The Acts of the Spirit

The Book of Acts is written as a theological history of what Jesus is continuing to do and teach through the Holy Spirit in the Church to work out the kingdom of God in this world. Acts is concerned not just with geographical expansion but with the varied demands of cross-cultural communication of the gospel. 

Acts is showing what it means (and doesn’t mean) to say that the crucified and risen Jesus is now installed as the world’s rightful Lord. It doesn’t mean a political and military takeover; in fact, Jesus’s followers routinely suffer persecution and death. It does mean that Jesus’s sovereignty is challenging the world’s rulers and authorities; not with force, but with a mixture of love and clear thinking and speaking. 

Acts is also showing how a new power, the breath of God’s spirit, is unleashed through Jesus’s followers to transform human lives and communities; creating the Jesus-believers as a world-wide family across traditional boundaries and renewing individual lives. 

Sermons in this series

The Stoning
September 24, 2023Pastor:Jeff Schultz

Sermon Notes

Even as Stephen is being killed for being a faithful witness of Jesus, he prays for the people killing him. What enables Stephen to respond in such a Christ-like way? What do we learn from him that helps us when we’re tempted to strike back or get even? Join us as we look at “The Stoning” in Acts 7:54-8:1a.

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The Speech
September 17, 2023Pastor:Joey Woestman

Sermon Notes

He’s been accused of rejecting the Law, disparaging the Temple, and blaspheming Moses—and God. Now is his chance to defend himself, but Stephen doesn’t. Instead, he goes on offense, telling the story of Israel to show how those in charge keep missing God’s work in the world. What does that have to do with us? Join us for “The Speech” from Acts 7:1-53 and find out!

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The Accusation
September 10, 2023Pastor:Jeff Schultz

Sermon Notes

Stephen, one of the seven chosen to meet needs in the church, faithfully serves, heals, and shares the good news of Jesus with others. Instead of blessings and recognition, Stephen’s “reward” is hostility, arrest, and slander. What does Stephen’s experience teach us about what it means to follow Jesus? Join us as we look at “The Accusation” from Acts 6:8-15.

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The Tables
September 3, 2023Pastor:Jeff Schultz

Sermon Notes

Jesus’ new community has faced threats from persecution and corruption. Now they’re challenged by the potential for division through distraction and disunity. What does their response say to us about the new kind of community God shapes by his Spirit? Join us as we look at “The Tables” from Acts 6:1-7.

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The Rescue
August 27th, 2023Pastor:Joey Woestman

Sermon Notes

From conflict inside the church Luke takes us to conflict outside the church, in the form of an arrest, trial, and beating of the church’s leaders by the religious authorities. Desperate to stop the Jesus-movement, they inadvertently embolden the apostles, who are thrilled that they get to suffer for the name of Jesus. What about us? Are we willing to suffer for Jesus? Join us for “The Rescue” from Acts 5:12-14, and we’ll ask ourselves what we’re willing to sacrifice for the name of Jesus.

 

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The Field
August 20, 2023Pastor:Joey Woestman

Sermon Notes

As the early church begins to grow, some leaders are appointed because of their character and qualifications, while others try to buy their way in to leadership. But this new Jesus-movement has no room for manipulation and false piety. In this sermon, we’ll dig into Acts 4:32-5:11, the famous story of “The Field,” and consider what this story says about our church, today.

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The Prayer
August 13, 2023Pastor:Joey Woestman

Sermon Notes

After being explicitly told not to preach about new life in the name of Jesus, the early followers of Jesus gather to pray—not to pray for persecution to stop, but to pray that they would be bold to proclaim Jesus in the face of opposition. Do we want that same boldness? Join us for “The Prayer” from Acts 4:23-31 as we learn what this prayer has to teach us today!

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The Council
July 30, 2023Pastor:Jeff Schultz

Sermon Notes

A good deed done in Jesus’ name leads to a message about Jesus being the promised Savior. Why does all this seem threatening to the authorities? What happens when the power and the message of the gospel clash with unbelief? And what does that have to do with us? Join us as we look at “The Council” from Acts 4:1-22.

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The Call
July 23, 2023Pastor:Tom Macy

Sermon Notes

What are the essentials of what came to be called Christianity? Following the healing of a beggar at the temple gate who was “lame form birth,” Peter addressed the gathering crowd with not only Gospel essentials, but by building a case that who Jesus is and what Jesus did is the fulfillment of the entire Jewish Scriptures. Illustrating from Abraham, Moses, Samuel, and “all the prophets” Peter declared that God’s plan of blessing for Israel and the future hope for “all the families of the earth” is centered on Jesus through his death and resurrection. Read all of Acts 3 in preparation for this message from Acts 3:11-26, The Call.

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The Beggar
June 16, 2023Pastor:Joey Woestman

Sermon Notes

Will wonders never cease? It seems that way, as we watch the Peter who preached in the power of the Spirit now heal in the name of the Son. The good news that the Kingdom of God has come in Jesus the Messiah is authenticated in a miraculous healing, a healing that not only restores physical health, but spiritual health as well. Join us for “The Beggar” from Acts 3:1-10!

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The Community
July 9, 2023Pastor:Jeff Schultz

Sermon Notes

Peter preaches the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and forgiveness, and 3,000 people come to faith – now what? What do these people do together? What defines the faith community they create? And what does that mean for how we “do” church? Join us as we look at “The Community” from Acts 2:42-47.

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The Response
June 2, 2023Pastor:Jeff Schultz

Sermon Notes

Have you ever had a sudden revelation, a change of perspective that shifted everything you thought you knew? The worshipers in Jerusalem realize they’ve gotten everything about Jesus wrong – now what? What difference does it make when we see Jesus for who he really is? Join us for “The Response” from Acts 2:36-41.

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The Sermon
June 25, 2023Pastor:Joey Woestman

Sermon Notes

With a rushing wind and tongues of fire proving that God now dwells with his people, that heaven meets earth in the brand-new church, Peter stands up to address the world-wide crowd of Jews attracted by the noise. This is how the kingdom of God begins, with the first sermon of the first church. Join us for “The Sermon” from Acts 2:14-36!

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The Power
June 18, 2023Pastor:Joey Woestman

Sermon Notes

And now the action begins! The apostles, with their number newly refilled, are anxious to start the mission of the kingdom of God. But they can’t do this on their own. As Jesus promised, they need power—and now the power comes, and the results are astonishing. Join us for “The Tongues” from Acts 2:1-13!

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The Twelve
June 11, 2023Pastor:Joey Woestman

Sermon Notes

What a story! But why is it in our Bibles? Just for the shock value of what happened to Judas? Or is there more to the story? Join us for “The Twelve” from Acts 1:12-26, as we explore the connection this story has with Israel in the past and the kingdom of God in the future!

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The Kingdom
June 4, 2023Pastor:Jeff Schultz

Sermon Notes

If Acts is the continuation of Jesus’ work, that means his earthly ministry was not just a prelude to the cross, but was the pattern for his rule – graciously healing, restoring, and saving as a preview of Jesus’ ultimate victory over sin and evil. In this sermon we look at “The Kingdom” from Acts 1:6-11.

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The Introduction
May 28, 2023Pastor:Joey Woestman

Sermon Notes

This series is our study of the origin story of the church—the book of Acts! In this series we are exploring how the gospel spreads throughout the ancient world, and how it continues to spread around our world today. The whole time, we’ll keep asking ourselves this one question: who and where is the gospel sending me today?

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