June 2011

26 June 2011 (Pastor Roger Roberts, preaching at the Korean Church of Brussels)

• Sermon title: I Believe in the Church Universal and United
• Scripture: John 17:20-26
• Read: 26 June 2011 PDF

Introduction: Our text for today is the third section of the High Priestly Prayer, the longest “recorded” prayer of Jesus.  This prayer is in three sections.  In verses 1-5 Jesus prays for himself.  In verses 6-19 Jesus prays for the original disciples.  Because we are part of the true Apostolic Succession, this prayer is also for us today as his disciples.  But I want us to look together at the final section, verses 20-26, which is specifically for those of us who have come to Christ since Jesus’ time on earth.  Jesus is praying for his church universal, but also for his people who would necessarily be in local churches such as this one.

19 June 2011 (Pastor Roger Roberts)

• Sermon Title: The Coming of the Holy Spirit: The Pentecostal Difference
• Scripture Text: Acts 2:1-13
• Read: 19 June 2011 PDF
• Download: 19 June 2011 AUDIO
• Listen:

Introduction: Today we look at one of the “fulcrum” passages in Acts, which are milestones in the life of the first church. The Holy Spirit was no stranger to the disciples, upon whom Jesus had breathed the Spirit in the upper room on the evening of his resurrection (John 20:22). But on the Day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Passover, one of the pilgrimage harvest festivals in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit came upon the church in great power, as Jesus had promised (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5).

12 June 2011 (Pastor Roger Roberts)

• Sermon title: The Commission of the Church
• Scripture reading: Acts 1:6-11
• Read: 12 June 2011 PDF
• Download: 12 June 2011 AUDIO
• Listen:

Introduction: Last Sunday we focused on verses 1-5 and today we will concentrate our attention on verses 6-11 of Acts 1.  We’ve considered the calling of the church to continue what Jesus began, the ongoing work of Jesus through the church.  Today on this Pentecost Sunday we look at “The Commission of the Church,” one of several Great Commission passages in the New Testament.  Other accounts of the Great Commission are found in Matthew 28:19-20 (perhaps the best known) and John 20:21.

5 June 2011 (Pastor Roger Roberts)

• Sermon title: Continuing what Jesus began
• Scripture reading: Acts 1:1-5
• Read: 5 June 2011 PDF
• Download: 5 June 2011 AUDIO
• Listen:

Introduction: The Gospel According to Luke is the account of Jesus’ ministry on earth, ending with his ascension.  Luke’s second volume, called Acts, is the account of Jesus’ ministry from heaven, beginning with his ascension.  Acts is called The Acts of the Apostles; John Piper offers that it should be named “The Acts of Jesus,” who continues his work through his “sent ones” in the church today.