| Devotion:
Day by Day in 2016 A. Day by
day.That’s our congregational focus for 2016. To be “of Christ.” Every day.
Everywhere. To follow in the footsteps of the earliest Christians—men and
women whose lives were powerfully transformed (Acts 2:42-47). B.
We spent time last week studying where real transformation began and
continues to unfold: 1. The Helper, the Holy Spirit, empowered the
apostles of Jesus to be witnesses.
2. The aim of the Spirit’s
coming and the apostles’ work was to convict the world concerning sin,
righteousness, and judgment. 3. Men and women in need of salvation must
come in contact with the good news of God’s grace. 4.
The “dots” of God’s revelation to mankind are connected. 5.
Jesus is proclaimed as the risen Lord and Christ. 6.
In the hearts of those who are willing to meekly receive the implanted
word, alienation from God leads to amazement leads to questions leads to
realization leads to conviction.
C. Our ongoing mission—pointing
hearts to this possibility with “the word of the cross”(1 Cor 1:18). D.
Taking the same blueprint to its next logical step, where does
conviction lead? Conviction through “the word of the cross”
produces_____________to “the way of the cross. ”A. “And they devoted themselves
to…”(Acts 2:42a) 1. To devote oneself means to concentrate on
and commit to a particular pursuit, purpose, or cause. 2.
The real meaning becomes clear when we see how it is used throughout
the New Testament: a. “He told his disciples to_______a boat ready for him
because of the crowd”(Mark 3:9). b.
“And day by day, attending the temple together…”(Acts 2:46). c. “But we will__________ourselves to
prayer and to the ministry of the word”(Acts 6:4). d. “Simon himself believed, and after being
baptized he continued with Philip”(Acts 8:13). e. “…a devout soldier from among those
who______________him”(Acts 10:7). f.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in
prayer”(Rom12:12). g.
“_______________steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with
thanksgiving”(Col 4:2). 3. If I am devoted, it’s because I devoted
myself; no one can do it for me or on my behalf. 4.
Perhaps Luke 9:18-27captures the principle more profoundly than any
other instance. B. How did these Spirit-guided apostles help
ordinary men and women understand and engage
themselves in “the way of the cross”? “They devoted themselves
to…”(Acts 2:42) 1. The apostles’_____________(Rom 6:15-18;
16:17-20; 2 John 9) 2. The_________________(1 John 1:3-7) 3.
The breaking of_________(1 Cor 10:16; 11:26) 4.
The____________(Rom 12:12; Col 4:2)
C. …proclaiming and building
their lives on this overarching promise: the way of the cross leads
home. |
