The New Family: God's Restored People (Part 2)

July 20, 2025

Acts 2:41-47 — Jesus Himself brought about the restoration of God’s people. His death and resurrection inaugurated God’s Kingdom and established the new family, God’s restored people. This community of the new covenant receives the new-covenant blessings of the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit. His sending of the Holy Spirit is the means by which the Lord Jesus brings about this restored people. The Spirit moves the believers from their old community, separating them from the world, and transforms them into the new family of God’s people, who are still living in the world but are no longer of the world. These verses describe the four characteristics of this new community that distinguish it as the Body of Christ and are the keys to growth and witness. This new family devotes itself to the teaching of the apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. This is a loving community that expresses its love and fellowship through giving and sharing with those in need. Living as God’s family in the world, they are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, who declare the praises of God and win the favor of people who see their good deeds and glorify God.

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

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The New Family: God's Restored People (Part 1)

July 13, 2025

Acts 2:41-47 — Jesus Himself brought about the restoration of God’s people. His death and resurrection inaugurated God’s Kingdom and established the new family, God’s restored people. This community of the new covenant receives the new-covenant blessings of the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit. His sending of the Holy Spirit is the means by which the Lord Jesus brings about this restored people. The Spirit moves the believers from their old community, separating them from the world, and transforms them into the new family of God’s people, who are still living in the world but are no longer of the world. These verses describe the four characteristics of this new community that distinguish it as the Body of Christ and are the keys to growth and witness. This new family devotes itself to the teaching of the apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. This is a loving community that expresses its love and fellowship through giving and sharing with those in need. Living as God’s family in the world, they are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, who declare the praises of God and win the favor of people who see their good deeds and glorify God.

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

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God’s Rescue Plan

July 6, 2025

Acts 2:36-42 — This world and generation, all of us, need to be saved desperately from the everlasting destruction of God’s judgment. “Be saved from this corrupt generation.”Only Jesus, the Lord and Christ, can save us. To be saved, we must call on the Name of the Lord. How? Repent and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. We repent by turning away from our old way of life and turning toward God. When we are baptized, we confess Jesus as Lord, identify ourselves with the death and resurrection of Jesus, and declare publicly that we die to self and follow Jesus. We then receive the gifts of salvation, namely, the forgiveness of our sins and the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives us the new kingdom life and the power to live that life. Repenting and being baptized, we now join the fellowship of the new community, the body of Christ, the Church. We have become part of Jesus’ Kingdom movement.

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

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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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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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