Podcasts about book of acts

On trial for his life and surrounded by false witnesses, Stephen gazed toward heaven and saw Jesus. From his sermon series in the book of Acts, today R.C. Sproul discusses the courageous faith and bold message of the first martyr of the ancient church. Get R.C. Sproul's commentary on the book of Acts with your donation: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request the Acts commentary ebook with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Three daughters in the car, ranging in age from seven to twelve, navigating a conversation about Moses, the book of Acts, and the Lord's Prayer — and then, just as the theology is getting genuinely rich, the seven-year-old pipes up with the most pressing question on her mind: "But Mom, what are we going to have for supper?" It is the kind of moment that makes a parent both laugh and wonder: is any of this actually getting through? Discipling children and the next generation rarely looks like a carefully curated, Pinterest-worthy moment. It looks like car rides and half-finished conversations and questions that reveal both curiosity and distraction in equal measure. And yet Isaiah 55:11 holds a promise that steadies every parent, teacher, mentor, and youth leader who has ever wondered whether the seeds they are planting are making any difference: God's Word will not return empty. It will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it. The impact of sharing Scripture, praying with and over children, and talking openly about faith is never determined by how much they appear to absorb in the moment. God is always at work, on His timetable and according to His plan, using our faithful obedience to shape the next generation. What a privilege it is, like Isaiah, to co-labor with Him in that work — car conversations and supper questions and all. Today's Bible Verse "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."— Isaiah 55:11, NIV Ponder Today God's Word never returns empty, even when it appears to go unabsorbed. What looks like a distracted seven-year-old or a disengaged teenager does not limit what God can do with the truth that has been spoken over them. He is always at work. Discipleship happens in ordinary moments, not just intentional ones. Car rides, meal times, bedtime routines — these are the spaces where faith is most naturally and powerfully passed from one generation to the next. We are invited to co-labor with God in shaping the next generation. That is not a burden — it is a profound privilege. We plant and water, and God brings the growth, in His timing and according to His purposes. Age is not a barrier to engaging children with the deep things of faith. A seven-year-old asking about the Trinity and a twelve-year-old learning to share the gospel are both evidence that children are far more capable of meaningful spiritual engagement than we often assume. Trust God's timetable, not your own measurement of impact. The conversations that seem to go nowhere, the questions that land with a thud, the seeds that show no visible growth — God is using all of it. Romans 8:28 assures us He is working it all for good. A Prayer for You Today Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Help me to abide in it daily so that I will be prepared to share with others, especially the next generation. I ask that Your truth will penetrate the hearts and minds of those who hear it, bringing conviction and a desire to know You. Give me the knowledge and encouragement to keep talking with the children in my life about You, their faith, and the Scriptures, even when I wonder whether they are comprehending or even listening. I know that Your Word never returns empty, and I trust that You are always at work — in ways I can see and in ways I cannot. In Jesus' name, Amen. Want More?

Jesus warned us that we may face persecution for our faith. It doesn’t mean we’re doing something wrong, in fact it may be an indication that we’re right with the Lord. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points to that characteristic and several others that show us how we’re doing. If we’re walking closely with the Lord, these traits will be obvious. It’s good insight, and a good opportunity to take some notes. Pastor Greg is in the book of Acts today, reading from the New Living Translation. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should we feel responsible for someone's response to the gospel? In this episode, Emma Dotter discusses Paul's response to those rejecting the gospel in Acts 18:1-28. She dives into the Old Testament context surrounding Paul's response. Emma challenges listeners to consider any fears/excuses they may have when sharing the gospel. Remembering that God is the one that changes hearts frees us to share the gospel with greater courage and peace. // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED: Ezekiel 3: 16-21; Ezekiel 33: 1-9 // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY: // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  “S4:263 – Introduction to the book of Acts” (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...)   “S4:270 – Acts 18-20" (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-270-acts-18-20/id1600151923?i=1000736247835)  // WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY? Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we're studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week's passage. Then, for the next six days, we'll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we'll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God's Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights. Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...  // MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:  Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources Previous years' print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma... Contact the Join The Journey team: jointhejourney@watermark.org 

Jesus warned us that we may face persecution for our faith. It doesn’t mean we’re doing something wrong, in fact it may be an indication that we’re right with the Lord. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points to that characteristic and several others that show us how we’re doing. If we’re walking closely with the Lord, these traits will be obvious. It’s good insight, and a good opportunity to take some notes. Pastor Greg is in the book of Acts today, reading from the New Living Translation. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Acts 7 is the longest chapter in the book of Acts filled with faith, bold obedience, and martyrdom. It is not just a recitation of church history for the nation of Israel and the Jewish people, but Stephen is also refuting the Jewish leaders' indictments against him. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, delivers a fiery speech. He not only recounts the nations history, but he challenges the religious establishment ultimately ending in Stephen becoming the first christian martyr.   You can connect with Amie on her website: https://rawandrealministries.com/   You can connect with me or order my books on my website here: https://debbiekitterman.com/ click on the store tab and choose the book(s) you would like to view under the book tab.   OR on Amazon here using my affiliate links:  Check out my Amazon Store front here:https://a.co/d/0fSFMjq0 D2h Podcast Books  https://amzn.to/4wnk96D Podcast Equipment https://amzn.to/4u8PloC  I even have other categories for my sourdough, chickens, my favorite things, and more…. check my entire storefront out here: https://a.co/d/0fSFMjq0  

There really is nothing like a salvation testimony!  Today's message, is about the story of when the Apostle Paul encountered Jesus Christ and had his name changed from Saul to Paul.  Pastor Brian shares a message about his favorite story in the book of Acts. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Scripture: Acts 17:1-15Visit us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://christchurchbham.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or Connect with us on social:Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/christchurchbham/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/christchurchbham/

When we spend some serious time out in the sun, it’s pretty obvious. People can see it all over our face. “You got some sun, didn’t you?” Well today, we’ll see when we spend some time with the Son – S-O-N – it may be just as obvious. People will wonder what’s different about us. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie continues our studies of the Church of the First Century in the book of Acts. It’s a series called The Upside-Down Life. Let’s see how to show we’ve been with Jesus. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who were Priscilla and Aquila? In this episode, Emma Dotter unpacks the ministry of Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 18:1-28. She explores questions like, “Why is Priscilla sometimes named before Aquila?,” and “How is this a picture of husband and wives doing ministry together?” Priscilla and Aquila weren't focused on building individual platforms, they were building God's kingdom. // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED: 1 Corinthians 12: 4; 1 Corinthians 12: 7 // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY: Interested in serving with Join The Journey? Find out more information here! // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  “S4:263 – Introduction to the book of Acts” (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...)   “S4:270 – Acts 18-20" (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-270-acts-18-20/id1600151923?i=1000736247835)  // WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY? Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we're studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week's passage. Then, for the next six days, we'll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we'll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God's Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights. Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...  // MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:  Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources Previous years' print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma... Contact the Join The Journey team: jointhejourney@watermark.org 

When we spend some serious time out in the sun, it’s pretty obvious. People can see it all over our face. “You got some sun, didn’t you?” Well today, we’ll see when we spend some time with the Son – S-O-N – it may be just as obvious. People will wonder what’s different about us. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie continues our studies of the Church of the First Century in the book of Acts. It’s a series called The Upside-Down Life. Let’s see how to show we’ve been with Jesus. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think sharing the gospel means pointing out sin first? This teaching shows that's not what God asks, and never was. You'll hear how to reflect the Holy Spirit in how you talk to people—the same way people did in the book of Acts, where thousands came to Christ without a single threat or guilt trip. You'll leave this teaching with a simpler way to share your faith.

Where is the "sinner's prayer" in the Bible? Trick question. It's not there. In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan sits down with fellow Forge speaker Joshua McFann to unpack where this prayer came from, why it works, and exactly what to say when someone tells you they want to give their life to Jesus.Joshua and Nathan trace the sinner's prayer back to its roots, from baptism in the book of Acts, through the Second Great Awakening, to Billy Graham's altar calls in the 1900s, and explain why both baptism and the prayer function the same way in a person's life: as the starting line of following Jesus, not the finish line.You'll walk away understanding the three biblical components every salvation prayer needs (surrender, belief, and repentance), grounded in Romans 10:9-10 and 1 John 1:9, along with practical, word-for-word guidance for actually praying with someone in that moment.In this episode you'll discover:-Why the sinner's prayer isn't "magic words," and what actually has to happen in someone's heart-The real difference between baptism and the sinner's prayer (and why neither saves on its own)-The 3 non-negotiable components of a biblical salvation prayer-How to guide someone through their own words instead of just feeding them a script-Why what happens after the prayer matters just as much as the prayer itself-A powerful true story of transformation from Joshua's time in ZimbabweWhether you've never led anyone to Christ before or you do it often and want to sharpen how you disciple new believers, this conversation will give you real, usable tools.

What does a bullfrog dissection have to do with understanding the church? More than you might think. Just as examining anatomy requires zooming in on individual organs and then stepping back to see how they all work together, understanding the church God is building requires the same approach. The book of Acts gives us a sweeping, 32-year narrative of how God structured and grew his church from a small gathering of apostles in Jerusalem all the way to congregations spread across the known world. As we zoom out and take in that full picture, we discover something remarkable: the way the church was organized was never accidental. It was deliberate, progressive, and deeply rooted in Scripture. We see authority shared among a plurality of leaders, never concentrated in one person alone. We see the mission of the church carried not just by its leaders but by every single member of the body. And we see a pattern of humble, biblical leadership that still speaks directly to how we do church today. If you have ever wondered why churches have pastors, elders, and deacons, or what your role as a church member actually means, this is the message that answers those questions with clarity and conviction.

This week's message might be short, but it is sweet.  First, missionaries Earl and Laura Goodrich share how they are carrying out The Great Commission in Africa.  Second Pastor Brian share a great message on how The Gospel is for ALL nations, not just a select few.  For those that were able to make it to service the Sunday this message was shared, what a blessing it was to have The Arts Collective from Dallas, Texas join us and lead us in worship! Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

You've seen the claim: 66 books, 40 authors, 1,500 years, three continents, three languages — and not one contradiction. This week we take that apologetic apart piece by piece, from the canon that was never fixed, to the authorship traditions nobody can source, to the "three continents" you could fit inside a circle smaller than the Mediterranean. Then it's Twisted Scripture, where Mark Driscoll insists you can't be a Bible-believing Christian and a socialist, so we look at what the eighth-century prophets, Deuteronomy, Jesus, and the book of Acts actually say about wealth, debt, and who's on the hook for taking care of the poor. Support Data Over Dogma and get every episode early and ad-free, plus exclusive bonus content — become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma Get your Data Over Dogma merch at our online store: https://data-over-dogma-shop.fourthwall.com/ Watch every episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dataoverdogma Follow us: Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/dataoverdogmapod TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@data.over.dogma.pod Threads — https://www.threads.com/@dataoverdogmapod X — https://x.com/data_over_dogma Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod Get Dan McClellan's New York Times bestselling book, The Bible Says So: https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/bible-says-so-9781250347466/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Obedience often comes before understanding, and that's exactly where faith grows.Today, we continue our year-long Bible study in the book of Acts. In this episode, Paul explains that while we wait on God's timing, we're called to trust him through active obedience and prayer, knowing that waiting is one of the primary ways God shapes our hearts.To hear more studies from the book of Acts, visit PaulTripp.com/Acts.

God has people waiting on the other side of your obedience, so fear and rejection cannot be the reason you stay silent.In I Got People There, Pastor Talaat McNeely walks through Acts 18:1-17 and Paul's difficult assignment in Corinth. Paul faces resistance, fear, rejection, and even a courtroom, but God keeps reminding him that the opposition is not the whole story. This message is for anyone trying to follow God in a hard place, especially when past hurt, fear of rejection, or pressure is tempting you to pull back.In this episode, you'll discover:• Why the people God sends beside you may be part of His provision• How rejection can change the location without canceling the assignment• Why sharing your faith at work and in ordinary spaces matters• How to keep obeying God when fear is real• What Acts 18 teaches about trusting God when opposition risesPrimary Scripture: Acts 18:1-17 NLTIf someone you know has been questioning their assignment because the road got hard, share this episode with them.The Purpose City Church Podcast is from Purpose City Church in Aurora, Illinois. Follow the podcast for more messages from Unstoppable: A Journey Through the Book of Acts, and visit https://www.purposecitychurch.com/.

Acts 10 is one of the most significant chapters in the entire book of Acts, not simply because of what happens, but because of what God reveals. If there is ever a chapter where heaven leans over the balcony of eternity and shouts to earth, "There is more!" this is it. Peter has become a veteran of revival. Cornelius, from the outside, looks like he has everything: influence, wealth, respect, morality, religion. But God looks at both men and says the same thing. There is more. Never believe you've exhausted everything God wants to do in your life. If there was more for Peter, and more for Cornelius, then there is more for us.Notes for this sermon: https://www.lifechurchww.com/episode/getting-gods-attentionWebsite | https://lifechurchww.comFacebook | https://facebook.com/lifechurchwwInstagram | https://instagram.com/lifechurchwwVida Music | https://vidamsc.com

Obedience often comes before understanding, and that's exactly where faith grows.Today, we continue our year-long Bible study in the book of Acts. In this episode, Paul explains that while we wait on God's timing, we're called to trust him through active obedience and prayer, knowing that waiting is one of the primary ways God shapes our hearts.To hear more studies from the book of Acts, visit PaulTripp.com/Acts.

The Book of Acts-To the Ends of the Earth (Acts 12:1–19), Ryan Rice by North Valley Church

Our apologies for the poor audio quality this week, we were experiencing technical difficulties and this is the best we could do with what was available to us.  To open this week, Pastor Keith Lawler shares the ministry of Father's House Fellowship in Cambodia that he leads and all the God is accomplishing through him there.  Then, Pastor Brian shares a very apt message about missions in the early church. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Dr. Justin Dancer continues through the book of Acts, focusing on Acts 16:11-40.Worship is not reserved for good times. It is a choice we make regardless of our circumstances. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were beaten, shackled, and thrown into a Roman prison, yet at midnight they were praying and singing hymns to God. Their worship preceded the earthquake, the broken chains, and the jailer's salvation. Worship is a response to who God is and what He has already done, not what He might do in the future. When we fix our eyes on the greatness of God, our problems begin to look smaller. And when others see us praising God in the middle of pain, our worship becomes a powerful witness to the reality of our faith.

Loneliness isn't just about being alone, it's about being unseen, unwoven, unplaced. This week we name the deep human ache to belong to something larger than ourselves, and ask what it would take to become a community that tends that fire in each other.   LINKS: Keepers of the Fire |  Connect  |  YouTube  |  Coming Up TRANSCRIPT: The Ache This Week I want to describe a feeling and see if you know what I'm talking about: You're surrounded by people— at work, online, maybe even in a room full of friends— and you still feel somehow... unplaced. Like you're present but not quite part of something. Like everyone else knows how to belong and you missed the orientation. Literally happened to me.  That's not just loneliness in the ordinary sense. It's something deeper. The ache to be woven in. To matter to a specific group of people who also matter to you. To not just be known, but needed. Do you know this feeling? Yeah! Today, on this final week of Keepers of the Fire, I want to name that ache directly. Because I think it might be the one underneath all the others we've explored this summer. One thing; this is actually an ache, a yearning that has gotten a lot of attention.  The Epidemic Three years ago, in 2023, the United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy did something unusual; he issued a formal public health advisory declaring loneliness an epidemic. A crisis. The statistic he cited was that about one in two American adults reported experiencing loneliness— and social isolation increases the risk of premature death by 29 PERCENT. That's comparable to the health impact of smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. We have entire cultural infrastructures built around discouraging smoking. We have almost nothing built around discouraging isolation. And then to make it worse, the money-grabbing internet “manosphere” has very carefully and intentionally targeted young boys and young adult men to believe that they have no agency, and that their feelings of loneliness are the fault of others, like women or the feminist movement! I want to say outright: that's a lie. Loneliness isn't just an issue for boys and men, they've just been most successfully convinced they're especially isolated, and then that false premise has been weaponized against others.  To be clear: loneliness is a problem, but it isn't isolated to a particular group of American adults. Some demographic groups seem to have more access to emotional and relational skills than others… catch my drift? In an interview with Kate Bowler, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said loneliness is like HUNGER or THIRST— a signal the body sends when something we need for survival is missing. This is biology. We were created— literally, neurologically— for each other. Matthew Lieberman, a neuroscientist at UCLA, found that the brain processes social pain— rejection, exclusion, being cut off— in the same regions it processes physical pain. Being unplaced from community doesn't just hurt emotionally. It hurts, the way a broken bone hurts. So when you feel the ache for belonging— that persistent, restless sense that you're APART FROM something you were made to be A PART OF— your nervous system is telling you the truth. Pay attention to it. Belonging vs. fitting in Just a quick tangent here to say that belonging is not the same as fitting in. Fitting in is when you adjust yourself to be ACCEPTABLE. You figure out what the group rewards, what gets you included, and you perform accordingly. It's exhausting. And it doesn't actually satisfy the ache— because the version of you that got accepted isn't really you. Belonging is different. Belonging is when you show up as you ACTUALLY ARE — complicated, unfinished, uncertain — and find that there's a place for that person anyway. That you don't have to earn your way in or maintain a performance to stay. Loneliness isn't just about being alone. It's about being unseen. Unwoven. You can be lonely in a crowd, in a marriage, even in a congregation— if the version of you that's present isn't the real one. The ache for belonging is the ache to stop PERFORMING and start BEING YOURSELF. Bring your weird into the room. Let that freak flag fly, baby. What the early community attempted There's a description in the book of Acts of the earliest Jesus community that has always struck me as both beautiful and worth taking seriously: 'All those who trusted in Jesus were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.' Now, I'm not going to tell you to sell everything and move into a commune (this isn't actually a cult!). But I want to linger here for a moment. In the ancient Greco-Roman world, your identity was determined by your bloodline, your ethnicity, your class, your gender. In Greco-Roman culture, people claimed ethnic identity from ancestors— you were literally born into your customs and beliefs. Religion was in the blood. The idea that people from different ethnic backgrounds, different economic classes, enslaved people alongside free people, women alongside men, could gather at the same table as equals— that was radical. Historically disruptive. The earliest Jesus communities articulated a vision— particularly in Paul's letter to the Galatians: 'neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female'— that cut directly against the social order of their world. Now— did they always live up to it? No. The historical record is honest about that. The vision outran the practice, as it usually does. Early Christianity quickly developed its own in-group dynamics, its own hierarchies, its own failures. This is not a fairy tale. But here's what matters: they attempted something the world around them said was impossible. They tried to build a community where the usual sorting mechanisms— wealth, status, ethnicity, gender— didn't get to have the final word. Where the table was wider than the culture thought was reasonable. That attempt— that stubborn, imperfect attempt— became one of the most transformative ongoing social experiments in human history. Not because they got it perfectly right. But because they kept reaching toward a vision that the world kept calling naive.  Sound familiar? We get to be a part of that legacy. I want that for us. What we're up against Cynicism, though, is alive and well. When someone talks about building systems that actually take care of people — a real safety net, genuine healthcare, communities where everyone has enough — they hear: too expensive. naive. Unrealistic. Even the christian-adjacent politicized wing of the American Church has mostly taken that vision and turned it into an afterlife destination called “Heaven” that has little to do with the here and now, and is only attained through perfect behavior and putting up with unjust systems without reacting to it. When someone talks about the kind of belonging where you don't have to earn your place, where you're welcomed as you are regardless of what you produce or contribute— they hear: that's not how the world works. grow up. When someone talks about the vision Jesus articulated… a world where the hungry are fed, the lonely are placed, the marginalized are centered… they hear: nice idea. impractical. The cynics have always tried to be louder than the dreamers. And the dreamers have always been the ones who got anything done. Here's what I've been thinking about all summer, across these six weeks: the barriers to our yearning are real. The barriers to belonging are real. Some of them are structural; the way adult life is organized makes deep community hard to build. The built-in consistent access we had in school doesn't recreate itself automatically. The institutions that used to create connection have weakened. Many only experience anything resembling that kind of connection as a “perk” of staying employed in the same job long enough. But some of the barriers are internal. I think we can say that, without shame.  We wait. We wait for someone else to organize it. We wait for the perfect moment, the house clean enough to host in, the enough energy, the right invitation. We treat belonging as something that should come find us rather than something we actively, courageously seek out... Priya Parker, who has spent her career studying how and why humans gather (The Art of Gathering), makes this point: when the focus of a gathering is on the 'stuff' of the event, we shrink a human challenge down to a logistical one. The mess isn't what keeps people away. The story we tell ourselves about why now isn't the right time— that's what keeps people away. VIDEO: Priya Parker x Ezra Klein on The Art of Gathering Connection takes courage. Belonging takes risk. Showing up and saying I want to be part of something, and I want you to be part of it with me— that's vulnerable in ways our culture doesn't reward. But it is, I believe, exactly what we were made for.  The barrier practice and the vision As I wrap up here— one question. What gets in the way of your own belonging? What keeps you from reaching toward the connection you actually ache for? Maybe it's a wound— a time you tried and got hurt. Maybe it's the pace of your life. Maybe it's the belief that you're too much, or not enough, or that it's too late to start. Maybe it's the persistent, inculturated voice that says: just be content with what you have. stop wanting more. Whatever it is — write it down. Or draw it. Don't overthink it. Just name it. In a few minutes we're going to take those outside to the fire. And we're going to offer them to it as a symbolic act of saying: I don't want this to have as much power over me as it has. I want to keep reaching. Because here's the vision I want to leave you with— the one that has anchored this whole series for me. Ever heard of the book of Revelation? It's at the tail-end of the Bible, and when read literally, it admittedly sounds insane. But it's not a history book, it's a vision, a poem, a love-letter to a Church positioned against empire dominance— and at the end of it, there's an image of the world finally, fully healed. And here's how it's described: 'God's dwelling place is now among the people.' Among the people. The ache for belonging, finally answered— not by escape from community, but by the deepest possible immersion in it. That's the direction the whole story has been pointing. A world where the hungry are fed and the lonely are placed and the fearful are made safe and the weary finally rest and everyone gets to play and purpose gets to flourish— not someday in a far-off future, but here, practiced imperfectly, begun now, by us. The cynics will always call it naive. You know by now I think that's a compliment. The fire in your belly— The Ache— is not a problem. It's a compass. And the world needs more people willing to follow it together, rather than carrying it alone. Tend the fire. For yourself. For each other. For the world that could be. May it be so.

There's a reason a dragon with seven heads in Revelation isn't meant to be read the same way as the book of Acts. In week 2 of Feed Yourself, Pastor Eric hands you the tool for telling the difference, and shares the mistakes that trips up readers. Grab your Bible for this one, you'll want to follow along.Scriptures referenced in this message:· Psalm 91:4· Proverbs 26:4-5· Acts 2:44-45· Revelation 12:3Learn more about salvation, info about Destiny Church, or how to give by visiting our website.Real | Relevant | Relationship

Introduction: How to Have a Church Service, God's Way (1 Corinthians 14:26-40) BUILD UP believers. (1 Cor 14:26b) ELIMINATE the chaos. (1 Cor 14:27-33a) WOMEN don't preach. (1 Cor 14:33b-35) 1 Timothy 2:12-14 - I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. None of this is up for DEBATE . (1 Cor 14:36-40) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Questions and Answers: What Should a Worship Service Look Like? Jeff Miller Download Audio Transcript 00:36You know, just a few days ago, in this very room, it was complete chaos. It was so good. I mean, VBS, it was complete chaos, right? You're going to hear more about it later. We're going to show you a video. But just kids on top of kids, people screaming and throwing. There was slime dripping from the ceiling. Wasn't supposed to, but there was.01:06And it was just, it was chaos and it was beautiful. Which is fine for vacation Bible school, but chaos is not something that should describe Sunday morning. And that takes us to the passage we're looking at today. So I'm going to ask you to please pray for me.01:36Faithfully represent God's Word. That's all we try to do here at Harvest Bible Chapel. We're not preaching our opinion or scratching itchy ears. We just want to represent the Word of God. And I'm asking you to please pray for me to do that faithfully, and I will pray for you to receive what it is that the Lord has said in His Word. All right? Let's just take a moment and pray.02:09Father, when we open the Bible, the question is, is this from God?02:21Father, we have solidly come to that conclusion.02:25We believe that this is your word.02:28When it says things that we like, and when it says things that we maybe struggle to believe, It's your word. And I pray today, Father, for all of us. You eliminate any distractions or preconceived notions and allow us to receive what it is that your word actually says. We pray in Jesus' name. And all of God's people said, Amen. 1 Corinthians chapter 14. Chapters 11 through 14.03:04in 1 Corinthians is all about corporate worship. Right? And we've been talking through this series. We had a little break from Pastor Taylor's excellent message taking us back to the Old Testament. But in this section in particular where we find ourselves, we're talking about speaking in tongues. And you can go back and review those. But tongues, there was a legit miracle gift. And if you study your Bibles, Speaking in tongues was speaking a known language. All right. It was an existing language, but the speaker, they didn't know that language. They didn't study, but they would. It'd be like if I got up and started speaking Mandarin. I don't know Mandarin, but I started speaking Mandarin because there were Mandarin speaking people in the congregation. That's what the gift of tongues was about. We saw. Previously, the tongues was a sign of judgment.04:04Israel had rejected the Messiah. And tongues was God's way of saying, okay, you're going to hear a language you don't understand because you've rejected me. I'm moving on to other people. And it was for the season of transition from the old covenant to the new covenant. We saw in chapter 13, verse eight, he said, tongues will cease. It's going to come to an end. It was only for a season.04:34The Pagan Practice of Tongues. In many pagan religions, there would be this ecstatic screaming of sounds. They weren't real languages. It's just screaming this gibberish. And the Corinthians brought that into church. It's chaos. There's chaos. Look at verse 26, where we left off last time. Verse 26. Paul says, What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Stop right there. That's not a command, by the way. He's describing the chaos. He's like, here's what your church service is. Everybody shows up, and everybody is like, ooh, ooh, me, I want to teach. I want to speak in tongues. I'm going to sing. And everybody was doing it.05:33And it was just this circus. He says your worship services are just chaos. You have the gibberish. You have misusing the real gift of speaking in tongues. You have the debacle that you've made the Lord's Supper. You have women preaching. You have people showing off. Your services are a complete mess. And it'd be real easy for us to look.06:03and say, wow, yeah, glad we've matured from that. But sadly, many things that are called church services are still a real mess. What have we turned worshiping our Savior God, what have we turned that into? For some churches, it's putting on a concert and giving a pep talk.06:33heresy, screaming gibberish, holy laughter, holy barking, craziness, chaos. So much being done in the name of worshiping the Lord that is anything but actually worshiping the Lord. And you're like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on a second, hang on.07:01Who says what should happen in a church service anyways? Well, I would suggest to you God. The God that we worship has told us how we should worship. So very simply, in this passage we're looking at today, Paul is outlining here's what a worship service should be. That's what this passage is. What should happen in a church service? Paul's like, this is what should happen right here.07:31So, on your outline, how to have a church service God's way. Number one, first thing has to happen, absolutely has to happen. He says it first because this has to be the primary drive. Number one is build up believers. Build up believers. Look at the end of verse 26. He says, let all things be done.08:01For building up.08:07Here's a philosophical slash theological question for you.08:11Who is church service for?08:13Is it for believers or for unbelievers?08:19Biblically, church service is for believers.08:23Now listen, if you're here today and you're not a believer and somebody invited you, we're so glad that you're here.08:29But we're going to tell you to receive Christ. We're going to tell you to believe what the believers here believe. That we are, by nature and by birth, we are alienated sinners from God. And God reconciled us to himself through the death of his son, Jesus Christ. And he commands us. He commands us to turn from our sin and to believe in Jesus Christ. And when you do, you are saved. You are a child of God. That's the gospel.08:59The goal biblically in our worship service should be building up believers. Like, what parts of the service? Well, your Bible says the same thing that mine does. Let all things, all things be done for building up. It's teaching God's truth and teaching believers how to apply God's truth. I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this because we have talked so much about this through 1 Corinthians chapter 14.09:29Church is where you go to give, not go to get. Over and over and over and over and over. Paul says edify, build up, edify, build up. It's just been the theme of this whole chapter. Paul says when you go to church, you should go to church ready to serve other people. That should be your mindset. I'm not here to get, I'm here to give. You're like, well, what about evangelism?10:01I'll study the book of Acts. When believers are built up, they are prepared to reach the lost in their lives. There's lost people in your life, in your sphere of friends, influence. You need to be built up here so you can go to them and share the gospel of Christ. The church is not what's in it for me, but.10:29Everything we do here has to have the mindset of what can we do to build up believers. That's what he says. So number one, how to have a church service God's way, build up believers. Number two, he says, eliminate the chaos. You've got to eliminate the chaos. Here he talks about two gifts. Just for that day that were not used appropriately in Corinth. Tongues, even the legit, They weren't doing that right. And prophesying. And understand again, the New Testament was being written during this day. So prophets were getting new revelation from God. We don't get that now that the Bible is complete. Right? Those blank pages in the back of your Bible aren't for you adding to Scripture. That's not what that's for.11:32But there were two gifts in that day that were being wildly misused, and it was contributing to the chaos. Tongues and prophecy. First, he addresses tongues. Okay? Legit gift of speaking in tongues. How do we do it? How do we do it? Look at verse 27. He says, and let someone interpret.12:02But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.12:10First of all, speaking in tongues.12:12They're assuming here, Paul's assuming, that someone is present in church who speaks a foreign language.12:19And you see his guidelines.12:20He goes, okay, two or three of you, not everyone, and take turns and you have to have an interpreter for the sake of the people there that don't speak that language. Right? If somebody's here that speaks Mandarin and I got up and spoke Mandarin, like the rest of you are like, what's going on? You need an interpreter to say, here is what is being said. That's how the gift works. Again, we studied all that several weeks ago. But then he says, if you don't have an interpreter, just sit there and pray silently.12:59So let me ask you.13:01If you've been to or seen a Pentecostal or Charismatic church service, is that how it's done?13:07Is that typically how speaking in tongues happens?13:12You're afraid to say, aren't you?13:15All right.13:16No, that's not how people do it.13:20It's chaos.13:22And that's what Paul's saying.13:23Are you going to knock that chaos off?13:25Right? Then he talks about prophesying. Look at verses 29 through 31. Prophesying. He goes, let two or three prophets speak. Let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one so that all may learn and all be encouraged.13:55Stop there. Again, prophesying. Prophesying. He's like, just again, two or three. Right? And let the others discern if what is being said is actually from God. Weigh it. Right? And again, some people were preaching already revealed information. Maybe preaching something from the Old Testament. And in this day, as the New Testament was being written and God was giving revelation, There'd be somebody sitting there in church that God would give a revelation to. And Paul says, if that guy has a revelation, the guy that's speaking the old information, have him sit down. Let new revelation guys speak. Right? Then look at verse 32. He says, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.14:55What in the world does that mean? It means this. The church was chaos, right? So you pull a guy aside that is a... He just can't help it. He comes to church and he's belting it out. I'm going to prophesy. And he's contributing to the chaos. And it's like, you're not supposed to do that. Remember, two or three...15:25What's he gonna say? Here's what he's gonna say. He's gonna say, I can't help it. I can't help it. Oh, and the spirit comes on me. I just can't help it. I just it just comes out. I can't control myself. And and that's why, you know, you want me to be quiet, but I can't be quiet. Because when the spirit's on me, I just can't be quiet. And verse 32, Paul's like wrong. The spirit of prophets are subject to the prophets, meaning this.15:55He's saying, every spiritual gift is used under the complete control of the one who has the gift.16:03The Holy Spirit does not come upon a person and make that person lose control of themselves.16:10That does not happen.16:12Okay?16:13That does not happen.16:15Paul says, your gifts are under your control.16:20Right?16:21So the exact ways these two gifts were used were Corinth specific, but there's a principle that certainly holds for us today. And it's look at verse 33. The first part, he says, for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. Paul says a service to worship God should represent God's care.16:52God is a God of peace. He's not a God of confusion. He said, listen, church cannot be a free for all. So you have to eliminate any chaos. Worship has to be orderly because otherwise people will not get built up. And that is why we're here is to build each other up. So that's what he's saying here. Eliminate the chaos. You've got to eliminate the chaos.17:20So how to have a church service God's way, build up believers, eliminate the chaos. Number three, he says, women don't preach. Women don't preach. Look at what he says. Now, the second half of verse 33, it actually goes with this section, not the previous section, right? In my Bible, it's actually indented as a new paragraph, and that's appropriate.17:51He says, As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the law also says.18:08All the churches.18:10All the churches.18:11Do you notice that?18:13All the churches.18:14Was it just a problem in Corinth?18:17Apparently not.18:19All the churches.18:21Was it just a problem in the first century?18:25All the churches.18:26Today.18:27Today.18:29Look, I never.18:31I can't remember a period of my life.18:39Where we as a culture have been so messed up about gender issues.18:43I just don't understand that.18:46One of the first things little kids learn.18:50We're so confused about gender stuff, right? Look at our culture. Gender is fluid. I was born one way, but now I can be another way, right? We have people in prominent positions that can't define what a woman is. And some of the same people saying that men can get pregnant. We have trans men or trans women. I can't ever remember.19:18The man who's dressed like a woman playing woman's sports, whatever that is. We're just so mixed up over gender things. And we in the church are like, well, we're not mixed up over gender issues. We have a big one. Let's talk about it. You know, the big gender issue in the church, can women be pastors?19:49It's a hot button issue. But I want you to hear me. The Bible is clear and it has not changed. Women are not to preach in church. And listen, I want you to hear me out, okay? You put your church clothes on and you showed up. So can you just stay and hear me out? I am not anti-woman. I'm married to one.20:19Without a doubt, my absolute most favorite human on the planet is a woman. And there's not even a close second. Okay, I'm not anti-woman. I'm not anti-woman. My mother, rest her soul, my mother was a woman. My sister, also a woman. We have so many faithful servants of Christ here in this church.20:48at this church.20:49I am not anti-woman.20:51I am not anti-woman.20:55But I'm also very much pro-Bible.21:00And the Bible straightforwardly says that the role of pastor, elder, preacher, shepherd, all the same thing.21:10The Bible clearly says that role is for men.21:17It's not my opinion.21:19That wasn't the consensus of the elder think tank. That's what the Bible says. Now you said you'd hear me out. There are so many arguments for pro-women pastors. So many arguments. I'm just going to share a few of them. Some people argue pro-woman pastor. Some people say, hey, hey, hey, look, Women are equal.21:49All right.21:50That's awfully sexist of you.21:52Women are equal.21:53Yes.21:54Yes.21:56Women aren't equal, but equal does not mean the same.22:02Equal does not mean we all have the same roles.22:04Where you work, I'm sure that you're equal with your boss.22:09But you have different roles.22:11Okay.22:13So yes, equal.22:15Not same.22:18Here's another pro-woman-pastor argument I've heard several times. Like, I know this woman pastor and she's fantastic. I went to this church and they had this woman pastor. She's fantastic. It just doesn't matter how good of a speaker you thought she was. A woman pastor is not a thing. Study your Bibles. There is no teaching in the Old Testament.22:45for installing a woman as a priest. And there's no teaching in the New Testament on how to install a woman as a pastor. In fact, all of the instructions for priests in the Old Testament, for pastors, shepherds, elders in the New Testament, it's directed towards men. Titus 1.6 says that elders, pastors should be the husband of one wife. Assuming, Paul was assuming that this was a, role for men.23:18But as soon as you say that, as soon as you say, well, there's no example of women pastors in the Bible.23:25As soon as you say that, some of you might already be thinking it.23:31Somebody thinks they got the trump card on that.23:33They're like, ah, what about Deborah?23:39You heard that one?23:39What about Deborah?23:43Deborah?23:43If you're unfamiliar with the story, I'll paraphrase it for you. Judges chapters 4 and 5. God called a man named Barak to serve him in leading Israel, and he wussed out. And Deborah had to step up and lead, because the man that God called was a chicken.24:16Oh, by the way, this is in the book of Judges. Deborah wasn't a pastor. All right. She wasn't even a priest. She was a military leader. That's what a judge was. Oh, and by the way, if you're looking in your Bible for examples on how to faithfully love and serve and obey and follow the Lord, I would not suggest going to the book of Judges for examples of that. Have you read the book of Judges? It is the craziest book of the Bible. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes. The stuff that happens is just crazy. But somebody comes along and says, well, Deborah. Deborah wasn't a pastor. Deborah wasn't a pastor. But then our more New Testament minded people, say, oh, I know who, you say no woman pastors, but what about, what about, what about Tequila and Priscilla? And I'm like, well, it's Akila and Priscilla, but I know who you're talking about. Acts chapter 18. These two together taught Apollos the way of the Lord more excellently, but it doesn't say anything in that passage about Priscilla being a pastor. It just doesn't say that. It'd be like if a newer believer came to church today, all fired up, all fired up, and their theology is a little off. And I'm like, hey, why don't you go to lunch with the calls? And Matt and Lexi take this person to lunch and teach them the Word of God. That doesn't make Lexi a pastor, all right?26:13A disciple maker, yes, but not a pastor. Neither was Priscilla. But here by far is the biggest objection that you hear. You know it's coming. When you say, well, you shouldn't have women pastors. The Bible says you shouldn't have women pastors. You know what the number one objection is to that. Well, that was just cultural. You hear that one? That was just cultural.26:43back then. What you have to understand in the first century Corinth culture, the first century Ephesian culture, what you've got to understand about the first century culture is they really hated women back then. Look at what Paul told Timothy, 1 Timothy 2. We're not going to unpack all this, but I just want you to see one thing here. Paul says, I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man. Rather, she is to remain quiet. Exactly what he says here. 1 Corinthians 14. Look, for Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Now, we're not going to unpack all that, but just one thing I want you to note. Paul's reasoning. Paul's reasoning that the woman is not to teach, or preach in church? His reasoning, is it cultural or is it theological? What's his reason? It's theological. And I've had people come at me hard wanting to argue this, and I show them this passage, and their answer is, well, it looks theological, but, but, no, no, no, Corinthian culture. Like, no, no, no, but, look, his reasoning is theological. You can study that yourself. Look at verse 34 again.28:11Back in 1 Corinthians 14. Look at the last phrase here. He says, they are not permitted to speak, but look at this, but should be in submission as the law also says. As the law also says. Again, is his reasoning culture or theological? Like, well, what law? Authority was established at creation. Genesis 3, verse 16.28:43Women are not to be in authority over men, but in submission. And as soon as you say submission, people ready to throw down. Cash me outside, right? You're ready to fight. Because people think that when we say submission, what we mean is weakness. And we've preached this, we've taught this so many times, submission is not weakness.29:11Jesus Christ was in perfect submission to his father for every single thing that he did. You would not dare call him weak. Submission is strength. It takes strength to trust God by submitting to God's established authority. That takes strength. So we talk about women pastors, women not being pastors. We're not talking about issues of equality or talent or ability. We're just we're talking about roles. It's just roles.29:41God says, here's things that I want men to do, and here's things I want women to do. It's just that. And I got to tell you, church, I agree with the late, great John MacArthur, who many times I've heard him teach. The most obvious evidence that a church has abandoned the Word of God is when they have a woman pastor. He goes on. Look at verse 35.30:13He says, if there's anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home.30:19For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.30:26It's shameful for a woman to speak in church.30:28The word shameful means it's a blemish on the church.30:32Not what it says.30:33Speak in church.30:34Speak.30:36Look at the context of the passage.30:37That's why we study the Bible in its context.30:40When it says speak, It's not like a woman walks in the door here. Hi, hi, where's your bathroom? It's like, keep your mouth shut, woman! Take your pagan ways out of here! You are not to speak. Look at the context. What's he talking about? He's talking about teaching and preaching in the church service, right? That's the obvious context. Yes, women can teach women. The Bible says, Titus chapter 2. Children.31:11He's talking here that a woman should not be up here preaching to the whole congregation. You have questions? He says, don't just shout them out in church. Men, don't do that either, all right? If you have questions, ask them in small group, ask them in Bible study, ask them in precepts, ask them whatever. Just not during church service, right? He says, ask your husbands. So husbands, You may be ready to answer some questions, especially after this sermon. If you don't have a husband, if you don't have a husband, a brother, a parent, a small group leader, an elder, yeah, if you're not married, I'm sure any of our elders would be glad to take a phone call from you and answer a question. See, God has a plan for order.32:10roles in the church. Faith means I trust God by doing things His way. And I know, look, I know. I know I'm going to get some texts and I'm going to get some emails because people are going to want to argue this. Right? And in Paul's day, as he wrote this letter and sent it off, He knew that people were going to want to argue this. Which is why I can honestly say I'm so thankful for this last section. Number four, Paul says none of this is up for debate. He knows as soon as you say, look, women should not be pastors. Women should not be preaching in church. People want to fight. And Paul says it's not up for debate.33:09liberal, church-minded, charismatic, feminist objections. And he goes pretty hard in the paint in the end of this. All right? So brace yourself. Look at verse 36. He says, or was it from you that the Word of God came? Or are you the only ones that has reached? See, Paul knew there were people going to read this, and they're like, I really think we should all speak in tongues. And I really think women should be pastors. And Paul's like, oh, oh, are you the authority? Oh, I'm sorry. Did somebody die and make you the expert? That's what Paul's saying. No. Look at verse 37. He says, if anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a commandment.34:09of the Lord. Listen, if you're spiritual, if you're really mature in your faith, you're going to acknowledge that this is from God. It's not cultural. It's not man's opinion. It's not something to be argued. Paul says God is commanding all of this. Verse 38. Pretty straightforward verse. Look at verse 38. He says, if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.34:41Paul says, if you refuse to accept this, we refuse to accept you.34:50That's pretty straightforward.34:53Paul's saying, listen, a woman pastor is not a pastor.34:58And you're like, well, I think she is.34:59Paul's like, well, we don't recognize you.35:05Paul says, a church without order is not a church.35:08You can call yourself what you want.35:10But if you're calling yourself a church, but you're not having a worship service that follows an order and follows these biblical guidelines for teaching and for roles, because you're just not a church.35:27If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.35:30So, verse 39, so my brothers, Earnestly desire to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues. That's the call back to everything that we've talked about in this section. Prophecy, tongues, they were legit gifts in those days. The way that God used them. And that's what Paul's saying here. He goes, yeah, there's legit gifts here. Do them appropriately. Do it right. Do it right. And verse 40.36:04All of this was the introduction. Here's the sermon. Verse 40 is really the thesis of the whole passage. Paul says, but all things should be done decently and in order. Decently. The word decently means beautifully. It means in order. You're like, well, how are, What does that mean? You know, it would be like a man looking at his wife. Say, you know, you're put together perfectly. Everything is just in the right place. And you, everything is just, you're beautiful because there's just such an order and structure to you. Man, don't say that.37:05Everything just fits together on you. Maybe not, but you see the point. Everything fits together. Like, it's all working. It's all in harmony. It's so beautiful. That's what he's saying your worship service needs to be. Everything should fit together. Everything should be harmonious, beautiful. Your Bible might translate it decent.37:34It says, in order, in order, sequence, not chaos. Sequence, not chaos. God is beautiful. God has perfect harmony. And God rules the universe with clear order. So a worship service absolutely must reflect the God that we worship.38:04So our worship team makes their way up. I'd like you to bow your heads with me please. Father in heaven, sometimes your ways are hard to explain. But you haven't commanded us to explain you. You've commanded us to obey you. And your word is very clear.38:35that when we come together to worship, there are things that must happen, there are some things that must not happen.38:46And I'm sure as we go through this, I'm sure some point of this message, for every single one of us, probably each of us have experienced some point of tension.39:01Father help us to be like the Bereans look closely at your word are these things true and resolve that we're all called to submission ultimately Father we're called to submission to you and your word so I pray Father for Harvest Bible Chapel that as we gather for worship I pray Father that there is building up I pray that people are encouraged and edified.39:35And I pray, Father, that you look at all of this and you would regard it as beautiful.39:45You deserve everything we can give you.39:50You deserve so much more than that.39:53But let our hearts, Father, worship you in spirit and in truth.39:59We pray in Jesus' name.40:01Amen. Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 14:26-40What was your big take-away from this passage / message?All things must “be done for building up” (1 Cor 14:26). List some ways “building up” happens in church.What arguments have you heard for having a woman pastor? What does 1 Cor 14:33-35 say about women preaching in church?BreakoutPray for one another.

Scripture: Acts 16:11-40Visit us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://christchurchbham.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or Connect with us on social:Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/christchurchbham/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/christchurchbham/

A verse by verse study through the book of Acts with Pastor Chad Myhre of Calvary Chapel of Charlottesville.

Is it ever right to disobey those in authority over us? What about when they tell us to disobey God? From his Acts sermon series, today R.C. Sproul examines our responsibilities before the Lord and before the civil rulers He has established. Get R.C. Sproul's commentary on the book of Acts with your donation: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request the Acts commentary ebook with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

We all have an aim, something that shapes our choices and orders our lives. This message explores what Paul calls his "only aim" and considers what our own lives are truly moving toward. Scripture Referenced: Acts 20:17-24

The Book of Acts | Let's Be the Church | 8-9-26 by Kearney eFree Church

What is the true message of the Gospel, and how are we called to respond to it? In "The Power of the Gospel - Part II," Pastor Travis Aicklen continues the "Is This Thing On?" series by challenging us to step into a season of spiritual harvest. While the life of faith often requires us to wait well, there is also a time to move boldly when God calls us to act. Pastor Travis breaks down the core of the Gospel message and confronts the excuses we make for delaying evangelism. Tune in to the full message to discover how God is calling you to reach the lost people in your life.Key PointsOvercoming Our Excuses: We often delay sharing the Gospel because we expect hostility, feel unqualified to answer hard questions, or become too near-sighted with our own daily appetites. Jesus reminds us that the fields are already ripe for the harvest. (John 4).The Compassion of Christ: Jesus came for the lost, as illustrated by the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son, showing that God's heart is set on rescuing those who are far from Him. (Luke 15).Finding Your 'One': Every believer is challenged to identify one specific person who is far from God, pray for them, and intentionally share the Gospel with them.Conclusion & Call to ActionAre you willing to push past your comfort zone and share the Good News with someone in your life? Stop waiting for "four more months" and recognize that the harvest is ready now. Find the courage and conviction to reach your "one". If this message inspired you, please like this video, subscribe to our podcast, and share this episode with a friend!Join us Sundays at 8:30am or 10:30am. Find out more at RadiantVisalia.com. Support the show*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.

Keeping us down is impossible because we're UNSTOPPABLE with the gospel. Unstoppable Volume 5 is part 5 in a study through the book of Acts where we are getting a front row seat on how to spread the gospel like the early church. In this message, Pastor Andy will teach through Acts 18:18-28 which describes the end of Paul's second missionary journey, his brief stop in Ephesus with Priscilla and Aquila, his return to Antioch, and the introduction of an eloquent speaker named Apollos. Learn the key take away of this passage on how we can all grow in our faith together and not separately.

Have you ever realized you were missing something... and you had no idea? Maybe it was something small, like discovering you've been doing something the hard way your whole life. Or maybe it was something deeper—a blind spot you didn't know existed until it started affecting everything.They say ignorance is bliss. But what if it's only bliss... until it's not?This Sunday we saw that very moment unfold in the book of Acts, as we unpack the story of Simon The Sorcerer. Simon's story raises an interesting question: Is it possible to be around the things of God without truly experiencing God Himself?It's a challenging question for sure, but one whose answer has the potential to move us deeper into meaningful and authentic relationship with Christ.Tune into this week's message titled, “Ignorance Is Bliss… Until It's Not”!Join us for service online or in person every Sunday at 8am, 9:30am, 11:15am, & 5pm (C&V Service).Connect to Captivate! - https://shorturl.at/nKxQuDownload the Captivate App to Stay Connected! - https://shorturl.at/5PfXPIf you want to share how God is moving in your life through this ministry, please let us know at info@captivatesd.com!Decided To Follow Jesus? Sign up to receive a copy of our “I Have Decided” booklets - https://shorturl.at/93CHSGet plugged in!Next Steps - captivatesd.com/next-stepsVisit - captivatesd.com/visitCommunities - captivatesd.com/communitiesIf you would like to support Captivate financially you can give online through our website by clicking here captivatesd.com/giving Need prayer? Please let us know! - https://captivatesd.churchcenter.com/people/forms/597023For more information about Captivate Church, visit captivatesd.com or follow us on our social media platforms below.Instagram - Instagram.com/captivatechurchsdFacebook - facebook.com/captivatesdWatch More Messages: youtube.com/@CaptivateChurch/videos

Pastor James continues our series, Gather to Go, walking through the book of Acts. This week we looked at Acts 17:1-15 and saw that if we want to see Gospel Restoration into our everyday lives, then we must be devoted to the Word.

Remember “What Would Jesus do Bracelets”?  More like “Jesus would not have got himself into this situation in the first place,” am I right?  We often find ourselves in difficult situations that we didn't intend to be in.  Thankfully, we serve a God who's bigger than those situations.  Pastor Brian shares a message about how we can change the world through God's calling. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

July 19, 2026 - Sunday AM Bible Class This episode walks through Acts chapters 13–15 and examines the recurring challenges every church faces. Using the Antioch congregation as the starting point, Hiram traces the Holy Spirit's call to set apart Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for mission work, highlights the church's diversity and gifted leadership (Barnabas, Simeon/Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, John Mark), and outlines practical principles for stewarding congregational gifts: learn people's abilities, diversify service, avoid comfort, and be willing to send leaders to advance the gospel. The message then addresses opposition from false teachers and religious authorities — illustrated by Elymas/Bar‑Jesus and the proconsul Sergius Paulus — including Paul's Spirit‑empowered rebuke and the tactics for countering error: know and preach the truth, call out destructive teaching when necessary, protect seekers, and hold out hope for those ensnared by falsehoods. The class also covers preacheritis (the tendency to idolize preachers), with the Lystra miracle as a case study and concrete signs and remedies (acknowledge gifts without pledging allegiance, point people to God, and prevent idolatry). Finally, the episode confronts legalism and internal disagreement (the Antioch controversy over circumcision and the Paul–Barnabas split), offering responses such as sound reasoning, firm but generous directives for new believers, trusting God's sufficiency, and recognizing that conscientious disagreement can expand the work rather than destroy it. Throughout, the speaker ties each biblical episode to contemporary application for congregations: how to manage talent, respond to false teaching, evangelize religious people, resist pride and envy, and keep unity of mission amid differences.   Duration 44:42

Text: Acts 20:7-12  A sermon from our Sunday night series through the book of Acts

We continued our series through the book of Acts by finishing the story of Saul's conversion and how a disciple named Ananias was used by God. God took a regular guy named Ananias and used him to show Saul God's love and grace.For more information visit ChristCommunity.Life

Canary Cry Radio celebrates its 200th episode with Chuck and Maverick Pilgrim of Fire Theft Radio.Together, they reflect on a decade of fringe Christian podcasting and examine how independent alternative media became a corporate industry increasingly shaped by algorithms, intelligence connections and manufactured narratives.The conversation explores occult symbolism, archetypes, social engineering, modern movies, frequency warfare, magic and economics in the Book of Acts, and Paul's warning in Colossians 2 against becoming captive to deceptive philosophies and the elemental spirits of the world.In an age when “waking up” can become another system of control, how can Christians remain discerning without becoming trapped by endless decoding? The answer may be simpler, and more biblical, than chasing the next revelation: remain rooted in Christ, encourage one another through faith and preserve genuine fellowship.TIMESTAMPS00:00:00 — Episode 200 introduction and value-for-value00:03:17 — Welcoming Chuck and Maverick of Fire Theft Radio00:09:06 — Ten years of fringe Christian podcasting00:12:46 — The podcast industrial complex and corporate alternative media00:23:39 — When occult symbolism became mainstream00:34:08 — Hidden symbols, deer, trains and Disclosure Day00:49:02 — The messages hidden between the obvious symbols00:59:18 — Frequency warfare, spiritual fear and God's sovereignty01:07:26 — Magic, money and supernatural power in Acts01:19:45 — Archetypes, modern movies and cultural programming01:38:14 — Colossians 2: Avoiding captivity through deceptive philosophy01:50:13 — Viral “free thinkers” and independent blue-collar podcasters01:54:17 — Fellowship, encouragement and the purpose of podcasting02:01:09 — Fire Theft Radio history and closing reflectionsLINKShttps://CanaryCry.Support

Canary Cry Radio celebrates its 200th episode with Chuck and Maverick Pilgrim of Fire Theft Radio. Together, they reflect on a decade of fringe Christian podcasting and examine how independent alternative media became a corporate industry increasingly shaped by algorithms, intelligence connections and manufactured narratives. The conversation explores occult symbolism, archetypes, social engineering, modern movies, frequency warfare, magic and economics in the Book of Acts, and Paul's warning in Colossians 2 against becoming captive to deceptive philosophies and the elemental spirits of the world. In an age when "waking up" can become another system of control, how can Christians remain discerning without becoming trapped by endless decoding? The answer may be simpler, and more biblical, than chasing the next revelation: remain rooted in Christ, encourage one another through faith and preserve genuine fellowship.   TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 — Episode 200 introduction and value-for-value 00:03:17 — Welcoming Chuck and Maverick of Fire Theft Radio 00:09:06 — Ten years of fringe Christian podcasting 00:12:46 — The podcast industrial complex and corporate alternative media 00:23:39 — When occult symbolism became mainstream 00:34:08 — Hidden symbols, deer, trains and Disclosure Day 00:49:02 — The messages hidden between the obvious symbols 00:59:18 — Frequency warfare, spiritual fear and God's sovereignty 01:07:26 — Magic, money and supernatural power in Acts 01:19:45 — Archetypes, modern movies and cultural programming 01:38:14 — Colossians 2: Avoiding captivity through deceptive philosophy 01:50:13 — Viral "free thinkers" and independent blue-collar podcasters 01:54:17 — Fellowship, encouragement and the purpose of podcasting 02:01:09 — Fire Theft Radio history and closing reflections LINKS https://CanaryCry.Support

Whether you’re a woodworker, a steel worker or in another form of construction, you know that the tougher the job, the more the need for power tools. Hard to build a skyscraper with just a tape measure and a good idea. Well, spiritually speaking, with some of our assignments, the Lord gives US power tools. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out the importance of putting them to work. It’s part of his series in the book of Acts called The Upside-Down Life. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chapter 4 of Heroes in the Bible: Paul with Michael Chandler is inspired by the book of Acts. Paul vs. The Storm - Story inspired by Acts 27 Paul has appealed to Caesar. But before he can stand before the emperor of Rome, he must endure storms and shipwrecks. Will Paul perish before he gets a chance to plead his case? In this episode, inspired by Acts 27, Paul is thrust into a storm. But when an angel visits him, his heart is reminded of his mission. Listen to some of the greatest Bible stories ever told and make prayer a priority in your life by downloading the Pray.com app. Sign up for Heroes in the Bible devotionals at https://www.heroesinthebible.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether you’re a woodworker, a steel worker or in another form of construction, you know that the tougher the job, the more the need for power tools. Hard to build a skyscraper with just a tape measure and a good idea. Well, spiritually speaking, with some of our assignments, the Lord gives US power tools. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out the importance of putting them to work. It’s part of his series in the book of Acts called The Upside-Down Life. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lord has many options for reaching us in a time of need. Certainly one of the most obvious and most important is the local church. In a crisis, help may be as close as the church down the street. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us learn from the early Church. As we study the book of Acts today, we’ll see they set the example for reaching out with the care and concern of Jesus Christ . . . and they provide us an opportunity to serve – to give as we’ve received. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lord has many options for reaching us in a time of need. Certainly one of the most obvious and most important is the local church. In a crisis, help may be as close as the church down the street. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us learn from the early Church. As we study the book of Acts today, we’ll see they set the example for reaching out with the care and concern of Jesus Christ . . . and they provide us an opportunity to serve – to give as we’ve received. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christianity is a worldwide faith. Some say over 31% are Christians the world over. Yet, if you rewind history, Christianity began in a small geographic area on the other side of the globe, with just a handful of followers. How in the world did they reach the world!? Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie brings us some good insight from the book of Acts that’ll help us encourage one another in the faith, and reach our world in our time with the love of Christ. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the significance of Paul's ministry at the Areopagus? In this episode, Emma Dotter explains what the Areopagus is in Acts 17:16-34. She explores sharing the gospel with people who see the world differently than us. She encourages listeners to be curious, listen well, and seek to understand what people believe so that they're able to lovingly share Jesus. // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED: // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY: Learn more about the Areopagus: https://www.gotquestions.org/Areopagus.html // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  “S4:263 – Introduction to the book of Acts” (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...)   “S4:269 – Acts 15-17” (https://open.spotify.com/episode/3NShJvbx2EPozwMwxJq2Hm?si=98ac89d64476429c)   // WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY? Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we're studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week's passage. Then, for the next six days, we'll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we'll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God's Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights. Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...  // MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:  Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources Previous years' print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma... Contact the Join The Journey team: jointhejourney@watermark.org 

“Why did Jesus tell Mary not to touch him?” This question opens a discussion on the significance of Jesus’ words to Mary Magdalene, alongside other topics such as the biblical basis for the timing of baptism in relation to faith and advice for someone navigating family dynamics during a conversion. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 08:16 – Why did Jesus tell Mary Magdalene to not touch him but told Thomas to touch him? 17:15 – The book of Acts shows that baptism happened immediately after display of faith but the Church makes people wait. Where does this idea of making people wait come from? Is it biblical? 41:00 – What advice would you give to my girlfriend who wants to convert but doesn't know how to talk to her family who will likely not approve?