Current Sermon Series:
The videos in this series are listed in chronological order. The newest videos are at the bottom of the page.
Turning Acts into Action: An Introduction
An Introduction Author: Luke Key Word: Witness
Date Written: A.D. 61 Key Verse: Acts 1:8
Seven Progress Reports: Acts 2:47; 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:30,31
The book of Acts is an inspired record of the early church. More specifically, it is a historical account of the first three decades of the church’s existence. Whereas the gospels focused on the life of Christ, the book of Acts focuses on the life of the apostles and the early Christians as they preach Christ. It is a book of acts or actions and not theoretical dialogue. The pages from the book of Acts cry out to every Christian to put feet to his or her faith. It is as if Luke, the author, is pleading with us to add walk to our talk. God is calling us in these inspired pages to behave in a Christian way if we believe. He wants us to put aside phony pretenses and be the witnesses He has called us to be.
Preparing for the Power of God
What do we need to do to prepare for the power of God? Jesus Christ told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem and the Holy Spirit of God would baptize them. In other words they would be so filled with the Holy Spirit that they would have all the power they need to reach Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the remotest parts of the world.
Certainly, we need God’s power in our lives today. We need His power in our marriages. We need His power in parenting our children. We need His power to complete our schooling. In today’s economic climate, we need His power in our finances. As a church, we need His power to reach Texas and the world for Christ in our lifetime!
Preparing for the Power of God – Part 2
Happy Birthday Church!
Most people like birthdays. They are a lot of fun. There are balloons, presents, birthday cake, and usually a lot of noise. The birthday of the Christian church was a big deal as well. Literally thousands of people participated in it. The God of the universe gave a very special birthday present to His church. Certainly on that day, there was a lot of noise. The whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar over this event.
Happy Birthday Church! – Part 2
How to Grow the Church
There has been a lot written over the last few decades about church growth. Some of it is good and some of it not so good. Some of the principles applied will lead to fast numerical growth but not to biblical growth. In other words, you can grow a mega social club church but with very little substance. God’s way to grow the church leads to spiritual and numerical growth. Let’s look at Acts 2:37-47 and glean some timeless truths on how to grow the church God’s way.
Walking, Leaping and Praising God
In Acts chapter 3 we find a man who had been physically crippled from birth. He asked Peter and John for some money. Peter told him that he did not have money to give him, but he would give him what he had. He said, “in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-walk!” The man thought he needed money. However, what he really needed was Jesus! Peter and John helped this man walk, leap and praise God by bringing Jesus’ healing power to him. Let us look at Acts 3 and see what we can learn about helping people walk, leap and praise God.
The Church Under Siege
Early in 2020 the world came under siege by a virus known as SAARS 2 COVID 19. The world was quickly declared to be in the middle of a pandemic! Politicians and governing officials began to quickly shut down what they deemed to be non-essential businesses and declare stay at home orders. Some of the politicians were sincerely trying to protect the people while others simply saw this as an opportunity to seize more power and control over the people. Unfortunately, churches were deemed non-essential and 94% of churches in the U.S. closed their doors early on. This act of terrorism by Satan against the church is not new. It began the moment Christ formed His church. The siege is on two fronts. The church is under attack from within and without. Acts chapter four takes a closer look at the attack from without leveled against Peter and John. By the end of this teaching, prayerfully we will have gleaned some insight into how to identify and overcome these attacks.
The Church Under Siege – Part 2
The church is under siege! These attacks began by Satan the
moment Christ formed His church. The siege is on two fronts.
The church is under attack from within and without. Acts chapter
5 takes a closer look at these attacks. By the end of this teaching
prayerfully we will have gleaned some insight into how to identify
and overcome these attacks. Make no mistake, the
uncompromising Christian today will come under siege for his or
her biblical convictions on marriage, sexuality, and sanctity of
human life.
OVERRIDING PRINCIPLE: God’s powerful working in individuals
and the church is consistently followed by Satan’s attacks. But thanks
be to God the victory is ours in Christ. The gates of hell will not prevail
against the church! (Acts 4:32-37; 5: 1-2, 14, 17, 18)
The Church Under Siege – Part 2b
The Power of Forgiveness
As we continue our series in the book of Acts, we find ourselves introduced to one of the first deacons in the early church, Stephen. He was a man with a good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom. He was doing wonderful works and sharing Christ with all he came in contact with. However, he was opposed by wicked men who falsely accused him and stirred up the people against him. Ultimately, after a kangaroo court he was stoned to death. With his last words, he said, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” He forgave them! How did he do this? How can we forgive those who wrong us? Lets look at God’s work and find out.
Honk if You Love Jesus!
Back in the 70’s and 80’s bumper stickers were still a pretty big deal. My favorite bumper sticker of all times was “Honk if you love Jesus.” Do you remember it? I liked seeing the bumper sticker because it represented Christians who were not ashamed to share their love for Christ with others. In Acts 8, we find a record of another Christian who was not ashamed of Jesus and boldly shared Him with others. His name was Philip. Let us take the next few minutes together and learn how we too can boldly share Jesus with others.
Lord, What Do You Want Me To Do?
Saul, one of the most formidable enemies of Christ, was headed to Damascus to round up more Christians and drag them back to Jerusalem for punishment. He was obsessed with crushing all who were following Christ. However, Christ had another plan.
On the road to Damascus, Christ personally appeared to Saul and confronted him about his opposition to him. Saul’s response was astonishment and he fell to the ground and trembled. He then asked Jesus, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Saul’s question, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” should be the heart cry of every sincere Christian. Let us take a few minutes and see what we can learn from this divine intervention in Acts 9: 1-31
In Our Lifetime Reaching McKinney and the World for Christ
Matthew 28:19-20
19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15
15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Acts 1:8
8but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
There are…
– Almost 8 billion people in the world today & only an estimated 2 billion are Christians
– 6 billion people in the world lost and bound for hell because
they don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
– Around 225 million unchurched people in the U.S. out of a population of 325 million
IT IS CLEAR WE HAVE NOT FULFILLED THE GREAT COMMISSION.
The Night the Jailhouse Rocked
Paul and his team were courageously preaching the gospel and a demon possessed slave girl kept interrupting them. So Paul cast out the demon in the name of Jesus and the slave girl was no longer able to tell the future and make money for her masters. The slave owners, bemoaning their loss of income, dragged Paul and Silas before the magistrates who had them beaten and thrown into jail. The focus of this morning’s message is what happened in jail that caused the jailhouse to Rock.
Stepping Stones Church
6828 CR 202
McKinney TX 75071
(972) 548-1300
pastor@steppingstoneschurch.org
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