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Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13

(Living Translation)

3 Sermons that Changed the

World

What’s in a Sermon?

ser·mon [sur-muhn] noun

1. a discourse for the purpose of religious instruction or exhortation, especially one based on a text of Scripture and delivered by a member of the clergy as part of a religious service. 2. any serious speech, discourse, or exhortation, especially on a moral issue. 3. a long, tedious speech.

Our Focus

• Sermon on the Mount – Jesus (Matt. 5-7) – the “new” Torah, a “new” authority, life in a “new” Kingdom• Pentecost – Peter (Acts 2) – the

birthday of the “church”• Mars Hills – Paul (Acts 17) – a

demonstration of apologetics

The Sermon on the Mount

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Matthew 7:28 - 29

Pentecost

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Acts 2:37

Mars Hill

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”

Acts 17:32

Next Week

Sermon on the Mount – Part 1

Jesus (Matt. 5-7)

Presented by

Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13

(Living Translation)

The Sermon on the Mount

Approach

• Context• Summary• Significance• Application

Context• This is the longest piece of teaching from Jesus in the

gospels• Early in the ministry of Jesus (after His baptism and

temptation) – just when His fame began to spread • Audience – “the people?”• Did not immediately relieve pain and suffering – was not a

social gospel – there was a greater purpose• The location – perfect acoustic – a natural bowl• This is a deliberate act on the part of Jesus; “And he

opened his mouth and taught them”

Summary• Matt 5:

– Beatitudes– Salt of the Earth– Light of the World– Relationship of Jesus to the

Law– Greater Righteousness

than Scribes and Pharisees– Thou Shalt Not Kill– Thou Shalt Not Commit

Adultery

– Marriage and Divorce– Speaking the Truth– Our Personal Rights– Love Your Enemies

• Matt 6: Our Relationship with God

• Matt 7: Our Relationship with Man

Beatitudes• Read Matt 5:3-12• It begins with a “list” – like a poem with each line starting

with Blessed.• The first and last line has a “right now” piece – all lines

in between are in the future.• Define “blessed”• This is not an intuitive list – we probably won’t

completely feel at home here once we join God’s family.• They are statements, not commands (except Read v 12)

Salt and Light• Read Matt 5:13-16• Salt is no good if not used. It– preserves (or stops rot)– gives flavor– heals

• Light– Visible - when not hidden touches everyone close by– Effective - exposes truth (in us and in the world)

Fulfillment of the Law

• Read Matt 5:17-20• Do you think it was difficult to keep the

Pharisaic law?• And Jesus was not to give them some relief?• He was using an approach to give maximum

emphasis to the key point; i.e. v 20.• What’s so radical about v. 20?

It Has Been Said / But I Say• Take a few minutes and scan 5:21 - 48• Don’t Murder -> Don’t Get Mad• Don’t Commit Adultery -> Don’t Lust• Adultery requires a certificate -> Don’t divorce except

for adultery• Don’t break your oath -> Do not swear an oath.• Eye for eye -> Do not resist evil• Love Neighbor / Hate Enemy -> Love your enemies• V48 – Be Perfect like your “Father”

Don’ts / Does• Don’t

– Practice your righteousness for “show” when:• Giving to needy (Matt. 6:1-4)• Praying (Matt. 6:5-15)• Fasting (Matt. 6:16-18)

– Don’t let earthly wealth cause you to take your eye off the mark (Matt. 6:19-24)

– Don’t worry (i.e. let anxiety rule you) – (Matt. 6:25 – 34)– Judge others – you cannot know their motives (Matt. 7:1-6)

• Do– Talk to me about your needs (ask, seek, knock). God gives “good” gifts;

i.e. what you need not necessarily what you want. (Matt. 7:7 – 12)

Wrap-Up• Read Matt. 7:13 – 7:29• There are two ways. What two ways is he talking

about?• You can’t judge people’s motives but you can

readily see what kind of “fruit” that they are producing.

• There will be false prophets and disciples.• A true disciple has a solid foundation. What is that

foundation?

Presented by

Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13

(Living Translation)

The Sermon on the Mount

Approach

• Context• Summary• Significance• Application

Structure

• Contrast traditional Jewish moral teaching with new moral teachings of Jesus

• The “practice” of righteousness, religious; i.e. different than practices performed by the Pharisees

• Describes the true righteousness which is to be found and practiced in the Kingdom of God

Significance• From Mosaic tradition to the next level– “Old Torah” “New Torah”; i.e. a new Moses with a

new law.– “Old Kingdom” “New Kingdom”– An authoritative portrait of Christian discipleship

• A new social order?• These passages represent the distinctive,

characteristic, fundamental, essential doctrine of Christianity

Significance

• Two Purposes– Arouse His hearers (including the

“hypocrites”) of the utter inadequacy of a literal understanding and keeping of the Law.– To give a lesson in true sanctification to

those that have entered into the Kingdom and wish to live with a high understanding of the will of God

Application

• Practical description of life as a Jesus follower.• While it did not establish a new social

order, it did emphasize that righteous living also included relationships with fellow humans.• So what do we do with it?

Application

• It is instructions given to disciples who have already made the commitment to follow Jesus.

• There are current benefits of discipleship• It illustrates Kingdom living as Christians,

recognizing the struggle in sanctification but giving practical advice on the approach

• Change is from the inside out!

Next Week

Pentecost – Part 1 – Context and Summary

Peter (Acts 2)

Presented by

Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13

(Living Translation)

The Sermon at Pentecost

“The Overview”

• Sermon on the Mount – Jesus (Matt. 5-7) – the “new” Torah, a “new” authority, life in a “new” Kingdom – the theology of the church• Pentecost – Peter (Acts 2) – the birthday

of the church – the power• Mars Hills – Paul (Acts 17) – apologetics

Approach

• Context• Summary• Significance• Application

Context• Before Pentecost, which came a few weeks after Jesus’

death, there were followers, but no movement that could be meaningfully called “the church”.– From a historical perspective, Pentecost is the day on which the

church was started.– From a spiritual perspective the Holy Spirit “birthed” the church

into existence and enlivens it.• Pentecost – Greek word - pentekostos – “fifty”. It comes

from the ancient Christian expression pentekoste hemera, which means “fiftieth day”

• Festival of Weeks or Weeks (or Shavuot in Hebrew).

Summary of Acts 2• Outpouring of the Spirit

– On the Day of Pentecost– With audible and visual signs– Filled with the Holy Spirit

• The Reaction of the Crowd– Confused and Amazed– Opinions (Serious questions /

Suspicion of drunkenness)• The Explanation by Peter

– They were not drunk– A fulfillment of Joel’s Prophecy

• Sermon by Peter– Proposition: God Raised

Jesus from the Dead– Evidence: Threefold Testimony

(David, Apostles, Spirit’s Outpouring)

– Conclusion

• Conversion of 3000 Souls– Response of listeners– Reply by Peter– Results recorded by Luke

Summary• The Holy Spirit Arrives– A “small group” was meeting – possibly behind closed

doors. Why?– Something supernatural happened. Others heard

something like wind and saw something like fire.• The Crowd Responds– Travelers (i.e. other Jews) heard the commotion and

realized that they were hearing this small group speak in various languages.

– Mixed reception

Prophecy Fulfilled  OT Event NT Event Fulfillment of Prophecy TimingThe Passover

The Passover lamb is sacrificed to symbolize, the salvation of the Israelites from the Egyptians

The death and burial of Jesus

Jesus gives up his life sacrificially to cover the sins of those who receive him.

Crucifixion

Festival of First Fruits

Commemorates the first fruits of the harvest, and is the beginning of the Omer period which extends to the Festival of Weeks.

The Resurrection of Jesus

Jesus was the first to defeat death; i.e. the first fruits of defeat of the grave.

3 days later

    The Ascension of Jesus

  40 days later

Festival of Weeks

Commemorates the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai

Pentecost - The empowerment of the church

Commemorates the giving of “New Law”

50 days later

Summary• Peter’s Explanation

– Alcohol cannot explain this – it’s 9:00 AM.– Joel prophesied what you just witnessed.

• Visions and Dreams: the Holy Spirit is a game changer– Vision – ability to inspire people to move toward a described

end-state – confidence inducing, perhaps based on experience vs. theory

– Dream – hopes and aspirations – a desire to move toward something better – not cynical

• The world was never the same after Pentecost

Summary• The Sermon – Acts 2:22-41– What “drove” Peter to share what he did?– What do you sense is the key concept behind Peter’s

words?– Where is Jesus now?– Where did the Holy Spirit come from?– What is required for us to receive the HS?– Threefold testimony (David, Apostles, HS)– What was Peter’s final plea?

Summary• The Response

– A immediate numerical increase and continual growth?– Devotion to learning about God (i.e. Apostle’s teaching)– Fellowship

• Communal meals• Pooling of resources / sharing with the needy

– Daily temple meetings (e.g. praise) – Psalm 100:4– Home based “small groups”– Reflected an attitude of happiness and sincerity– Enjoyed a good reputation in the community

• What does this tell us about the contemporary church?

Next Week

Pentecost – Part 2 – Significance and Application

Peter (Acts 2)

Presented by

Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13

(Living Translation)

The Sermon on the Mount

Approach

• Context• Summary• Significance• Application

Significance• In times past and in other Christian traditions, Pentecost

is celebrated on the level of Christmas and Easter. Why don’t we?

• The Birthday of the Church:– Historically speaking, Pentecost is the day on which the

church was started.– Also from a spiritual perspective, the Spirit brings the church

into existence and enlivens it.• Some people “doubt” the historicity of Acts 2. What is the

best evidence of the literal acceptance of Pentecost.

Significance

• For churches that celebrate Pentecost on their liturgical calendars, what color is the symbol?

• Some churches receive new members on Pentecost. Why do you think this is?

• I’m curious. What do you think of the use of symbols; e.g. colors, receiving new members on this day, etc.

Significance / Application

• 2 Ways that Pentecost Matters:–The Presence and Power of the

Spirit–The Central Role of the Church in

God’s Work in the World

Significance / Application

• 2 More Ways that Pentecost Matters:–The Multilingual Nature and Mission

of the Church–The Inclusive Ministry of the Church

Next Week

Mars Hill - ApologeticsPeter (Acts 17)

Presented by

Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13

(Living Translation)

The Sermon on Mars Hill

“The Overview”

• Sermon on the Mount – Jesus (Matt. 5-7) – the “new” Torah, a “new” authority, life in a “new” Kingdom – the theology of the church• Pentecost – Peter (Acts 2) – the birthday

of the church – the power• Mars Hills – Paul (Acts 17) – apologetics

Approach

• Context• Summary• Significance• Application

Context

• The sermon delivered by Paul in Athens, at the Areopagus, is the most dramatic and fullest speech of the missionary career of Saint Paul.

What is the Aeropagus

• It takes it’s name from a unique rock formation near and below the Parthenon in Athens (Areios Pagos or “Ares Rock” - areios from Ares and pagos – “big piece of rock”).

• The Roman’s called it “Mars Hill” after Mars, the Roman God of War.

• In classical times it functioned as the high Court of Appeal for criminal and civil cases.

Context• Paul was distressed to see Athens full of idols and so he

went to the synagogue and the marketplace to preach.• Some Greeks took him to the Aeropagus “club” to

explain himself.• The sermon represents the beginnings to formally

explain the nature and person of Christ (i.e. Christology) • Something Paul said persuaded some listeners to

become followers (e.g. Damaris, and Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus).

Sermon Intro

"As I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you."

Approach

• Context• Summary• Significance• Application

Sermon Outline

• Introduction: Discussion of the ignorance of pagan worship (23-24)

• The one Creator God being the object of worship. (25-26)

• God's relationship to humanity. (26-27)• Idols of gold, silver and stone as objects of

false worship. (28-29)• Conclusion: Time to end the ignorance. (30-31)

Introduction (23–24)

• Paul was “distressed” to see so many idols?• Paul begins with a “bridge”.• “I want to help you understand”• Greek “philosophers” made no distinction

between god(s) and the universe. Paul spoke of the God who created the universe.

• God does not live in a human built temple. The God that I speak of is DIFFERENT (theme #1)

Relevance / Focus Today• The West’s post-Christian era-secular humanism’s scientific

empiricism and the New Age pantheistic type of postmodernism – are remarkably similar to the Epicureanism and Stoicism Paul encountered in Athens.

• And today we’ll see where Paul takes them to task for their hypocrisy / ignorance:– A central belief of the Stoics was that God does not live in temples built by

hands, yet they had evolved into a temple based religion.– God is self-sufficient – He doesn’t need tending to by us – “we live in him”

- yet they had constructed these idols – a counter thought to Pantheism – it’s a pure form of Theism.

• Good News: we are not left to fate (Stoics) or chance (Epicureans).

Creator God Deserves Worship (25-26)

• God is not dependent on “maintenance” by humans.• In fact everything that we have comes

from Him Paul reinforced the fact of God as the “creator”, one Who is worthy of worship (Theme #2).

God's Relationship to Humanity (26-27)

• The “life stream” of the entire human race flows from the Creator God

• This includes their time and place in history• God’s demonstration of Divine Power, Wisdom,

and Love naturally attracts mankind to reach out to Him.

• “We are his offspring – In Him we live and move and have our being” (theme #3)

Idols of gold, silver and stone as objects of false worship.(28-29)

• So if we are His offspring, we ought not to think of Him like gold, or silver, or stone.• Paul knew that the “intelligent” pagan

Greeks no more pretended that these “sculptures” were pagan deities.

Conclusion: Time to end the ignorance. (30-31)

• In the past God overlooked such ignorance• In this new age, God expects repentance and change

(theme #4). See Luke 13:3• At a very place where judgment was dealt, Paul speaks

of a future judgment where Jesus Himself will preside (theme #5) – there is or should be a sense or urgency

• What happened at Athens?• There is no evidence that Paul ever visited Athens

again nor is there a letter written to the Athenians.

Next Week

Mars Hill - ApologeticsPeter (Acts 17) – Significance

and Application

Presented by

Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13

(Living Translation)

The Sermon on Mars Hill

Approach

• Context• Summary• Significance• Application

Significance

• One of the best Biblical examples of “practical” / cross-cultural apologetics.

• Paul’s psychology, theology, and methodology are all worthy of our attention.

• Demonstrates to us that not everyone will receive the Gospel; i.e. expect varied responses.

Themes• Jehovah God is different; i.e. He is the transcendent creator of the universe• Because of who God is, He is worthy of worship by the creation• We are His creation and He created us with a purpose in mind; “in Him we live and

move and have our being”• Unfortunately we are in a fallen sinful state and are not able to fulfil our purpose by

ourselves• God expects us to repent and change our life direction, but even this we are not able to

do by ourselves• Jesus, the Son of God, gave His life for us that we might have a path of reconciliation

with God the Father in spite of our sinful state• But Jesus did not remain in the grave but God raised Him from the Dead as a sign that

God is who He said He is and is capable of saving us for eternity• There will be a time when we will appear before God as Judge and unless we have

received the free gift of salvation, we will spend eternity apart from Him; i.e. the worst possible fate

Doctrines• God is Sovereign over heavens and earth. Jesus, our Lord is beginning and

the end (see Rev. 22:13).

• He is from the beginning and independent of space and time (Jn. 1:1-4; Col. 1:15).

• We are work of his hands and bear his image (Gen. 1:26-27).

• We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ for his glory (Eph. 2:10).

• God longs for intimate relationship with us (Jn. 17:3), so he wants us to come into a right relationship with him (Jn. 14:6; Ps. 34:18).

• God does not hold vengeance against me, when I come to him (2 Chls. 7:13-14; Ps. 32:1-2; Isa. 1:18 etc.).

• His grace is enough for us. Through his righteousness, we are also reconciled with God (Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Cor. 12:7-10; Eph. 1:5-12; 2:1-10).

Approach• Share the Gospel where you are; i.e. as you encounter• Use “bridges”; i.e. common ground• Be respectful and courteous but make no attempt to soften the edges (even

though the idolatry was very upsetting to him)• Engage intellectually• Be bold

– Do not shy away from controversy (e.g. creation and resurrection)– Do not hesitate to draw contrast between their religion and Jehovah God nor

their hypocrisy or false beliefs• Be systematic but simple – connect the dots but in a concise way• Do not refrain from quoting or referencing things from their own culture which

support the argument• Leave the response to the audience and the Holy Spirit

Application

• Prepare (know scripture and culture)• Be available – i.e. sensitive to

opportunities• Be creative – i.e. connect the gospel to

where they are• Be bold• Leave the results to God

Next Week

A short video and discussion on the Peace Child

Presented by

Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13

(Living Translation)

The Peace Child

Discussion

• Did you see any similarities between Paul’s Sermon at Mars Hill and the experience of Richardson the family?

• Doctrines• Significance of multi-cultural missions• How does current culture look at multi-

cultural missions

Next Week

Games Changers: A Summary

Sandbox - Areopagus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areopagus_sermon https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Acts/Witness-Athens http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/jamieson-fausset-brown/acts/acts-17.html

Application

• http://cafn.us/2011/06/01/paul%E2%80%99s-classical-apologetics-on-mars-hill-in-acts-1722-%E2%80%93-34-natural-theology-centered-on-the-sovereignty-of-god/

Sandbox

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/what-is-pentecost-why-does-it-matter/ http://executableoutlines.com/acts/acts_02.htm