March 22, 2026

Acts 4:23-37

A Vignette of a Gospel-Saturated Fellowship

Sunday Sermons

Human history is filled with stories of people responding to pressure, but the early church offers a unique and powerful blueprint for gospel renewal. Rather than retreating or praying for safety in a world that felt vulnerable and in crisis, these believers leaned into the “unshakable kingdom” of God. They didn’t ask for the threats to disappear; they asked for the boldness to make much of Jesus. How we respond to God’s sovereignty and grace, especially in times of transition and trial, remains the most defining thing about Christians to a watching world.

Join guest teacher Scotty Smith this Sunday, March 22, as we continue our study of Acts 4:23-37 and consider how God’s greatness compels our worship, how His Word shapes our worldview, and how His radical grace transforms our lives.

Speaker

Scotty Smith

Series

Acts of the Apostles

Go to Series

Scripture

Acts 4:23-37

Topics
Growth & Discipleship Worldview & Culture

Sermon Notes

Acts 4:23-37

A Vignette of a Gospel-Saturated Fellowship

Pastor Scotty Smith

1. God’s greatness compelled them to worship – vv. 23-24

2. God’s Word shaped their worldview – vv. 25-28

3. God’s Son, Jesus, focused their sufferings – vv. 29-30

4. God’s Spirit empowered their witness  – v. 31

5. God’s grace transformed their lives – vv. 32-37

Discussion Questions

  • What does God’s sovereignty mean to you? How does God’s sovereignty function in times of crisis today? How is Jesus sovereign in your life?
  • What does living boldly for Christ mean to you? How can we be more generous in our lives, and what would that look like? How can we model boldness for Jesus and yet have that boldness come across as grace to others?
  • How do you deal with threats or adversity in your life? What do you do to manage these challenges? How and where can Jesus be brought into these situations?
  • If the word of Jesus is beautifully offensive, have you ever been at odds with someone or a situation when the words of Jesus have been discussed? How did you respond to that situation?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs:

“All Creatures Of Our God And King“ by St. Francis of Assisi
“Come, Christians, Join to Sing“ by Christian H. Bateman, arr. Zach White
“My Jesus I Love Thee“ by William R. Featherston and Adoniram Judson Gordon
“Jesus, Firm Foundation“ by George Keith, R. Keen
“Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois
All songs are used with permission. CCLI License no. 2003690

Looking for our Hymns of the Week or resources to worship anytime? We’ve curated a playlist of hymns TVC Worship has led over the years on our YouTube Channel!

Call To Worship: How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place

Leader: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
People: Our souls long, yes faint for the courts of the Lord; our hearts and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Leader: Who is like you, O Lord, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
People: It is good to be near God; make the Lord God our refuge and tell of all His works.

Leader: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
All: Blessed be His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory! Amen and Amen!

Classic Prayer: Clement of Rome

We beg you, Lord and Master, to be our help and aid. Save those among us who are in tribulation; have mercy on the lowly; lift up the fallen; show Yourself unto the needy; heal the ungodly; convert the wanderers of Your people; feed the hungry; release our prisoners; raise up the weak; comfort the fainthearted. Let all know that You are God alone, and Jesus Christ is your Son, and we are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture.

Confession of Faith: Psalm 23:1

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Psalm 23:1

Leader: What do we mean when we say the “Lord is our shepherd?”
People: As our shepherd, God lovingly guides, guards, and protects us. Through all of life, He leads us in the way He wants us to go; He daily walks beside us; and He waits to welcome us home when this life is over.

Leader: What do we mean when we say “We shall not want?”
People: We can be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and for the future, we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will ever separate us from His love.

TVC Prayer Ministry

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