Into God's Life
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Easter
Acts 13:26-43 (ESV)
26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,
“‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.’
34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,
“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
35 Therefore he says also in another psalm,
“‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:
41 “‘Look, you scoffers,
be astounded and perish;
for I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”
42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
Sermon Outline
Easter invites us out of confinement and into transformation.
1. God In Your Life
vv27-29 “they did not recognize him nor understand…. Fulfilled… by condemning him.”
2. You In God’s Life
vv32-33 “And we bring you the good news that what God promised… this he has fulfilled to us… by raising Jesus”
vv37-39 “he whom God raised up did not see corruption… through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed… and by him everyone who believes is freed…”
vv40-41 “Beware… for I am doing a work… that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”
Questions for Reflection
What hinders us from recognizing God and His work? What are the hardest things to understand in Christianity?
How can you trust what you don’t fully understand without believing something that is actually untrue? What principles can guide you with discernment in a world filled with false or unsubstantiated claims, yet a call to trust the remarkable claims of Jesus?
Why is it important to bring God into your life? What limitations are there, or potential problems, with thinking of bringing God into your life?
How is believing the Christian message a step into God’s life? How do you make this step, and how do you go more deeply in? What keeps you from fully entering in?
If the resurrection did not happen, what would be implications for understanding life and our world? If it is true, what are implications?
How can belief that you will be raised to eternal life in Christ help you reimagine this world, and your present reality? What goodness is part of this expanded vision? How does it offer perspective on current struggles and difficulties?
How can the resurrection of Jesus change specific ways you live this week?