Christ Community Church Sunday Sermons Christ Community Church

CCC Worship Gathering 6.9.24
Witness series (part 39) Jeff Ehrhardt

The Path of Discipleship

Acts 21:1-36

Intro: what makes a hero in the faith?


Hebrews 11:32–38 - And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—[33] who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, [34] quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. [35] Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. [36] Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. [37] They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—[38] of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (ESV)

What makes a hero in the faith? Faithful sacrifice for Jesus.


1. Ministry (v.1-16)

Fellowship


Strengthening


prediction and prohibition


1 Corinthians 14:33 - For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. (ESV)

Discerning the Leading of the Holy Spirit


• Faith
• Guardrails: Scripture, obedience to God
• Learning the still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12)
• Desire for good (1 Cor. 12:7)
• Unction from the Spirit

Prayer


Trust

Acts 20:24 - But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (ESV)



2. Allegiance (v.17-26)

Partnership Centered on Jesus


Partnership in Truth

Doctrine
Morality

Partnership to Win Souls


1 Corinthians 9:19–27

[19] For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. [20] To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. [21] To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. [23] I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

[24] Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. [25] Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. [26] So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. [27] But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (ESV)

3. Suffering (v.27-36)

Identifying with Jesus

Colossians 1:24 - Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, (ESV)


Walking in Jesus’ steps


• Arrest
• False accusations
• Beating
• Appeal for Rome to kill


Conclusion: superior love


Revelation 12:11 - And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (ESV)

CCC Worship Gathering 6.2.24
Witness series (part 38) Jeff Ehrhardt

Learning from Paul’s Consistent Witness

Acts 20:17-38

Intro: leaving a spiritual legacy


1 Corinthians 11:1 - Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (ESV)

John Paton’s Father’s legacy

‘Though everything else in religion were by some unthinkable catastrophe to be swept out of memory, or blotted from my understanding, my soul would wander back to those early scenes, and shut itself up once again in that Sanctuary Closet, and, hearing still the echoes of those cries to God, would hurl back all doubt with the victorious appeal, 'He walked with God, why may not I?'’

Consistency is the key to a gospel legacy.

1. Marks of Consistency (v.17-27)


• Proximity
• Humility
• Passion
• Boldness
• Preaching
• Spirit-led
• Suffering
• Endurance

Philippians 3:7–11 - But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. [8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—[10] that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (ESV)


• Faithfulness
• Truth

2. Passing the Baton (v.18-38)

Careful Attention


to Shepherds

1 Timothy 4:16 - Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (ESV)


to Flock


Vigilance

Ephesians 5:14–16

[14] for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”


[15] Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (ESV)

Trust the Word of Grace


Generosity



Trust the Lord with the Future

3. The Big WHY (v.28)




Conclusion: Jesus is worthy of our lives

CCC Worship Gathering 5.26.24
Witness series (part 37) Jeff Ehrhardt

Encouraging Our Witness

Acts 20:1-16

Intro: the filibuster


1. Elements of Encouragement (v.1-6)

Exhortation



2 Timothy 4:2 - preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (ESV)



Ownership



2 Corinthians 11:28 - And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. (ESV)


Time



Romans 1:11 - For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— (ESV)


Companionship






2. Elements of Growth (v.7-16)

Gathered


• First day of the week…to break bread


Preaching


• Giving the sense

Nehemiah 8:8 - They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. (ESV)


• Conversation

• Faith

Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)



• Stirring up


Hebrews 10:23–25 - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (ESV)




Weariness



Life




Mission




Conclusion: commitment to encouragement and growth

CCC Worship Gathering 5.19.24
Witness series (part 36) Jeff Ehrhardt

Gospel Effect for True Life

Acts 19:11-41

Intro: made to worship


Romans 1:25 - because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (ESV)


1. Effect on Spiritual Realities (v.11-17)

Miracles Catch Attention



Attempts at Replication



Imitating Jesus



2. Effect on Hearts (v.18-20)

Genuine Repentance



True Value


The Word Prevails Mightily


3. Effect on Community (v.23-34)

Turning the World Upside Down




Costly Idolatry


Mark 5:1-20

Straw Man Construction


Doubling Down on Unbelief



Paul’s Concern for His Friends

4. Effect on Future Ministry (v.35-41)

A Cooler Head Prevailed



Life in a Hostile World



Conclusion: God wants you!

CCC Worship Gathering 5.12.24
Mother’s Day 2024 Jeff Ehrhardt

A Mother’s Yearning and Yielding

1 Samuel 1


Intro: cycles of motherhood





1. Yearning of Motherhood (v.1-11)

Yearning for Completeness



Yearning for Comfort



Yearning for Christ




2. Yielding of Motherhood (v.13-28)

Yielding to God’s Sovereignty




Yielding of Personal Will



Yielding of Desire




Yielding God to God




Conclusion: go in peace

CCC Worship Gathering 5.5.24
Witness series (part 35) Jeff Ehrhardt

Getting the Gospel Right

Acts 18:23-19:10

Intro: commotion v. substance


Full gospel ministry is understanding the depth of the gift the Spirit is in us as believers.

1. Gospel Strength (v.23)


Importance of the Local Church for Spiritual Growth

Ephesians 4:11–14 - And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (ESV)

Commitment Represents Living for Another World


2. Gospel Clarity (v.24-28)

Meet Apollos



Baptism of John



Gracious Adjustment



Gracious Reception



Blessed Commission



1 Corinthians 1:4–6 - I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, [5] that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—[6] even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you (ESV)


3. Gospel Power (v.1-7)

Disciples of John


Responding to Jesus


Experiencing the Spirit’s Power


4. Gospel Repetition (v.8-10)


Doing the Same Things by Faith


John 16:8 - And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (ESV)

Doing the Same Things Daily


Conclusion: Gospel Trust