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Messianic Judaism: DOA (An “Acts” Postscript)
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August 12, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Philippians 3:1-11
Paul writing to the church that he loved at Philippi. “Finally my brother, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again. And it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs. Those men who evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision. We who worship by the Holy Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus and who put no confidence in the flesh, though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reason to put confidence in the flesh I have more.
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Drapes
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August 5, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 1-28
We will be looking at many texts. So you just open to the book of Acts and be prepared. We were thinking of calling this message, Review, Preview, Adieu because we saying goodbye to the book of Acts today and we are going to review and then talk a moment about what we will be getting into God willing in the future messages. But we are calling it Drapes because it is a follow up to last week’s message called Curtains.
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Curtains
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July 29, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 28
You cannot interpret the beginning of something until you are looking at it in the light of the end. That is the theme that we see in our readings, in our singing. Hail thou once despised Jesus. At one time he was despised. But now he is the Lord. He is now the conqueror. See the conqueror mounts in triumph. He had been crucified. And if you had made your bet about who he is when he was on the cross you would have lost because that wasn’t the end of the story. This need, this necessity of getting to the end of the story in order to properly interpret the beginning is a lesson of wisdom.
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S. S. Saint Saul
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July 22, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 27
Beloved people of God, before we read this lets just make a couple of introductory comments. First of all lets do some title explanations. Last week children, I think that I neglected to tell you what contra mundum meant. And title was contra mundum and then a symbol. That symbol meant, does not equal or is not. So contra mundum does not equal or is not the same as contra Moses. And contra means against. Contrary. Your parents will says, don’t be contrary. That means don’t be against me and what I say. You just listen to me. So contra against and mundum is the world.
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“Contra Mundum” doesn’t equal “Contra Moses”
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July 15, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 25-26
Beloved people of God we will look at these chapters. They will actually carry themselves because they are in keeping with the great drama of the book of Acts. We get at this point to the pinnacle of Paul’s witness for Christ as recorded by Luke.
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Some Case
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July 8, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 24
We are coming to Acts 24 and today we will see a character whom we could call Felix the cat. This Felix reaches into his bag of tricks whenever he gets in a fix. But we have to see how it is that we got here. And how we got here is a long story that began very quickly in the garden of Eden when our first father who was appointed to be a prophet, a priest and a king sinned and so he became disqualified to be rightly related to God as the head of the race. And so God started a series of promises indicated through his prophetic word, prophet, a line of priests and kings that eventually was given to Abraham.
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Caught in the Acts
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June 24, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 22:22-23:11
Beloved people of God, we are going to ask you to indulge us as we continue to go through the book of Acts. I find that there is really nothing much to add even as we make progress in this. If we get the core idea that the gospel that is being preached by Paul in this latter section, chapters 13-28 in particular, we understand that what we have here is summarized when he says, what God promised our fathers he has fulfilled for us their children in raising Jesus Christ from the dead. This is the gospel.
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Rage Against the Machine
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June 10, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 21-28
We are intending to survey the balance of the book of Acts so that we get a handle on it and then the plan is to proceed with a continued exposition until we conclude the second of Luke’s books. Now first thing we want to say is about this title. We are making a play that has become popular through a group, Rage Against the Machine. And it is not quite fitting for us because it might be misleading. So lets explain that when we speak about rage against the machine in our sermon we are speaking about the rage that is against God’s acts of providence.
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Through the Looking Glass (Reflections on Pentecost)
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June 3, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 2
Before I read this passage I just want to give you some background, some consideration where we want to go with this today. We are not really looking to cover Pentecost per se. Certainly not interested in talking about the gift of tongues. But we want to use this as an occasion to help us learn to read the Bible. And we will contrast it with a way that is very common today where the Bible just becomes a personal book for me. My little personal promise book where all the threats of course have been removed and we just go and see what a verse means to me.
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Our Man at God’s Right Hand
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May 20, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 1:1-11
Well this is going to be the foundation of the book of Acts. So even though this is a departure from the book of Acts series that we have been going through, it is not because this is rather essential to get the book. So we will look at that in a moment. Thursday is Ascension Day which Christians around the world remember the ascension of Christ. And then on June 3rd is the day that Christians celebrate Pentecost which happens in the next chapter historically in our history. Here is God’s word.
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O Jerusalem, Jerusalem
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April 22, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 21:1-22:22
Beloved people of God we have been taking a little time off to look at a couple of holidays, Passover, Easter and so on. And now we return to our regular scheduled program in looking at the book of Acts. And I want to make some points today that may seem somewhat obtuse or angular. In the way going through the book of Acts has been more about how to read the Bible than it has been exactly in every case how the actual text may apply devotionally way or in some other way. We have been learning how to read the whole scripture.
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Possessed
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March 25, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 20:1-21:1
We are going to be continuing in the book of Acts today, chapter 20 and we will make progress in the text as we go along. We are coming to a chapter that will give us great insight into the way God works. And we are going to get that insight because we will have it into the heart and mind of St. Paul, perhaps given more understanding here about who he is and what he is about than given in any other place with the possible exception of 2 Corinthians 11 which was written in this vicinity.
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Lord of Ephesus, Lord of All
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March 18, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 18:18-19:41
Before we look at this text let me just give you the briefest review. We looked in Acts 15 which is the pivot, the core, the center of the book of Acts. That is where the Gentiles are given the green light to come into the kingdom of God, into the covenant without needing to become Jews. That is the key and that is what all the action is leading up to in the book.
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Jesus, Lord of Ephesus
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March 11, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 18:18-19:41
Beloved people of God we have spent some time in Corinth because of the significance of that particular place in seeing how much it is like many of today’s churches and how they deserve to be called Christian but seriously errant in fact even in grave danger. But they were addressed as Christian. I want to remind you a little bit of the book of Acts since we are going to make progress in this text.
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“Heir” Conditioners
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March 4, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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1 Corinthians 6:9-10
We have taken this occasion to branch out in the texts in Acts to consider some issues that are pertinent in our generation and we will continue that and conclude that mini-series today.
“Do you know, that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
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K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Silly!)
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February 25, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Deuteronomy 29:29; 30:11-14
Beloved people of God, let me just review for you where we have been. We got in our series on Acts up to the church at Corinth. And we have paused now to consider some of the implications of that church. It would be a little bit tempting I think to go through the book of Acts and then each time we come to which a letter is addressed in the body of our Bibles to then jump over there and look at that letter and see it in some of the flow, the context. But it is really a little bit too complicated to do that.
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Coring Corinth (the other “Big Apple”)
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February 4, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 18:1-17
“After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquilla, a native of Pontus who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them and because he was a tent maker as they were he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, your blood be on your own heads. I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.
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Thes-Be-Ens
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January 21, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 17
Now your title is a simple one, just a nemonic device to help you remember. Just like thespian is a word. So we just did a play on that and you can remember the outline of this chapter is Thessalonians, Be is the Bereans and then we just ended it with Athens. So you have Thes-Be-Ens. That is how you remember chapter 17 of Acts.
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Bond Bursting
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January 14, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 16:16-34
Now a couple of notes just before we read. First, the book of Acts is a great book, a lot of fun, a very exciting time. And we saw that this is the book that is moving us from a provincial administration of the covenant where it is benefiting one particular people. And now that Jesus Christ has come from that people to be the Savior of the world, it is going to go to expand and encompass the whole world.
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Union Made-By God
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January 7, 2001
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 15:30-16:15
“The men were sent off and went down to Antioch where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. Judas and Silas who were themselves prophets said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. After spending some time there they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch where they and many others taught and preached.” You will notice that there is a variation in some manuscripts which has Silas remaining at Antioch.
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Down to Cases
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December 17, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 15:22-35
We are once again in the 15th chapter of the book of Acts. This is the core of the book. So please turn to that. Now listen beloved people of God, we have been looking at this chapter arguing that it contains the most momentous decision in all of history. We have suggested that it marks the end as it were of Judaism and the beginning of Christianity and will have a greater impact on this earth than any other decision ever made by men.
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I Survey the Wondrous Crux
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December 10, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 15:1-35
Although we are in Acts 15 you will remember that last week that I said to you, that this is the most important chapter in the Bible. And not only the most important chapter of the Bible using the typical words of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He would always that this is the most important text. But this is the most important text in history I maintain. Why is that? Because here is where the great crux is to be found, the great shift and center of it.
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Executive Decision
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December 3, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 15:1-35
Well then lets get some background to the catacombs where the Christians were said to meet for worship. There are a lot of myths about this. In some of these places it would be like meeting for worship down the long narrow corridors. It would be impossible to have a worship service. In other places they may have had memorial services. In some places they may have actually met. But they certainly did have catacomb paintings. It is not outrageous to think about this. But in this chapter here that we get to this is the most important chapter in the Bible.
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And They’re Off - Part III
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November 26, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 14
We will be looking in Acts 14 as we continue this mini-series within Acts on the transition to the Gentile mission that was launched from Antioch. Syrian Antioch. There are enough names in scripture to confuse us. Syrian Antioch launched the mission. Then we have Pisidian Antioch as one of the places that they went to.
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And They’re Off - Part II
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November 19, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 12:25-14:28
Well now you will see at the end of chapter 12:25 that the mission here, Barnabas and Saul, finishing their mission in Jerusalem and they returned from Jerusalem to Syrian Antioch and they took with them John, also called Mark. And then when they got back there they are sent off under the direction of the Holy Spirit and the church laying on the hands on what is called the first missionary journey. And that is what we are discussing now.
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And They’re Off
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October 29, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 12:25-14:28
Well beloved people of God we will look at the text as we go along. But what we will have before us is the story now in Acts not only of how God in Christ spread the gospel. But in a way, how he saved the gospel because you see the Jews were hardening as a nation. And although the gospel message came to them first they were rejecting it and they were in peril of judgment just as our Lord Jesus had said. If the gospel didn’t go beyond Israel, it would have perished with them. You think about that.
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The World vs. the Word
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October 22, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 12
Well beloved people of God we have been looking at the progress of the gospel in the book of Acts and I am very pleased the sermon notes to you of one of the children of the congregation. I don’t want to embarrass her. I won’t tell you who it is, but this is a little girl in this church who is obviously following God’s word. Here is what the about the sermon on Door Number Three.
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The Goyim are Coming, The Goyim are Coming
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October 15, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 11
From the resurrection of Christ and the progress of the gospel we are looking at about a decade worth of work and we get to Antioch in chapter 11. Well beloved people of God as we move further along beholding this marvelous transition from all Jew to half Jew to non-Jew we will pause to review where we have gone. This is the most critical part of understanding the Bible correctly is this transition. If you miss this transition that happened in Acts 10 and continues to be solidified in Acts 11 and then is nailed shut as it were in Acts 15, this section determines how you read everything else.
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Door #3
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October 8, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 9:32-10:48
Beloved people of God, tomorrow is the say of Yom Kippur we are told and there is nothing more exclusive to the people of Israel than this feast of Yom Kippur. You had of all the people in the world, Israel alone selected to be the people of God. And out of all the twelve tribes of Israel the Levites alone enlisted into the service of the holy things that were set apart to God and for the people. And of the Levites only the priests were permitted to actually make the offerings and to sprinkle the blood and to be involved in the ministrations of the temple. And only the high priest was permitted to enter into the holy place, the holy of holies.
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The Chief of Sinners
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October 1, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 9:1-31
Now we are looking at Acts 9. “Meanwhile Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”
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Door #2
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September 24, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 8
We will get some background first. We are going to get to Acts 8 and everything has been leading to the events in this chapter. And everything in this chapter leads to what follows. This is a really marvelous and incredible work. In Acts 8 as it were we come to door number two in what we had been following in Acts 1. Let me give even more background than this.
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Stephen (II)
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September 10, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 6:8-8:4
Beloved people of God we continue this week to discuss this matter of Stephen. Last week we spoke about his ordination to office as it were, and we suggested that this is not what is currently known as the diaconate. If I had to modify or soften the position it would be that of the seven officers ordained in that local church it would be a stretch to say that they all were deacons.
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Stephen (I)
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September 3, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 6
Now beloved people of God we will get to this text in a moment. I want to just first give some background to lead up to here. An author who noted quite succinctly that in the first generation the Christians were a little bit different in their approach to Scripture.
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The Church vs. The Church
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August 27, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 5:12-42
Well beloved people of the living God we will turn our attention to the text in a moment. We want to remind that our Lord Jesus during his earthly ministry explicitly warned that a time was coming when his apostles would be “put out of the synagogue.” And in fact he said, “A time is coming when anyone who kills you will think that he is offering a service to God.” Now that prediction of our Lord was from the gospel of John. And it was followed by this comment. “They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.”
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In The Beginnings
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August 13, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 4:32-5:11
Now in chapter 4 we saw the second part of the incident with the healed cripple that Peter and John had healed. They first took that opportunity to preach to the gathered crowd at the temple. And then when they were arrested they took the opportunity as appearing before the rulers, elders and teachers of the law in Jerusalem to speak again to the high priest and the priests family about Jesus Christ and his resurrection.
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It Could Not Be Denied
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August 6, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 3:1-4:31
Our text is a long one. We will be reading it over the course of the message. We are going to begin at Acts 3. Now we said beloved people of God that in the book of Acts what we are witnessing are the acts of Jesus Christ from his throne in heaven. Christ’s work on earth was only the beginning of his work as it were. All the work that had lead up to the incarnation was the beginning. Now there is going to be a new beginning from the direction of the throne in heaven.
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The Day of Pentecost Was Fully Come
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July 30, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 2
Well you know this magnificent passage of Acts 2 I have said a couple of times in recent weeks that I felt a little like Martyn Lloyd-Jones you know. You may not remember Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the great British preacher who had been a physician and then a physician of souls. When he would approach a passage it seemed like every time he preached no matter what text he was on, he would say, this is the most the important passage in the Bible.
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He Built His City on Rock and Roll
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July 23, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 1
“In my former book,” that is the gospel according to Luke which was his first book. The second book is the book of Acts. “In my former book Theophilus,” lover of God, “I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven.
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He'd Only Just Begun
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July 16, 2000
by Rev. Steve Schlissel
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Acts 1
Our reading will be from Acts 1. Now just before we read this week’s lesson lets remind ourselves of last week when we talked about where we are going from Luke to Acts. You will remember that in Luke he began in a temple scene and he ended in a temple scene. And what the book of Acts is doing is teaching us that the way had been prepared for life without an earthly temple.
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