His glorious kingdom through the work of the Spirit and the faithfulness of the Church, for whom we will come back again, giving hope to the disciples to obey Christ’s commission.

Acts 1:6-11 "So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Sermon - “The Power of the Risen Christ”

Series - “Acts: Christ’s Church Built”

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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The entire book of acts is founded up the glorious resurrection of Christ. Through it, Christ continues his earthly ministry in the Church, commissions the Church, proved Himself to the Church, inaugurated the manifest Kingdom of God, and enabled the Father to bestow upon the Church His promise of the Holy Spirit, empowering the Church.  

Acts 1:1-5 “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Sermon - “The Power of the Risen Christ”

Series - “Acts: Christ’s Church Built”

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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The book of the Acts of the Apostles is introduced, as we consider its author, its date, its purpose, its continuity with Luke's Gospel account, and context within redemptive history, along with Acts' prominent themes.

Acts 1:1-2 “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.”

Sermon - “Acts: An Introduction”

Series - “Acts: Christ’s Church Built”

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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The Lord’s Supper ought to be administered in a particular manner, for the glory of God. It is to be overseen by those God has given to the ministry of the Word of God in the local church, the elders. It is a corporate meal to be given in the assembly of the Saints, given in tandem with abiding prayer, and given as often as the church needs and desires, under those prescribed conditions.

Acts 2:41-47 "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Sermon - “The Lord’s Supper and its Praxis: How it is Administered”

Series - “The Lord’s Supper”

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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The Lord’s Supper must be received. It is commanded of all believers and churches. However, all must come in a worthy manner. We must receive the Lord’s Supper in reverence, in remembrance, in thankful rejoicing, and in repentance, as those examining themselves, despising their sin, confessing it before the Lord, and resolving to mortify it.

1 Corinthians 11:17-34 "But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for[b] you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world."

Sermon - “The Lord’s Supper and its Praxis: How it is Received”

Series - “The Lord’s Supper”

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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We continue to see how the Lord’s Supper serves us as an ordinary means of sanctifying grace, which strengthens our faith, begets repentance in us, helps us to mortify our sin, and binds the unity of the church ever deeper.

John 20:24-29 “Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Sermon - “The Lord’s Supper as a Means of Grace: What is Accomplishes Pt. 2”

Series - “The Lord’s Supper”

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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The Lord's Supper is a means of grace, through which the spiritual presence of Christ is made manifest to us, sealing our redemption, assuring us of its promises, nourishing us as he grows us in grace, and pointing us in hope to the return of Christ to consummate redemption.

1 Corinthians 10:14-17 "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."

Sermon - “The Lord’s Supper as a Means of Grace: What is Accomplishes Pt. 1”

Series - “The Lord’s Supper”

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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Sermon - “Discovering the Holy Spirit”

Speaker: Mike Burton

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