Start Right Here: By Sharing

Start Right Here: By Sharing – Acts 2:1-13
Sunday, September 5, 2021

Pastor Mike Bailey

Introduction

It doesn’t take long to realize… Turn on the TV, scroll social media, spend time in the community around you, and you’ll see it: problems that seemingly have no solution. Love becomes an emotion — one easily replaced with other temptations; hatred runs rampant; families divide; children live without parents; marriages disintegrate without a fight. Our world seems to defend sin more than God’s truth — yet we cannot live anywhere else. In fact, we are called to live in our communities and engage with the people around us. So what do we do with the brokenness surrounding us? The book of Acts teaches us that God’s organized answer for this problem is the Church. And if we want to find new hope in our family and community, it has to start right here, with the Church.

August 22 – Start Right Here – By Partnering

August 29 – Start Right Here – By Working

September 5 – Start Right Here – By Sharing

September 12 – Start Right Here – By Stepping Up

September 19 – Start Right Here – A New Opportunity

IMPACT Church 101 E. First Ave. Parkesburg, PA 19365
(610) 857-3887 [email protected]

1. Be to share. (2:1-2a)

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.  1 Peter 3:15

a. Be ready by yourself.

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 1 Peter 1:13

b. Be ready at any .

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  Ephesians 2:10

Notes: 

2. Receive the to share. (2:2b-4)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

a. Starts with a .

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.  Isaiah 30:21

b. Continues with a .

Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.” Hebrews 3:15

c. Ends with surprising .

He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5

Notes: 

3. Look for to share. (2:5-6)

⁵ Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:5-6

a. With people you are ready.

Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your hearts to the Lord and obey him alone; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 7:3

b. With people you think are ready.

“Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”  John 17:17

Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him – even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! Revelation 1:7

c. God has prepared persons’ hearts.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.  Psalm 51:10

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:8

¹⁰ “And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, ²⁰ so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God. ²¹ But as for those who long for vile images and detestable idols, I will repay them fully for their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” Ezekiel 11:19-21

Notes: 

4. Sharing when it’s . (2:7-12)

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:16

a. When we .

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4

b. When we have the .

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16

Notes: 

5. Sharing when it’s . (2:13)

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

a. When we do not know what to .

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26

b. When we do not think there is any .

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23

Notes: 

Closing: Our God is one of miracles and supernatural love. Will you let Him work in you and through you?