Ranch Church

The Way of Freedom (Part 10)

The Way of Freedom Show and Tell       The problem: then and now                                 Acts 6:1-7 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers… being discriminated against…So the Twelve called a meeting…teaching the word of God, not running a food program. Acts 6:1-2   ·    Ethnicity, cultural, economic, busyness   ·    God’s heart…show and tell He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice... Deuteronomy 10:18   Free those...lighten the burden...remove the chains that bind people. Share your food...give shelter...Give clothes...Feed the hungry...help those in trouble. Then your light will shine...you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities... Isaiah 58:6,7,10,12   ·    Jesus’ commission “So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20   ·    Jesus’ teaching...serve And the King will say “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”  Matthew 25:40   ·    Jesus’ story...love "Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked. The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy." Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same." Luke 10:36-37           The solution: the whole gospel ...brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility...” Everyone liked this idea, and they chose... Acts 6:3,5   ·    The gospel and social justice: the whole gospel   ·    Results and lessons So God's message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too. Acts 6:7   “The Church embracing the whole gospel changes the world”   ·    Greatness is serving The greatest among you must be a servant. Matthew 23:11   “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve”   “Every believer is a minister with a ministry”   Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12   ·    Do for one So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone... Galatians 6:9-10     Embracing greatness…show and tell

The Way of Freedom (Part 9)

The Way of Freedom Living God's Story Intro: 1) Facing the challenge - Where do I resist God? - Do I have what it takes? - Who is my authority?  Acts 4: 23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,      ‘Why were the nations so angry?        Why did they waste their time with futile plans?      26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle;        the rulers gathered together      against the LORD        and against his Messiah.’*  27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”  31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.  2) Prayer  God, "oh sovereign lord" Boldness:  God's power and work:   3) Living a new way

Grace Then Truth - Pastor Adrian de Visser

Parable of the Lost Son 11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.[a]’22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

The Way of Freedom (Part 8)

The Way of Freedom Living God's Story 1) Living God's story Acts 3 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.  But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene,* get up and* walk!” 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. 2) Seeing and responding  Acts 3 12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!  16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.  17 “Friends,* I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. 18 But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. 19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. 21 For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets. 3) The way of freedom  Repent  Refreshment  Restoration

The Way of Freedom (Part 7)

The Way of Freedom Living God's Story Introduction: 1) Power of the new kingdom. Acts 2:42 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper*), and to prayer.  43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity*—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.  2) The practices of the new kingdom. Teaching  Fellowship  Prayer  3) Results of the new way.  - Awe.