• Encouragement for the Moment
    Aug 30 2021

    As world continues to change by becoming more post-Christian and adapting to a post-pandemic world, the church finds itself in a period where change is the new normal. For this season, we are looking at the book of Acts to remind ourselves how the early church followed God as God led the church into the future that was unfolding before them.

    We can forget that Paul was human. Throughout his journeys, Paul became frustrated—as we all would given the situations and conflicts Paul dealt with on a regular basis. How did Paul keep going? At just the right moment God gave Paul the encouragement he needed. And God will do the same for us.

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    43 mins
  • Gilulim and God
    Aug 30 2021

    As world continues to change by becoming more post-Christian and adapting to a post-pandemic world, the church finds itself in a period where change is the new normal. For this season, we are looking at the book of Acts to remind ourselves how the early church followed God as God led the church into the future that was unfolding before them.

    As Paul walks through the city of Athens, he sees idols to all the different gods—including the idol to an unknown god. Paul takes the opportunity to share with the Athenians who that God is. It would be a mistake to think that it is only ancient cultures that are full of idols. We have ours as well. Even those of us who follow Jesus may still have unknown gods in our lives that need to be seen and dealt with.

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    41 mins
  • Spirit and Church
    Jun 4 2021

    As world continues to change by becoming more post-Christian and adapting to a post-pandemic world, the church finds itself in a period where change is the new normal. For this season, we are looking at the book of Acts to remind ourselves how the early church followed God as God led the church into the future that was unfolding before them.

    Acts 13 gives us a unique picture of the unique relationship between the Spirit and the church. The church does not operate independently from the Spirit, nor the Spirit without the church. God has chosen the church to unite itself to what God is doing in the world. Where the Spirit goes, the church follows. What the Spirit does, the church cooperates with. This is what God intends for his body on earth.

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    32 mins
  • Open to the Possibility
    Jun 4 2021

    As world continues to change by becoming more post-Christian and adapting to a post-pandemic world, the church finds itself in a period where change is the new normal. For this season, we are looking at the book of Acts to remind ourselves how the early church followed God as God led the church into the future that was unfolding before them.

    The miraculous stories of the Bible capture our attention—mostly because that’s the way we want it to work. In the story of Peter’s supernatural escape from jail we have to wonder if the miracle is what Luke wants us to focus on? Maybe not. Maybe what Luke wants us to see is that the miracle happens in the midst of ordinary events. Luke isn’t giving us a prescription for how to get the miracle, but rather, to be open to the possibility that our ordinary, everyday lives might be interrupted by an act of God.

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    32 mins
  • The Grace of God at Work
    Jun 4 2021

    As world continues to change by becoming more post-Christian and adapting to a post-pandemic world, the church finds itself in a period where change is the new normal. For this season, we are looking at the book of Acts to remind ourselves how the early church followed God as God led the church into the future that was unfolding before them.

    The book of Acts begins to shift its focus from Jerusalem to Antioch. Antioch was a unique city in the Roman Empire in that it was extremely cosmopolitan and diverse. It’s not surprise then that the church in Antioch became an extremely diverse place. What is surprising is that Paul becomes one of the leaders of this church and the church becomes a launching point for Paul’s missionary journeys. In both the diversity of the church and the reconciliation with Paul, we see the grace of God at work. And we see a church we want to be a part of.

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    33 mins
  • When the Gospel Feels Dangerous
    Apr 23 2021

    As world continues to change by becoming more post-Christian and adapting to a post-pandemic world, the church finds itself in a period where change is the new normal. For this season, we are looking at the book of Acts to remind ourselves how the early church followed God as God led the church into the future that was unfolding before them.

    Acts 9 ends with two stories involving Peter. In the first, he heals a lame man name Aeneas, and in the second he raises a woman, Tabitha, from the dead. While the miracles capture our attention, a little detail often goes unnoticed. Luke tells us that Peter encounters these people while traveling the country visiting “the saints”? What does it mean to be a saint? Why does Luke not just include the stories of these two saints, but their names? What does all this mean for us?

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    31 mins
  • When the Gospel Feels Dangerous
    Apr 16 2021

    As world continues to change by becoming more post-Christian and adapting to a post-pandemic world, the church finds itself in a period where change is the new normal. For this season, we are looking at the book of Acts to remind ourselves how the early church followed God as God led the church into the future that was unfolding before them.

    Saul’s conversion is both wonderful and terrifying. Those who heard of Saul’s relentless persecution of the church were rightly afraid of him. In a very real sense, the gospel made people feel unsafe. What do we do with that? How do we both protect the church and remain open to God moving in the hearts and minds of those who once hurt us?

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    28 mins
  • Seeing All Things New
    Apr 15 2021

    As world continues to change by becoming more post-Christian and adapting to a post-pandemic world, the church finds itself in a period where change is the new normal. For this season, we are looking at the book of Acts to remind ourselves how the early church followed God as God led the church into the future that was unfolding before them.

    One of the most well known stories in the book of Acts is the story of Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. It’s no wonder that this story of a persecutor of the church becoming one of its most effective missionaries is well loved. But at the heart of this story is the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is a precursor to Saul’s conversion. Just as Jesus died on the cross, Saul died on the road to Damascus. Just as Jesus rose from dead, Paul rose from Saul’s past.

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    31 mins