Acts
Last week we saw how the Lord prepares the ground so that when the seed of the gospel is sown it will find good soil. This week we continue with that same image of the gospel as seed being scattered. When a farmer plants his field, he casts the seed broadly, not knowing which will take root and which will not. His task is not to make the seed grow, but to sow faithfully, trusting that the Lord of the harvest will bring forth fruit in due time.
So it is with the gospel. Its advance is not ours to control, to limit, or to tailor to those we think most likely to receive it. God calls His people simply to sow. We are to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to every tribe, tongue, and nation, trusting that His Spirit will give life to the hearts of those He calls.
In Acts 10:34–48, we see this truth unfold in the story of Cornelius and Peter. The gospel breaks through centuries of division and prejudice as Peter declares that “God shows no partiality.” The good news of Jesus Christ is not confined to one people or culture; it advances impartially to all. Yet, at the same time, it advances simply. Peter’s message is not a complex argument or a philosophical system. Rather, it is a clear proclamation of what God has done in Christ: His life, death, and resurrection for sinners. Finally, we see that when the gospel is proclaimed, it advances powerfully. The Holy Spirit falls upon those who hear, uniting Jew and Gentile alike into the one body of Christ. To prepare your hearts for the sermon, take some time this week to read and meditate on Acts 10:34-48, Genesis 12:1-3, Isaiah 49:6, Matthew 28:18-20, John 3:16-17, Romans 1:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Revelation 7:9-10, and
As we gather to worship our loving Father this Lord’s Day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “The Mighty God, the Lord,” the Acclamation of Praise “Before the Throne of God Above,” and the Hymn of Response “O God beyond All Praising.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Sermon Information
Text: Acts 10:34-48
Title: Gospel Advancement
Outline:
- The Gospel Advances Impartially (vv. 34-35)
- The Gospel Advances Simply (vv. 36-42)
- The Gospel Advances Powerfully (vv. 43-48)
Bulletin Insert
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