Radiant Church Weekend Sermon

In this weekend sermon from Pastor Lee, we look at the background and calling of the single most influential person in the New Testament, outside of Jesus.

Scripture: Acts 26:1-18

God’s heartbeat for the life of young people is the very same as the dawn of creation

Paul’s manner of life was shaped early in life

Your patterns, perspectives, and passions form your manner of life

Paul’s parents helped establish footings and foundations in his life that would ultimately prepare him to encounter and serve God

Teach by example

Prioritize environments that shape faith

Raising “free range” kids trains them to be “deranged” adults

Sending is an intentional act of directing your children in the way they should go

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
“Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

The direction that we aim our children will become the aim of our children

The intentional modeling of Paul’s parents prepared his life to meet Jesus personally, and there, find his salvation and calling

In this sermon from our WIND + FIRE series, special guest Pastor Rick Renner from Russia delivers a powerful word on faith from the life of Paul. (Part 1/2)

In this sermon from our WIND + FIRE series, special guest Pastor Rick Renner from Russia delivers a powerful word on faith from the life of Paul. (Part 2/2)

In this sermon from our WIND + FIRE series, Lee Cummings returns to the pulpit with a powerful word out of Acts 20.

Acts 20:17-32 (ESV)
17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

When it comes to the Church Paul knows:
- What begins as pure can become tainted
- What starts powerfully can become weak
- What originates in heaven can get hijacked by hell
- What God builds through mans obedience and become corrupted and coopted because of rebellion and selfish ambition

Satan’s greatest tool is deception

Paul identifies three groups of people to pay attention to

Shepherds: those who have been called by Jesus to lead His Church

Wolves: false teachers or influencers, who present themselves as either sheep or shepherds but have a secret motive or ambition besides your maturity in Christ

The Flock: made up of both sheep and goats (Matthew 25)

True shepherds lay down their lives, while wolves have their own agenda

Shepherds are appointed by God and recognized by men, while wolves appoint themselves

Shepherds point and lead to Jesus, while wolves draw to themselves

Sheep know the voice of their shepherd

Sheep stick together and follow the shepherd

Goat ignore the voice of their shepherd

Goat are reckless and are driven by curiosity and their own personal appetites

Beware of anyone teaching you a doctrine or “new” perspective of the bible that has been formed on the anvil of culture and not in the forge of the Holy Spirits fire and attested to by those who’ve paid in martyrs blood throughout the ages of church history

Ours is a faith to be received – theirs is a faith to be deceived

In this sermon from our WIND + FIRE series, Jon Zondervan discusses revival in the Church and what it can and should look like today.


Acts‬ ‭19:8-20‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬)
“And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.”


REVIVAL — “An extraordinary move of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary Kingdom results” -Charles Finney

SO WHAT ARE THE TRUE MARKS OF REVIVAL?

A PERSON OR PEOPLE WHO RECOGNIZE THE NEED

‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:16‬ (‭NKJV‬‬)
“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.”


FAITHFUL PREACHING OF GOD’S WORD

‭‭Acts‬ ‭19:8-10‬ (‭NKJV‬‬)
“And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”


MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS

‭‭Acts‬ ‭19:11-16‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬)
“Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”


GENUINE REPENTANCE

‭‭Acts‬ ‭19:17-18‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬)
“This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.”

In this sermon from our WIND + FIRE series, Tim Matthews discusses idolatry and how we as believers can use humility to connect with those around us.


Acts 16:16-24 (NKJV)
“Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.”

Spiritual Warfare is Real

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NKJV)
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Not Everything Spiritual is Holy

Three General Types of Demonic Spirits
- Territorial
- Deceiving
- Vexing or Tormenting

Use Your Spiritual Weapons to Fight this Battle

II Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

1. Your Identity

I John 3:1-3 (NKJV)
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”


2. The Truth

Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)
“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ””

3. The Church

Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV)
“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Jon Zondervan continues our WIND + FIRE series with a sermon that breaks down spiritual warfare, the demonic, and spiritual weapons we can use to combat and protect against the demonic.

Acts 16:16-24 (NKJV)
“Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.”

Spiritual Warfare is Real

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NKJV)
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Not Everything Spiritual is Holy

Three General Types of Demonic Spirits
- Territorial
- Deceiving
- Vexing or Tormenting

Use Your Spiritual Weapons to Fight this Battle

II Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

1. Your Identity

I John 3:1-3 (NKJV)
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”


2. The Truth

Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)
“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ””

3. The Church

Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV)
“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Caleb Culver continues our WIND + FIRE series with a sermon talking about what God is doing on the earth today.

Acts 15:1-18 (NKJV)
“And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

16 ‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;

17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’

18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works.”

God is not a reactive God – He is always initiating – He is always moving FIRST and the enemy is counteracting

God reestablishes the spiritual rebuilding of David’s tabernacle that has been demolished

God wants to dwell with people, but humans wants separation

He won’t be handled, restrained, or controlled – but He will be hosted by people who want Him

David was a man after God’s own heart, and God’s heart was to dwell with man

Worshipping warriors are formed in David’s tent

You will pass on no greater legacy to your children than your worship and prayer life

Why a tent? It’s global
Why a Tent? It’s evangelistic
Why a Tent? Because God’s presence can’t wait

Every home an altar – every church a house of prayer

In this sermon from our WIND + FIRE series, Jon Zondervan teaches on the Church in Antioch and reveals how we can position our lives to be sent by God and live out the Great Commission.

Acts 13:1-12 (ESV)
"Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord."

5 Attributes of the Church in Antioch:

1. They were united around the word of God

2. They were focused on the glory of God

3. They postured themselves to hear the voice of God

4. They were obedient to the direction of God

5. They were empowered by the spirit of God

Following Jesus was never supposed to be easy, but it’s always worth it

In this sermon from our WIND + FIRE series, Garrett Prechtl shares about the Church of Antioch and our role as Jesus’ disciples to go and make more disciples.

Acts 11:19-30 (ESV)
“Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. 27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.”

You don’t get the Holy Spirit because you are good – you get the Holy Spirit because He is good

Instead of professionals, places, and programs – at Antioch what we find are “some people”

The Church of Antioch was a church where the disciples were making disciples

“In no other way can the believer become as fully involved with God’s work, especially the work of world evangelism, as in intercessory prayer” - Dick Eastman

Like a dandelion fills fields with more dandelions, so disciples of Jesus are to fill the earth with more disciples of Jesus