The Acts of the Apostles: The Continuing Acts of Jesus Christ Through the Apostles
Acts is focused on the central truth of our faith – Jesus is alive.
We see in Acts 6, there is a serious issue in the church—a cause for potential division. Satan wants nothing more than a divided church. The only thing worse than an empty church is a divided church.
How do we handle conflict in Christian community:
• Deal with issues.
• Focus on the primary mission without the distraction of secondary things.
MORE THAN WORDS - PRAYING THROUGH THE BIBLE
More Than Words: Praying Through The Bible - formerly called Bible 2020 - is an interactive group that follows along with daily devotionals from Ron Moore focused on the prayers of the Bible. Each day a new devotional is posted and we encourage all members to interact with the group based on the daily reading. Visit biblechapel.org/devo.
LIVING GROUNDED
Learn more about how you can grow deeper and embrace the foundational truths of Christian faith with Living Grounded. Whether you’re just starting out in faith or you’ve been a Christian for years, Living Grounded offers truth, wisdom, and encouragement for every stage. Contact gdevore@biblechapel.org to get connected.
CARE GIVING
Do you have a need we can pray for? Do you need someone to walk alongside you? Do you know of another person who needs care? Let us know at caregiving@biblechapel.org.
CAMPUS FACEBOOK GROUPS
You’re invited to connect with The Bible Chapel family in your campus Facebook Group. Look for Facebook Groups at facebook.com/biblechapel and click on Groups on the left side.
DIGITAL DISCUSSION GROUPS
Looking for community? Connection? Growth? Discussion? Join a Digital Community Group (DCG)! Our DCGs meet weekly to deepen understanding of the sermons through discussion and prayer. Sign-up HERE. Email groups@biblechapel.org for questions.
Acts 6-7, Part 1: The Way to Growth
November 21, 2021 • Ron Moore • Acts 6—7
Acts 16:16-40
March 27, 2022 • Ron Moore • Acts 16:16–40
Overview The church started growing from 120 to over 10,000 people, and the religious leaders said something must be done. Stephen was stoned to death, and a Pharisee with passion and drive started persecuting the church until Jesus interrupted his life and transformed his heart, and used his inner drive to build the church (Saul’s conversion). Paul has completed one missionary tour with Barnabas. Now he is on his second missionary tour with Silas, Timothy, and Luke. The team is now in Europe—Greece—Philippi. And a very influential businesswoman named Lydia has trusted in Jesus, and the church is meeting in her home. Acts 16:16 The “spirit of divination” translates into two Greek words—“a spirit, a python.” Acts 16:17 What she says is true—but remember it is coming from the demon inside her. The words are not meant to promote Jesus but distract people from the message. Acts 16:18-24 After Paul and Silas are beaten, they are thrown into prison. The jailer threw them in the inner prison—probably a dungeon. And to make sure they could not escape, he put their feet in stocks. Acts 16:25 Paul and Silas hold a worship service, and as they are praying and singing hymns … Acts 16:26 “…and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.” Acts 16:27-28 Roman law said that if a guard lost a prisoner, he was given the same punishment the prisoner would have received. Acts 16:28-30 The jailer asks, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) Acts 16:31-34 Only Jesus. By Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Faith in Jesus Christ alone is the emphasis throughout the book of Acts. [Acts 2:38–39; 4:12; 8:12, 37; 10:10–43; 13:38–39] Acts 16:35-36 The officials knew they had no convincing case against Paul and Silas. They wanted to teach them a lesson and get them out of town. Paul—has a trump card—a Roman citizenship card. You don’t beat and imprison a Roman citizen without a fair trial. Acts 16:37-39 Paul didn’t want to leave this new church in Phillipi under a cloud of suspicion. Had they left quietly, the perception would have been that they must have been guilty of some crime. Paul wanted to leave a strong witness of integrity. Acts 16:25 Not easy to pray and sing songs of praise when you are in pain in the midnight times, in the dark times. Any fool can sing in the day. It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but the skillful singer is he who can sing when there is not a ray of light to read by. Songs in the night come only from God; they are not in the power of men. -C. H. Spurgeon When you sing songs in the night, other people take notice. Songs in the night are a vivid demonstration that following Jesus really works. Songs in the night come only from God. Songs in the night come only from what Jesus has done. DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH RON MOORE Get Ron’s Daily Devotional to your inbox each morning; visit http://biblechapel.org/devo. LIVING GROUNDED Learn more about how you can grow deeper and embrace the foundational truths of the Christian faith with Living Grounded. Whether you’re just starting out in faith or you’ve been a Christian for years, Living Grounded offers truth, wisdom, and encouragement for every stage. Contact http://gdevore@biblechapel.org to get connected. CAREGIVING Do you have a need we can pray for? Do you need someone to walk alongside you? Do you know of another person who needs care? Let us know at http://caregiving@biblechapel.org. CAMPUS FACEBOOK GROUPS You’re invited to connect with The Bible Chapel family in your campus Facebook Group. Look for Facebook Groups at http://facebook.com/biblechapel and click on Groups on the left side. FIND AN ENCOURAGER TODAY! JOIN A SMALL GROUP Community Groups are our easiest on-ramp to community at The Bible Chapel; these groups use sermon-based questions to dive deeper into weekly messages. Visit http://biblechapel.org/smallgroups to learn more and sign up!
Acts 15:36-16:24
March 20, 2022 • Ron Moore • Acts 15:36—16:24
Overview It is 50 AD, and in Acts 15—God is getting ready to take the message of Jesus into Europe. Let’s consider that story and then focus on some leadership lessons. We saw last time that the leaders of the church get together in Jerusalem (Jerusalem Council – 49 AD) and confirm once and for all that becoming a Christian is: Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Acts 15:36 Paul and Barnabus want to see how the churches are doing. Acts 15:37-38 Acts 15:39a The word “sharp disagreement” means “severe argument based on [an] intense difference of opinion.” Acts 16:1-3 Acts 16:4-7 Acts 16:9-10 Paul’s vision was to retrace the steps of the first missionary journey and read to them the Jerusalem Council report about no circumcision for salvation. But God had a bigger vision—he always does. Paul’s plan was for discipleship in Asia. God’s plan was for evangelizing Europe. God often shuts doors in our lives to open bigger ones. Acts 16:13-14 God is the one who initiates salvation. He opened her heart to believe. John 6:44-45 Acts 16:15 What does it take to be an influencer of people? What’s it take to lead well—in your homes, in your vocations, in our church? DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH RON MOORE Get Ron’s Daily Devotional to your inbox each morning; visit http://biblechapel.org/devo. LIVING GROUNDED Learn more about how you can grow deeper and embrace the foundational truths of the Christian faith with Living Grounded. Whether you’re just starting out in faith or you’ve been a Christian for years, Living Grounded offers truth, wisdom, and encouragement for every stage. Contact http://gdevore@biblechapel.org to get connected. CAREGIVING Do you have a need we can pray for? Do you need someone to walk alongside you? Do you know of another person who needs care? Let us know at http://caregiving@biblechapel.org. CAMPUS FACEBOOK GROUPS You’re invited to connect with The Bible Chapel family in your campus Facebook Group. Look for Facebook Groups at http://facebook.com/biblechapel and click on Groups on the left side. FIND AN ENCOURAGER TODAY! JOIN A SMALL GROUP Community Groups are our easiest on-ramp to community at The Bible Chapel; these groups use sermon-based questions to dive deeper into weekly messages. Visit http://biblechapel.org/smallgroups to learn more and sign up!
Acts 15:1-35
March 13, 2022 • Ron Moore • Acts 15:1–35
Overview Acts 15:5 Two things going on: Salvation and living in community together. The leaders of the early church debated these issues at length. There were strong opinions and strong emotions. Acts 15:8-11 The New Covenant is radically different. 1. grace-based, not performance-based (gift not merit) 2. Messiah-focused, not temple-focused (Jesus is the new Temple) 3. worldwide in scope, not focused on the Jewish race Acts 15:19-21 James addresses two issues: 1. How can we have a loving and unified community with Christian Jews and non-Jews together? 2. How can we continue to share the message of Jesus with Jews? Here’s how. 1. Idolatry. Abstain from the things polluted by idols. 2. Immorality. You are a new creation—don’t give into sin championed by the culture. 3. Community. Acts 15:31-35 The Church Today: 1. A strong godly future demands strong goldy leadership today. 2. Salvation is by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone. 3. Live like you love Jesus. DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH RON MOORE Get Ron’s Daily Devotional to your inbox each morning; visit http://biblechapel.org/devo. LIVING GROUNDED Learn more about how you can grow deeper and embrace the foundational truths of the Christian faith with Living Grounded. Whether you’re just starting out in faith or you’ve been a Christian for years, Living Grounded offers truth, wisdom, and encouragement for every stage. Contact http://gdevore@biblechapel.org to get connected. CAREGIVING Do you have a need we can pray for? Do you need someone to walk alongside you? Do you know of another person who needs care? Let us know at http://caregiving@biblechapel.org. CAMPUS FACEBOOK GROUPS You’re invited to connect with The Bible Chapel family in your campus Facebook Group. Look for Facebook Groups at http://facebook.com/biblechapel and click on Groups on the left side. FIND AN ENCOURAGER TODAY! JOIN A SMALL GROUP Community Groups are our easiest on-ramp to community at The Bible Chapel; these groups use sermon-based questions to dive deeper into weekly messages. Visit http://biblechapel.org/smallgroups to learn more and sign up!