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Acts

The Book of Acts stands unique in the New Testament. While other books mention Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, Acts carries the story into the lives of Jesus’ earliest followers. Citylight will journey through this book as we desire to become a family who prioritizes evangelism and mission. It is our hope and prayer that this book will empower and inspire us through the Holy Spirit to take the message of Jesus and the Kingdom forward into our world for God’s glory.

Throughout Acts, the church has both grown and been opposed. Today we experience the same dynamic, but how does the story end? In the end, Jesus wins. The gospel of the kingdom will prevail among all nations.

Citylight Center City | September 6, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 28:17-31

Acts (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Darrell Bock

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In life we face trials of various kinds, or “storms” to speak metaphorically. In this passage the apostle Paul faces a literal storm and shows us how not to be afraid, even while we are in it.

Citylight Center City | August 30, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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Acts 27

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrell Bock

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As we near the end of Acts, a lot of false accusations have been brought against Paul, but there is one charge he’s never denied: He does preach the gospel with the aim to persuade, what we call “evangelism”. Evangelism is often viewed negatively today, but in this passage we will see Paul’s defense for his practice of evangelism.

Citylight Center City – August 23, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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Acts 25:13-26:32

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrell Bock

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We’ve seen Paul defend the gospel, but now we see him defending himself (Acts 25:8), because in order to defend the gospel, sometimes we need to defend ourselves against false accusations. Paul shows us how: Proclaim the truth, keep the accusations false, and proclaim the Truth.

Resources:

Acts 24:1-25:12

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

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Courageously testify to the truth.
The truth about what?
1. About Jesus.
2. Testifying with godly wisdom.
3. Doing it courageously by trusting God’s plan.

Citylight Center City | Outdoor – August 9, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 22:30-23:35

When you know something is true, how do you respond to accusations against it, and you? You can get mad or get fearful, but Paul shows us in this passage how to defend the gospel by removing other offenses to it, sharing your experience, and using the law.

Citylight | Center City – August 2, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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Acts 21:18-22:29

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts: The NIV Application Commentary, Ajith Fernando

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Recently deceased U.S. Congressman John Lewis often talked about getting into “good trouble”, doing things you actually should do, but that bring you into dangerous situations. How can we follow Jesus into such good trouble? We have to do it with other Christians, and we have to be controlled by the will of the Lord.

Citylight Center City | Online – July 26, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 21:1-17

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will, Kevin DeYoung

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As Paul continues his mission, we see once again that his plan for the ongoing care of churches he’s started is a council of elders in those churches who care for the church. Through his address to the elders at Ephesus, we can all learn how to care for the church of God.

Resources:

Acts 20:17-38

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Church Elders: How to Shepherd God’s People like Jesus, Jeramie Rinne

 

Citylight Center City | Online – July 19, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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The Gospel threatens idols by transferring their power and glory to Jesus.  In Acts 19:21-41 we learn that the gospel causes an uproar by taking the power of idols, by taking the glory of idols, and by giving them to Jesus.

 

Citylight Center City | Online – July 12, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 19:21-41

Exalting Jesus in Acts by Tony Merida

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary) by Ajith Fernando

In order to persevere in anything, we have to have hope of possible success. Jesus’ mission is even better: There is a guarantee of success, because the gospel will prevail through our strengths and weaknesses, by the Holy Spirit, and over who we once were.

Citylight Center City | Online – July 5, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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Acts 18:24-19:20

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

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What do you see when you look out at the city? When Paul looked out at the city of Athens, he saw a city full of idols, and it compelled him to take the gospel to that city. From him we learn in this passage how to take the gospel to the city full of idols.

Citylight Center City | Online – June 28, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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Acts 17:16-34

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

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What types of people is Christianity really for? In this passage we see there really is no “Christian type”. The gospel is good news for 3 people in particular in this passage who could hardly be more different from one another.

Citylight Center City | Online – June 21, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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Acts 16:11-40 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

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We come today to a few situations that threaten the main mission Jesus has given us as Christians: To take the good news of His life, death, and resurrection to the end of the earth, so that a people for His name would be formed from all the peoples of the earth. There is a sharp disagreement, a question of cultural norms, and directions given from God that were contrary to what the people involved were trying to do. In all these things, the example of the early Christians teaches us to Keep Jesus’ mission the main thing. Here’s how it shows us to do so: Don’t get bogged down in disagreements, consider your context, and follow God’s leading.

 

Citylight Center City | Online – June 14, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 15:36-16:10

 

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We often start new habits with the best of intentions only to hit a day when we no longer want to do them. For some things that’s no big deal, but what about the mission Jesus has given us His Church? God empowers us to fulfill that mission through continued speaking, strengthening, and celebrating.

Citylight Center City | Online – May 24, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 14 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

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As we jump back into the story of what Jesus is doing in our time by looking at the books of Acts, we see that His salvation goes forward from the religious to the irreligious because He is the Savior of both.

Citylight Center City | Online – May 17, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 13:13-52 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

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While Jesus sends the entire church on mission, it doesn’t take long to realize that not everyone has the exact same role. Here we’ll see the Spirit of Jesus specifically sends some to devote themselves to the work of gospel proclamation.

Resources:

Acts 13:1-12 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

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The world is constantly changing; sometimes a certain fashion is in, then it’s out. So also there are certain ways of looking at the world, certain objections to the gospel, that likewise come and go. The gospel itself, however, prevails over any opposition.

Resources:

Acts 12 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

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As we continue looking at how God brings different people groups together, we’ll see He gathers them into a community called the church, created by the gospel, matured by the gospel, and marked by love.

Resources:

Acts 11:19-30 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

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As we continue looking at how God brings together people groups, we see that His gospel is good news not just for Israel, but for all the peoples of the earth. It is an inclusive truth claim.

Resources:

Acts 10:34-11:18 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

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Many of us see the need for a truly inclusive community, but we’re so prone to divide ourselves into the “clean” and “unclean” peoples. Here we see that God sends us to all peoples, providing a new way to be clean that includes all the peoples of the earth.

Resources:

Acts 9:32-10:33 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

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God’s purpose from the beginning of the Bible has been to multiply His image until it fills the earth for His glory. In this passage, we’ll see the way He does that is by multiplying His church.

Resources:

Acts 9:19b-31 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

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The mission Jesus has given His church is daunting, but He’s not left us alone to figure it out. His Holy Spirit guides the mission through individuals, conversations, Scripture, and baptism.

Resources:

Acts 8:26-40

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

From Every People and Nation: A Biblical Theology of Race, J. Daniel Hays

Picking back up in Acts, opposition has reached a climax with the stoning of Stephen, and a persecution breaking out in Jerusalem. But where opposition increases, so does the advance of the gospel.

Resources:

Acts 8:1b-25

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Every Christian experiences opposition. Why can we take heart in the face of opposition? Because God’s purposes can’t be thwarted, others have gone before us, and we’ve been brought in to Jesus.

Resources:

Acts 7:1-8:1

 

As the church continues to grow, there are growing pains. When we face such problems, we’re prone to leave, ignore them, or wait for someone else to fix them. Jesus empowers a better way: Working together so disciples continue to multiply.

Resources:

Acts 6

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

People can hurt us, and when they oppose the preaching of the gospel, fear of the pain they can cause tempts us to “obey” them rather than preach the gospel. But we must obey God rather than men.

Resources:

Acts 5:17-42

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

Fear is an uncomfortable emotion, but it can be used to alert us to forces more powerful than we, that we might respond appropriately. One of the helpful sorts of fear is the fear of God…and His church.

Resources:

Acts 4:36-5:16

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

When the gospel is preached, both conversion and opposition come. How can we face opposition with boldness? By continuing to speak, frontline prayer, and a unified church.

Resources:

Acts 4:1-35

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

The gospel spread at the beginning in part because of miracles. But these miracles were signs, pointing to something else: The identity of Jesus, and what He will do for those who repent.

Resources:

Acts 3

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

By reflecting on this summary of church life from the very beginning of the Christian movement, we learn to live as Christ’s Kingdom Community (the Church). This kingdom community is a Word-centered, generous, relational, worshiping, and expanding community of people devoted to Christ and His work in the world

Resources:

Acts 2:42-47

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

After promising the Holy Spirit, Jesus now sends Him to fill His church, enabling them to tell of his mighty works, calling all to repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Resources:

Acts 2:1-41

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary)Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

The book of Acts is not only the story of the early church; it’s the story of all the risen Lord Jesus continued to do. And today, He’s still working.

Resources:

Acts 1

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

There are no sermons in this series for this congregation.