Here is a summary of the main point of Acts 12, the passage in our read-through-the-Bible plan today. It is taken from the introduction of a sermon by John Piper, “Execution, Escape and Eaten by Worms”: The chapter begins with Herod killing James the apostle of the Lord Jesus (v. 2), and ends with the … More Acts 12: If You Oppose Jesus, You Lose
The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, (Acts 11:22-23 ESV, read Acts 11:19-30 today) John Piper preached … More The grace of God in spreading the good news through persecution
John Piper helps us understand Peter’s vision in Acts 10, in a sermon, “What God Has Cleansed Do Not Call Common”: Let me try to sum up the whole story for us. Cornelius is a Gentile, not a Jew. But he feared God as best he knew him and he prayed and he gave alms … More No barriers
John Piper in a sermon, “Jesus Still Turns Things Around” brings this encouragement from Acts 9, our reading for today: Luke drives this home by showing the persecutor becoming the persecuted. First, in verse 23 Luke tells us that the Jews in Damascus plotted to kill him. The hunter becomes the hunted. And he escapes … More Jesus turns things around
John Piper, in a sermon “Overflowing Grace for All Who Believe”comments on the conversion of Saul in Acts 9, which we read today. This is the kind of person that no one expects to be converted. His opposition is too deep and too articulate. So much of his life would be threatened if Christianity were … More God’s mercy and power are not limited. Period.
John Piper in a sermon, “The Leading of the Lord in Personal Evangelism” from Acts 8:26-40 …. the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch teaches us one of the ways God uses to evangelize the world. I say “one of the ways God uses” because it is clear from the book of Acts that … More God-given Direction
Acts 8:1-4 And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off … More Spreading through persecution
We read today: Acts 7:39-60 Did you notice the repetition of the word “hands?” In 7:41, he mentions how in the incident of the golden calf, Israel rejoiced in the work of their hands. In 7:48, “However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands.” In 7:50, “Was it not My … More Hands and hearts
John Piper, in a sermon from Acts 7, The Story of a Stiff-Necked People: So in Acts 7:1 the high priest gives Stephen a chance to defend himself, “Is this so?” he asks. And Stephen does a very strange thing. He tells a story—a condensed version of the history of Israel. He starts with Abraham … More History as a defense
God is sovereign and His Spirit leads us to the right opportunities for ministry. We see this in Acts 16:6-10…. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared … More “…concluding that God had called us”
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