Westland Free Methodist Church

Today we move away from literal trials, to literal storms as Paul is taken to Rome. This story humanizes Paul and pushed us to ask many important questions. Join Andy as we journey through this fast-paced part of Acts.

Now we find Paul appearing before King Agrippa and Governor Festus in a grand public hearing, and he uses the opportunity to share his testimony of encountering the risen Jesus and being called to preach to the Gentiles. As we dive into the text we look at how people respond to this approach by Paul, and what we can learn through the Holy Spirit's teaching us today.

Join pastor Andy as we journey through the next part of Pauls trial - He and the new governor Festus! And now, we see another plea to Rome! Pray for the Spirit to speak to you in the text and through Andy as you join us.

Where is God in the junk of your life? This is a question many ask, and today we see where God was in the junk of Paul's life - as he was arrested, on trial, and imprisoned for 2 years at Caesarea. May Jesus give us eyes to see where he is in our lives today too!

Last week we saw how Paul was faithful unto the Lord in the midst of a LOT. Now today we see how God is even more faithful to His children.

As the crowd erupts in anger, Paul is nearly flogged by the Romans but avoids it by revealing his Roman citizenship. Brought before the Sanhedrin, Paul causes a sharp division between the Pharisees and Sadducees by declaring his hope in the resurrection, leading to chaos and his rescue by soldiers. What a journey we will go on today with Paul, and how fitting we will see that this passage "randomly" happens to be on this Sunday with all that is currently going on in our world.

Dragged from the temple by an angry crowd, Paul seems finished—until he asks for one thing: permission to speak. In the silence that follows, he does NOT defend himself, as we might do. No, he instead connects personally with the people, shows he is a changed man, and tells the story that changed everything—his violent past, a blinding encounter with Jesus, and a calling that turned his world upside down. The crowd listens… right up until the moment grace crosses a line they can't accept. What happens when God's mercy reaches them instead of us?

As we jump back into Acts, Paul arrives in Jerusalem faithful to God's call, only to face misunderstanding, accusations, and arrest. Join with Andy as we continue our journey through the Acts of the Holy Spirit!

So Jesus has been born? What happened to Mary and Joseph after - when Jesus wouldn't sleep through the night? What does this have to do with us? Today we look at Luke 2 for thoughts and reflections around these and other things!

Join Erin today as we continue looking in Isaiah, preparing for the God who is "with us". Some of the questions we will be looking at today are below....Are we willing to trust Him? Do we really want Him and His desires, or do we really want to do things our own way?

What does it mean that there is a holiness highway that Isaiah prophecied about ~2700 years ago? And what does this have to do with us, today? Find out as we join Andy this third Advent Sunday of the season.

Here we continue in the advent season while going through words from the prophet Isaiah. Join us as we see how some prophesies in Isaiah were fulfilled in Jesus' first advent (coming), and others will be filled at Jesus' second advent (coming)!

Today we sit in the prophet Isaiah, as we are reminded of the hope offered in Jesus.

Join the Pastor's Panel as we dive into Acts 21 - where we find prophetesses, callbacks throughout the book of Acts, and a humanized Paul!

Today we come across Paul's farewell address, if you will. This passage is a change in tone and form from everything else in Acts. Here we find Paul's final encounter with the Christian leaders in Ephesus (which he knows will be his final time with them) before he is arrested in Jerusalem, and will ultimately never see them again. What is so important for Paul to share in his final address, and what can we learn from this?

Do you want to be an upper room disciple? This is the question we seek to unpack today in Acts 20 as we see everything from a person raised from the dead, to Paul preaching all through the night. Join us on this journey.

Today we see what happens when the power of God disrupts the power of the world. Darkness responds in selfish, manipulative, second-handed, ugly ways - but the gospel is not stopped! What all can we learn from the weeks we've spent in Ephesus? Find out today!

Today we find ourselves in Ephesus again, where Paul's bold preaching shakes the city as God's power is displayed through miraculous works. Some embrace the gospel, others resist fiercely, and even imitators of faith are exposed. The name of Jesus spreads with unstoppable force — transforming hearts and turning the world upside down.

Do you ever feel like something is missing? Maybe you know Jesus, and you even know His love for you, but have you ever invited the Holy Spirit from Jesus to fill you? The people in our passage today had this experience. They were disciples. They seemed to be all in. However, they had never received the Spirit! Join us today as we unpack what this means for them and for us.

Here we see the gospel on the move through faithful hands. Paul continues his mission, planting seeds of faith wherever he goes, while Aquila and Priscilla step up to equip a passionate new teacher, Apollos. This passage reminds us that God's work multiplies when His people teach, learn, equip, and serve together—as Paul has actually been doing all along!

God is on the move, yet it may not look like what you want it to or expect it to. As a matter of fact, we often want God to move like He did in the book of Acts but forget that the movement of God in Acts varies throughout the decades that it covers! One thing is for certain - the Spirit wants to move in our mess, in our midst, and in our surrender.

Today we are overjoyed to have Superintendent Bruce Rhodes join us and unpack what Jesus has put on his heart for us. You don't want to miss this!

Join Andy in a heartfelt look at how Paul engages people with the good news of Jesus in the latter part of Acts 17. In this journey we pray the Spirit would reveal Himself more to you, and push you to look more like Jesus, by His power alone!

Today we use the tool of comparing and contrasting parts of Acts to better learn what Jesus wants to speak to us and through us to the world!

The Spirit & Truth team joined us for a weekend retreat, and more importantly, a reminder of who we are and how simple the gospel is for us and for the world.

Freedom. Freedom from Spiritual bondage and earthly burdens. God is a God of freedom, and he wants true freedom for you!

Paul is joined by others, and the Holy Spirit tells them NOT to go somewhere? What is going on?! Andy helps us recalibrate what is happening as we continue in the book of Acts.

Today we see the power of families, prayer, and intentional mentors, as we learn about a guy named Timothy.

What happens when two people surrendered to Jesus have a disagreement? Well it happens in the Bible, so today we look at what we can learn from this scenario for today, as we seek to let the Spirit guide us in all things!

Have you ever thought about the difference between unity and uniformity? Today we see what holy disagreement looks like, and see that unity is still absolutely possible through disagreements. Through this journey we also will see that Jesus does NOT call us to uniformity! Andy takes us on a fun journey through the power of the Spirit today.

What do you do when God is moving and it doesn't fit your typical box? Or, how do we, as a community of faith, steward a move of the Holy Spirit? These are the questions Erin helps us wrestle with today.

Today we see more about what discipleship, and truly caring for our souls looks like!

Have you ever wondered how you might go from people desiring to worship you to them stoning you? That's what happens to Paul in this passage today, and Andy helps us walk through why - and what it matters to us now! Get ready to lay down your own idols and "gods" as we press into Jesus together.

Discipleship. A buzz word? A scary word? A misunderstood word? Today we see the simplicity of discipleship and how we each can, and should partake in discipling people!

Paul and companions share the full gospel message, which is still just as applicable to us today as it was to those 2000 years ago!

This passage marks a key transition in the early Christian mission. After completing their relief mission in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Saul return to Antioch with John Mark. In Antioch, during a time of worship and fasting, the Holy Spirit calls Barnabas and Saul to a new missionary journey. They are sent out and travel to Cyprus, where they preach the word of God. In Paphos, they encounter a sorcerer named Elymas who opposes them, but Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebukes him, and Elymas is struck blind. This dramatic event leads the Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus, to believe in the gospel, impressed by the power of God. Let's jump in with Andy, as we look at this section!

Today we see how God cannot be stopped. If we would but give him all control, and set aside our pride, He will move in us instead of in spite of us.

Death, persecution, and miraculous freedom from prison are al in this section of Acts, but most importantly may be to remember that God is more powerful than all things in the world. Join Andy today as we unpack this whole section!

The first "Christians" appear here, as well as the church expanding to many different people groups as a life-giving orchard!

Conflict. An interesting thing to find among those who first were sold out to Jesus, and yet, it happened! Today we unpack how Peter and the early church began to understand and deal with all that God was doing when He began adopting the gentiles into His family too.

Today we look at the same story as last week, but focusing on the lens of Peter. There is so much Jesus will speak to us if we look at things from different angles through the power of His Spirit!

Over the next few weeks we will be looking at the "Gentile Pentecost" as some have called it. Today we dive in, seeing things through the eyes of Cornelius!

What do a tanner, a female disciple who has died, and a bedridden man all have in common? Well, today Bob helps us to see how Jesus moves in these people, who he moves through, and, ultimately, what a healthy church looks like!

Here we sit in John 20 - the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead!

Palm Sunday. A look at the incredible celebration of Jesus entering Jerusalem, while also looking at some of Sauls journey in Acts 9. Through this avenue we begin to ask the question, "How is God wanting me to join in His story?"

Here we find the first part of Saul's story - a man devoted to what he believed to be God's will. This man was so passionate about his devotion that he arrested and, at least, approved of the killings of some people following the way of Jesus. But, then he ran into Jesus, face to face. Listen to hear more about what happened!

All people who believe in Jesus are sent out in this world to share the good news, but it all started with a guy named Philip, and one of his first encounters was with a eunuch. Learn more today while we continue in the book of Acts.

Today we get a glimpse of the good, the bad and the ugly possibilities in the early church.

Today we remember the first person killed out of those following the way of the resurrected Christ in the book of Acts - Stephen.

Erin speaks to us about how Spirit-filled people can have "problems", and yet be unified in Christ - neighboring well for the Kingdom!

Here we grow in boldness and obedience, remembering and/or learning that the Lord gives us the Spirit the more we walk in obedience.