Sermons from Sweet Home

Acts 7:54-60 The First Martyr

In this text we see the first blood being drawn by the enemy of the church. Satan has made numerous attempts to stop the Jesus movement, and now he tries a new strategy: kill one of the servants of Jesus. Join in on this lesson as we look out how graciously Stephen embraces the purpose that God had set out for him in death.  

Acts 7:1-53 When Truth Hurts

In this text we see a recording of Stephen's great speech before the Sanhedrin. He skillfully connects with his audience, but then rationally, Scripturally, and prophetically dismantles their erroneous perspective on Jesus. The ending of his speech costs him his life, but we thank God for his example of courage. 

The Topics Jesus spoke about the most (Number 4 - Evangelism)

If you were walking past your neighbors’ house, and you looked in and saw that they were watching TV, but you also saw that their house was on fire, you'd rush up and bang on the door yelling: "Your house is on fire!" You wouldn't stand there saying, "Aw, I don't know. They look so happy and they're having such a nice time. They're right in the middle of a movie. Maybe they'll be upset." If you told them, would you be considered a lunatic? No! You'd be a hero. But not till after they realized what you're saying was true.
This is in a nutshell what Jesus came to do: To warn us of coming judgment, to warn us that if we don't have Him as our Savior we would have to pay for our own sins. His whole purpose for coming to Earth was to "seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10). That is why he spoke about it so much and why he challenged us to do the same. We have a mission to fulfil, to make disciples, to witness to others how God has changed our lives, to preach the Gospel and to sow the seed of the Word of God wherever we go.

Acts 6:8-15 When Zeal Clashes with Truth

In this text we see some wise guys confront Stephen, a servant of God full of the Spirit. They are zealous for the "truth" they learnt from their fathers and this truth contradicted the message that came from Stephen. When they couldn't "overpower" his ability to dismantle their "own truth" they resorted to immoral means to silence him.
They hated Stephen because they hated the truth. They loved their own belief system and tradition more than the truth. Some people are unfortunately still the same today. They are zealous for things that are not grounded in truth. And when you speak up for the truth, they make you the enemy and resort to all possible means to silence you.

The Topics Jesus spoke about the most (Number 3 - Hell)

Jesus spoke the most about His Father and where He lives. There is a place where God is and Jesus came to invite us there. But Jesus also spoke extensively about another place, hell, a place where God is not. And Jesus came to warn us to not go there. What exactly does Jesus say about hell?
Perhaps that hell was never created for us, but for someone else. Perhaps that hell is not a physical place in this universe, but rather something far beyond our wildest imaginations. Perhaps that the real suffering in hell is due to the absence of God. Perhaps that going to hell is an individual choice of each individual ad not God. 
Whatever we think about these things, hell surely is no place we want to be. Jesus' teaching on Hell reminds us that sin is serious, God is holy, the message is urgent and the cross is incredible. 

Acts 6:1-7 Multiplying the Logos

As we read between the lines of this text it becomes evident that Satan is using another strategy to halt the spread of the Gospel. It is a very similar strategy as is seen in the church today. Satan pits one person, or group against another. Disagreements and conflict in the church. 
Satan loves using this strategy, because it diverts our attention. Christians fighting each other is always a better option for him than Christians fighting together against evil in this dark world. How do the Apostles handle this situation?
In their wisdom they manage to settle disagreements and find a way for the ministry of the Word of God to continue making progress. 

The Topics Jesus spoke about the Most (Number 2 - Heaven)

John 3:13 "no one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the son of Man". Jesus came from God an therefore spoke about God. But He also came from heaven, and therefore spoke of heaven. 
The big question we have is then, why did Jesus speak so much about heaven? What was He trying to convey to us? Perhaps that this life and this world isn't all there is? Perhaps He was trying to say, death isn't the end but the beginning? Maybe He was trying to inform us that we will be rewarded for wat we do while we live? 
I think the preaching on heaven teaches us that we should invest carefully as we live our lives in this world. And it also teaches us that the pain of this world, the injustices of this world, will be recompensed. God is good, and so is the place where He lives. We get to go there!

Acts 5:27-42 Fighting Against God

The Apostles were bold. They get arrested for preaching the Gospel, gets thrown into prison. An angel saves them from that prison. And what do they do? They go preach in the Temple courts. Nothing will keep them quiet.
But then the Jewish establishment arrests them again and brings them in for rebuke and questioning. The Apostles answer: "We must obey God rather than man". Flogged and released, they continued to peach. 
In this piece of text there are many tings to take note of: Satan uses Earthly authority to silence the Saints, we must pay careful attention to whom we obey (God or man) and we must remember to be happy when people dislike us for doing God's will. 

The Topic Jesus spoke About the Most

In this new series entitled "The Top Ten Hits of Jesus" we discuss the topics that Jesus referred to the most. We have heard people say Jesus spoke most about money, or about love, or about faith. Well, which is it?
It turns out that Jesus spoke more about God, His Father than anything else. He came from God, was sent by God, represented God, displayed God. It is therefore understandable why He spoke so much about Him.
It makes us wonder, if we are Christians, followers of Jesus, do we speak about the same things as He does? Do we speak about God? Did you mention God today in conversation? And what if all Christians everywhere chose to mention God in one conversation per day, would that make any difference in the world? I think so!

Dear Mom & Dad - Leviticus 20:9

Which behavior was serious enough for God that He would impose the death penalty...and why? This is the main question that informs our reading of Leviticus 20. In verse 9 it becomes quite apparent that God is highly concerned with how we treat our parents. Afterall...isn't one of the ten commandments about honoring our parents? 
Well, what if you have bad parents? Tune in to find out. 
It seems like there are a number of ways we can bring honor to our parents, like forgive them, speak well of them, esteem them publicly, seek their wisdom, support them and provide for them.