Porter Podcast

EASTER  2020

MOST IMPORTANT!

I Corinthians 15:1-10

The death and resurrection of Jesus is the most important belief of Christianity.

Christians believe the resurrection is a historical, verifiable event because... 

... the Old Testamentpoints to the death and resurrection of Jesus.  

... the empty graveis a proof of Jesus’ resurrection. 

... early witnesses testifiedof the resurrection.  

The death and resurrection of Jesus is the most important reality for human existence.

The death and resurrection of Jesus teach that personal sinscan be forgiven.

People can be liberated from sinful habits by the acceptanceand loveoffered through Jesus’ death and resurrection.         

The most important decisionis to believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

People can face death with confidencebecause of the death and resurrection of Jesus.          

Today’s Takeaway

1.  There is plenty of evidenceto believe in the resurrection.

2.  Personal transformationis possible through faith in the resurrection.

3.  Eternal lifeis determined by the Easter story.  

Free from Despair

Lamentations 3

Review

·     Hope in Christovercomes fear.

·     God is going to use this to spread the gospel

·     God is going to use this to develop us

·     Christians can overcome despair

Despair is the overwhelming sense that life is going nowhere. 

Lamentations

·     Laments of the prophet Jeremiah

·     The book of lamentations is a Hebrew work of Art.   It consists of 5 acrosticpoems.  

·     Israel is being punishedfor their sin.   They had endured violent deportations, their citywas destroyed and the center of their religionwas demolished.  

Jeremiah’s worldview

·     He believed God was in controlof all events. 

·     God often does things in a way that we would never choose.

2 Christian views of suffering

1. God is enough.

2.  God will turn tragedy into triumph.   

WHY GOD?

·     He is accomplishing His purposesin the world.

·     He is purifyingyour Heart.

·     He is preparing you for ministry.

RESPONDING TO HARDSHIP

Express your feelingsto God. 

Understand that God is bigger than the moment. 

Set your eyes on what you know God has done, not what He is doing that you cannot understand.

Remember that God’s greatest workis often accomplished in our darkest hours

Believe God works all things out for the good of those who love Him, even when it seems to take a while. 

1. Our joy should be determined by how much opportunity we have to show Jesus, not how easy our life on earth is.
2. God will reward those who faithfully serve Him in hard- ship.

Today's Takeaway:

_________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________

Don’t Waste Your Crisis

2 Corinthians 4:1-17

We are not immunefrom crisis.

Crisis moments are hard, but they give us the opportunity to share our faith.

Throughout history, God has allowed hardshipto further the spread of the gospel.

2 Corinthians 4

1. God is in control of our lives.

2. Trialscome even to godlypeople.

3. Our job is the same regardless of our circumstances.

4. At some point, trials end.

Practical Applications for Today

1. Pray for the sovereign God to bring relief.

2.  Use your opportunities to share the message and love your neighbor—volunteeras able.

3. PraiseGod, and honestly admit your fears.

4. Use this time to strengthen your family.

5. Remember, God has got this!

• A person may not be able to change his/her circum- stances.
• Fear will repeatedly find its way to the surface.

Series: New Horizons

Conversion

Acts 9:1-31

Some conversions are dramatic, and some are almost imperceptible.   

Every saved person has a life-changing moment.   

Acts 9 details the second-most influential dayin the history of Christianity.  

context   

After Stephen’s death, persecutionbreaks out against the church.   Believers scatter throughout the Roman empire, but this has a negative effect on Judaism—wherever the church is located, they are seeing Jews convertingto Christianity.   

the story

Whatever is done to the church is done directly to Jesus. 

Any time a person is converted, there are those who are skeptical.  

Following Christ does not insulate from hardships--it often accelerates them.

conversion lessons:

Salvation is by God’s initiative.  

All people are spiritually blindwithout Christ.  

o   Irreligiousblindness

o   Religiousblindness

God can save the worst of sinners. 

Conversion is a dual realization:I’m worsethan I ever dreamed, and He is more graciousthan I’d ever hoped.

  Every person who issaved in Christreceives a new purpose for Christ.

today’s takeaways

·      Your past does not disqualify you from God’s grace.

·      Your past does not disqualify you from future usefulness. 

Series:New Horizons

How the Gospel Spreads

Acts 8

1.  The church was convinced that evangelism is everyone’s job.       

Acts 8:1-4

                  Jesus included involvement in the Great Commission        into His initial call to follow Him.

                        Why is this so important?

§ the multiplicationfactor

§ the networkfactor

§ the gospelfactor

2. People shared the gospel where God had placed them.   

Acts 8:4

3. The church believed the gospel was powerful.

Acts 8:5-13

4. Peoplesaw the changethat the gospel was making.

Acts 8:14-25

         The gospel identifies our common problemand makes     us into a “new person.” This fact does not change our             former identities, but rather outweighs them.   

5. The church was obedientto God’s leading.

Acts 8:26-40

Today’s Takeaways

The gospel is the only thing powerful enough to change our world.

Where the gospel is received, joy will be present.

Not everyone who says “I believe in Christ” does.

All believers should be sharing of Christ.

Wherever God has you, that’s the right place to share.

Series: Bold

Stephen

Acts 6-8

 1 out of 8Christians are affected by the threat of physical persecution worldwide.                              www.opendooruse.org

Christians face persecution in more than 60 countries.  

US State Department

Most of us will never be asked, “Will you die for your faith?,” but we are all asked “Will you live for your faith?” 

 Stephen’s ministry                            Acts 6:1-8

Stephen’s role was to manage the benevolence ministryof the church, but he was also actively involved in sharing the gospelof Christ.  

Confrontation with the synagogue      Acts 6:9-15

His message                                      Acts 7:1-53

1) God is bigger than a placeor a religious system. 

2)  Israel has always resistedHis message and His messengers.   

3) He gave His lawto Israel, and they never obeyed it.   

His death                                                   Acts 7:54-60

Lessons for us:  

Humble serviceis valued in the kingdom’s economy. 

Nothing has more power to influence our world than our love on display through service. 

Everybodyshould serve somewhere

God saves His greatest work for ordinary people.

Balancinggrace and truth is difficult, but powerful. 

Truth without grace is fundamentalismand easy to dismiss; grace without truth is sentimentalityand has no power.  

Thecourse of our livesis designed for the glory of God.   

Stephen’s most effective contributionto the kingdom of God came through his martyrdom.

Those who behold the gospel and believe the gospel become likethe gospel.

Is Stephen’s story a Tragedy?

It is not a tragedy to give your life for the eternal Christ;          

it is a tragedy to live your life for things that do not matter. 

Series: BOLD

Barnabas/Ananias & Sapphira

Acts 4:32-Acts 5:11

The most effective opposition to the church comes from the inside.

a picture of grace         

Acts 4:32-37

·      Barnabas was a giver.

·      Barnabas saw potentialin people.

·     He was a good cheerleader.

·     He was willing totake a back seat.

·     He was a restorer.   

the pretenders       

Acts 5:1-14

God detests hypocrisyand demands honesty.

God knows the heartsof men. 

authenticity matters

1.    A person will never draw near to Godunless they are real.

2.    Not only are we judged by what we do, we will be judged for why we do. God will judge your motives. 

3.    Hypocrisy causes others to stumble. 

Two key elements of church health: 

sacrificeand transparency

Today’s Takeaways  

1.        Our actions impact the church.

2.        Authentic sacrificeis pleasing to God. 

3.        Hypocrisyis not to be tolerated in the kingdom.

4.        We must actively pursue consistency.

Series: BOLD

Peter and John

Acts 3 & 4

When we come to Chapters 3 and 4 in Acts, opposition to the gospelis growing.    As enemies of the gospel arise, the early church faces them with boldness.   

a miracle                

Acts 3:1-10

         God uses the miraculous to draw attention to the message of Jesus.  

a sermon               

Acts 3:11-26          

       The veracity of the resurrectionleads people to join the early believers. 

an inquisition

Acts 4:1-21

         People are open to conversations about God, but Jesus is thedividing line of humanity.

the response                               

Acts 4:22-31

Honestyand transparencywere vital to the early church. 

growing in boldness

    Have a personal relationshipwith Jesus.

    Acknowledge the possibility of opposition.

         In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.                                                       2 Timothy 3:12

    Be convinced of the gospel. 

    Balancetruthand grace. 

    Trust in the sovereignty of God.

    Live to please God, not men.