Theme: Surprising First Fruits

WHAT GREAT THINGS GOD HAS DONE FOR ME

(Col. 1:3-14 NKJ) "We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."

Preaching to the Filthiest of Creatures

Sermon Text (Acts 2:1-13 KJV) "And when the dayof Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  2 And suddenly there came a sound from heavenas of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they weresitting.  3 And there appeared unto themcloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  4 And they were all filled with the HolyGhost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave themutterance.  5 And there were dwelling atJerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  6 Now when this was noised abroad, themultitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard themspeak in his own language.  7 And theywere all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all thesewhich speak Galilaeans?  8 And how hearwe every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?  9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and thedwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, andAsia,  10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, inEgypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews andproselytes,  11 Cretes and Arabians, wedo hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.  12 And they were all amazed, and were indoubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?  13 Others mocking said, These men are full ofnew wine."

The Authority of Christ Empowers Our Ministry

Mark 16:14-20 (ESV) “Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”

Theme: Give an Answer

Text: 1 Peter 3:15-18 (EHV) 15 But regard the Lord, theChrist, as holy in your hearts. Always be prepared to give ananswer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is inyou. 16 Butspeak with gentleness and respect, while maintaining a clear conscience, sothat those who attack your good way of life in Christ may be put to shamebecause they slandered you as evildoers. 17 Indeed, it is better, if it is God’s will, to sufferfor doing good than for doing evil, 18 because Christ also suffered once for sins in ourplace, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He wasput to death in flesh but was made alive in spirit.

Theme: Surprising First Fruits

Text:(1 Thess. 5:19 KJV) "Quench not the Spirit."