Acts

Throughout the book of Acts there have been moments when the advance of the gospel appeared to be stalled. The early church faced fierce opposition from religious leaders. Ethnic divisions separated Jew and Gentile. Governments imprisoned preachers and sought to silence the message. Vast distances, dangerous seas, and natural disasters stood in the way of gospel expansion. Most serious of all, the spiritual blindness of man’s sinful heart. By every outward measure, the mission Jesus gave His disciples to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, seemed doomed to fail.

Yet when we come to the final verses of Acts, we discover a very different reality. Paul is under house arrest in Rome, awaiting trial before Caesar. The apostle who carried the gospel across the Mediterranean is confined. At first glance, this hardly appears to be a triumphant conclusion. But Luke ends his account with a remarkable word. Paul was “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” That final word is not merely a description of Paul's circumstances; it is a declaration about the unstoppable advance of God's saving purpose.

This Lord's Day, as we conclude our study of Acts, we will consider what it means for the gospel to advance unhindered. We will see that the gospel is unhindered by religious and ethnic barriers, unhindered by governmental powers, unhindered by geographic limits, and unhindered by spiritual blindness. As you prepare your heart, consider where circumstances may seem discouraging or opposition may appear strong. The risen Christ continues to accomplish His purposes, and His gospel still advances unhindered throughout the world. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and meditate upon Acts 28:17-31, Isaiah 55:10-11, Zechariah 4:6, Habakkuk 2:14, Matthew 24:14, Acts 1:8, 2 Timothy 2:9, and Philippians 1:12-14.

This week we will celebrate that sacrament of the Lord’s Supper during our worship service. As we receive the elements of bread and wine look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. For as we physically receive the signs of the Lord’s body and blood, spiritually we feed upon him and all his benefits. Our hymns for this week include “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise,” “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!” and “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name”

Sermon Information:

Text: Acts 28:17-31

Title: Unhindered

Outline:

1. The Gospel is Unhindered by Religious and Ethnic Barriers
2. The Gospel is Unhindered by Governmental Powers
3. The Gospel is Unhindered by Geographic Limits
4. The Gospel is Unhindered by Spiritual Blindness

Sunday's Bulletin
Bulletin Insert

Hymn Note:
Some of the language in Crown Him with Many Crowns reflects older English usage and biblical imagery that may be unfamiliar today. The following definitions may help us better understand and appreciate the rich truths expressed in the hymn.

Verse 1

Prostrate – Stretched out with one's face to the ground in worship, reverence, or submission.

Diadem – A royal crown worn by a king, symbolizing sovereignty, authority, and majesty.

Verse 2

Extol – To praise highly; to exalt or glorify.

Stem of Jesse's rod – An allusion to Isaiah 11:1, a prophecy of the coming Messiah from the family line of Jesse, the father of King David.

Verse 4

Wormwood – An intensely bitter plant. In Revelation 8:10–11, "Wormwood" is the name of a star whose fall poisons a third of the earth's rivers and springs.

Gall – A bitter substance often used in Scripture as a symbol of suffering, sorrow, or affliction.

Verse 5

Terrestrial ball – The earth; the globe or world on which we live.