So give our greetings again to Jess and the kids and to your church as well.
So we'll be reading from Acts chapter 28, starting in verse 11 in the Red Church Bibles.
That is page 1126.
If anybody needs a Bible, just raise your hand.
And Ethan will be happy to bring one to you.
It's page 1126.
After three months, we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island.
It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.
We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days.
From there, we set sail and arrived at Rehagim.
The next day, the south wind came up.
On the following day, we reached Petulia.
There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them.
And so we came to Rome.
The brothers there had heard we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the three taverns to meet us.
At the sight of these men, Paul thanked God and was encouraged.
When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with a soldier to guard him.
Three days later, he called together the leaders of the Jews.
When they had assembled, Paul said to them,
My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors,
I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.
They examined me and wanted to release me because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.
But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar,
not that I had any charge to bring against my own people.
For this reason, I have asked to see you and talk with you.
It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with his chain.
They replied,
We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you,
and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you.
But we want to hear what your views are,
for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.
They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day and came, in even larger numbers, to the place where he was staying.
From morning till evening, he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God
and tried to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and from the prophets.
Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.
They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement.
The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet,
Go to this people and say,
You will be ever hearing but never understanding.
You will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people's heart has become calloused.
They hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts, and turn.
I would heal them.
Therefore, I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles,
and they will listen.
For two whole years, Paul stayed there in his own rented house
and welcomed all who came to see him.
Boldly and without hindrance, he preached the kingdom of God
and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanks very much, Ryan.
Well, let's pray.
Pray.
Our Father God, thank you for this book of Acts
that we have been able to read together over the last number of weeks.
Thank you for its message.
And we pray that this message would continue to shape us
corporately and together as your church,
that we would always be people about your work
understanding the ways in which you work
and living life according to your plans
we pray for your Holy Spirit to be at work amongst us this morning
that we may not only hear
but truly perceive
that we would not only see
but that we would understand
soften our hearts
so that they are not calloused
but hearts that are soft to receive from you
and to be shaped by you
and we pray this in Jesus name
Amen
well this morning we do come to the end of Acts
over the last while we have been tracing
God's promise that we read about in chapter 1 verse 8
you should remember it
the promise that said you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes down on you
and you will be my witness as he said in Jerusalem
and in Judea and Samaria
and to the ends of the earth
that the good news of Jesus would go to all peoples
of all nations
of every language and every people group
because the story of Acts
the whole message of Acts
is about the outworking of that promise
so chapters 1 to 8 is all about the gospel taking effect
in and around the city of Jerusalem
as we move to chapters 9 to 12
it's all about the gospel moving out further
into the area of Judea and Samaria
and then in chapters 13 to 27
it's about the gospel reaching to the ends of the earth
and as we follow this pattern
we see that as the gospel spreads
as the good news goes out
churches are being established
gospel communities are coming together
as people respond in faith to Jesus
and they in turn begin to tell other people
and begin to live out a gospel centered life
and these other churches are established
and this is the pattern the whole way through
and this is what's been happening
so when we finally get to Acts chapter 28
there is a sense in which we're saying
this is mission accomplished
that the promise has now been fulfilled
but in reality Acts is only the end of the beginning
in other words Acts 28 is a launch pad
for the continuation of God's mission
Ryan who just read for us
and Jess who the family that have been with us
belong to a church back in the states
that is part of a network called Acts 29
and you might be looking here and thinking
well where's Acts 29
well that's the point
the idea is is that churches today
are writing the next chapter
in other words that we are living out
this continued mission
we are being what God has called us to be
so as we do get to the end of Acts 28
there is a sense this is the end of the beginning
but in another sense this is the beginning
of all that God will continue to do
through his church
as he equips the church
and empowers the church by his Holy Spirit
so there's three big things
that I want us to take away
as we move out of Acts
that we are going to take with us
as we begin to live out
what it is to be an Acts 29 church
there are three things
that we are going to look at
that God is sovereign over his mission
people are going to reject
the risen Jesus
but gospel ministry continues unhindered
and in some ways
these three big themes
that come out of the end of Acts
are great big themes
that we see throughout the whole book
they are a summary
they are a summary of the whole book
so let's look at them in turn
first
God is sovereign over his mission
there is a very small statement here
in verse 14
but it has huge significance
we read it at the very end of verse 14
chapter 28
and so we came to Rome
it's a little travel detail
but behind it stands
God's sovereignty
over his mission
Paul had started his journey towards Rome
at least four months ago
back in chapter 27
on the journey
on the board the boat
he endured a hurricane
first
fourth storm
verse 20
of chapter
27
when neither sun
nor stars appeared
for many days
and the storm
continued raging
we finally gave up
all hope
of being saved
not only did he face
a hurricane
fourth storm
he faced the threat
of being killed
by soldiers
verse 42
the soldiers planned
to kill the prisoners
to prevent any of them
from swimming away
and escaping
but after that
he encountered
a poisonous snake
chapter 28
verse 3
Paul gathered
a pile of brushwood
and as he put it
on the fire
a viper
that's a very poisonous snake
driven out by the heat
fastened itself
on his hands
but in each circumstance
of his life
or in each circumstance
of these events
his life
was spared
and so we read
and so we came
to Rome
God is sovereign
over his mission
not even storms
not even soldiers
not even poisonous snakes
can hinder
all that God
intends to do
and that has been
the repeated message
the whole way
through Acts
that God will see
that his message
is preached
that his messenger
will always be
preserved
for the task
that they have called
to do
and that his mission
will prevail
nothing
and no one
can stand
in God's way
it's ironic
that as Paul
boards
the boat
for the final
leg of his journey
in verse 11
of chapter 28
we read
that it was
an Alexandrian ship
with the figurehead
of the twin gods
Castor and Pollux
they were the twin sons
of Zeus
Zeus was the god
of the sea
the great protector
of all who travel
on the sea
well the reality
is Zeus
did nothing
to protect
the ship
in the storm
they were all
shipwrecked
and the cargo
was lost
so I think
Luke is using
a bit of irony
here to highlight
the fact
that this is
God who rules
the waves
and it is God
who is watching
over his servants
a fact
that Paul
was quick
to acknowledge
in verse 15
the brothers
there had heard
that we were coming
and they travelled
as far as
the forum
of Appius
that's kind of
like the major
motorway
at that time
and the three
taverns
to meet us
at the sight
of these men
Paul thanked
God
and was encouraged
you see
Paul knew
that God
is sovereign
over his mission
and so he
gratefully
gives thanks
to God
for his protection
for his care
upon his life
and for bringing
him
to Rome
now as we
continue on
in this mission
today
there are two
things that we
need to remember
that flow out
of this
and the first
is this
that God
is sovereign
over our
life
God is in
control
over every
detail
of your
life
you live
where you
live
you work
where you
work
you're in
the family
that you're
in
because God
has ordered
your life
in this
particular way
yes we
make decisions
we make
choices
but they
are all
under the
sovereign
hand of
God
that means
that God
will only
allow in
your life
what he
wills
and what
he
permits
it doesn't
mean to say
we always
understand it
but God
will only
allow in
your life
what he
wills
and he
permits
and he
will use
it for his
greater purpose
of mission
in fact he
will keep
you and he
will preserve
you for the
purpose of his
mission
and when your
day comes
when the Lord
Jesus will
call you
home
it will not
be a day
too early
or a day
too late
God is
sovereign
over our
life
and God
is sovereign
secondly
over our
world
God's in
control
over every
aspect
of this
world
he has
absolute
power
over nature
he has
supreme
authority
over the
rulers
nothing
and no
one can
stand in
the way
of God
and his
mission
and our
part in
it
God has
made a
promise
and God
is going
to keep
that promise
his mission
has started
his mission
will continue
and one
day the
Lord Jesus
will return
and it
will be
accomplished
it's all
heading in
a victorious
conclusion
he is
sovereign
over our
life
and sovereign
over our
world
so in
response we
need to
pray that
God would
change
us
to fit
in with
his plans
and his
mission
rather than
thinking that
God exists
for me
and for
my plans
and my
ideas
that we
continually
say God
change me
to fit in
to what
you are
doing
in my
life
and what
you are
doing
in this
world
so let's
take with
us the
fact that
God
is sovereign
over his
mission
second
and this
is a hard
one
people will
reject
the risen
Jesus
one of the
most painful
struggles in
mission
is that we
will meet
people who
will reject
Jesus
Christ
once in
Rome
Paul
arranges to
meet with
some of
the Jewish
leaders
we read
of that
in verse
23
they arranged
to meet
Paul on
a certain
day
and came
in even
larger numbers
to the place
where he was
staying
from morning
till evening
he explained
and declared
to them
the kingdom
of God
and tried
to convince
them about
Jesus
from the
law
and Moses
and from
the prophets
that's
basically
from the
Old Testament
he began
to talk
about
Jesus
the good
news
of Jesus
Christ
was Paul's
priority
that was
his love
that was
his joy
that was
his desire
and as we
see in
verse 23
he began
to explain
to them
or declare
to them
about the
kingdom
of God
the kingdom
of God
is God's
promise
to restore
broken lives
and renew
this disordered
world
and as he
tried to
convince them
and persuade
them the only
way that this
kingdom was
going to
come about
would be
through
Jesus
Christ
Jesus
was God's
promised
king
come into
the world
to establish
a new
kind of
kingdom
a kingdom
of peace
and justice
the absence
of all
suffering
and evil
a place
where we'll
no longer
turn on
the news
or open
up our
newspapers
and read
about a
shooting
in a
school
we'll no
longer hear
the tragedy
of another
girl committing
suicide
because they
cannot cope
a kingdom
where death
and disorder
are destroyed
and life
and beauty
reign forever
and Jesus
proved all
of this
by his
resurrection
from the
dead
defeating
it all
the people
who have
lost loved
ones in
recent days
long for
life to
return
Jesus
Christ
has
conquered
death
and he
alone
can give
true
and eternal
life
he can
give life
resurrection
life
but the
only way
that people
can be part
of this
kingdom
was by
repentance
turning to
Jesus
and faith
and trusting
in Christ
and this
is the
same
message
that we
read
all the
way
through
Acts
page
after
page
it was
the same
wonderful
glorious
message
of Christ
who has
come to
bring about
an eternal
kingdom
and the
response
was the
same
look at
verse 24
some
were convinced
by what he
said
some believed
and they
entered into
that kingdom
but others
would not
believe
despite all
the evidence
from scripture
despite the
proof that
Jesus had
risen from
the dead
despite the
eyewitnesses
who had seen
him and told
others that
they had seen
him they
continued in
their refusal
to believe
and accept
and why
wouldn't they
believe
what was
wrong
well look
at verse
25
they disagreed
among themselves
and began
to leave
after Paul
had made
this final
statement
he said
to them
the Holy
Spirit
spoke the
truth to
your
forefathers
when he
said through
Isaiah the
prophet
in other
words he
was saying
what was
true of
your fathers
in their
rejection
is now
true of
you
verse 26
go to
this people
and say
you will be
ever hearing
but never
understanding
you will be
ever seeing
but never
perceiving
the reason
people do
not accept
Jesus but
reject the
risen Jesus
as well as
he says there
in verse 26
it's their
deaf ears
of course
people do
hear the
claims of
Jesus
there's
nothing
wrong
with their
physical
hearing
but they
fail to
hear
with
understanding
not that
it's
complicated
it's such
a simple
message
it's not
difficult
to grasp
they just
simply do
not want
to act
on what
they hear
but it's
not just
their deaf
ears
it's also
their blind
eyes
of course
people could
see
there's
nothing wrong
with their
physical eyesight
but they
fail to
perceive
to see
that the
truth
is in
the person
of Jesus
Christ
and that
they need
to turn
to him
it's not
that it's
hard to
know what's
right
they just
don't
want it
and deaf
ears
and blind
eyes
are just
a symptom
of the
heart
look at
verse 27
for this
people's
heart
has become
calloused
they hardly
hear with
their ears
and they
have closed
their eyes
the more
people reject
the gospel
the harder
their hearts
become
in fact
the danger
is that
their hearts
will become
so hard
that they
will be
unable to
turn
look at the
rest of
verse 27
otherwise
they might
see with
their eyes
hear with
their ears
understand
with their
hearts
and turn
and I
would heal
them
it's one
of the
most painful
things
as we
go about
our
mission
is that
we will
meet
people
who do
not want
Jesus
and very
often it
can be
friends
that are
close to
us
people
within
our
family
and I
can't
make
anybody's
ears
open up
to God
I can't
make
anybody
see
I can't
soften
anybody's
heart
but as
we've
seen
all the
way
through
Acts
the only
person
who can
do that
is the
person of
the Holy
Spirit
as he
begins to
work in
people's
lives
do you
remember
Lydia
that we
read
about
and God
opened
her heart
so we
need to
pray that
God by
his Holy
Spirit
will
soften
people's
hearts
we need
to ask
that God
by his
Spirit
will open
up blind
eyes
and will
unblock
deaf ears
and enable
people to
see the
beauty
of who
Jesus
is
and hear
the truth
of Jesus
sometimes
we need
to pray
more
than try
and tell
because it
is only
Christ
by the
Holy
Spirit
working in
people's
lives
that their
hearts will
become soft
and they
will welcome
Jesus
but there's a
third thing
that comes
from this
that I
think sums
up the
whole
of Acts
that gospel
ministry
continues
unhindered
yes
there is
opposition
yes
there has
been
rejection
we have
seen that
throughout
people were
imprisoned
people were
stoned to
death
it is a
journey
of suffering
but the
mission of
God
continues
look at
verse 30
for two
whole years
Paul stayed
there in
his own
rented
house
and welcomed
all who
came to
see him
boldly and
without hindrance
he preached
the kingdom
of God
and taught
about the
Lord Jesus
Christ
commentators
helpfully point
out that the
very last word
in the book
of Acts
in the original
is the word
unhindered
that's the
very last word
that's the very
last word
so verse 31
should read
something like
this
I don't say
this often
but here you
go
get a pen
out
and scribble
it
ok
this is what
it should
be
Paul
preached
the kingdom
of God
and taught
about the
Lord Jesus
Christ
boldly
and
unhindered
kind of like
dot dot dot
it's not the
end is it
Acts
closes with
Paul
under house
arrest
but yet his
gospel ministry
continues
he's there
welcoming
everybody
who will
come to
him
and he's
able to
speak
freely
about
Jesus
Paul
would later
write in
one of his
letters
he says
I am
suffering
in chains
but God's
word
is not
chained
God's
people
may suffer
God's
people
may be
imprisoned
but the
word of
God
and the
gospel
can never
be chained
or held
back
it's
remarkable
to think
that the
end of
Acts
is 30
years
after
Jesus
spoke
to
his
disciples
just
before
his
ascension
and he
spoke
to
his
disciples
and he
gave
the
promise
in
chapter
1
verse
8
that
they
would
be
witnesses
to
the
ends
of
the
earth
and
30
years
later
God
has
placed
his
witness
in
Rome
in
the
very
capital
of
the
greatest
empire
God
has
his
man
at
the
center
of
the
world's
greatest
power
preaching
unhindered
about
the
kingdom
of
God
isn't
that
incredible
and the
subtlety of
this should
not be
lost
the
Roman
empire
may have
been the
greatest
empire the
world has
ever seen
but it's
no more
is it
it's the
kingdom of
God that's
eternal
and God
had his
witness
right there
at the
very
heart
of that
capital
and
Caesar
may have
been a
victorious
conqueror
he may
have gone
through many
lands
and he
may have
won them
all over
but Caesar's
dead
in his
grave
his empire
is no
more
but Jesus
is the
risen king
who's
conquered
death
itself
reigning
and ruling
from heaven
this is
what Acts
28 is
telling us
you might
be asking
yourself
well what
happened to
Paul
what happened
after these
two years
well Luke
doesn't tell
us does
he
did he
stand trial
before Caesar
he might
have
did he
get to
Spain as
he had
planned
he could
have done
we just
don't know
but that's
the point
it's not
important for
us to
know what
happened
Paul
because this
isn't a
book about
Paul
it's not
a book
about his
life
it's about
the risen
Jesus
Christ
who rules
and reigns
over all
and who
will continue
his mission
through his
people and
through his
church
unhindered
like many
of the
witnesses
that we
have met
throughout
acts
we too
are going
to face
opposition
and in
many churches
and in
many countries
today they
face persecution
there will be
hardship
there will be
suffering
simply because
we follow
Christ
but through
it all
God is
going to
save his
people
and he's
going to
build his
church
and he's
going to
reach the
nations
and his
mission
will be
accomplished
it may
start out
as being
the end
of the
beginning
but we
are now
firmly
placed
at the
beginning
of the
end
as we
sit here
today
we are
in
acts
29
territory
all
this has
gone
before us
and so
much more
has happened
and so
much more
is still
to happen
and what's
our legacy
going to
be
when we're
passed
through this
life
what will
be the
legacy
of your
life
the
legacy
of this
church
in relation
to God's
mission
there are
still people
groups that
are unreached
there are
still towns
in Ireland
without a
gospel believing
church
we all have
friends
and we all
have family
who do not
yet know
Christ
as their
Lord and
Saviour
but that's
why we
have been
rescued
that's why
we're in
God's
kingdom
because God's
purpose for
you is to
keep living
out the
mission
where you
are
and I
pray that
God
will fill
us
and fill
this church
by the
power of
his Holy
Spirit
that we
would be
people who
pray for
his mission
that we
would give
for his
mission
and that we
would go
for his
mission
let's pray
that right
now
we thank
you so
much for
Jesus
we thank
you for
the good
news of
the kingdom
of God
that Jesus
Christ is
risen
has defeated
death
destroyed
evil
and through
our hope
in you
we have
life today
and life
eternal
thank you
that you are
sovereign
over our
life
sovereign
over every
family
represented
here
ruler
over this
world
we pray
that by
the power
of your
Holy
Spirit
you would
soften
hard hearts
open up
people's
eyes
unblock
their deaf
ears
that they
may welcome
Jesus
into their
life
and their
families
and we
pray that
you would
fill us
and that
you would
fill this
church with
the power
of your
Holy Spirit
that we
would be a
people who
pray
that we
would be a
people who
give
and that we
would be
people who
go
father
work through
us we
pray
in all of
our weaknesses
and in all
our failures
and all our
upsets
and in
everything that
goes wrong
you are
working your
plan out
and we
praise you
that it's
not up to
us but
you working
through us
please help
us and we
thank you for
your mission
and for
calling us to
be a part
of it
Amen
we're going
to sing
I guess we
don't normally
associate this
with being a
Christmas carol
but in some
ways it does
remind us of
the incarnation
of Christ
entering into
the world
for us
but with
Christ entering
into the world
he calls us
to follow him
to bring our
lives as a
daily offering
of worship
to the
servant king
so may this
be our
prayer
in response
to what
we've been
looking at
through Acts
and may we
live this
mission out
together
as his
people
let's
pray