The official podcast feed of Fremont Presbyterian Church in Sacramento, Ca.
Listen to the first edition of Fremont's conversation podcast where we will hear testimonies and have conversations about what God is doing in the lives of our church and in our community. Today we're featuring a conversation with Jill Zilaff about how God has grown her heart to be His witness over the past few years and what that looks like practically in her life. Jill also shares about the Alpha Course, which starts again on September 13th and is a great class to which to invite others. Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor
One of the most effective things we can do when approaching a passage of scripture is to ask good questions. We may not initially get our answers, but as we allow the questions the passage invites us to ask percolate in our hearts and minds, we may be surprised as to the treasure that lies beneath the surface as we're willing to dig. I want to invite us to ask two questions of our passage to prepare us for Sunday. First, from Acts 15:36-41. How do we see God's purposes expand through the folly and brokenness of people? The second question I want to invite us to ask arises from Acts 16:1-5. If Paul fought so hard in last week's passage to ensure that circumcision wasn't a requirement for salvation, then why does he circumcise Timothy? Acts 15:36-16:5 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
What hills should Christians be willing to die on? And not die on? I suppose if people enjoyed arguing, one could debate endless topics until they're blue in the face. Why does the church “die on a hill” in Acts 15? Let's compare two of Paul's letters to see if we can get an answer. In Philippians 1:15-18, Paul addresses those who have been preaching the gospel with impure motives, and they haven't been very friendly towards Paul. In this case, Paul rejoices, not because of their impure motives but because the true gospel is being preached. In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul has a much harsher tone. In the region of Galatia, they're getting the gospel wrong, and therefore, Paul will die on that hill. Acts 15 centers around the gospel, grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Therefore, the church will die on that hill. I encourage you to ponder this question that our passage invites us to ask. What type of burden are you carrying around that was not put there by Christ? May Christ lead you and me into an ever-increasing measure of freedom that comes through knowing him. Acts 15:1-35 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some (1 Corinthians 9:19-22).” Paul isn't saying that he compromises the gospel message but rather seeks to meet each person where they're at with the unchanging gospel. In our Acts 14 passage, Paul's approach to being Jesus' witness is different than we've seen before. Can you guess why. Look at verses 8-15. What can we learn from Paul as we seek to be faithful witnesses for Jesus? Acts 14:1-28 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
This week we look at the aftermath of Paul's first sermon in Acts (13:44-52). We see God bringing both eternal life and the ability to believe it to people with no rational reason to turn to this new Jewish sect. And we see others who thought they had God figured out missing his greatest gift - this is for us as a warning, and not to judge. And what is happening with the Word of the Lord here? It confronts everyone and shifts everything. What is it? Acts 13:44-52 Elder Jared Fisher Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Pastor Matthew McCleary, Associate Pastor
As we continue in our study of Acts this week, we'll look at Acts 13:13-43. Paul and Barnabas continue their missionary journey and much of the passage is taken up by a sermon Paul delivers to the people of Antioch in Pisidia. What we find in his sermon is a reminder of what makes Christianity so compelling, so unique, and so trustworthy compared to other worldviews and religious systems: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection is the hinge of all human history, the great before and after. Before there was death and darkness, after is light and new life! As believers we are resurrected people, looking forward to eternity with Christ yet sure of that hope even now. This passage is an invitation to live in the confidence of the miracle of the resurrection. Acts 13:13-43 Pastor Matthew McCleary, Associate Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Chapter 13 begins the gospel going to the end of the earth. For centuries prior to the book of Acts, the scriptures told us that God's grand purpose was that all nations would praise Him and know Him. Jesus said that when he was lifted up, he would draw all peoples (different nations) to himself. Acts 13 tells us of the first missionary endeavor, which became the launching pad through which God would be praised by all nations. This is still God's heart today. We still have many people groups who have never heard of Jesus, nor do they have scripture in a language they understand. Acts 13:1-12 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Chapter 12 of the Book of Acts wraps up with Herod dying, Saul and Barnabus completing their mission in Jerusalem and heading back to Antioch. Luke divides Acts into two parts and Chapter 12 is the end of the first portion. The good news of Jesus Christ dying and being raised from the dead as the ultimate sacrifice for sin has been proclaimed in Jerusalem and beyond, primarily through the leadership of Peter. The second portion of Acts will highlight Paul's missionary endeavors. As we recap the first 12 chapters to see how God has worked through His people, we see that the Word of God has increased and multiplied in 4 ways - the spoken word, the written word, the silent word, and the Living Word. It's as vital and vibrant today as it was for the early church. How can we as individuals and corporately continue to see God's word increase and multiply? Acts 12:20-25 Elder Greg McGinnis Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Acts 12:1-19 raises a natural question. The church prayed for both James and Peter, but James was killed by the sword, while Peter was miraculously delivered. Why did these two apostles receive such different outcomes when the same group of people were praying for them. These types of questions in our own lives can make it difficult to pray. We can feel discouraged. We can grow cynical. We can grow resigned to the fact that, God's going to do what God's going to do. Yet, even with the inevitable disappointment with James, the early church continues to fervently seek God in prayer. They pray for Peter. One of the things we learn from the early church was that prayer was so baked into their regular rhythms, that it wasn't something that was contingent upon them getting the answer they wanted. While this didn't necessarily make it easy when their prayers seemed to go unanswered, these rhythms did keep them in regular communion with God where they were constantly seeing answers to prayer. Acts 12:1-19 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Persecution of Christians became the catalyst by which God's Word spread, missionally minded churches were formed, and unity was realized. Acts 11:19-30 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
God has worked in unmistakable ways to offer salvation for the Gentiles; therefore, the Church must follow suit. The Church doesn't write the script; they follow the script. They Church doesn't draw up the play; they run the play. When the church decides to become the scriptwriter rather than the script-follower, bad things happen. Acts 11:1-18 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Pastor Matthew McCleary, Associate Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
This week we look at Acts 10, in which God uses two divine visions to reach a Gentile man and, in doing this, he bursts the doors of the church open to a whole new group of people! Acts 10:1-48 Pastor Matthew McCleary, Associate Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Jesus bestows supernatural, healing grace for the sake of turning people to himself. Acts 9:32-43 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Acts 9:19b-31 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Jesus lovingly and decisively intervenes on behalf of his church to protect and preserve her. Acts 9:1-19 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
We're back in Acts series with Acts 8, looking at the Spirit of God orchestrating a divine encounter that results in the joyful conversion of an unexpected new believer. Acts 8:26-40 Pastor Matthew McCleary, Associate Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Adam Willard, Minister for Missions and Evangelism
For Missions Sunday, we're going to begin to dive into the topic of “What is the Local Church's Role in Missions?” Is it to meet as many physical needs as we can? Share the Gospel? Outreach? Send money to people who can do these things? This is a big question that we're not going to get fully answered in one sermon. But at least we can start to think through the question as a church and what the Bible has to say about it. Recently, our Local and Go Global Mission Teams have started to try and rediscover what missions is, because it's hard for us to discern what our role in Missions is if we don't have a clear understanding of what Missions is. Guest Speaker: Robert Thiel, former International Director of Africa Inland Mission Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
The astonishing (and sometimes hard to believe) message of the Gospel is that it's free. We may not offer money for it, but in what ways do we act like we need to earn God's favor? In what ways do we seek to put God in our debt by our good works? In what ways do we think God owes us because of something we've done? We are reminded in today's passage, that the gospel is not for purchase. Instead, it is a free gift through Jesus' costly purchase of us. Act 8:4-25 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
Because Jesus reigns and rules from heaven, we can be gripped by peace and assured that his purposes will prevail. Acts 7:54-8:3 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
God's presence cannot be confined to our self-imposed limitations, and to do so is to enter into false worship rather than true worship. Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
We continue in our Acts series with the first of three weeks studying the life and death of Stephen. Today we'll see that through his opposition and trial, Stephen remains faithful and calm resting in the presence of Jesus. Acts 6:8-15 Pastor Matthew McCleary, Associate Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org
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