QBC Weekly Sermons

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you[b] are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”  Acts 3:1-10

Central Idea: The risen Jesus heals the broken and makes them living witnesses to His power.

I. Jesus meets the broken through His faithful people (vv. 1–5)

II. Jesus makes the broken whole (vv. 6–8)

III. Jesus mobilizes the healed as witnesses (vv. 8–10)

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.  Acts 2:42-47

Central Idea: A church deliberately devoted to the Word and one another

becomes a caring community and a glorious witness.

I. A Devoted Community (vv. 42–43)

II. A Caring Community (vv. 44–45)

III. A Glorious Community (vv. 46–47)

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.  Acts 2:22-41

Central Idea: This Jesus, rejected by men, was raised and exalted by the

Father, making forgiveness of sins accessible to all who repent and

believe.

I. Rejection Inexcusable (v. 22-23)

II. Resurrection Inevitable (v. 24-31)

III. Exaltation Undeniable (v.32-36)

IV. Salvation Accessible (v. 37-41)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17

“‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

18

Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

19

I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke.

20

The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

21

And everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Acts 2:1-21

Central Idea: The Spirit empowers believers to declare God’s mighty works and invite others to call on the Lord for salvation.

I. The Spirit Empowers (vv. 1-4)

II. The Witnesses Declare (vv. 5-13)

III. The Word Answers (vv. 14-21)

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 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. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “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. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (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. 19 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.) 20 “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.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 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.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.  Acts 1:12-26

Central Idea: Fruitfulness in Jesus’ mission begins with a prepared

church: united in prayer, clear in understanding of Scripture, and decisive

in action.

I. United in Our Prayer (vv. 12-14)

II. Clear in Our Understanding (vv. 15-22)

III. Decisive in Our Action (vv. 23-26)

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  Acts 1:6-11

Central Idea: The risen Jesus calls and sends his people to be hiswitne sses throughout the world until his return.

I. What the Mission Is Not (vv. 6-7)

II. What the Mission Is (v. 8)

III. How the Mission Ends (vv. 9-11)

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 1:1-5

Central Idea: Because Jesus’ resurrection is certain and his Spirit is

present, his work continues today through you, his church.

I. The continuation of Jesus’ work (vv. 1-2)

II. The certainty of the resurrection (v. 3)

III. The promise of the Holy Spirit (vv. 4-5)

IV. Applying Acts to the local church

1

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

3

They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them.

4

Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

5

It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6

It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is deprived of its warmth.

7

The law of the Lord is perfect,

refreshing the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

8

The precepts of the Lord are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

9

The fear of the Lord is pure,

enduring forever.

The decrees of the Lord are firm,

and all of them are righteous.

10

They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the honeycomb.

11

By them your servant is warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

12

But who can discern their own errors?

Forgive my hidden faults.

13

Keep your servant also from willful sins;

may they not rule over me.

Then I will be blameless,

innocent of great transgression.

14

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19

Central Idea: General revelation informs us that God exists; special revelation tells us who he is and transforms how we live.

I. Creation is God’s general revelation (vv. 1-6)

II. The Word is God’s special revelation (vv. 7-11)

III. Special revelation produces transformation (vv. 12-14)

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:1-17

25

To the faithful you show yourself faithful,

to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

26

to the pure you show yourself pure,

but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.

27

You save the humble

but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

28

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;

my God turns my darkness into light.

29

With your help I can advance against a troop[e];

with my God I can scale a wall.

30

As for God, his way is perfect:

The Lord’s word is flawless;

he shields all who take refuge in him.

31

For who is God besides the Lord?

And who is the Rock except our God?

32

It is God who arms me with strength

and keeps my way secure.

33

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;

he causes me to stand on the heights.

34

He trains my hands for battle;

my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35

You make your saving help my shield,

and your right hand sustains me;

your help has made me great.

36

You provide a broad path for my feet,

so that my ankles do not give way.

37

I pursued my enemies and overtook them;

I did not turn back till they were destroyed.

38

I crushed them so that they could not rise;

they fell beneath my feet.

39

You armed me with strength for battle;

you humbled my adversaries before me.

40

You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,

and I destroyed my foes.

41

They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—

to the Lord, but he did not answer.

42

I beat them as fine as windblown dust;

I trampled them[f] like mud in the streets.

43

You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;

you have made me the head of nations.

People I did not know now serve me,

44

foreigners cower before me;

as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.

45

They all lose heart;

they come trembling from their strongholds.

46

The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!

Exalted be God my Savior!

47

He is the God who avenges me,

who subdues nations under me,

48

who saves me from my enemies.

You exalted me above my foes;

from a violent man you rescued me.

49

Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

I will sing the praises of your name.

50

He gives his king great victories;

he shows unfailing love to his anointed,

to David and to his descendants forever.

Psalm 18:25-50

Central Idea: Because God deals consistently with the faithful, he equips us for battle and delivers us to praise him publicly.

I. Trust Him for his consistent power (vv. 25-30)

II. Rely on Him for his equipping power (vv. 31-42)

III. Praise Him for his delivering power (vv. 43-50)