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Introduction:

As the Lord allows, we will look at the last Chapter of Acts next Sunday morning! Following this, I will preach a summary of what we have learned in Acts on September 9^th. This will mark my 67^th sermon in this series.

As you prepare for these final two sermons, please read over Chapter Twenty-Eight prayerfully and carefully and think about the following statements and questions:

If God can save Paul, He can save anyone!

If God can get Paul safely to Rome, He can get any of His children wherever He wants them to serve!

Preaching the gospel is the means by which God saves the unsaved!

Preaching the gospel is always divisive and there will always be many who will reject it!

Although this sermon brings us to the end of The Book of Acts, it does not bring us to the end of the Church! The Church is still Body#2, and it is still our job to BE the Body of Christ in this present world!

Expository Questions:

How safe is the child of God while in the will of God and doing the work of God?

Since unsaved people cannot understand God, upon what do they base their sense of religious reality?

Since God had told Paul that he was going to go to Rome, is there any possibility of Paul not going to Rome?

If we prepare ourselves to share our testimony, how can we know that we will have an opportunity to share it with unsaved people?

Often, when we share the gospel, it does not do what we hope that it will do! So, why then should we take every opportunity to share it?

Last week we talked about the storms of life; what should a believer be doing during those happy and peaceful times between the storms of life?

I hope to see you Sunday with your Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your friends and family by your side!

Paul is going on this dangerous journey because Jesus loves him, has saved him, called him, and is sending him to the work that He has called him to do!

Paul is going on this dangerous journey because this is the way God chose to fulfill His plans for him. This is not the way Paul would have chosen to get to Rome; but, it is the way God had chosen to get him to Rome!

Here again we see the great mystery of divine sovereignty and human responsibility at work: God has determined that Paul is going to Rome, so there is no possibility of him not getting to Rome; but, there are many practical human actions that have to take place for Paul to safely arrive.

You and I have been through storms, you may be in a storm right now, and all of us certainly face more storms ahead. What we need to learn from these verses is this – God has decreed the length and events of our life, but we are still responsible to obey Him faithfully and trust Him to get us through whatever storm may come our way!

As I mentioned earlier… remember, sometimes those things which appear to be an obstacle to our accomplishing God’s will may be the very means by which we accomplish God’s will. As you read over, pray over, and think through these verses in preparation for the sermon on Sunday, think about these questions:

We all love and appreciate calm weather, but, does calm weather always mean that a storm is not just ahead?

What is the very best way to survive a storm? What impact does obeying the Word of God have on us as we go through the storms of life?

Believers are both commanded and called to care about and for unbelievers. What do you think is the best thing that we can do for someone who does not know Jesus?

Does the promise of God to take care of His people mean that we do not have any responsibility for our situation? Are there some practical things we can – and must do – to take care of ourselves?

Finally, do the promises of God mean that believers will never pay a great price for loving and serving Him? If this is true, how do you reconcile these two “seemingly” contradictory truths?

It has been a great joy (as always) to work through this great chapter of Acts and prepare this sermon for you. I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, a Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!!

As we continue our study of Acts, (and start down the “Home Stretch”) we see in these verses that God continues working out His will in Paul’s life! In the perfect will and divine providence of God, Paul is on his way to Rome.

All that God had called him to do is coming quickly to pass. Here he stands before King Herod Agrippa II, (Nephew of Herod Antipas who ordered the death of John the Baptist) and, a Great Grandson of Herod the Great. Herod Agrippa II died childless and was the last of the Herods to rule in Judea.

Exactly as before, when Paul is given a chance to plead his case he chooses instead to share his personal testimony of salvation! As you prepare to hear God’s Word on Sunday, please take the time to read over the passage and think about these questions:

What happens to a people when their political leaders are more interested in pleasing a specific group of people than they are about finding and supporting the truth?

How far will politicians go to please these “influential” people?

How did King Agrippa show his absolute disdain for Paul?

One of the most important things a Christian is called to do is to share the gospel with lost people. How does Paul’s witness to King Agrippa demonstrate the importance of beginning the conversation with facts the person already knows?

Paul perfectly demonstrates the three keys to an effective testimony. Do you remember what they are?

1. My __________  ____________ Jesus Christ…

2. How I __________  ____ __________ Jesus Christ…

3. The ________________________ that Jesus Christ makes in my life…

What is a common, and always hoped-for, result of sharing your testimony with a lost person?

Does that always guarantee that the lost person will accept the Lord?

Why do you think King Agrippa, and so many other lost people, walk away from opportunities to come to Jesus?

I appreciate your prayers for me and the church where I am leading a revival meeting! Please pray that the Lord will save lost people, add families to the church, fill me with His Spirit, and keep me safe as I drive back and forth!

As the Lord allows, I will be in my office at church on Thursday and Friday.

I hope to see you Sunday with your Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your family and friends by your side!

It is always amazing to see how the Lord works in my life!

Over the twenty-five years I have lived and ministered in Illinois, I have been blessed by the Lord to lead several revivals. I do not know the exact number, but I can identify at least 125 different churches in Illinois in which I have preached a revival or conference or taught a multi-session Bible Study. And several of those churches have had me lead meetings for them more than once.

About five or six years ago, due to some frustrations in my life and ministry, I stopped taking such meetings. Since that time, I have not done more than one or two revivals. A few weeks ago I was invited to do one night of a two-week revival at Summit Avenue Baptist Church in Decatur. It was a real joy for me to be there, and I was quite surprised by how much positive affirmation I received over the following days.

The Church I serve as pastor, First Baptist of Atwood, is very generous to me in allowing me time away to conduct these types of meetings. As I said earlier, I have not taken them up on that offer over the past six years; but they allow me to lead as many as four such meetings each year. As I thought about this, I prayed and promised the Lord that if He wanted me to preach more of these meetings, I would happily do so.

“Out of the blue” in the last month, two pastors called me and asked if I could come and do revivals for their churches. I am thankful that the Lord has opened these two doors of service to me and I accepted both offers.

As the Lord allows, this coming Sunday through Wednesday, I will be with Pastor Jeff Loper and the Clarksville Baptist Church in Clarksville, IL. On October 7^th through the 10^th, I will be – as the Lord allows – with Pastor John Troutman at the Wears Valley Baptist Church in Sevierville, TN.

I, and the churches, will deeply appreciate your prayers for safe travel and the anointing of God upon the services. Pete Hopkins, former IMB Missionary, and member of our church will be speaking for us this coming Sunday. I know he appreciates your prayers for him as well.

If the Lord opens doors for more revivals, I will continue to accept up to two meetings each Spring and Fall. Again, let me tell you how very much I appreciate your prayers for me, my family, “The Greatest Church on Earth” and, for my ministry!

Thank You, LORD, for the opportunities You give me to serve You and Your people!

I am willing to start meeting on either two Tuesday evenings, or two Thursday evenings per month (whichever the group prefers) with anyone who is willing to read through a book on Theology and spend an hour twice a month discussing it. We will likely meet from 7pm to 8pm.

This will require that you read about 20 pages per week and keep notes on your thoughts and questions about what you have read. When we meet, we will go over a basic outline of the material and then talk about your thoughts and questions. This will be fun and very informative. It will be a great way to learn basic theology and grow in your faith.

We will begin as soon as we have enough interested people to form the Group. We will not provide a meal and no child care will be available. If you are interested in being part of this Group, please let me know right away!

One of the most difficult crosses a Christian is called to bear is unjust suffering! There are few things that try our faith and test our trust in God more than being falsely accused and then suffering in spite of the fact that we are innocent of the charges against us.

It should not surprise us when this happens. Jesus warned us in John 15:20a “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…” A lost world that hated and crucified Jesus is not going to love – or even tolerate – those of us who follow Him.

Some of us may have already experienced some level of that in our life.

Many of our brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing that today. In the future, many of us – and certainly most of the next generation of Christ-followers – will experience levels of persecution in this Country that could not have been imagined fifty years ago.

As you read through and pray about these verses, think about the following questions:

1) Does changing Politicians always solve the problem of religious persecution?

2) How did unsaved religious people react of Jesus?

3) How did unsaved religious people react to Jesus in Paul’s day?

4) How do unsaved religious people react to those of us who follow Jesus in our day?

5) Why is it important for a culture to hold their leaders accountable to the law?

6) Should Christ-followers always merely suffer patiently, or is there an appropriate time for us to demand our legal rights?

7) What does the actions of Governor Festus in this passage tell us about whose interests our leaders really have at heart?

8) Do you think the future will bring more or less persecution  of Christ-followers in America?

Finally, regardless of who is leading our Nation – God is in charge! Think about the implications of His divine sovereignty in our life today and the life of our children and grandchildren in the future.

I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!

As the Lord allows, this coming Lord’s Day morning I will continue our series through The Book of Acts with a sermon covering the events of Paul’s hearing before Governor Felix. As I outlined for you last week, this is the next event in a series of seven key events that will culminate with his imprisonment and execution in Rome.

Jesus has repeatedly told Paul since the moment of his salvation that he would witness, “before the Gentiles and Kings and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15b) In these verses, Paul is allowed of God to share his personal testimony before the Roman Governor of Judea.

As you read, study, and pray over these verses in preparation for hearing the sermon on Sunday, I want to encourage you to think through six specific questions:

By what kind of means does God “normally” protect and provide for His people?

If God is all-powerful and completely good, (and He is!) why is it that He does not always deliver His people “out” of the very real storms they face in their lives? Cf. Jeremiah 29:11-14

Should a Christian defend their honor when they are unjustly accused, or should we just patiently suffer through it?

Should a Christian take “every” possible opportunity to share, or are there times we need to remain quiet?

When God’s people are faithful, God will always deliver them from persecution. Right?

When God uses our witness to bring sinners under great conviction, He will certainly use that conviction that to bring them to repentance and faith. Right?

These are very contemporary and vitally important issues! I believe that they are immediately and fully relevant to our daily living. I hope you will pray over and work through these verses and questions and come to worship next Sunday ready for God to work in your life!

I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!

We have come to an interesting place in our study of The Book of Acts. As we come to the final third of Chapter 22, we come to what can be called, “The Beginning of the End” of Paul’s life and ministry. After being attacked by the Jews in Jerusalem and taken into custody by the Romans, Paul (as a Roman Citizen) appeals to Caesar and begins his journey to Rome. This event and his appearance before the Jewish Council are followed by a series of six major events that make up the outline of the remaining six Chapters of Acts:

First, he is taken before Antonius Felix, the Roman Governor of Judea who ruled from 52 to 59 AD.

Second, during this time Paul appeals to Caesar, and begins his long and difficult journey to the Capital City of the civilized world.

Third, Felix leaves Paul bound over for the new Governor, Porcius Festus, who ruled Judea from 59 to 62 AD.

Fourth, Festus takes him before King Herod Agrippa II before sending him on his way to Rome.

Fifth, Paul is placed on a ship heading to Rome but encounters a great storm and is shipwrecked on the island of Malta.

Finally, in Acts Twenty Eight, Paul arrives in Rome where he is put under house arrest and begins his ministry there. Later he is transferred to the Mamertine Prison where he will be sentenced to death by beheading by Emperor Nero.

As the Lord leads, it is my present intention to take a sermon for each of these major events which will allow me to complete our study in Acts in a total of sixty-eight sermons! These are large “bites” of Scripture, so I may take one or two more sermons, but either way, we should complete this study by early to mid-October.

As you prepare to hear God’s Word on this coming Lord’s Day, let me give you some questions to contemplate that I will cover in the sermon:

How do you expect people to react when you share your personal testimony of salvation? What has your experience been?

Are you afraid to share your testimony? If you are, why is that so? Do you believe that God is able to protect and use you when you share?

If those in authority oppose us sharing our testimony, how should we react to them?

Can God use our trials and our failures for His glory and the good of those who hear us? Is Romans 8:28 applicable to those who share their testimony and face opposition?

Does opposition and suffering drive you toward God or away from Him? Do you believe that God becomes closer or more distant during these times?

Why do people oppose us when we try to share the facts about our salvation with them? How did they treat Jesus when He told them about salvation?

Should we fear people and do what they want; or, should we fear rather God and obey Him?

These are some deep and soul-searching questions! I pray that the Lord will use these verses to bless, challenge, and disciple us as we seek His will for our lives.

I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!

Over the years, I have had the great joy of hearing many great sermons! While some of them have not stuck in my mind, there have been a few that I have never forgotten and can almost quote verbatim:

In 1976, on the island of Guam, I heard Bruce Wring, who was the church planter and pastor of Harvest Baptist Church preach a message from Luke 23 that he called, “What is Essential for Salvation?” I thought about it over the years, tweaked it a bit, and preached it under the title “Dr. Luke’s Prescription for Life.”

While I was a student at Tennessee Temple University, I heard Dr. Lee Roberson preach a sermon he called, “One Saving Gospel, Only One!” While I have to confess that I do not remember most of that message, the title has stuck in my mind and I have shared that idea in several sermons and in my personal witnessing for years.

When I was serving as the Associational Missionary for Central Baptist Association, I often had the blessing of hearing our pastors preach. On a Wednesday night, I heard Pat Pajak preach a summary of the entire Song of Solomon in a single sermon! As dignified as I always try to be, I about jumped up out of my seat! (I did, in fact, stand up at the end of the sermon and began to applaud loudly. When I got “the looks” from the crowd, I simply told them, “I hope you appreciate what you are hearing here!)

It is likely true that the most profound series of sermons I have ever listened to is, “The Holiness of God” by Dr. R.C. Sproul. Dr. Sproul is one of my favorite Bible teachers and that series in particular has blessed – and continues to bless – my soul. I have the sermon, the series, and the book. On Father’s Day 2011, we gave out 100 of the books at our church!

If it is possible to say that a single sermon has done more for me than any other sermon ever, I would say that Dr. John Gerstner’s sermon on “Regeneration” would be that one sermon. I had been struggling for some time to settle (at least in my own mind) the Doctrines of Grace and just exactly how God saves sinners.

During that message, Dr. Gerstner said three words that opened all of the windows of heaven for me! He said, “regeneration precedes faith.” The instant I heard those words, I yelled, “Of course it does!” From that time to this, my fresh understanding and the clear teaching of Scripture on this subject has blessed me every time I think of it.

I have no illusions about asking a member of my church what I preached on one month ago. Usually, I cannot remember what I preached on one month ago – except that it was likely in The Book of Acts.

*Actually, one month ago this Sunday was VBS Family Day and I preached on, “Successful Parenting.”

Whether or not our members remember my sermons from week to week or even month to month, or, if they have a memorable sermon memorized from the past; there is one sermon that every Christian knows by heart, and that is their own personal testimony!

As the Lord allows, I will continue my verse-by-verse exposition of Acts next Sunday with a sermon from Acts 22:1-21 on the subject of Paul sharing his personal testimony. God inspired him to record his testimony three times in Acts. (9:1-9; 22:1-16; and 26:1-18)

You may not think that you know much about theology or any of the rules of homiletics, but, you know the most important thing in the world if you are a Christian – you know how to become a Christian! And since there is only one way to become a Christian, you know the only way anyone can be saved.

As you read over these twenty-one verses before Sunday in preparation for hearing the Word of God, think about these questions:

What two facts about your belief are vitally important for you to defend to those who ask you about your faith?

Paul spoke to the crowd in Hebrew. What does that choice of his teach us about the kind of words we need to use when we share our testimony with others?

Where did Paul start when he told his story? Where should you and I start when we begin telling people our story?

Paul took most of the time giving them some very important facts. What facts did he share, and how does what he did relate to what you and I must do?

How did Paul end his testimony? Obviously, his presentation of his salvation story is a great model for how we ought to share our story. What can we learn from how he ended his testimony?

When Paul was saved, what did he see?

When Paul was saved, what did God command him to do?

When Paul was saved, how did he react?

What does all of that have to do with how you and I live our lives?

Verse 16 is a controversial verse. If you are good with grammar, think about what Paul was to do that would, “wash away your sins.”

OK, so as you read these verses, think about three key lessons:

When we share our personal testimony, we need to start by telling people about our life _________ we met Jesus!

When we share our personal testimony, we need to tell people ________ we were saved!

When we share our personal testimony, we need to close by telling people how our life has ___________ since we were saved!

I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!

As we return to our series, “Understanding Acts: body #2 Takes Over!” we find Paul in the early part of the final stage of his life and ministry as he gets to Jerusalem and immediately begins to be attacked and falsely accused.

He had been warned several times and heard the prophecy of Agabus about what awaited him there. He would face five very serious difficulties in Jerusalem:

(1) false accusations

(2) people ganging up on him

(3) physical violence

(4) public humiliation

and, (5) rejection!

While many of us face these specific difficulties from time to time, very of us have or ever will face them as intensely as did Paul.

God allowed these difficulties to come into Paul’s life for many reasons including teaching us – through the preserved biblical record – how to deal with our difficulties as well.

As you prepare to hear this sermon next Lord’s Day, read over these verses and think about how these truths enabled Paul to deal with his difficulties and how they can enable us to better deal with ours…

Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:12-14; 1st Kings 8:54-57; 2nd Timothy 1:8-12; Romans 8:18; 2nd Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:7-10; Acts 22:24-29; and 25:9-12

As the Lord allows, I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side…