"Why Repent?" - Acts 3:11-26 - Nathan Edwards

"Why Repent?" - Acts 3:11-26 - Nathan Edwards

Repentance is not defeat; it's what prevents it. Outline: Why we must turn to Jesus 1. To realize the wrongness of our way (3:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRa6j2O0WGs&t=191s]-17) 2. To receive perfect forgiveness (3:18 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRa6j2O0WGs&t=198s]-21) 3. To recognize Jesus is Lord (3:22 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRa6j2O0WGs&t=202s]-26) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Why do you think so many have a negative picture of repentance? 2. Think back to conversations from your previous week. Describe one where it might have been possible to turn the conversation to the gospel. How might you have done it? 3. Peter describes Jesus as the glorified servant, the Holy One, the Righteous One, the Author of Life, the prophet after Moses, the promised offspring of Abraham. Which of these titles speaks loudest to you today? How can we use the titles of Jesus to strengthen our faith? 4. Peter removes ignorance of the people’s sin. Does ignorance remove the guilt of our sin? Why or why not? 5. Read Isaiah 53:4-6: How does seeing the cross work to remove the ignorance of your sin? If willing to share, how has the cross exposed your need for repentance? 6. Describe in your own words what it means that your sins are blotted out. Read Colossians 2:13 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRa6j2O0WGs&t=133s]-14: How does the cross assure you of your forgiveness when you don’t feel forgivable? 7. Why is repentance incomplete when it does not turn to Jesus as Lord? Personal reflection: Think of a specific sin struggle – what does giving the keys to Jesus look like here?

"What We Have" - Acts 3:1-10 - Nathan Edwards

When we use what we have in the gospel we can face any problem. What do we have in the gospel? We have the eyes of Jesus (3:1-5) We have the abundance of Jesus (v. 6) We have the life of Jesus (v. 7-10) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. What was something encouraging you received from the sermon? 2. Read Matthew 6:26 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDFldb-L8EY&t=386s], what are times where you struggle to believe God sees you as very valuable? How can you bring the truth that God sees you as worth very much against the times where you feel worthless? 3. What are some ways you see the world creating blindness/disregard for people who are different from you? How might you have created a bubble for yourself that keeps you from seeing certain people (and who are those people)? 4. Consider someone you avoid seeing: a difficult neighbor, a strange coworker, the uncool kid, a panhandler, a person who wronged you, the most opposite person to you politically. What is something you can do to move toward seeing that person as Jesus does? 5. How does thinking only in terms of material resources cause us to undervalue Jesus in our lives and limit us in our compassion to others? 6. How have you experienced that having Jesus is having everything you need? 7. How is the lame man’s physical healing a picture of what the gospel does to all of us spiritually? Which healing do you think is a greater work of God? Share why.

"What is a Spirit-Filled Church" - Acts 2:42-47 - Nathan Edwards

Are you Spirit-filled or Self-filled? Three traits of the Spirit-filled church: 1. Love of the Lord (Acts 2:42 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3ClZZLgEgQ&t=162s]) 2. Love for one another (2:44 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3ClZZLgEgQ&t=164s]-46) 3. Love for the lost (2:43 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3ClZZLgEgQ&t=163s], 47) Questions for Personal Reflection 1. What was something encouraging you received from the sermon? 2. What are some ways you have seen a self-filled spirit in the church today? What have been some of its fruit? 3. The first church was devoted to the teaching and the fellowship. At Renew we call this Save Sunday. What are some challenges you face in saving Sunday for church? How have (or can) you make church a priority over other claims for your Sundays? 4. The generosity in the early church involved both sharing of needs and sharing of resources. Which of these two aspects of generosity is most challenging for you? Can you share a testimony of how your faith has been strengthened as you grew in need sharing or resource sharing? 5. Read 2 Corinthians 8:9: How did Christ become poor for us? What do you think would happen to needs in the church if Christians followed Jesus’ example? 6. Consider the story of the pickle jar. What in your jar is making you feel unable to be more generous? How might the things in your jar look different if you gave it to Jesus? 7. How has your involvement in the church created moments of witness to your lost neighbors and friends? How could you make your church commitment an even stronger witness?

"What Does It Mean to be Converted?" - Acts 2:37-41 - Nathan Edwards

What happens when we believe in Christ for salvation? Seven realities that mark conversion to Christ: 1. You have been convicted of sin 2. You have repented of your rebellion 3. You have committed to Christ 4. You have forgiveness of your sins 5. You have the Holy Spirit 6. You have been called by God 7. You are saved from judgment Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. What was something encouraging you received from the sermon? 2. Calvin said, “Whereas there was a great multitude converted unto Christ with one sermon, a hundred sermons can scarce move a few of us.” Why do you think there was such a great response to Peter’s sermon? How can we prepare ourselves to be better recipients of the Word? 3. Read Luke 18:9-14. Consider: a. Why was only one of these men cut to the heart? b. How is the Pharisee a demonstration of avoiding Jesus by avoiding sin? c. Why does the “good person” still need to repent to be justified? 4. From Acts 2:37 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzz0v-DjgsI&t=157s]-41, how would you define the faith that makes one a convert? 5. Imagine a conversation with someone who believes they are too sinful to be forgiven. What might you say to persuade them that Jesus can and will forgive all of their sins? 6. Read John 6:37 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzz0v-DjgsI&t=397s] – How does our converting to Christ reveal we are called by God? How does this knowledge give you assurance of faith?

"Know For Certain" - Acts 2:23-36 - Nathan Edwards

In our world, is there anything we can be certain about? What about faith? Can we know for certain Jesus is Lord?  Three convincing evidences that Jesus is Lord: 1. The evidence of historical verification (vv. 2:22 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXuCwyEyyhI&t=142s]-24, 32) 2. The evidence of prophetic fulfillment (vv. 23-31) 3. The evidence of the Holy Spirit (vv. 33-36) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Where are you encountering uncertainty from the world? How is it affecting you? 2. Indiana Jones had to take a “leap of faith” (stepping where he could not see a place for his foot). Is this the kind of faith believing the gospel requires? Why or why not. 3. Which of the three evidences – historical verification, Scriptural fulfillment, and the Holy Spirit – did you find most compelling? 4. If a friend were to share they have serious doubts about the historical reliability of the gospels, what would you suggest to address those doubts? 5. Pastor Nathan said: “The reason many lack certainty that Jesus is Lord is that we don’t want certainty.” How can it be personally beneficial to have uncertainty about Jesus’ lordship? Has there been a time where you have used doubt/uncertainty about Jesus or his teaching to make following Him easier for you? 6. What evidence do you see for the presence of the Holy Spirit in the world today? 7. If willing, share how the Holy Spirit has changed/is changing you.