“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way”

Pt. 5 (Confession and Assurance) of our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself.

Speaker: Samuel Wente

The Kingdom of Christ advances outside of Jerusalem, as Philip preaches Christ to Samaria. We see that the Gospel transcends earthly distinctions and destroys hostility, as Jew and Samaritan are made one in Christ. We also see the liberation from darkness to light that comes through Christ, and experience of freedom and joy through our assurance in Christ’s own righteousness.

Acts 8:5-8 "Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city."

Sermon: “Unification and Liberation in Christ”

Series: Acts: Christ’s Church Built

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way”

Pt. 4 (Reading of Scripture) of our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself.

Speaker: Samuel Wente

After Stephen’s death, Saul launches a large scale persecution against the Church in Jerusalem. Some Christians are imprisoned, others flee to Samaria and other Judean regions. We see that God is so sovereign, that efforts to silence the Gospel have worked to fuel its advance, and that the Church is built by means of the persecution brought against it.

Acts 8:1-4 "And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

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Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word."

Sermon: “Christ’s Peculiar Plan to Build His Church”

Series: Acts: Christ’s Church Built

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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As Stephen is put to death by stoning under the watch of the Jewish leaders, we see a magnificent display of the grace of God. Saul’s participation and approval shows the depth of his depravity, amplifying the lavishness of God’s grace in bringing him to repentance soon after. We also see the transformative power of God’s grace, to conform Saints to the image of Christ, as Stephen longs for the very mercy he has been given through Christ, to be given to his own persecutors.

Acts 7:57-60 "But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

Sermon: “The Church’s First Martyr”

Series: Acts: Christ’s Church Built

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way”

Pt. 3 (Confession of Faith) of our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself.

Speaker: Samuel Wente

Having preached Christ before the Sanhedrin, the Lord shows Stephen a vision of the glory of God in heaven. We see that it is Stephen’s view of the glory of the exalted Christ that enables him to willingly suffer for the Christ, because He sees that Christ is worthy of it. As Stephen sees Christ standing at the right hand of the Father, he sees the tremendous honor of suffering for Christ, as it glorifies Him, and how Christ is judging the Priests as the ruling and reigning Son of man, and serves as Stephen’s advocate to the Father.

Acts 7:54-56 "Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'"

Sermon: “The Glory of Christ

Series: Acts: Christ’s Church Built

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way”

Pt. 2 (Call to Worship) of our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself.

Speaker: Samuel Wente

“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way”

An introduction to our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself.

Speaker: Samuel Wente

As Stephen finishes his sermon, we see him present the final accusation, evidence, verdict, and covenant sentence against the Priests, as they are rebellious against God, unregenerate of heart, and resistant to the Holy Spirit. Therefore, they are considered guilty, and lawless before God, and will receive the covenant curse of God for their unbelief and idolatry. However, for all those in the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no curse, because He has swallowed up the curse of the law, and our sin against it, through His death on Calvary.

7:51-53 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

Sermon: “The Final Covenant Verdict”

Series: Acts: Christ’s Church Built

Speaker: Samuel Wente

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