29-May-22 | Acts 11:19-30 | Seeingthe Spirit Extended our Ministry | Ptr. Narry Santos
SEEING THE SPIRIT EXTEND OUR MINISTRY
We are continuing our 6-part sermon series entitled “Partnership with the Holy Spirit” (Studies from the Book of Acts). Two Sundays ago, we talked about when & how we can experience the Spirit empowerment (Acts 6:1-7). This Sunday, we will learn that the Spirit extends our ministry. We see this extension in the way God uses (& wants to use) all God’s people. In Acts 11:19-30, we will discover how the Spirit works in accomplishing different tasks through different people.
- THE SPIRIT USES LAY PEOPLE TO EVANGELIZE (11:19-21)
The Spirit uses lay people (even unknown & unnamed followers of Jesus) in the context of suffering (11:19a), who traveled far & wide to “spread the word” to Jews (11:19b) & to tell the good news of Jesus to the Greeks (or Gentiles) (11:20). The presence of God was evident with them & the problem led to progress in people turning to God (11:21).
- THE SPIRIT USES LEADERS TO ENCOURAGE (11:22-24)
The Spirit uses church leaders to send Barnabas (“Son of Encouragement”), who was “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit & faith” (11:24a), to see if God’s work is evident in Antioch (11:22). Barnabas saw the grace of God there & encouraged the people to keep remaining true to God (11:23). The result is the Spirit brought a great number of people to the Lord (11:24b).
III. THE SPIRIT USES MINISTERS TO EQUIP (11:25-26)
The Spirit uses ministers (like Barnabas) to get more help (from Saul of Tarsus) (11:25), who both became partners in equipping & educating the church in Antioch for a year (11:26a). As a result, they “taught great numbers of people” (11:26b), especially the disciples (or Christians) in Antioch (11:26c).
- THE SPIRIT USES CHURCHES TO EFIDY (11:27-30)
The Spirit uses the church in Antioch in a time of severe famine (11:27-28) to edify (or build up) the church in Jerusalem through the former’s provision of help & sending of gifts with Barnabas & Saul as emissaries (11:29-30) to benefit the followers of Jesus in Judea.
22-May-22 | Deuteronomy 16:1-3 | Christ in the Passover | Bro. Teddy and Sis Dvora Lema
15-May-22 | Act 6:1-7 | Experience The Spirit's Empowerment | Ptr. Narry Santos
EXPERIENCE THE SPIRIT’S EMPOWERMENT
This Sunday, we begin our 6-part sermon series on the Book of Acts entitled “Partnership with the Holy Spirit.” We want to understand how the Spirit is involved in our daily roles, relationships, and responsibilities. To kick off this series, we will look at how we can experience the reality of the Spirit’s power, as we learn from the experience of the Jerusalem church (1:8; 2:4, 38; see 2:41, 47b; 4:4; 5:14) In Acts 6:1-7, when & how can we experience the Spirit’s empowerment?
- IN DIFFICULT DAYS, GROW IN PRAYER & GOD’S WORD (6:1-2, 4, 6)
The Spirit works powerfully in the context of growth (6:1a) & challenging conflict (6:1b). In response to both, the apostles knew what to do: grow in the ministry of God’s Word (6:2, 4b; see 1:20; 2:16-21, 25, 34-35, 42) & prayer (6:4a; see 1:14, 24; 2:42; 4:24, 31). We create an environment for the Spirit to work powerfully when we are in God’s Word & prayer. In difficult times, let’s grow more in both prayer & the Word.
- IN DEVELOPING LEADERS, GO FOR GODLY CHARACTER (6:3, 5, 7)
The Spirit works powerfully in the context of raising more leaders (6:3, 5) & causing more growth in God’s ministry (6:7). Difficult days are an opportune time to add more leaders in God’s work. What kind of leaders? Godly ones (“full of the Spirit & wisdom” [6:3]; “full of faith & of the Holy Spirit [6:5a]; see “full of God’s grace & power” [6:8], 6:10). They also chose leaders who can relate with the people who are going through the challenging time (6:5b). We create an environment for the Spirit to work powerfully when we grow in godliness & develop godly leaders. In developing leaders, let’s go for godliness & grow godly ones.
08-May-22 | Isaiah 54:1-10 | God's Heart For The Heart-Broken | Ptr. Jon Bernardo
GOD’S HEART FOR THE HEART-BROKEN
by Ptr. Jonathan Bernardo
Those who have not been intimately connected with God’s word will be quick to judge that in the Lord’s kingdom, women are a second-class citizen. That couldn’t be any further from the truth. Today, as we again take a moment to recognize and honor not just our mothers but all women across all stations and stages of life and as we turn to Scripture, we hope that you will once again see God’s heart for all women and for all of us. We hope that you’ll see and hear how His heart breaks for all that are heart-broken – those who are burdened and broken by sin and shame.
- ____________ for the ____________ (vv. 1-3)
- ____________ for the ____________ (vv. 4-5)
- ____________ for the ____________ (vv. 6-8)
- Application / Celebration / Inspiration
01-May-22 | Church Anniversary | EXALTING GOD EXTENSIVELY
Bible Text: Psalm 145:1-13 (NIV)
Sermon Summary:
God has been faithful to His Church, the body of Christ. This is not because the Christian congregations have done so much for God but because of who He is – as a Father to His children and a Friend to forgiven sinners. We are blessed at GCF-Halton to have witnessed such character of God in our midst. Despite the pandemic, we have moved this far with the prayers and support of our sister church, GCF-York and mother church, GCF-Peel. And as we transition to the “new normal,” may we not fail to praise and thank the LORD for what He has done.
This Sunday, as a pastor, I will enumerate some of the things that God has allowed me to experience at GCF-Halton for three years. Who else but God alone deserves the glory! May we all be encouraged to exalt the sovereign Lord extensively. And we can do this by praising Him:
1) From Day to Day (vv.1-2) Praise the King CONSISTENTLY.
2) From Generation to Generation (vv.3-7) Praise God CONTINUOUSLY.
3) From Nation to Nation (vv.8-13) Praise the LORD Almighty COLLECTIVELY.