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)
