God created the world as an expression of His will. Human beings were uniquely gifted to bear His image and reflect His glory in His world. However, once sin was introduced, God’s judgment was poured out on creation. Gratefully, His grand plan of redemption was also put in place.
God chose Abraham and His family to be His representatives on earth. Through this one family, God began to reveal Himself and His will for all the peoples of the world. Israel lived into this commission and learned His ways and His message. God called them to live in a covenant relationship with Him and commissioned them to live as a holy nation amidst all nations.
As time progressed, His Spirit began to whisper in the ears of the prophets and inhabit their dreams and visions. They received a message from God that a day was coming when the Promised One would establish the new age. This new age would require a new covenant and a new people.
Jesus the Messiah (Christ) fulfilled the prophecies, and He inaugurated the new age as He established the Kingdom of God on earth. The new covenant was put in force, and it was for all the nations. All who would follow the Messiah could belong. This new covenantal people would be known as the Church. Local expressions of the Church would populate the world and serve the interests of the Lord.
We will explore together the beginnings of this exciting new era as its story is told in The Book of Acts. We will learn what it means to be a part of this new movement of God as people of faith living in faith-filled churches.
AUGUST 2021
A Faith-Filled Church
August 1, 2021: The Church: Empowered and Equipped
God’s great plan of redemption can be traced through the descendants of Abraham in the incredible story of Israel in the Old Testament. As the story unfolded, God pointed Israel to a day of fulfillment and an age to come. The Messiah would usher in this new day, and He began to gather followers from all the nations. The Church is now the instrument of God for this new age – “the age to come.” And, we have been empowered and equipped by His Spirit for the task at hand.
Sermon Text: Acts 2:1-12
Tillie Burgin’s 35th Anniversary Recognition
Daily Bible Readings
August 2: Acts 1
August 3: Acts 2
August 4: Acts 3
August 5: Acts 4
August 6: Acts 5:1-16
August 7: Acts 5:17-42
August 8, 2021: The Church: Devoted
At Pentecost, the Spirit of God was given to the people of God. What a gift! Now, they were to be gathered under the mantle of mission, matured for the incredible challenges to be faced, and mobilized for ministry. These early believers had (as we must today) to be devoted to the right things so they may serve effectively.
Sermon Text: Acts 2:42-47
Daily Bible Readings
August 9: Acts 6
August 10: Acts 7:1-29
August 11: Acts 7:30-8:1
August 12: Acts 8:2-40
August 13: Acts 9
August 14: Acts 10
Pastor’s Summer Bible Study
A Faith-Filled Church
A Study of The Book of Acts
August 8 – 11, 2021
7:00pm Nightly
August 8, 2021: SESSION 1: The Church in Acts
August 9, 2021: SESSION 2: A Believers’ Church
August 10, 2021: SESSION 3: Built for Ministry
August 11, 2021: SESSION 4: A Church for the Whole World
August 15, 2021: The Church: Gospel-Centered
The message of the Kingdom is the message of the Gospel. It is Good News! The Gospel is the power of God for salvation for both Jews and Gentiles. It is sturdy for every situation. It is universal in nature and can cross any barrier. It is at the heart of a Faith-Filled Church!
Sermon Text: Acts 15
Daily Bible Readings
August 16: Acts 11
August 17: Acts 12
August 18: Acts 13
August 19: Acts 14
August 20: Acts 15
August 21: Acts 16
August 22, 2021: The Church: Saved, Sound, and Serving
As the churches in Acts began to mature, they grew in many ways. They grew in number and in influence. They also developed an organizational structure that helped to facilitate and encourage both sound doctrine and service.
Sermon Text: Acts 20:17-38
Daily Bible Readings
August 23: Acts 17
August 24: Acts 18
August 25: Acts 19
August 26: Acts 20
August 27: Acts 21
August 28: Acts 22
August 29, 2021: The Church: Here, There, Everywhere!
The Church has been given a strategic role in the Kingdom of God. As God’s New Covenant People, we are to be His representatives on earth. We have the responsibility to engage our own communities with the Gospel as well as reach the nations. We are called to be here, there, and everywhere!
Sermon Text: Acts 11:19-30; 12:25-13:3
Pastor’s 20th Anniversary Recognition
Daily Bible Readings
August 30: Acts 23
August 31: Acts 24
September 1: Acts 25
September 2: Acts 26
September 3: Acts 27
September 4: Acts 28