The Trails Church

In Acts 28:1–16 we reflect on the end of this “Extraordinary Journey” that led Paul next to the island of Malta and eventually to the heart of the Roman Empire where not only would he defend himself before Caesar but make disciples for the glory of God.

Acts 27 tells the tale of a fierce storm, a fragile ship, and frightened sailors. But in the middle of the storm stands the steady faith of a man who trusts in the one who is the Sovereign of the Seas. This chapter contains incredible detail about one specific event, and yet we discover truths here to help us navigate many different kinds of events in life: unexpected outcomes, stormy trials, and even shipwrecks we may endure. Whether you find yourself in the middle of a storm or resting between them, I want to remind you of three truths about God you can cling in every season.

Acts 26 records Paul's defense of the gospel before Roman officials. He tells of his former life, his encounter with Christ, and the transformation that followed. At the heart of his speech is the message of Jesus' death and resurrection: the very center of our faith. The scene concludes with the gospel news ringing out that forgiveness is still available to all who believe.

Good Friday slows us down. It invites us to linger near the cross. We reflect on those final moments of Jesus' earthly suffering: how he was mocked and scorned, tried and beaten, crowned with thorns and nailed to a Roman cross, lifted up and crucified as a man humiliated, rejected. But this death was no ordinary death. It was the death of death itself. In 1 Peter 3:18, we are not only shown the significance of Christ's suffering, but the very purpose behind it.

In Acts 25, Paul remains in chains, not because God has forgotten him, but because Christ is forming him. Through his enemies, through their opposition, persecution, and their schemes to take his life, Paul is sustained, carried along by the presence and promises of Christ. Today, we highlight three specific comforts that Paul quietly clings to, so that as we face trials of many kinds, we would cling to them as well, as we follow the footsteps of the Savior.

Acts 24 records the Apostle Paul standing before Governor Felix in what is essentially a kangaroo court. Falsely accused by fierce opponents, Paul nevertheless seizes the moment to glorify Christ. His unshakable joy and gospel courage under pressure offer a helpful model to us today as we face trials of many kinds.

This sermon is titled, “Acts 23 in Three Acts,” and, as the name implies, we will look at three different sections of this text. Act 1 is called “Man versus Man.” Act 2 is called “Man versus Himself” and Act 3 is called “Man versus God.”

Today we have another scene of remarkable gospel courage. Here we meet the apostle Paul in Jerusalem. He's just been delivered from an angry Jewish mob into the hands of Roman authorities. The one was surely going to kill him; the other, surely going to punish him. What does the apostle do? What does he say? How does he conduct himself in this moment? What is at the heart of all of it? And what does that mean for us?

In Acts 21:1-36, we encounter a chapter filled with a man earnestly pursuing the will of the Lord. As the Apostle Paul journeys to Jerusalem, he gains deeper insight into God's purposes for his life: some expected others surprising. Yet through it all, one truth remains clear: Paul understood that God's will for him was to walk in the footsteps of his Savior. What we learn in these three scenes are qualities each of us might pray for as we seek to have “The Will of the Lord Be Done” in our lives: 1. A Submissive Heart to God's Leading, 2. A Sacrificial Love for the Church, and 3. A Steadfast Faith in All Circumstances.

As the Ephesian elders look upon Paul's face for the last time, the weight of the moment is unmistakable. Yet beyond the emotion, this passage provides a profound model for ministry—one defined by integrity, gospel faithfulness, and deep trust in God's sustaining grace. It's a word we all need to hear, one that speaks directly to our church today. In this second part of our study on “Gospel Goodbye,” we will reflect on how to live, lead, and leave well, both in ministry and in life, by tracing three key elements: A Steadfast Example, A Strong Exhortation, and A Strategic Exit.

Acts 20:17–24 records Paul's final words to the elders of the church in Ephesus. Standing on the shore, he reflects on his ministry among them, urging them to continue in the example he has set. At the heart of this passage is Paul's deep love for the Lord Jesus, his devotion to the people of God, and his unwavering commitment to the ongoing work of the gospel. In this “Gospel Goodbye,” we hear an echo of what should be the passion of every believer throughout history: 1. A Life of Gospel Service, 2. The Labor of Gospel Ministry, and 3. A Longing for Gospel Reward.

Acts 20:1-16 helps understand that 1. Gospel Partnership Refreshes Us (1-6) 2. Gospel Power Reawakens Us (7-12), and 3. Gospel Purpose Refocuses Us (13-16)

Acts 19:21-41 tells the story of how the Gospel advanced so powerfully in Ephesus that the city's idols could not stand against it. As people came to recognize Jesus Christ alone as the True and Living God, the idols that once held their devotion simply faded from significance. However, not everyone experienced this transformation. When the prevailing culture and its established ways of life are threatened by the Gospel, resistance is inevitable. This is “The Way of the Gospel,” and we will consider it under two headings: 1. The Gospel Transforms Lives and Disrupts Culture (21-27), 2. The Gospel Advances Despite Opposition (28-41).

In Acts 19:8-20, we see the power of God's Word at work—it strengthens believers, unsettles opponents, exposes deception, breaks spiritual strongholds, leads sinners to repentance, and brings true revival. As people witness the supremacy of Jesus, they confess their sins, turn from their idols, and surrender to Him. As we reflect on this passage and consider this ancient place “Where the Word Prevails,” my prayer is that this place - our hearts, homes, church, and community would likewise be transformed by the power of God's Word. We will consider this under two key headings: 1. The Word Increases With Power, 2. The Word Triumphs Over Darkness.

Guest speaker Bob Lepine shares best practices for a Thriving Marriage as part of our marriage conference weekend: (1) Extravagant Love, (2) Generous Forgiveness, and (3) Enthusiastic Encouragement.

Today's passage serves as a powerful reminder that (1) although Paul desired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known; he was equally committed to the pastoral care of these young congregations. That (2) discipleship, even by “unschooled,” ordinary men and women, empowered by the Holy Spirit is necessary for believers to grow in their understanding of the Christian faith. And finally, (3) that it is the Spirit of God that transforms our lives, calling us into faith in Christ. I've outlined today's text in three sections. 1. Paul: Devoted to Strengthening New Churches (18:18–23) 2. Aquila and Priscilla: Humbly Discipling Apollos (18:24–28) 3. Paul: Proclaiming the Gospel to the Ephesians (19:1–7)

Acts 18:1–17 recounts the Apostle Paul's journey to Corinth, a city that proved to be one of his most challenging mission fields. Yet, it was in this very place that Paul experienced God's unfailing faithfulness to sustain him in the work he was called to do. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that God calls His people to gospel ministry—even in the face of opposition—and assures them of His presence every step of the way. From this text, I want to highlight three specific gifts God has given us in the work He calls us to: 1. The Gift of Gospel Partnership, 2. The Grace of Timely Encouragement, 3. The Experience of God's Faithfulness.

In Acts 17:16-34, the Apostle Paul is deeply provoked by the idolatry in Athens and boldly proclaims the truth of the risen Christ to a skeptical audience at Mars Hill. His message declares that the one true God has made Himself known in Jesus, calling all people to repent and believe. I'd like to use our headings this morning as prayers that we would pray for ourselves, those in our families, the pew next to us, and for our whole church. That the Lord might grant us: 1. A Heart for the Lost, 2. The Courage to Stand for the Gospel, and 3. Humility to Trust God for the Outcome.

Acts 17:1–15 paints two powerful scenes that beautifully illustrate the centrality of Scripture in the life of every believer. The first shows Paul modeling how to engage others with God's Word—reasoning, explaining, proving, and persuading. The second shows the response of people examining, receiving, and believing the Word of God. Together, these scenes teach us that delighting in God and in his Word are essential for growing in the Christian faith. The example of these early believers invites us to follow their lead and: 1. Share Christ from Scripture, 2. See Christ in Scripture, and 3. Savor Christ in All Things.

With Christmas in the rear view mirror, we have a New Year and 2025 on the horizon; the disciples were similarly heading into a season of life where they had no clue what was in store for them. All they had were the words and promises of Jesus to cling to, to prepare their hearts for what lies ahead. The same is true for us. But with that in mind I want to ask you a question to help shape our time together: How does the reality that the God of the universe loves you, shape the way you live or want to live in this New Year?

John 1:14 summarizes the message of Christmas in one sentence like this: God became flesh and dwelt among us. Here we are met with the truth that invites us to a lifetime of thoughtful meditation and worship. My prayer this morning is that we would take up that invitation—to behold the wonder of Christ's first coming and to live with a steadfast hope in His promised return.

John 1:6-8: God Deploys Messengers to Share the Light of the Gospel to Those in Darkness

John 1:1–5 welcomes us to behold the eternal glory of Jesus Christ, the Word who was with God and is God, through whom all things were made. It invites us to look to the Light that shines into the darkness of this broken world, bringing life, hope, and salvation. This morning, I invite you to look with wide-eyed wonder at “The Light of Life” by exploring three profound truths from this passage that reveal who the real Jesus is: Specifically, he is 1. Jesus Christ the Lord, 2. Jesus Christ the Creator, and 3. Jesus Christ the Light of the World.

Acts 16:16–34 teaches us that “Gospel Thanksgiving” is not dependent on life's circumstances but arises from the profound truth of Christ's work in our lives. Whether in freedom or suffering, in worship or witnessing, the gospel empowers us to live with grateful hearts, reflecting the transforming grace of Jesus to the world. This passage highlights the power of the gospel in three profound ways: 1. Deliverance From Evil, 2. A Song in the Night, 3. A Sure Salvation.

In Acts 16:6–15, we find the Lord sovereignly directing, working through, and adding to His people. Paul and his missionary team are guided by God to a new mission field, while simultaneously preparing hearts to receive the good news of the gospel. The passage presents “A Call to the Unconverted,” unfolding in two key moments which we will look at under their headings given in the English Standard Version of Scripture: 1. The Macedonian Call, and 2. The Conversion of Lydia.

Acts 15:36–16:5 unfolds in two scenes of parting and meeting, moving and changing, each advancing God's kingdom. Here, we see God sovereignly guiding His people through disagreements, new partnerships, and the Spirit's leading—all to accomplish His purposes of spreading the gospel and strengthening His church. We will explore each scene under the headings: 1. A Parting of Ways, and 2. A Providential Meeting.

What does it take to inherit eternal life? We are going to examine that question this morning as we walk through Acts 15. And we will do so under two headings: The Victory of Grace and the Victory of Love.

(1) Sowing the Seed (2) Strengthening the Saints

Acts 13 records the inaugural sermon preached by the Apostle Paul. Our sermon will focus on Acts 13:13-52, which presents the Apostle Paul's inaugural sermon. This passage provides a word of encouragement as it emphasizes God's grace throughout the Old Testament, highlights Israel's rejection of the promised Messiah, declares forgiveness of sins, and illustrates the inevitable division the gospel brings.

The thimble-sized passage of Acts 13:38–39 holds an ocean of gospel truth. This passage announces what the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus have made possible, while also promising salvation to all who believe upon Christ. Our brief sermon will be organized under two main headings, examining each verse individually: 1. A Glorious Proclamation, 2. A Gospel Invitation.

Acts 13 marks the beginning of Paul's first missionary journey and details the commissioning service of the first planned missionaries sent out overseas from a local church. The church in Antioch appoints Barnabas and Paul, who are sent to spread the gospel. During their mission, they face opposition but also witness a powerful conversion. Our sermon is entitled “A Missionary Journey” and will be organized under two main themes found our text: 1. A Sending Church and 2. A Sent People.

The scenes of Acts 12:1–24 depict a roller coaster of critical events in the life of the early church: heartbreaking loss in the death of the Apostle James, wonder at the supernatural deliverance of the Apostle Peter, and the chilling end of King Herod. The chapter opens with the church experiencing subtraction but ends with multiplication; it begins with sorrow but concludes with joy. Through it all, we hear the call of Samuel Stone's hymn: “Shall the Church Now Faint or Fear, when the comforter is near.” Today, I hope to show you three reasons why we should not faint or fear in the Christian life: 1. Our God is Sovereign Over Suffering, 2. Our God is Sovereign Over Salvation, 3. Our God is Sovereign Over All.

Acts 11 contains three different “Reports of Gospel Growth.” Each report presents pictures of the early church as they grew in understanding the mission of God in the world, and their role in it. As the gospel of Jesus Christ reoriented the lives of these early believers, remarkable things took place. We will organize these “Reports of Gospel Growth” under three headings showing how the church both practiced and grew in: 1. Gospel Unity, 2. Gospel Ministry, and 3. Gospel Generosity.

Acts 10 is a pivotal chapter not only in the book of Acts but also in the storyline of Scripture. Here for the first time, we see the gospel spread to the Gentiles. Through a series of events the gospel is proclaimed, and a group of Gentiles gladly receive the good news and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord. This chapter truly is, “A Vision from and of Heaven.” It not only includes visions from God but also a vision of what the kingdom of God looks like – a people from many nations, tribes, and tongues – joined together and made one in Christ. We will cover all these verses under three headings: 1. A Divinely Orchestrated Plan, 2. A Glorious Gospel Proclaimed, and 3. A God-Ordained Response.

Acts 9:32-43 describes two scenes and details two remarkable miracles performed by Jesus through the Apostle Peter. These miracles serve as powerful testimonies to the presence and power of God leading many to believe in the Lord. This passage teaches us that both in the book of Acts, and even today that Jesus is working through his people to accomplish his mission. We will see “The Life-Giving Mission of Jesus” at work first in 1. The Healing of Aeneas, and 2. The Resurrection of Tabitha.

Acts 9:19–31 continues to tell the story of how the gospel of Jesus Christ transformed every part of Saul's life. Over the course of one chapter, he goes from being a violent persecutor of Christians to a passionate preacher of Jesus Christ. In the early days of his new life in Christ, we find multiple accounts that help frame the rest of the apostle's days: a passion to proclaim the good news of Jesus with others, serious opposition various people groups, and the gospel expanding through his ministry – and the ministry of his fellow believers. These verses present A Glorious Calling that God placed on his life, a life that included: 1. A Call to Proclamation, 2. A Call to Persecution, and 3. A Call to Multiplication.

Acts 9:1–19 contains one of the most significant moments in the history of the Christian faith: the conversion of the Apostle Paul. Here the man who had been utterly committed to the persecution of Jesus' disciples becomes a disciple of Jesus himself. This is the story of “A Glorious Conversion” marked by the matchless grace of Jesus from first to last. This was true not only for the Apostle Paul, but also for you and me.

Through Psalms 58, 59, and 60, we discover a constant pattern that we've come to expect in these Psalms of David: Problems, Prayers, and Promises. Problems never seem to be far out of reach in David's life, leading him to prayerful dependence on God, where he rehearses the promises of God to him while standing in God's faithfulness and on His Word. David's life is a parable. It's a picture of the Constant Christian Life. I want us to look at these three chapters under three very simple headings that I think we'll find in our lives as well: (1) Constant Problems, (2) Constant Prayer, and (3) Constant Promises.

Romans 12:1–2 describes the Christian life as one of living worship. The Apostle Paul pleads with believers to see how the gospel provides everything we need: a secure position before God, the mercy to daily follow Jesus, and the power necessary to grow in Christ. Yet, this call to view all of life as an act of “Living Worship” is only possible as our lives are 1. Built on a Gospel Foundation, 2. Fueled by Gospel Motivation, and 3. Filled with Gospel Transformation.

Psalm 57 is the song of a heart beating with passion for God's glory. David packs a list of reasons he must sing to the Lord in his introduction, repeats more reasons in his chorus, and keeps giving reasons for songs to be sung all the way to the crescendo. Because of the countless ways God had shown and proven himself, David had “10,000 Reasons to Sing.” And because of Jesus Christ, so do we.

Psalm 56 provides a song to sing when we feel pulled between fear and faith. Though David is surrounded by enemies in hot pursuit of his life, he purposefully puts his trust in God. Here we learn not only how we might trust God in the face of fear but are also given reasons why we should. We will outline our passage with two great comforts drawn from this text that are meant to either calm your current fears or prepare your heart for the next time you might say, “When I Am Afraid.” These twin comforts are: 1. My God is With Me, and 2. My God is For Me.

Psalm 55 is a prayer of David as the burdens of life pressed down hard upon him. While he honestly sings of the sting of being betrayed by a close friend, he also sings of the healing balm of his faithful God. As we explore this song where David describes a specific situation in his life, my prayer is that it would both instruct and equip each of us in many situations in our lives how to, “Cast Your Burden on the Lord.” We will organize our thoughts under three headings: 1. The Wings of Prayer, 2. The Cry of Deliverance, and 3. The Heart of God.

1 Peter 2:4-5 contains an inspiring description of the identity and purpose of the church. After anchoring us in the glorious gospel, the apostle builds a framework for the church to understand the role and responsibility we have been given. These verses construct a concise understanding of what it means for us to be God's “Spiritual House.” We will organize our thoughts under three headings as we survey these blueprints to discover how the church is: 1. Built on the Foundation of Christ, 2. Shaped into a Spiritual House, 3. Fashioned into a Royal Priesthood.

Here is David, once again, facing adversity not of his own making, and as a gift to us, we have a window into how David dealt with this adversity before God. Tim Keller said in an interview that the psalms can essentially be summed up in “Lord, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will but thine be done… except the psalms give you 150 versions of how you actually get your heart to be able to say that.” That is obviously too broad a brush; not all psalms fit under that rubric, but many do, and we are certainly in a stretch here that fit perfectly. So that is what we will look at this morning - we will look at this righteous man, fleeing for his life, betrayed by people that he's done no wrong, and we'll look at how he responds to it and ask what we should learn from it. We will walk through this under three main headers - first, “A Righteous Man's Prayer” in verses 1-3, then “A Righteous Man's Confidence” in verses 4-5, and finally, “A Righteous Man's Praise” in verses 6-7.

Guilty Hearts on Trial: Psalm 53 (1) An Accusation is Made – 53:1, (2) A Witness is Called – 53:2-3, and (3) A Verdict is Rendered (almost) – 53:4-5

Psalm 52 is a song written by King David when all around seemed to be marked by suffering and sorrow. People he loved were killed, people who hated him prospered, and evil appeared to have won the day. In this moment, David reminds himself and us of the steadfast love of God, the perfect justice that one day will come, and confesses his desire to bear fruit in his life. I have titled this Psalm “Like a Green Olive Tree,” a phrase found at the end of our text and will outline the passage by the divisions you will notice on the page tracing three specific themes: 1. The Root and the Fruit, 2. A Harvest of Judgment, 3. Flourishing in Every Season.

Acts 8:26–40 contains a God-ordained, Christ-exalting, Spirit-led gospel conversation between two people. The path of the Philip the Evangelist is crossed by an Ethiopian eunuch in a search to understand Scripture. The result is nothing less than remarkable as Philip shares “The Good News About Jesus.”