Ramsey Creek Baptist Church Sermons

A freshly converted and convinced Paul began boldly proclaiming this truth, and it made an impact - the devout Jews began to severely him and the converted Christians had trouble trusting him because of his past. But like him or hate him, Paul couldn’t be ignored. Similarly, the truth about Jesus can't be ignored either - it demands a response. Saul was still a very dangerous man, but now to a totally different group of people. Paul’s suffering started in the first place where he ever preached the Gospel. Thankfully, Barnabas took responsibility for Saul and vouched for him. The Church endured persecution and still had peace and multiplied - HOW? The way of peace and being built up is not looking within yourself, it’s looking outside of yourself to Jesus Christ. If God has saved you by grace through faith in His Son Jesus, make it a priority to participate in what He’s doing in His kingdom.

A freshly converted and convinced Paul began boldly proclaiming this truth, and it made an impact - the devout Jews began to severely him and the converted Christians had trouble trusting him because of his past. But like him or hate him, Paul couldn’t be ignored. Similarly, the truth about Jesus can't be ignored either - it demands a response. Saul was still a very dangerous man, but now to a totally different group of people. Paul’s suffering started in the first place where he ever preached the Gospel. Thankfully, Barnabas took responsibility for Saul and vouched for him. The Church endured persecution and still had peace and multiplied - HOW? The way of peace and being built up is not looking within yourself, it’s looking outside of yourself to Jesus Christ. If God has saved you by grace through faith in His Son Jesus, make it a priority to participate in what He’s doing in His kingdom.

Saul had passion, dedication, and enthusiasm, but for all the wrong things. Passion, dedication, and enthusiasm are only positive things if they’re in support of the right things. God never uses good and put-together people to do His work because those kind of people don’t exist. No one is good, no one seeks God – so God grabs hold of sinful and broken people, redeems them for His glory, and uses them to do His work. Jesus didn’t just save Saul from something, He also saved him for something. The response of those who’ve been transformed is submission to the Savior.

Saul had passion, dedication, and enthusiasm, but for all the wrong things. Passion, dedication, and enthusiasm are only positive things if they’re in support of the right things. God never uses good and put-together people to do His work because those kind of people don’t exist. No one is good, no one seeks God – so God grabs hold of sinful and broken people, redeems them for His glory, and uses them to do His work. Jesus didn’t just save Saul from something, He also saved him for something. The response of those who’ve been transformed is submission to the Savior.

Study the Scriptures often, study them well, and humble yourself by asking for help in understanding. A church on mission is a group of born-again individuals who know the Scriptures and are being led by the Spirit. o Do we know God’s Word? o Are we being led by His Spirit? The Spirit is at work through the Word (Isaiah 55:10-11, Deuteronomy 8:3, 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Christian/Church: when you go out and faithfully share the Word of God, you don’t have to wonder if it’s working. You know it is. God promised it. Philip didn’t minimize sin, the Savior, or what was necessary for this man to be saved and follow Jesus. He met him where he was in his understanding of Jesus, but he took him beyond it. He took him deeper in explaining the Good News to him. Knowing Jesus and being known by Jesus will result in us speaking about Him. Let your life and your words testify to the good news about Jesus. The Spirit – by the Word and using Philip – showed this man the Lamb. Revelation makes it crystal clear in joyful clarity that Jesus is the Lamb. **The song referenced at the end of the message is entitled "Watch the Lamb".

Study the Scriptures often, study them well, and humble yourself by asking for help in understanding. A church on mission is a group of born-again individuals who know the Scriptures and are being led by the Spirit. o Do we know God’s Word? o Are we being led by His Spirit? The Spirit is at work through the Word (Isaiah 55:10-11, Deuteronomy 8:3, 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Christian/Church: when you go out and faithfully share the Word of God, you don’t have to wonder if it’s working. You know it is. God promised it. Philip didn’t minimize sin, the Savior, or what was necessary for this man to be saved and follow Jesus. He met him where he was in his understanding of Jesus, but he took him beyond it. He took him deeper in explaining the Good News to him. Knowing Jesus and being known by Jesus will result in us speaking about Him. Let your life and your words testify to the good news about Jesus. The Spirit – by the Word and using Philip – showed this man the Lamb. Revelation makes it crystal clear in joyful clarity that Jesus is the Lamb. **The song referenced at the end of the message is entitled "Watch the Lamb".

The Spirit leads us to places and people we might not expect. The more we’re walking in step with the Spirit the more we’re ready to listen and follow. Luke’s cornerstone of Acts is the witness and glory of Jesus. It’s possible to go through the motions of Christianity and not be genuinely converted. It’s possible to a pretender but not a partaker. Am I so wrapped up in my schedule and my plans and my life that I’ve forgotten that I was bought with a price and I am not my own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)? When we follow in obedience, we’ll find out that God is already at work.

The Spirit leads us to places and people we might not expect. The more we’re walking in step with the Spirit the more we’re ready to listen and follow. Luke’s cornerstone of Acts is the witness and glory of Jesus. It’s possible to go through the motions of Christianity and not be genuinely converted. It’s possible to a pretender but not a partaker. Am I so wrapped up in my schedule and my plans and my life that I’ve forgotten that I was bought with a price and I am not my own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)? When we follow in obedience, we’ll find out that God is already at work.

In the book of Acts, Luke uses 6-7 slightly different phrases when describing the "gift of the Holy Spirit." Is this significant? Acts 1:8 sets the theme and tone for the book of Acts. God is doing something brand new in and through His people starting here after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus in regards to the Holy Spirit. He was giving His Spirit to His people in a different way. In Acts 2, 4, 8, 10, and 19 we see different patters and orders of elements like preaching, baptism, the giving of the Holy Spirit, etc. Discussion can be had, but we must notice from every text that the Spirit of God in a Christian’s life does something. - for some it comes with speaking in tongues (2:4; 10:46; 19:6) - the gift of prophecy (2:17; 19:6; 10:46) - an overflowing praise of God's greatness (2:11; 10:46) - obedience to the commands of God (5:32) - courage and boldness to witness (2:14–36; 9:17–22) - the working of various signs and wonders (6:8) Jesus promises that when the Spirit comes upon a believer (every believer), they will receive power not to speak in tongues or prophecy, but to effectively witness for Him. In Acts the testimony of Jesus is of utmost importance. How we live and witness to Christ matters, just like what we proclaim about Him matters. And the Spirit leads us to places and people that we might not expect.

In the book of Acts, Luke uses 6-7 slightly different phrases when describing the "gift of the Holy Spirit." Is this significant? Acts 1:8 sets the theme and tone for the book of Acts. God is doing something brand new in and through His people starting here after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus in regards to the Holy Spirit. He was giving His Spirit to His people in a different way. In Acts 2, 4, 8, 10, and 19 we see different patters and orders of elements like preaching, baptism, the giving of the Holy Spirit, etc. Discussion can be had, but we must notice from every text that the Spirit of God in a Christian’s life does something. - for some it comes with speaking in tongues (2:4; 10:46; 19:6) - the gift of prophecy (2:17; 19:6; 10:46) - an overflowing praise of God's greatness (2:11; 10:46) - obedience to the commands of God (5:32) - courage and boldness to witness (2:14–36; 9:17–22) - the working of various signs and wonders (6:8) Jesus promises that when the Spirit comes upon a believer (every believer), they will receive power not to speak in tongues or prophecy, but to effectively witness for Him. In Acts the testimony of Jesus is of utmost importance. How we live and witness to Christ matters, just like what we proclaim about Him matters. And the Spirit leads us to places and people that we might not expect.

In Samaria, the Gospel of Jesus was destroying the strongholds of the enemy. When considering verses 14-17 and the giving of the Spirit, we want to approach this text and topic with Scripture in our minds and the love of Christ in our hearts. Is everything that happens in Acts supposed to be mirrored in our churches today? (prescriptive vs descriptive). Example: the selection of church leaders in chapters 1, 6, and 14 - which is correct? The best commentary on Scripture is Scripture. Many passages and principles we find in Scripture help us understand, interpret, and apply other parts of Scripture. Scripture ought to inform the way we speak and how we live out what we believe.

In Samaria, the Gospel of Jesus was destroying the strongholds of the enemy. When considering verses 14-17 and the giving of the Spirit, we want to approach this text and topic with Scripture in our minds and the love of Christ in our hearts. Is everything that happens in Acts supposed to be mirrored in our churches today? (prescriptive vs descriptive). Example: the selection of church leaders in chapters 1, 6, and 14 - which is correct? The best commentary on Scripture is Scripture. Many passages and principles we find in Scripture help us understand, interpret, and apply other parts of Scripture. Scripture ought to inform the way we speak and how we live out what we believe.

The church might have been born in Jerusalem, but it won’t stay only there - God never intended for the Gospel message to stay in Jerusalem. It's moving outward and it's come to Samaria, confronting a man named Simon, a magician. But the Gospel effectively destroys the strongholds of the enemy, and it changes everything. Simon had built his life on receiving attention and glory, but Luke says he believed and was baptized. But was his conversion genuine? * James 2:19 | John 2:23-25 | Matthew 13 | John 6:64 | 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 | Matthew 7 Consider also the object of Simon’s faith. Is belief in signs and wonders the same thing as saving faith? In a way, it doesn’t matter if we ever figure out if Simon was genuinely saved or not. It doesn't matter in a way because God is King, He knows Simon’s heart. But it does matter to us in this way – God knows our heart, too. If the object of our faith is anything other than Jesus Christ, we have “believed in vain”.

The church might have been born in Jerusalem, but it won’t stay only there - God never intended for the Gospel message to stay in Jerusalem. It's moving outward and it's come to Samaria, confronting a man named Simon, a magician. But the Gospel effectively destroys the strongholds of the enemy, and it changes everything. Simon had built his life on receiving attention and glory, but Luke says he believed and was baptized. But was his conversion genuine? * James 2:19 | John 2:23-25 | Matthew 13 | John 6:64 | 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 | Matthew 7 Consider also the object of Simon’s faith. Is belief in signs and wonders the same thing as saving faith? In a way, it doesn’t matter if we ever figure out if Simon was genuinely saved or not. It doesn't matter in a way because God is King, He knows Simon’s heart. But it does matter to us in this way – God knows our heart, too. If the object of our faith is anything other than Jesus Christ, we have “believed in vain”.

Stephen prayed for forgiveness for those who were killing him. Because Stephen personally knew God’s grace and forgiveness through Jesus, he could give it to others. He submitted himself to the plan and purpose of God because he knew that God rules over all. Because of the persecution, the location of these early Christians changed, but their message didn’t. They asked, "Is Jesus worth it?" and their answer was a clear "Yes." The crowds paid attention to Philip's message because of the signs and wonders, but remember that they serve the purpose of pointing to the Savior. The message of the Gospel brings joy because it reconciles those who believe it to God.

Stephen prayed for forgiveness for those who were killing him. Because Stephen personally knew God’s grace and forgiveness through Jesus, he could give it to others. He submitted himself to the plan and purpose of God because he knew that God rules over all. Because of the persecution, the location of these early Christians changed, but their message didn’t. They asked, "Is Jesus worth it?" and their answer was a clear "Yes." The crowds paid attention to Philip's message because of the signs and wonders, but remember that they serve the purpose of pointing to the Savior. The message of the Gospel brings joy because it reconciles those who believe it to God.

“He has made glorious…Galilee”. As the new day of hope dawned, the first rays of light shone in Galilee. Isaiah foretells that the victory of this Child [v.4-5] will be as unusual and unlikely as the victory over Midian. Unlikely, yes - but it will come, and with it the end of all conflict. The reason this Child is born is so that He might become Immanuel, God with us. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Jesus took our place to give us His peace. Peace floods the soul when Christ rules the heart.

“He has made glorious…Galilee”. As the new day of hope dawned, the first rays of light shone in Galilee. Isaiah foretells that the victory of this Child [v.4-5] will be as unusual and unlikely as the victory over Midian. Unlikely, yes - but it will come, and with it the end of all conflict. The reason this Child is born is so that He might become Immanuel, God with us. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Jesus took our place to give us His peace. Peace floods the soul when Christ rules the heart.

Stephen is captured and called to testify before the Sanhedrin, preaching to them that God’s presence isn’t now or ever has been limited to any particular place. He proves it with Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, and Solomon. But like their forefathers before them, this council failed to respond in faith to God’s gracious invitation. Stephen angered them with his preaching that the law and the temple point to Jesus. The God of Israel isn't limited to their specific geographical spot in Jerusalem; He is the God of the whole world. Even with his last breaths, Stephen wasn’t thinking about himself. Like Jesus, he was more concerned with the eternity of those persecuting him because he knew his eternity was secure. Those who have been redeemed by Jesus, the Righteous One, rest in the Holy Spirit. As the only Righteous One, Jesus bears the iniquity (sin) of God’s people.

Stephen is captured and called to testify before the Sanhedrin, preaching to them that God’s presence isn’t now or ever has been limited to any particular place. He proves it with Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, and Solomon. But like their forefathers before them, this council failed to respond in faith to God’s gracious invitation. Stephen angered them with his preaching that the law and the temple point to Jesus. The God of Israel isn't limited to their specific geographical spot in Jerusalem; He is the God of the whole world. Even with his last breaths, Stephen wasn’t thinking about himself. Like Jesus, he was more concerned with the eternity of those persecuting him because he knew his eternity was secure. Those who have been redeemed by Jesus, the Righteous One, rest in the Holy Spirit. As the only Righteous One, Jesus bears the iniquity (sin) of God’s people.