Village Church of East AtlantaSermonshttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/2012-05-29T02:26:35ZSquarespaceThe Gospel of Salvation and Sanctificationhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/the-gospel-of-salvation-and-sanctification.htmlVillage Church2012-03-19T03:24:00Z2012-03-19T03:24:00ZWorship Guide (Acts 10:23-43) 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ ( he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginningfrom Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and withpower. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41  not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43  To himall the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

]]>A Psalm of Hannahhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/a-psalm-of-hannah.htmlVillage Church2012-02-26T15:00:00Z2012-02-26T15:00:00ZWorship Guide (1 Samuel 1:1-2:10) 1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”
21 The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 23  Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”
And he worshiped the Lord there.
2 And Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the Lord;
     my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
    because I rejoice in your salvation.
2  “There is none holy like the Lord:
    for there is none besides you;
    there is no rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
    let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
    and by him actions are weighed.
4  The bows of the mighty are broken,
    but the feeble bind on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
    but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
     but she who has many children is forlorn.
6  The Lord kills and brings to life;
    he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7  The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
     he brings low and he exalts.
8  He raises up the poor from the dust;
    he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
    and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
    and on them he has set the world.
9  “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
    but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
    for not by might shall a man prevail.
10  The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
     against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
    he will give strength to his king
     and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

 

]]>How the Church Growshttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/how-the-church-grows.htmlVillage Church2012-02-19T14:57:00Z2012-02-19T14:57:00ZWorship Guide (Acts 9:19-31) 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saulincreased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. 23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, andhow at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed againstthe Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

 

]]>A Good Deathhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/a-good-death.htmlVillage Church2012-01-22T14:40:23Z2012-01-22T14:40:23Z(Acts 7:54-8:3) Worship Guide

]]>Knowing, Sharing, and Living Within the Storyhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/knowing-sharing-and-living-within-the-story.htmlVillage Church2012-01-15T14:59:25Z2012-01-15T14:59:25Z(Acts 6:8-7:53)

]]>Listening to God's Voicehttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/listening-to-gods-voice.htmlVillage Church2011-12-11T14:59:19Z2011-12-11T14:59:19Z(Acts 5:17-42)

]]>You, The Church, and The Worldhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/you-the-church-and-the-world.htmlVillage Church2011-12-04T14:47:00Z2011-12-04T14:47:00Z

Worship Guide (Acts 5:12–16) 12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. 

]]>Great Fearhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/great-fear.htmlVillage Church2011-11-27T14:37:40Z2011-11-27T14:37:40Z(Acts 5:1-16)

]]>Great Gracehttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/great-grace.htmlVillage Church2011-11-20T14:13:00Z2011-11-20T14:13:00Z

Worship Guide (Acts 4:32–37) 32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

]]>The Sovereign Storytellerhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/the-sovereign-storyteller.htmlVillage Church2011-11-07T16:39:01Z2011-11-07T16:39:01Z(Acts 4:23-31) In our passage we see the apostles and the early church face great danger with boldness and power. How did they do it and what can we as the church in the 21st century learn from watching them?

]]>Resthttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/rest.htmlVillage Church2011-10-09T14:55:00Z2011-10-09T14:55:00Z(Exodus 20:1-3, 8-11) As 21st Century Americans we neither understand a biblical definition of 'work' or 'rest'. As a result we struggle to understand both. But, as Adam shows us this morning, the biblical command to rest is the pathway to to both refreshment and fulfilling work.

]]>The Crucified and Risen Lordhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/the-crucified-and-risen-lord.htmlVillage Church2011-09-25T14:41:00Z2011-09-25T14:41:00Z(Acts 2:22-36) Last week we talked about what it means to be a Prophetic Community. This week we see the role of prophet modeled for us by the Apostle Peter through Gospel Confrontation. The point of which is not condemnation but conviction that leads to repentance and forgiveness.

]]>The Prophethood of All Believershttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/the-prophethood-of-all-believers.htmlVillage Church2011-09-19T03:20:00Z2011-09-19T03:20:00Z
(Acts 2:14-21) In our passage this morning the Apostle Peter explains and interprets the events of Pentecost as a fulfillment of a prophecy spoken through the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32), that in the Last Days God will pour out his Spirit on all his people both as a sign of the End of the Age as well as an empowerment for the proclamation of the Gospel to all people everywhere that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

 

]]>Pentecosthttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/pentecost.htmlVillage Church2011-09-12T03:19:00Z2011-09-12T03:19:00Z(Acts 2:1-13) In this inaugural event in the life of the church, God pours out His Spirit on the remaining Apostles and disciples who then begin to speak in various languages of "the mighty works of God." What's this event mean, then and now?

 

]]>Restoring the Twelvehttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/restoring-the-twelve.htmlVillage Church2011-09-04T14:17:00Z2011-09-04T14:17:00Z
(Acts 1:15-26) In between Jesus' ascension and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the Apostles choose a replacement for Judas and restore the number of Apostles to twelve. In this sermon we'll talk about why they did that and what it means for us today.

 

]]>Stepping Into the Storyhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/stepping-into-the-story.htmlVillage Church2011-08-29T03:00:00Z2011-08-29T03:00:00Z(Acts 1:1-14) This week we begin a new series in the book the Acts. In this opening passage, the author connects us back to his first book, the Gospel of Luke, and prepares us for the story ahead, the birth of the church.

 

]]>Paradoxical Powerhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/paradoxical-power.htmlVillage Church2011-08-22T03:00:00Z2011-08-22T03:00:00Z(Acts 17:1-14)

]]>The Gifthttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/the-gift.htmlVillage Church2011-08-15T02:48:00Z2011-08-15T02:48:00Z(Acts 2:1-17, 22-24, 32-33, 36-39)

]]>The Hope of Plentiful Redemptionhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/the-hope-of-plentiful-redemption.htmlVillage Church2011-08-08T03:19:55Z2011-08-08T03:19:55Z(Psalm 130) "Out of the depths, I cry" - that's how Psalm 130 begins. Sooner or later, each one of us finds ourselves in "the depths." What can we expect from God when we're in the depths? The author of Psalm 130 found three answers to that question: forgiveness, steadfast love, and "plentiful" redemption.

]]>A Ministry of Presencehttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/a-ministry-of-presence.htmlVillage Church2011-07-31T23:54:50Z2011-07-31T23:54:50Z(Jeremiah 29:1-7, 10-14)

]]>Lead Us Not Into Temptationhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/lead-us-not-into-temptation.htmlVillage Church2011-07-27T15:40:53Z2011-07-27T15:40:53Z(Matthew 6:9-13) In this, the final petition of the Lord's Prayer Jesus teaches how to pray in light of the reality of evil in our world. In this sermon we look at two things specifically the come from from this petition. First that we pray knowing the reality of evil and second, we pray knowing that defeat of evil. The result of praying this final petition is that we both acknowledge the reality of evil and suffering while still having hope that Jesus has overcome and will one day completely eradicate evil.

]]>Forgive Us Our Debtshttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/forgive-us-our-debts.htmlVillage Church2011-07-18T23:58:12Z2011-07-18T23:58:12Z(Matthew 6:9-15) In this fifth petition Jesus teaches us that we are both people in need of forgiveness and a people who need to offer forgiveness to others. It is by seeing ourselves as we really are and confessing that truth to God that we find forgiveness and the power to forgive.

]]>Give Us This Day Our Daily Breadhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/give-us-this-day-our-daily-bread.htmlVillage Church2011-07-14T16:59:00Z2011-07-14T16:59:00Z(Matthew 6:9-13) In this fourth petition Jesus teaches his disciples that the fundamental posture of the Christian life is one of humility. Though we live in a world that tells us otherwise, the gospel tells us that we are unable to provide for ourselves. We are by nature dependent beings. The paradox of the gospel, however, is that the more we confess our need, the more we are given eyes to see the God who has promised to provide for all our needs in Jesus Christ. Thus turning us from anxious, fear driven people into a people of abundance and thankfulness.

]]>Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Donehttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/your-kingdom-come-your-will-be-done.htmlVillage Church2011-07-14T16:57:58Z2011-07-14T16:57:58Z(Matthew 6:9-13) Of all the petitions in the Lord's Prayer, this one is the most difficult to understand on the surface. What does it mean to pray for God's kingdom to come and his will to be done "on earth as it is in heaven"? In this sermon we'll ask what God's kingdom is and what it means to pray for it come here and now.

]]>Our Fatherhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/our-father.htmlVillage Church2011-06-29T12:17:57Z2011-06-29T12:17:57Z(Matthew 6:9-13) In this new series, Lord, Teach Us To Pray, we are looking at the Lord's Prayer to understand how and why we should pray as Christians. In this opening petition, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..." we find both the foundation and the power of Christian prayer: the fatherhood of God. It is in being called his children and learning what it means to call God 'father', that we begin to understand what prayer is and how we are to do it.

]]>Simple Prayerhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/simple-prayer.htmlVillage Church2011-06-29T12:14:31Z2011-06-29T12:14:31Z(Matthew 6:5-13) For most of us prayer is hard. How do we pray to a God we can't see? Is there a way God wants us to pray? Does God actually hear or answer our prayers? We'll look into these questions and more as we look at the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray. This sermon marks the start of a new series on prayer we're calling "Lord, Teach Us To Pray".]]>Spiritual Warfarehttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/spiritual-warfare.htmlVillage Church2011-06-20T04:34:42Z2011-06-20T04:34:42Z(Ephesians 6:10-24)

]]>The Wisdom of Structurehttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/the-wisdom-of-structure.htmlVillage Church2011-05-28T04:25:29Z2011-05-28T04:25:29Z(Ephesians 6:1-9) As we near the end of his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul continues to show how the gospel has the power to work down into every aspect of our lives. In this passage we look at his instructions to parents & children, and then masters & slaves and see a couple things. First, that because of the gospel, we all have mutual responsibility to care for those we're in relationship with. And second, that God created authority structures within the fabric of creation in order to teach us about our relationship with him.

]]>Husbands & Wiveshttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/husbands-wives.htmlVillage Church2011-05-28T04:24:03Z2011-05-28T04:24:03Z(Ephesians 5:22-33) Throughout the second half his letter to the Ephesians church Paul has been teaching them how to "live a life worthy of the calling they have received" in Christ Jesus (4:1). In 5:1 he tells them, "be imitators of God, as beloved children". In our passage this morning Paul takes these commands and applies within the specific context of the marriage relationship between husbands and wives. 

]]>Live Wisely in the Worldhttp://www.villagechurchofeastatlanta.org/sermons/live-wisely-in-the-world.htmlVillage Church2011-05-28T04:21:51Z2011-05-28T04:21:51Z(Ephesians 5:15-21)

]]>