My 3/21/21 sermon wrapped up Crestview’s series on the book of Acts. Entitled Salvation Sent, this sermon dug into Acts 28. The big idea is that Jesus is building His church through a people living on mission. And, this sermon sought to encourage and exhort us to action in light of these truths. I hope it encourages you.
My 3/14/21AM sermon, Peculiar Providence (Acts 27), is now online. This sermon included a quick run through the narrative of Paul’s shipwreck on his way to Rome as a prisoner of the Roman Empire. I tried to connect this back to our own harrowing adventures on mission and how we are prone to some of the same questions Paul faced, like why is this taking so long, is God really with me through this, and does He realize the difficulty I’m facing. I hope this encourages you.
My 3/7/21 sermon, Persuading Others (Acts 25-26), wrapped up a section of Acts that found Paul defending himself before religious authorities, Roman governors, and provincial kings. All of this builds to Paul seeking to persuade King Agrippa to believe. And, my sermon dug into some considerations for persuading others, as we are witnesses to what Jesus has done in our lives. I hope it encourages you.
I don’t know how to put into words how grateful I am for Jared Wilson. Over the years, Jared has written books at an amazing pace. But, even more impressive is the content of these books, helping the church to think through issues, as well as ultimately driving us back to the good news which not only is the starting point for our faith but the continuing point for our growth and godliness.
His latest book, Gospel-Driven Ministry, is another book that delivers. When I first started digging into this book, I wondered how it would differ from other things I’ve read from Jared on ministry centered on the good news. But, this book does deliver and help the reader have a sense of what ministry–specifically pastoral ministry–looks like when Jesus is everything to you.
Some things that have stood out to me upon my first time through the book have been: helping pastors to root their identity in Jesus, encouraging pastors to be encountering God in worship as they study, prodding us to lead congregations not merely settle for what shakes down, and to pastor people through our preaching.
This book will certainly serve those who are called to some sort of full-time ministry. But, in a deeper way, it will help those who are curious about what pastors should be and do. In other words, church people will be helped by it. So, I encourage you to take advantage of this book. Take up and read Gospel-Driven Ministry by Jared C. Wilson.
My 2/21/21 sermon at Crestview, Determined Mission (Acts 21-22), is now online. This is the first of three sermons that will have Paul testifying and explaining his faith. And, in these chapters we see a good bit of determination from the apostle, to end up in Jerusalem, to try to serve his enemies, to be misjudged and use that to speak up for his beliefs, and finally to work to find a way forward. I hope this sermon encourages you.
My 2/14/21 sermon, Powerful Remembering (Acts 19-20), is now online. The sermon dug into Paul’s ministry in and around Ephesus in Acts 19-20. There were some amazing things happening in these chapters, which culminated in Paul exhorting the elders from Ephesus to lead a certain way. The sermon helped give some exhortation as to what we are encouraged to remember as we go about Gospel work, or living our lives on mission. I hope it encourages you.
My 2/7/21 sermon at Crestview Bible Church, Turning the World Upside Down (Acts 17-18), is now online. I grabbed that title from the charge brought against Paul and Silas in Thessalonica. And, so we got curious about how the Gospel works to turn the world upside down. And, over the two chapters, there are many ways to see this. I hope the sermon encourages you.
On 1/31/21, I was able to get a break from preaching and my friend Luke continued preaching our church’s series through the book of Acts. His sermon Jesus Guides His Church (Acts 16) is now online and gets at all the effects of what will come out of lives as Jesus guides His people on mission. It was encouraging for me to have the week off. Luke’s sermon helps us step into mission and really live.
Typically, church fights are good for nothing. Certainly, they wouldn’t be described as good. But, in Acts 15, the church comes together to make some important decisions and determinations. On 1/24/21, I preached a sermon entitled A Good Church Fight from Acts 15, which is online now. I hope the sermon not only encourages you, but helps you make progress as you seek to live and fellowship with others.
My 1/17/21 sermon at Crestview got us back into the book of Acts. The sermon, The Church Sends (Acts 13-14), dug into the church the propelled Saul and Barnabas on the 1st Missionary Journey.
This church in Antioch was a pretty amazing group of believers, devoted to worship and prayer, listening to the Holy Spirit, and sending workers out. It’s really a vision to which I hope every church would aspire. I hope the sermon encourages you.
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