On a Mission From God 2
July 13, 2025 / Cornerstone Global Methodist ChurchScripture Reading: Acts 17:16-34
(And see blue notes below these sermon notes to G.R.O.W. this summer!)
Relating to Acts, technology changes radically through the years: but people are people through the years… so Acts is relevant!
REVIEW FROM LAST WEEK:
- Do non-Jewish Christians have to follow ALL of the Old Testament Jewish Laws? Yes or No? No
- God has made a new way of life as a new agreement or new “covenant” with humanity through Jesus. Now when we have faith in Jesus (trust, obedience, etc.) he cleanses our hearts by the power of His Holy Spirit.
- Peter declared:
Acts 15:8-9 “God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith.”
THERE’S THE QUESTION FOR THIS MORNING – is YOUR heart being cleansed through faith by Jesus’ Holy Spirit??? If so, that’s the start of eternal life that will go on after death – if not, you’re doomed to eternal death when you die…so it’s time to change.
On Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey, he preached in the synagogue and the marketplace.
He preached in ways that were:
Compassionate, Interactive, Respectful, Relevant, and Confident.
“REPENT” means to self reflect, confess, redirect, and determine.
It can be translated: Self reflect; Regret and Confess sin and brokenness and problems; redirect your focus of your eyes / mind / heart / actions, and commit and determine to follow JESUS in all things!
We should repent from:
SIN – what we DO that’s wrong, or the right we DON’T do…
UNBELIEF – it sneaks up on us, at first it’s just a little questioning, then frustration with God, then sarcasm and cynicism, then outright doubt of the Bible, of God, of all of it!
SYNCRETISM – we like to add a little Christianity in on top of our REAL desires and goals and habits. A little Jesus on Sundays, a little here and there on our playlist and reading once in a while, just to keep it real….but NOT let it make us FANATICAL or anything….
SELF – focus: what I want; people should let me do what I want; they should do what I want them to do; I can use people however benefits my goals, and cast them aside when they do not….Right? WRONG.
What do YOU need to repent of today?
Will you?
G.R.O.W. THIS SUMMER!
This summer we’re seeking to grow spiritually as a church as we simultaneously strategize on how to renovate our facilities to keep up with our church’s growth.
Here’s the plan to GROW this Summer in Gratitude, Reflection, Outreach, and Worship:
FIRST: Continue reading a chapter a day of the book of Acts that corresponds to the date.
SECOND: Try adding in a prayer of thankful Gratitude (the “G” in G.R.O.W).
THIRD: Try adding in a couple of minutes of prayerful pondering on the Scripture in what could be called
a R-eflection Time.
READING THIS WEEK:
July 13 – Read Acts 13 + GR
July 14 – Read Acts 14 + GR
July 15 – Read Acts 15 + GR
July 16 – Read Acts 16 + GR
July 17 – Read Acts 17 + GR
July 11 – Read Acts 18 + GR
July 12 – Read Acts 19 + GR
G-ratitude Prayer:
“God, as Psalms 9 & 86 declare, I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. Thank you for THE Scriptures, and thank you for this Scripture…”
R-eflection Time:
“God, as Lamentations 3 says, your mercies are new every single morning! Great is your faithfulness! For 2 minutes I will ponder this Bible chapter with a grateful heart. What word of mercy is there? What do you want me to know or do?”
Hopefully you’ll find yourself more knowledgeable about the Bible, more in tune with the sermons, more thankful, and more connected to the Lord this summer!
Send to Email
Enter your email address below to receive a copy of your filled in notes
Save PDF Locally
Click to save a copy of the filled-in notes to a PDF file on your device
Save PDF to Google Drive
Click to save a copy of the filled-in notes to a PDF file on your Google Drive account
(For Apple devices, use Chrome browser or go to SETTINGS>SAFARI and uncheck BLOCK POPUPS.)