Acts 13:41
Acts 13:13-52
Acts 13:36-41
Acts 13:42-47
Acts 13:48-52
You have one life, one generation, to fulfill your God-given purpose. If you do it well, one life is
enough.
I. Discover and Walk In God’s Purpose — Not Yours
Romans 12:2 ...that by testing you may discern what is the will of God...
Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Before you can serve God’s purpose, you must seek God’s presence.
David didn’t chase fame or power — he chased God’s heart.
“God, how can I serve Your purpose today? Give me a divine appointment.”
II. Serve Faithfully Where You Are
Luke 16:10 One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.”
1 Samuel 16:11-13 David anointed while still tending sheep.
Before God gives you authority, He gives you assignments.
Serve faithfully in the small things — your job, your family, your church.
Let obedience today prepare you for opportunity tomorrow.
III. Hand Off a Godly Legacy for the Next Generation
Psalm 145:4 One generation shall commend your works to another.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight... finished the race... kept the faith.
You’re not responsible for every generation — just yours.
Help your generation hand off “the faith” to the next.
Serve your time faithfully so others can stand on your shoulders.
Write down what you want people to say about you when you’re gone.
Then, start living that legacy now.
“We somehow think the church is here for us; we forget that we are the church, and we’re here for the world.” -Erwin McManus
“The Church right now has more fashion than passion, is more pathetic than prophetic, is more superficial than supernatural.” - Leonard Ravenhill
Acts 13:1-13
Seven Marks of a World-Changing Church:
1. A church that is centered on God’s Word.
2. A church that worships.
3. A church that goes when God says go.
4. A church that sends and supports.
5. A church that declares the gospel boldly.
6. A church that sees lives changed by Jesus.
7. A church that perseveres through setbacks.
What is your next step of obedience? Will you say yes?
Your assignment starts where your FEET are.
Extra Credit: I will write my testimony (1 page). “Before Jesus, I was __________________.” Since I committed my life to Jesus Christ and made Him my Savior and Lord, I ___________________.”
SERMON NOTES
“To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” -Karl Barth
1. HEROD – Pride, Power, Praise (Acts 12:1–4)
- You can fight against God, but you can’t win against God.
- The hand of man chains - the hand of God breaks chains.
2. THE CHURCH - Earnest Prayer (Acts 12:5)
- Prayer is active. Prayer is urgent. Prayer is persistent.
“The best bit of advice I ever received about how to pray was this: keep it simple, keep it real, keep it up.” -Pete Greig
3. PETER – Peace in Prison (Acts 12:6–11)
a. Obedience is time sensitive.
b. Faith must be active.
c. Miracles happen in chaos.
- God often works through our obedience in motion.
4. THE PRAYER MEETING – Proof of God’s Power (Acts 12:12–17)
- The power behind answered prayer isn’t in us…It’s in Him.
5. HEROD’S END – Perishing in Pride (Acts 12:18–25)
- Herod dies and The Word multiplies.
6. THE WORD MULTIPLIES - Despite Opposition (Acts 12:24–25)
“Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God.” - J. Oswald Sanders
“A church can offer living and palpable proof that the gospel makes a real difference for real people living in the real world.” – Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.
“I’ve never sat on the bench and said, ‘well I learned a lot today’”. -Deion Sanders
When God Moves:
1. Barriers Fall (Acts 11:1–18)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” -Galatians 3:28
The enemy doesn’t care what jersey you WEAR. He cares whether you are ADVANCING the ball.
2. Ordinary Men Rise (Acts 11:19–22)
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” -Acts 4:13
The frontlines are not filled with celebrities. They are filled with soldiers nobody knows by name.
3. Believers Grow (Acts 11:23–26)
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” -Colossians 2:6-7
“Do something bold for God’s sake!”- Ulrich Zwinglie
4. Generosity Flows (Acts 11:27–30)
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” -2 Corinthians 9:7
The gospel makes us open-handed.
Generosity is a MARK of a true disciple.
“I'm not afraid of failure; I'm afraid of succeeding at things that don't matter.” ― William Carey
Acts 10:1-8
Cornelius was devout, generous, prayerful—but still missing something.
Acts 10:9-23a
Acts 10:23b-34
Cornelius’s prayers and alms rose like sweet incense before the Lord.
Romans 10:14
Acts 10:34-43
Peter preaches to Cornelius and his household:
- Jesus is Lord of all (v. 36).
- He died on a cross (v. 39).
- God raised Him from the dead (v. 40).
- Forgiveness is possible: “through his name everyone who believes in him” (v. 43).
- Cornelius had prayer, generosity, devotion—but he needed Christ crucified and risen.
Acts 4:12
Acts 10:44-48
The Holy Spirit Confirms the Missing Piece
“While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.” (v. 44).
- The Spirit didn’t fall when Cornelius prayed.
- The Spirit didn’t fall when he gave alms.
- The Spirit fell when the gospel of Jesus was preached and believed.
- Salvation is not in works, but in grace through faith in Christ.
What Cornelius and Peter Did Right
1. They had a fear of the Lord – honoring, doing, open to instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.
2. They took their next best next step: fear the Lord, prayers, alms, listening to preaching,
responding, baptized.
3. They obeyed quickly – “without hesitation, immediately, at once” – in response to the Spirit’s
promptings.
4. Cornelius brought his whole house to hear.
5. They went public with their faith in baptism.
Acts 9:32-35 32
Acts 9:36-43 36
Be visible, be bold:
Peter did not hide in safe places. He walked “here and there” into towns, into homes. So must we—not for fame, but for purpose.
Love well, serve well:
Peter raised the weak and dead, we are called to raise the lowly. Seek out those ignored, marginalized. Let our hands do Grace’s work.
Be prepared for the fight:
Truth has enemies. When you speak it, threats come. Pressure comes. Maybe persecution. It’s real. But remember: Christ was crucified. Peter willing to suffer.
Leave a legacy that lives beyond your years:
It’s not about how many likes, how many tweets, how many headlines—it’s about how many lives changed. Like Tabitha, like Peter — let your life echo after you’re gone.
In the book of Acts, we see the Holy Spirit writing testimonies, not biographies.
- A biography tells the story of your life, “Look what I did.”
- A testimony tells the story of Jesus in your life, “Look what Jesus did.”
5 Testimony Questions
1. What were you like BC (before Jesus)?
Acts 9:19-25a
2. How did you see Jesus then versus now?
“…For some days”
Galatians 1:15-18
3. What does time with Jesus look like?
- Not, “I’m going to go to work and then ask God to bless it.” Wrong order.
- God, “Meet with me. I’ll tell you what to do, and how to do it, and prepare you for it, and get your heart ready, and then it’ll be to my glory.”
Acts 9:23-25
4. How have you sacrificed / suffered for Jesus? Are you willing, really?
- Do you want to be perfected in your faith?
- Have you sacrificed relationally, emotionally, financially, physically?
Acts 9:31-35
5. What role does the Church (the bride and body of Christ) play in your life?
- Barnabas took personal risks to ‘encourage’ Paul to engage with believers.
- Who do you have faith for, that the Lord can changed them?
There are questions under the surface of every teen and even every human:
• Do I matter?
• Am I valuable?
• Is there something bigger than the chaos, the pressure, the performance?
Genesis 1:1–5
Before we figure out who we are, we need to know who God is. Because only the Creator gets to define the creation.
Genesis 1:26–31
You Are Made in the Image of God
Point 1: You Are Valuable
Your value doesn’t come from what you do. It comes from who made you.
• Ephesians 2:10
Point 2: You Have a Purpose
• Genesis 1:28
• Ephesians 4:1
You weren’t made to just exist. You were made to reflect God, represent God, and care for the things he’s entrusted to you
Point 3: You Are Loved
Before humans did anything, God blessed them. That’s grace.
• John 3:16
Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel
“Genuine self-acceptance is not derived from the power of positive thinking... it is an act of faith in the God of grace.”
Three Voices Shaping How You See Yourself:
• What others say about you
• What you say about yourself
• What God says about you
Take all the lies – replace them with I am God’s masterpiece.
Divine Appointments (from Acts 8 story of Philip)
The Holy Spirit Can Lead Your Life – a Spirit-led life is an amazing life.
- Be on the lookout for ‘divine appointments.’
- Get a handle on the basic story of the Bible so you can share it.
- Get comfortable with your own story, your testimony and be prepared to share it.
- Encourage someone, then point them to the source to encouragement.
Divine Interruptions
Sometimes what you need is not more information, but a fresh revelation of Jesus.
Acts 9:1-9
1. Jesus Still Interrupts Lives with His Presence (vv. 1–9)
Saul was actively breathing threats and murder against the disciples (v. 1). He was an enemy of Christ, zealous to destroy the church.
Jesus personally intervenes / Interrupts: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (v.4). Notice how closely Jesus identifies with His people—the persecution of believers is persecution of Christ Himself.
Saul’s conversion wasn’t from an insight against his intellectual argument—it was a supernatural encounter with the risen Jesus.
Acts 9:10-19a
2. The Holy Spirit choses and uses ordinary disciples, the willing not the gifted.
Ananias, a relatively unknown disciple, is called by the Lord to lay hands on Saul (vv.10–12). He hesitates because of Saul’s reputation (vv. 13–14), but God assures him thatSaul is His “chosen instrument” (v. 15).
Ananias obeys, calling Saul “Brother Saul” (v. 17). This simple act of faith and acceptance shows the power of Christian love and obedience.
Saul is filled with the Spirit, baptized, and strengthened (vv. 17–19)—the same Spirit given to all believers, not just the 12 Apostles.
Acts 9:19b-25
3. The Holy Spirit wants to transform you: fear into boldness, persecutor into proclaimer, enemy into evangelist, fighting God into following God, disobedient into devoted disciple.
People are astonished: the persecutor is now proclaiming the faith he tried to destroy.
Paul’s ministry is marked by growing power and boldness, confounding opponents with his witness (v. 22).
Acts 9:26-31
4. Where the Holy Spirit is flowing freely there is, most often, encouragement and unity.
The disciples in Jerusalem are afraid of Saul and doubt his conversion (v. 26).
Barnabas (son of encouragement) steps in as a bridge-builder, testifying on Saul’s behalf, and helping him be received (v. 27) - his advocacy allows Saul to be integrated into the church.
Learn this phrase: “I see in you.”
The Holy Spirit doesn’t just save individuals—He heals relationships, removes suspicion, and brings unity.
SERMON NOTES
Acts 8:1-8
The Holy Spirit Moves the Church Outward.
- After Stephen’s martyrdom, persecution scattered the believers.
- What looked like defeat became mission fuel. “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word” (v.4).
- The Spirit used suffering to push the church beyond Jerusalem, just as Jesus said in Acts 1:8.
- Sometimes, more than we like to consider, the Holy Spirit Disrupts Our Comfort to accomplish His Mission.
Acts 8:9-25
Only The Holy Spirit, Not the Spirits of This World, Lead to Real Life
- Scripture is clear: there is one Holy Spirit who gives life, and there are counterfeit powers that lead to bondage.
- Simon the Magician displays some behaviors that look right, but he sees the Church / the Spirit as a vehicle for his own advancement.
- The Holy Spirit confronts our pride—will you humble yourself, or be drawn to personal power?
- The Holy Spirit invites real faith—will we believe with a repentant heart, not just the lips?
- The Holy Spirit cannot be bought—will you receive Him as gift, not use Him as tool?- The Holy Spirit demands repentance—will you surrender?
Acts 8:26-35
The Holy Spirit Welcomes The Outcast and Hungry
- The Ethiopian from the land furthest south of Egypt – the southern end of the Earth.
- “Candace” is a title of the Queens of the region.
- Eunuch’s were created to be trusted over harems, money, and personal matters.
- This Eunuch was either a ‘God-Fearer’ (unconverted worshipper) or a Gentile-to-Jewish convert.
- Leviticus rules kept him out of the inner courts of the temple.
- The Holy Spirit welcomed him into the family of God.
Acts 8:36-40
The Holy Spirit Can Lead Your Life – and it will be an amazing life.
- Be on the lookout for ‘divine appointments.’
- Get a handle on the basic story of the Bible so you can share it.
- Get comfortable with your own story, your testimony and be prepared to share it.
- Encourage someone, then point them to the source to encouragement..
Acts 6–8 (ESV)
This is a story of how God takes people who start in the quiet corners of ministry and moves them into places of far-reaching spiritual influence.
- They didn’t begin by preaching to crowds—they began by serving bread to the overlooked.
- If you want to be used greatly by God, be faithful where you are now. Don’t despise small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10). Stephen and Philip show that Spirit-filled service in the kitchen is just as important as service from the pulpit.
4 THINGS TO BE AWARE OF WHEN ASPIRING TO LEADERSHIP
- THEY HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION
- THEY HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
- THEY HAVE WISDOM
- THEY DELEGATE AUTHORITY
Stephen: The Witness Who Would Not Compromise
Acts 6:8-15
Acts 7:1- 8
Acts 7:51-60
Mark 16:9
Hebrew 12:9
Acts 8:1-5
Acts 5:33-42
Expect Resistance :: Faithful ministry draws resistance. The apostles are imprisoned twice in this chapter (vv. 18, 26), threatened (v.28), and flogged (v.40). Ministry is not safe or convenient—it’s a spiritual battleground.
Suffering is a Badge of Honor :: Instead of shrinking in fear, they rejoice that they are counted worthy to suffer. The Kingdom does not measure success by ease but by faithfulness—especially under pressure.
Acts 6:42
Effective Ministry is Word-Centered :: Peter and John preach relentlessly—not privately but publicly. The Gospel is not to be treated as a private encouragement but lived out and spoken outas a publicly. They are arrested not for healing but for preaching Jesus as the Christ (v.28).
Proclaiming in Every Space :: The apostles teach in the temple (public) and from house to house (personal). Healthy faith doesn’t pick between church and home—it does both. The mature bring Christ into every sphere of life.
Acts 6:1-7
Character Driven :: Stephen wasn't chosen for his résumé but for his reputation, wisdom, and spiritual depth. These are the true qualifications for church leadership, and makes for good home-leadership and good self-leadership.
Identify and Respond to Real Needs :: The Apostles didn’t ignore the complaint of the widows. Good ministers listen, consider, then act appropriately within a reasonable amount of time.
Formally Divide the Load :: The Apostles gave others an opportunity to serve, within their abilities, by formally identifying the responsibilities that each would do. No formal role clarification equals loads of disfunction.
Spirit-led Not Charisma-led :: The early church leaders were not clever or great strategists. They were empowered by the Holy Spirit. How could this work in your life?
What Is Most Important :: You must protect unity without losing focus on priorities – living for Christ. And preaching the Gospel is the priority.
Acts 2:7
A special sermon from Pastor Abdalla Khoury from Israel. He speaks from John 4 about the story of the woman at the well.
Two forces repeatedly threatened the early church:
The way forward is the same in both instances: prayerful, bold, faithful leadership of self and others.
Barnabas: The Leader with Integrity
Acts 4:32-37
Ananias and Sapphira: Craving the Platform of Influence
Act 5:1-11
Christian leadership and influence begins and ends with character.
Good Self-Leadership: The Strength of Integrity
The Holiness of God and the Fear of the Lord
Acts 5:3-5
Acts 5:11
We’ve lost the fear of God in many churches today.
Hebrews 4:13
Acts 5:12-16
Acts 4:1-4
From Acts 4 forward, there will be growing tension and conflict in the life of the early church… tension and conflict is not foreign to a healthy church.
Acts 4:5-12
Notice: It was not their kindness or serving that was the problem. It was preaching in the name of Jesus.
- Christianity is inclusive.
- Christianity is exclusive.
Acts 4:13-22
The difference maker was … they had been with Jesus.
- Nothing substitutes for an authentic experience with Jesus.
- Have you been with Jesus?
Listening to God or to men is a fundamental question every believer will face. “Cannot but speak” – they were witness of what they had seen and heard.
Acts 4:23-31
When faced with difficulty:
- They gathered together.
- They looked to the Scriptures for insight.
- They prayed for boldness.
Acts 4:32-37
Gospel did not just transform their words, it touched their wallets.
They willfully gave to others, and met one another’s needs.
Barnabas begins his leadership influence by personally, sacrificially investing in the mission of the church and trusting the leaders.
1. What I do have I give to you.
Acts 3:1–10
2. We Are Witnesses
Acts 3:11-18
3. Repentance = times of refreshing from the Lord.
Acts 3:19-21
4. A Warning and a Promise
Acts 3:22–26
Sermon Title: Words That Build
James 3:1–10
1. WHAT WORDS ARE YOU SPEAKING TO YOURSELF?
2. WHOSE WORDS ARE YOU LETTING SPEAK INTO YOUR LIFE?
3. WHAT WORDS ARE WE SPEAKING OVER OTHERS?
Common ways we sin with our words:
The Call for Consistency
Words in the Context of Relationships
Spouses
Parents
Grandparents
Words That Tear Down vs. Words That Build
VI. The Heart Behind Our Words
John 14:26
Acts 1:6-11
Jesus never breaks a promise.
- “I will build my church.” Matthew 16:13
- “I will rise again.” Luke 18:31-33
- “I will come back to you.” John 14:1-3
His promises are for anyone who will listen, anyone who will follow.
- Not just theologians and scholars or super-Christians.
- For everyone who longs for hope, a better world, justice, family, and home.
Jesus Is Coming Again—Visibly, Personally, and Powerfully
- “This Jesus... will come in the same way.” This isn’t a metaphor. It’s not a spiritual idea. It’s real.
1 Thessalonians 4:16–18
Revelation 1:7
Why does this matter to you?
o You will see Him either as Savior or as Judge
o He came the first time as a humble babe in a manger. He is returning as a triumphal King to once and for all judge the whole world – including you and your children.
His Return Will Be Happen - Sure, Sudden, and Final
- “When will this happen?” The Bible doesn’t give us a date - but it gives us a warning:
2 Peter 3:10
Matthew 24:36-44
“Why so long?” Jesus is not waiting on a political party, an economic trend, or global
peace. He’s waiting for one thing: for more people to repent.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is patient… not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
o God’s is not delayed because he is absent or unconcerned - it’s His mercy.
o When He comes the second time, there are no second chances.
He Is Returning to Complete His Work – to Gather, to Judge, and to Save
- When Christ returns, He will come in unimaginable power and unavoidable glory.
o Every knee will bow (Philippians 2:10).
o Every heart will be exposed (Romans 2:16).
o Eternal destinies will be sealed (Revelation 20:11–15).
Revelation 22:12
Matthew 7:21-23
Here is the good news:
o You don’t have to face Him with fear.
o You can face Him with faith—if you respond now, while you have breath.
- Jesus came the first time as a Lamb to take away your sin.
- He is coming again as a Lion to rule and reign.
- You can trust your own efforts, you can hope He grades on a curve, you can distract yourself and put this off… or you can get really saved.
Acts 17:30–31
Acts 3:19
Acts 2:21
“Jesus, I believe You died for me and rose again. I confess my need of a Savior. I am a sinner. I turn away from my sin and receive your forgiveness. I want to be ready for Your return. Come into my life and save me. Make me new. I trust in You alone. Amen.”
Acts 2:41-47
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
- to God’s Word
It is truth that transforms your life. Knowledge did not ‘awe’ them, changed lives did.
- to community / strong and active relationships
Real fellowship is always inconvenient. It takes commitment and prioritizing.
- to worshipping together remembering Jesus
Every meal became a moment to remember that the death and resurrection of Jesus changed everything.
- to prayer; calling down heaven to earth.
Prayer was not a last resort but a first line of defense.
Your children notice your priorities. They notice if you turn to prayer before panic, Scripture before social media, worship when you are worried, and how you do relationships.
Devoting yourself to something that matters is the first step toward a legacy that matters.
You already have a rhythm to the life you are living and the home you are making. Are these rhythms taking you where you want to go?
2. A good family or a good church has a good vibe … and good things get done
with and for others.
Acts 2:43 And awe came upon every soul…
There’s a special awe that surrounds God-things … a godly man, a good church, a well-functioning family, an honoring wife.
Walking in Godly fear, speaking encouragement to one another, protecting and correcting with compassion — these reflect the heart of the Father in Heaven.
- Let your home be a place of awe, not fear.
- Let your presence bring peace, not tension.
- Let your consistent leadership bring God’s priorities to the rhythms of your home, not just to Sundays.
3. Together = in common, unhurried meals, glad and generous hearts.
Acts 2:43-44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.
- Inviting home with generous people ~ open hearts.
- Temple together and meals together ~ open hearts.
- To each as they had need ~ open hearts.
- Gratitude expressed ~ open hearts.
Sharing, serving, grateful, everyone engaged, this is godliness in churches and families
Dads (and moms): you are not just raising children — you are raising disciples.
4. The Lord adds to it … and that makes all the difference.
Act 2:47 And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
- Do you see the fruit of these devoted homes and generous lives?
- What do you want for yourself and your family?
Salvation. Growth. Kingdom living.
Acts 2:14-21
The Holy Spirit is for a gift for everyone in the family.
- Holy Spirit doesn’t skip over the little ones, God includes the little ones in His plans.
- Do not wait for your kids to grow up before you prioritize their encounter with the living God.
- Your job is to prepare the soil of their hearts to receive His Spirit now.
Acts 2:22-36
The Holy Spirit has a purpose and that is to shine the light on Jesus.
- The Holy Spirit comes to glorify Christ.
- This is why we don’t simply teach our children to be moral, to be kind —we point them to a Person: Jesus.
- Peter wasn’t soft with the truth, but he was clear and loving. So must we be—with our children and with the next generation.
Acts 2:37-39
The Holy Spirit is to be passed down.
- The Holy Spirit isn’t just for a moment of personal revival—this is the blueprint of legacy.
o When a parent comes to Christ, the Spirit moves into the family dynamic.
o When a child comes to Christ, it shifts the spiritual climate of the home.
o When a dad comes to Christ, it can shift generations.
- The younger hearts sitting among us can be lit up with the fire of God.
Acts 2:40-47
The Holy Spirit is forming a new community, a new family.
- Spirit-filled families are devoted to receiving the apostles' teaching, to fellowship with other believers, to breaking bread in communion, and prayer.
- The early church was devoted … children learn devotion by watching your devotion.
Pastor Ben’s Suggestions:
- Bring the Gospel home… read it, speak it, pray it, sing it.
- Don’t outsource the spiritual formation of your kids. Let them hear Jesus from your lips.
- Invite children into spiritual spaces with you: share what you read, talk about God, share blessings, talk about “the Lord.”
- Let them watch, then invite them to join: you pray, you serve, you sing, you give.
- Place your hands on them and pray for them: when they are sick, troubled, excited about an opportunity.
- Fall in love with this phrase and set it on repeat: The Lord has a wonderful plan for your life.
- Tell them: “The Holy Spirit is for you, too.”
