Main Idea: Gospel success is not as cut and dry as we would like it to be. Sometimes people respond to the gospel in false belief, foolishly hoping they can receive the benefits of God apart from God himself. 

Sermon Outline:

I. The Persecution of Man (Acts 8:1–3)

II. The Power of God (Acts 8:4–13)

III. The Pride of Man (Acts 8:14–25)

Main Point: Faithful gospel witness in the face of opposition is upheld by the Holy Spirit and approved of by Jesus.

Sermon Outline:

Main Idea: Israel’s long history reminds us that faithless familiarity with the things of God blinds us to the glory of God and breeds every manner of rebellion.

Sermon Outline:
I.   The Cause of Stephen’s Arrest (Acts 6:8–15)
II.  The Substance of Stephen’s Speech (Acts 7:1–53)
III. The Message of Stephen’s Speech for the Church Today

Text: Acts 6:1-7

Main Idea: The mission of the church requires that it prioritize the preaching of the Word while actively ministering to the physical needs of its members.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Problem

II. The Main Point

III. The Power

Text: Acts 5:12–42

Main Idea: Opposition and persecution cannot stop the advance of the gospel; rather they unwittingly reveal the active power of Jesus in the persevering faithfulness of his blood-bought people.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Apostles’ Impact (Acts 5:12–16)

II. The Apostles’ Arrest and Punishment (Acts 5:17–39)

III. The Apostles’ Response (Acts 5:40–42)

By Pastor Ryan Kirchoff

Text: Acts 4:32-5:11

Main Point: God’s people are to walk both in the grace of caring for others and the appropriate fear of God.

Sermon Outline:

I. God’s presence brings grace

II. God’s presence brings judgment

III. Living in both grace and fear.

Text: Acts 4:23-31

Main Point: God empowers his people to boldly withstand every manner of opposition as they pursue him in prayer.

Sermon Outline:

I. Their Problem (Acts 4:21–24a)

II. Their Prayer (Acts 4:24b–30)

III. The Power of God (Acts 4:31)

Text: Acts 4:1-21

Main Idea: Spiritual authority flows from a person’s wholesale allegiance to Jesus Christ (and his revealed Word), not their “position of authority” in the religious community.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Conflict (Acts 4:1–4)

II. The Courtroom (Acts 4:5–12)

III. The Notable Contrast (Acts 4:13–22)

Text: Acts 3:1-26

Main Idea: Miraculous healings herald the present reign of Jesus Christ and point forward to his promised restoration of all things. And as a result, they beckon us to embrace Jesus in humble repentance and faith.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Miraculous Restoration… (Acts 3:1-10)

II. The Incriminating Explanation… (Acts 3:11-16)

III. The Astonishing Implication… (Acts 3:17-25)

IV. Conclusion

Text: Acts 2:41-47

Main Idea: The Holy Spirit gave birth to a radically new community marked by heartfelt generosity, not an informal association of religious individuals.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Fundamental Priorities of the Early Church (Acts 2:41-43)

II. The Radical Experience of the Early Church (Acts 2:44-47)

III. Three Challenges for Our Church Today