Jesus is Lord and Christ

June 29, 2025

Acts 2:22-36 — Jesus is Lord and Messiah (the Christ). He came into this world, and even though God showed (attested) Him to be truly the Son of God and Lord through wonders and signs, many did not believe. He was crucified by evil and the wickedness of humans. However, this was all part of God’s purpose and plan to save the world. He raised Jesus from the dead and exalted Him to rule as Lord at the Father’s right hand. His resurrection proves that He is the Son of God, Lord, and Messiah. This is the gospel message of the Church. We are witnesses of Jesus the Christ and Lord, and we must proclaim this gospel message to everyone everywhere.

This is part of our sermon series, We Are Acts 29, which explores the Book of Acts.

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Acts, Luke-Acts, Mission, Church, Witness, Holy SpiritPieter TheronTag 01, Tag 02
Call on the Name of the Lord

June 22, 2025

Acts 2:14-21 — “What does this mean?” What does Pentecost mean? Peter’s sermon explains that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of God’s prophecy and promise in Joel 2:28-32. The last days have arrived with the first coming of Jesus, and the evidence of this was the outpouring of the Spirit as promised and prophesied in the Old Testament. Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus. The risen and exalted Jesus is the Lord who poured out the Holy Spirit. The last days are here because in Jesus, salvation and the new creation have already begun. All who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved. Jesus is the Lord and the Christ, the Messiah, as is evidenced by the fulfillment of God’s promises, the last days, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit changed everything and is bringing about something new. The Spirit empowers God’s people for God’s mission.

This is part of our sermon series, We Are Acts 29, which explores the Book of Acts.

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Acts, Luke-Acts, Mission, Church, Witness, Holy SpiritPieter TheronTag 01, Tag 02
God’s Power for God’s Mission

May 25, 2025

Acts 2:1-13 — Without the Holy Spirit, Christian discipleship, Christian missions, and the Church would be inconceivable, even impossible. The events of Pentecost show us again the only, true living God in action, saving the world and restoring His kingdom rule. God the Holy Spirit directs and empowers His mission. Here at Pentecost, God is starting the Christian Church. He empowers a multicultural, multinational church to praise and proclaim the mighty works of God to all nations. Christianity and the Church are not about what we are doing, but always about what God is doing through His Church in the world. The Church’s message is all about what Jesus Christ has done, is doing, and will do. Are we quenching the Spirit, or are we perpetually filled with the Spirit?

This is part of our sermon series, We Are Acts 29, which explores the Book of Acts.

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Acts, Luke-Acts, Mission, Church, Witness, Holy SpiritPieter TheronTag 01, Tag 02
Believe and Pray Expectantly

May 18, 2025

Acts 1:12-2:1 — Do we long for the infilling and power of the Holy Spirit? Do we believe that we can also experience the fullness of the Spirit? Or do we believe it is possible for others but not for us? As followers of Jesus, we are called to be people of worship and prayer. Through worship and prayer, we set our sails to catch the wind of the Holy Spirit, and so it is through worship and prayer that the Holy Spirit empowers us. We should have the same attitude as the first believers while they waited for the Spirit. Their attitude was one of expectancy. They had expectant belief, devoted themselves to expectant prayer, all together in unity, one in heart and mind. We should believe that Jesus fulfills his promise to send the Spirit, no doubt, no wavering. Believe and pray expectantly, and our Father in heaven will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him (Lk 11:13).

This is part of our sermon series, We Are Acts 29, which explores the Book of Acts.

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Acts, Luke-Acts, Mission, Church, Witness, Holy SpiritPieter TheronTag 01, Tag 02
Spirit-Empowered Kingdom Mission

May 4, 2025

Acts 1:1-11 — The risen and ascended Jesus Christ now rules as King and Lord of the whole universe. We are his witnesses in this world. Our mission is to proclaim the good news that God’s Kingdom has come and is being fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Our mission extends to the ends of the earth. We can do this mission only in the power of the Holy Spirit. The consummation of the kingdom will eventually come when our Lord returns, but the Spirit is given now so that we can prepare for the kingdom’s coming by evangelizing the nations and making disciples of all peoples.

This is part of our sermon series, We Are Acts 29, which explores the Book of Acts.

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Acts, Luke-Acts, Mission, Church, Witness, Holy SpiritPieter TheronTag 01, Tag 02
“You Will Be My Witnesses”

April 27, 2025

Acts 1:1-11 — This begins our new series on the book of Acts. It will explore the themes: What is Christianity? What is the Christian Church? What is Christian? What is the mission of the church and every believer? The book of Acts is about the acts of the risen Christ through the Holy Spirit working through the Church. Christianity is not a philosophy, ideology, or moral teachings. Christianity is about this person, the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to earth, lived, was crucified, died, was resurrected from the dead, and ascended to heaven where He now rules at the right hand of God the Father. This person, Jesus Christ, continues his kingdom work from heaven through the Holy Spirit, who empowers his followers to be his witnesses. Christian is the name of Jesus’ followers. They are his witnesses, proclaiming Jesus Christ and his resurrection, preaching the gospel of his kingdom in word and deed wherever they are, live, and go. Acts 28 is not the end, but it’s open-ended because Jesus Christ continues to act through the Spirit through his church in the world. Acts 29 has been happening during the last 2,000 years, and Acts 29 is still being written now as our Lord continues to act through his Church, the Christians who carry his Name and are his witnesses to the ends of the earth. Thus, we are the Acts 29 family. Being Christian, being followers of Jesus, and being his witnesses, that is our DNA.

This is part of our sermon series, We Are Acts 29, which explores the Book of Acts.

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Acts, Luke-Acts, Mission, Church, Witness, Holy SpiritPieter TheronTag 01, Tag 02
God’s Grace & Mercy

April 20, 2025

Ephesians 1:3-10; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:3-9 — By God’s grace and through His mercy, we have been saved. Grace is a gift, and it is by His mercy that we receive it. We receive this gift from God through faith. Grace is a gift from God, who forgets our wrongs and loves us as though we never sinned. Grace is His love toward us while we are still sinners. God’s grace is his goodness and kindness toward those who deserve only punishment. His love for us is always unmerited and undeserved. We can do nothing to earn grace. It is always a gift that’s freely given. God’s mercy describes his compassionate forgiveness and kindness toward the miserable and afflicted and his desire to help them. Mercy is when punishment is not given to us when we deserve it. We all are sinners and therefore, deserving of judgment. We need both grace and mercy to have new life and be with God forever. God’s grace is His love toward us while we were still sinners, and His mercy is the gift of heaven to us forever, when our sin would send us to hell. In Jesus Christ, grace and mercy came and work together to save us. He is the physical revelation of God’s grace and mercy. Our response to God’s grace and mercy should be joy, thanksgiving, holy living, and to be merciful to others as our Father is merciful.

This is part of the 40 Days of Prayer Series 2025, which is based on the Christian & Missionary Alliance’s annual 40 Days of Prayer Series. However, our church decided to do this during the Lent season instead of at the beginning of the year.

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Attributes of GodPieter TheronTag 01, Tag 02