Sermon Audio Archive

1. Practicing the Presence (Following in Power)
   1. Full of Character
      “…they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit…“ Acts 6:5
   2. Full of Ministry
      "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.“ Acts 6:8
   3. Full of Martyrdom (Suffering)
      “But he, being.full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55
2. When Opposition Strikes (A Time to Testify)
   1. Falsely Accused
      Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.“ Acts 6: 11
   2. Divinely Responding
      “Then there arose some…disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” Acts 6:9-10
3. Seeing Beyond (A Time to Let Go)
   1. An Uncontrollable Situation
      “They also set up false witnesses…“ Acts 6:13
      
      “Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him.” Acts 7:57-58a
   2. Forgiving the Right Way
      “Lord, do not charge them with this sin. “ Acts 7:60
   3. Dying with Grace
      “But he, being.full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55

1. Church Problems
   1. Growth Problems (Who are all these people?)
      Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying… Acts 6:1a
   2. Discrimination Problems (I’ve got to what?)
      …there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Acts 6:1b
   3. Responsibility Problems (Who does what?)
      Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.“ Acts 6:2
2. Choosing Leaders (Five C’s of Leadership)
   1. Character: A Worthy Reputation
      Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation … Acts 6:3a
   2. Charisma: A Spirit Controlled Life
      … full of the Holy Spirit … Acts 6:3b
   3. Competence: Wise Judgment and Leadership
      … who are known to be fall of the Spirit and wisdom … Acts 6: 3b
   4. Connectedness: Team Leadership
      … whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Acts 6:3c-4
   5. Commissioned: Set Apart and Empowered
      … whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Acts 6:6

Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7

Introduction

• Early Church
• Church Problems
• Hidden Sins
• The Early (Im) Perfect Church

1. Deceit & Dishonesty
   1. A Common Sharing (Acts 4:32–37)
   2. The Plan of Deception (Acts 5:1–11)
2. Discipline Administered
   1. Hypocrisy Detected
      “Why Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit.” Acts 5:3
   2. Disciplined Administered
   3. You have not lied to men but to God. Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. Acts 5:4-5
3. Distinction and Direction
   1. Holiness, the Badge of Distinction “Great fear came upon the whole church.”
   2. Revival—The Path of the Church
   3. Discipline—The Necessary Component

1. The Apostles Arrested (Acts 4:1-4)
   And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody&hellp;Acts 4:3a
   1. Why?
   2. Who?
   3. Time?
2. The Trial (Acts 4:5-12)
   And when they set them in the midst, Acts 4:7a
   1. The Court
   2. The Question
      “By what power or by what name have you done this?” Acts 4:7b
   3. The Answer
      “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ…“ Acts4:10a
3. The Verdict (Acts 4:13-22)
   1. The Decision
      So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Acts 4: 18
   2. The Response
      But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. “ Acts 4:19-20
   3. The Victory
      So when they had farther threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them ... Acts 4:21a
4. The Power Resource (Acts 4:23-31)
   1. Their Petition
      So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said…Acts 4:24a
   2. God’s Answer
      And when they prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31