"Devoted" - Preaching at Harderwyk - Acts 27-28 - September 12, 2021

Resources For "Devoted" Series From Each Harderwyk Preacher

I. New For This Week

"The Category Defying Christian Community" - CLICK HERE for a 5 minute YouTube of Tim Keller summarizing 5 distinctive aspects of the Gospel-Centered, Spirit-Empowered Church that is legacy of Acts.

Get to Know John Bunyan - Bunyan is another historical figure who, like the Apostle Paul, writes while imprisoned for preaching the gospel.  Only the Bible itself is more widely published than Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.  This one-page biography is a great introduction.

Celebration Sermon Outline - CLICK HERE for downladable pdf.

II. From The Commentaries On This Passage

From Justin S. Holcomb, “Acts,” in Gospel Transformation Study Bible - 

Acts 28:23 - As in John 5:39–47 and Luke 24:25–27, 44, we are once again encouraged to see that the entire Bible, even the parts that come before Christ’s birth, are about Christ himself. He is the point of the Bible. The Bible is fundamentally a single book with a single message of God’s redemption through his Son of lost and rebellious sinners. Everything in Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, contributes to this overarching message.

Acts 28:30–31 -  Luke ends his account on a note of triumph, showing Paul in the capital of the world as he preaches the gospel “without hindrance” to all who will hear it.

Luke and Paul both knew that the mission that Christ had laid out was not fully accomplished. Paul mentions in his letters that he intended to travel beyond Rome to even more distant Spain (Rom. 15:24). In its early form, however, Jesus has fulfilled his promise (Acts 1:8): the message of salvation has begun to reach the “end of the earth,” and because God has proven faithful to bring his gospel to Rome, we can trust that he will continue to spread it abroad. Acts is intentionally open-ended, inviting our participation in God’s mission, as he overcomes opposition to bring his word of forgiveness to all people.

The book ends with Paul preaching the kingdom of God with “boldness and without hindrance.” This is a fitting summary and conclusion to the book. The gospel of Jesus Christ goes from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, not without trouble, but without hindrance. God’s purposes will have their way. The book of Acts tells the story of Jesus building his church by his grace and gives us confidence that he will continue so to build it until he returns.

III. Ongoing Resources

1) Spiritual Formation Resources Page - CLICK HERE - This is still a work in progress, but be a part as we look to build

2) Scotty Smith’s Heavenward Daily Prayers - CLICK HERE to see the daily prayer blog of Scotty Smith.  You will see an option to have them delivered to your email inbox each day as well.  

3) Simple Lectio Divina Overview - CLICK HERE for a simple introduction of the spiritual practice of a more personal way of experience the Word through contemplation and reflection.