Podcasts about book of acts

Looking back at church history may not sound exciting to some, but it's vital to understanding how God has worked through time. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar reflect on the church as the story of believers, emphasizing that history reveals God's ongoing movement beyond the book of Acts. Though historians tell it in an exciting way, church history shows the evidence of faith lived out in different eras. Biographies of faithful men and women remind Christians of how the Lord worked through ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things, inspiring believers to live with the same devotion today.Oscar begins by discussing Paul's conversion, a pivotal moment in the spread of the gospel. The guys trace how the church grew organically from that point, not emerging centuries later as some assume. E.Z. focuses on the Council of Nicea, which addressed theological controversy and affirmed Christ's deity. While Constantine allowed Christianity to be practiced, he did not truly Christianize the empire. Oscar highlights Basil, credited as the father of the first hospital, whose compassion reflected the image of God in all people. His example shows that true faith always leads to action and care for others.The fall of Rome marks another turning point, when the church preserved art and literature but also took on roles it was never meant to hold. The guys note how pagan influences crept into traditions over time and stress that truth must come from Scripture alone. Ray points out that Acts remains the blueprint for the church, calling believers back to gospel proclamation and discipleship. The modern church, he warns, risks valuing entertainment over genuine transformation. The group agrees that true renewal comes from giving prominence to God's Word and from pursuing historical theology rather than trends or rituals.Finally, they explore the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther's stand against the Catholic Church, sparked by his 95 theses, ignited a call for revival rather than rebellion. Though the Catholic Church branded him a troublemaker, Luther sought to restore biblical truth through Scripture, faith, and grace alone. The Reformation was not about creating something new but recovering what had been lost. Reformers relied on Scripture and the writings of the early church fathers to return Christianity to its roots. Their courage paved the way for believers today to read God's Word freely and pursue authentic faith. Through these key moments, the guys remind listeners that understanding history deepens gratitude for the gospel and renews passion to live it out now.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you've been helped by this podcast, we'd be grateful if you'd consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

In this Bible Story, we are able to read the letters written by Paul to the church in Thessalonica. Paul encourages them to continue in their pursuit of a quiet and peaceful life that honors God. This story is inspired by Acts 17. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Acts 17:23 from the King James Version.Episode 233: Paul, Silas, and Timothy were teaching at a synagogue in Thessalonica. Crowds from all over gathered there to hear what they had to say and many came to a saving faith in Jesus. Yet some of the Jews were angered by this change and hired a mob to find Paul and kill him. When the mob couldn’t find Paul they brought out Jason instead and had him beaten. Meanwhile, the rest of the believers encouraged Paul, Silas, and Timothy to flee to Berea. There was peace for Silas and Timothy there, but Paul moved on to Athens where he would reason with God-fearing Greeks and be brought before the Areopagus.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Bible Story, Paul and Silas are beaten brutally and thrown into prison for casting a demon out of a little girl. As they dwell in the dark and cold chamber, they sing to the Lord, and a mighty earthquake and they escape. This story is inspired by Acts 16. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Acts 16:25 from the King James Version.Episode 232: As Paul, Luke, Silas, and Timothy were traveling through Thyatira, they were being followed around by a demon-possessed slave woman. The woman kept yelling at the crowd that these people were God’s servants and they will tell them how to be saved. Annoyed beyond the point of tolerance, Paul commanded the evil spirit to come out of the woman. The slave woman’s owners were not pleased. They beat Paul and took him and Silas to court where they were beaten yet again and thrown deep into prison. Around midnight as Paul and Silas were singing psalms to God, an earthquake shook the prison, opening the gates of all the prisoners. The Jailer, thinking that the prisoners had escaped, was about to fall on his sword when Paul and Silas spoke up.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Acts Series  Message: 05 Episode: 3 of 3 Broadcast: November 19, 2025 Key Verses: Acts 2:42-47 In this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his teaching through the book of Acts in a message titled "Growing Together," based on Acts 2:42-47. These powerful verses paint a picture of the early church—devoted to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to prayer, and to living out their faith with generosity, unity, and joy. Pastor Michael unpacks what it means to be a community rooted in God's truth and committed to growing together in Christ. Be encouraged and challenged as you discover how these timeless principles can equip you to walk through everyday life with purpose, strength, and a deeper faith—so you can live out God's calling with boldness and love. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com   

Today Lloyd will again take us to the book of Acts, as he continues with his verse by verse journey through this remarkable book. Lloyd is going to make several important points today about repentance. It's a word that has a negative connotation attached to it - one that it doesn't deserve. Paul's message in Acts was one of repentance, and it wasn't too well received. 

Daily Dose of Hope November 19, 2025   Scripture - Acts 3   Prayer: Almighty God, We come to you today with humble hearts.  We are broken and we need you.  Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you this morning.  Help us set aside distractions so we might hear your voice.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us just focus on Jesus...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  This week, we have just started the book of Acts, after walking through all the Gospels.  What a great spiritual journey this has been and I'm so glad you have joined us!  Today, we walk through Acts 3. The chapter starts with Peter and John heading into the temple in the afternoon.  There is a disabled man there, who could not walk, and was brought into the temple every day to beg for money.  This passage always makes me smile.  Peter says something like, "Look, we don't have any money but we have something better."  And he heals him.  The man wasn't expecting it at all.  He was expecting more of the same – begging, barely making it, having no dignity, simply existing.  And what Peter and John offered him, through the power of the Holy Spirit, was so much better.  The man jumps and leaps throughout the temple courts and praises God.  People are standing there, jaws dropped, shocked.  They recognize him as the same man who used to beg at the temple gate, and now they are filled with wonder and amazement. And then the two men use this as an opportunity to preach about Jesus.  Peter says, "Why does this surprise you?"  He talks about Jesus.  He makes sure the people don't think this is a magic trick or something that happened by Peter's own power.  This is totally, completely, a result of the power of Jesus Christ.  What I find interesting is that Peter tailors his witnessing to the people around him.  These are Jewish people.  Thus, he goes way back to the Jewish fathers, explaining how Jesus was always part of God's plan.  Yet, he was killed and then resurrected.  Peter continues by telling them that Jesus is the one God sent, Jesus is the one that the prophets were speaking of, Jesus is the one you should have recognized!  It's really fascinating to me that Peter, throughout Acts, does such a great job, balancing human culpability for the death of Jesus with the inevitability of Jesus' death as part of God's plan.  This death was necessary and God knew it had to happen.  Prophecy said it would happen.  But, at the same time, it only occurred because human beings sinned and ensured that it would happen.  God didn't force anyone's hand.  He didn't make anyone do anything. One aspect of Peter's message that is critical is repentance.  I don't think we talk about repentance enough.  Let's look at verse 19, Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord...  Peter tells the Jews who are listening that, regardless of what has come before, regardless of the mistakes of the past, it is time to repent.  Now is the time to turn to God and allow him to cleanse your sins so that you can be refreshed and be made white as snow.  Life is different with Jesus.  Allow him in and experience new life.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Today, we begin the age of the church, transitioning from the Gospel of Luke to the beginning of the book of Acts. Fr. Mike draws our attention to the Ascension of Jesus and encourages us to respond to Christ's call to participate in his mission. He invites us to be part of his story and not be ashamed of the Gospel. Today's readings are Acts 1, Romans 1, and Proverbs 26:24-26. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

What can the past teach believers about how God continues to move today? Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar walk through the story of the church, showing how each era reflects God's ongoing work beyond the book of Acts. From Paul's conversion to the Council of Nicea and the compassion of Basil, the guys highlight moments where faith inspired action and truth triumphed over compromise. They warn how the fall of Rome and the rise of worldly influence pushed the church toward roles it was never meant to hold, reminding believers that Scripture alone remains the foundation of truth. As they explore the Protestant Reformation, the guys point to Martin Luther's bold stand for Scripture, faith, and grace, which restored the heart of Christianity. Through these pivotal events, they encourage believers to see history as a reminder of God's faithfulness and a call to live out the gospel with renewed conviction today.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you've been helped by this podcast, we'd be grateful if you'd consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

Hey FTG Fam! We're tackling Acts 2 this week and the beautiful, radical way the early church lived in community with the Holy Spirit at the center. As we go through Week 2 of The Wild Invitation Bible study, we reflect on what it truly looks like to care for one another, share life sacrificially, and be on mission together. From funny church traditions we'd ditch to the hard-but-holy call to open our hearts and homes, we get real about what a Spirit-filled community looks like in modern life. We for sure don't have all this figured out, but we'd love you to be on the journey with us! In This Episode 03:00 – Icebreaker: Church Traditions We'd Retire 08:00 – Recap of Acts 2: The Spirit Comes at Pentecost 10:00 – What the Early Church Looked Like 13:00 – Radical Generosity & Sacrifice 16:30 – Missional Living in Today's World 20:00 – Young Life: Living Missionally in Community 22:30 – Facing Outward: Community That Grows 25:00 – When Community Gets Boring or Hard 28:00 – How to Start a Spirit-Led Mission With Your People 29:00 – Closing Encouragement & Small Group Prompt ⁠ORDER OUR NEW STUDY!⁠⁠ This seven-week, verse-by-verse study through the book of Acts invites you to embrace the unpredictable, sometimes challenging adventure of Spirit-led living that characterized the early church. Thanks to Our Sponsors Operation Christmas Child: Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, partners with churches to collect and distribute gift-filled shoeboxes to millions of children around the world, telling them the Good News of Jesus Christ, God's Greatest Gift. For more, visit ⁠⁠samaritanspurse.org/occ.⁠⁠ Piper and Leaf: Visit ⁠⁠PiperandLeaf.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to pick up an Advent Tea set for you or someone you love! NIV Application Study Bible - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab your copy today!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Winshape: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more or submit your application today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you'd like to partner with For The Girl as a sponsor, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form! Follow us!

Acts Series  Message: 03 Episode: 2 of 3 Broadcast: November 18, 2025 Key Verses: Acts 2:42-47 In this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his teaching through the book of Acts in a message titled "Growing Together," based on Acts 2:42-47. These powerful verses paint a picture of the early church—devoted to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to prayer, and to living out their faith with generosity, unity, and joy. Pastor Michael unpacks what it means to be a community rooted in God's truth and committed to growing together in Christ. Be encouraged and challenged as you discover how these timeless principles can equip you to walk through everyday life with purpose, strength, and a deeper faith—so you can live out God's calling with boldness and love. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com

What does forgiveness really look like when it's lived, not just preached? In this message, we explore one of the most overlooked and shocking moments in the book of Acts — the day Paul walked into the home of Philip, the man whose close friend Stephen Paul once helped murder. Their quiet, simple reunion in Acts 21:8 reveals the cost, beauty, and miracle of forgiveness in the life of the church. We also connect this moment to Covenant's fifth membership vow: “Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the church, and promise to study its purity and peace?” This sermon dives into: – Why forgiveness is not forgetting – How to hope in God's transforming work – What frees us to let go of past wounds – How forgiveness creates space for mission – Why purity and peace are practices, not ideas This is a story of grace, transformation, and the freedom Jesus brings — even to the most painful places in our lives and in the church. __________ If you're new let us know & visit https://www.covenantdoylestown.org to learn more about us and how you can get connected. If you would like to be prayed for, you can submit a prayer request here: https://covenantdoylestown.org/prayer/ __________ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/covenantchurchdoylestown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/covenantdoylestown

Daily Dose of Hope November 18, 2025   Scripture – Acts 2   Prayer: Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We have just started the book of Acts, after walking through all the Gospels.  What a great spiritual journey this has been and I'm so glad you have joined us!  Today, we walk through Acts 2.   I'm going to start by reading the first three verses, On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.  Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.  Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.    You guys, this is incredible.  First, let's talk about the roaring windstorm.  Throughout Scripture, wind is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.  In ancient Hebrew, we have the word, ruach, which means breath/wind/spirit and we see this word quite a bit in the Old Testament.  Wind represents the life-giving work of the Spirit.  Think about it.  In Genesis 2, God breathed life (ruach) into Adam.  In Ezekial 37, we are in the valley of dry bones and God has Ezekiel prophesy to the bones, saying "I will put my Spirit (ruach) in you and you will live."  In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is typically referred to in the Greek as pneuma.  The Holy Spirit comes upon Mary to form life in her womb.  In John 3:5, Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.    I can't help thinking, how many people need to experience the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit right now?  How many people are really struggling, barely holding on, languishing in doubt, pain, anger, cynicism?  Or maybe, you simply feel nothing?  There is NO true living without the presence of the Spirit, only existing.    Next, we have the tongues of fire.  Let's sit here for a second.  Fire is often descriptive of God in the Old Testament and it speaks to the purifying and refining work of the Holy Spirit.  In this sense, the Spirit causes things that are impure to become pure...lives, hearts. Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist says "I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."  Peter speaks of the new Gentile believers as experiencing the Holy Spirit and having their hearts purified.    If something is pure, it is only one thing–pure gold, pure oxygen.  It isn't filled with contaminants or additives. It is totally and completely that one thing. I picture the Holy Spirit coming upon that group of believers on the day of Pentecost and purifying or refining their hearts so they would be totally and completely dedicated to the things of God, not half filled with the stuff of the world and half filled with the things of God.  I wonder that about our own hearts.  What contaminants have we allowed to seep in?  What do we need to purify? Come like a fire, Holy Spirit, and burn in us so that we can be pure and totally devoted to the things of Jesus.   Let's read some more Scripture, beginning with verse 4 (this is truly a paraphrase), All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  This made a racket and a crowd forms...When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken...Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?  Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."  And then Peter gets up and says, we aren't drunk, it's only 9 in the morning.  Let me tell you what his means...and he shares with them the Gospel, he speaks of how the Old Testament scriptures point to Jesus as the Messiah, he speaks of Jesus' ministry, his death, his resurrection and it says this,  Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"  Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."   And what happened? 3000 believed and were baptized.  The Holy Spirit came, the people were given power to act, and they did it!  They trusted God and they responded.  This was essentially the beginning of the church.  At the end of chapter 2, we see how the people begin to gather to worship Jesus, to pray, to learn, to take care of one another, to celebrate the Lord's Supper.  They sold all they had and gave it to the poor among them.    We talked about how the Holy Spirit is life-giving and purifying but it also has power.  The Holy Spirit empowers believers to do really hard things.  If you have said yes to Jesus, then the Holy Spirit has made a home within you. The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead LIVES within you.  And God didn't give us that power simply for our own use.  It's for the mission of sharing the love and grace of Jesus Christ with others.    Why do you think we struggle so much with that?  What part of the mission causes you to hide in fear?  Friends, we have POWER within us and it is given to us for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ.  Let's just let that sit and settle.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Listen and be blessed 

In this Bible Story, we learn about certain Jewish believers forcing Gentiles to be circumcised to be accepted into the family of God. Outraged by this, Paul and Barnabas hold a council of all the leaders in Jerusalem. They debate whether Gentiles should be forced to follow the Jewish customs laid out in the law. This story is inspired by Acts 15:1-35. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Acts 15:19 from the King James Version.Episode 230: The lies that began in Antioch continued to spread throughout the Christian communities causing division between Jewish and Gentile believers. So Paul and Barnabas called for the apostles and pastors to hold a council around this issue. In the middle of this debate, Peter stood and addressed the crowd reminding them what God has done among the Gentiles in their presence. In the end, James and the leaders wrote a letter of encouragement to clear up the confusion for the Gentile believers.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you think of when you hear the words wind and fire? A forest fire? The classical elements of the universe? A '70s blues band? In the book of Acts, wind and fire mean just one thing: the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Next time on The Bible Study Hour, Dr. James Boice explores why God chose these images to reveal the character and work of his Spirit in the newborn church. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29?v=20251111

Acts 13:4-13 (Kennon Vaughan) The Book of ActsHarvest is a church where we love to worship God together, where the transforming message of the Gospel is preached weekly, where authentic community can be found, and where we are intentional about making disciples of Jesus Christ. We'd love for you to join us on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. or 10:45 a.m. For more information you can visit harvestmemphis.org.

Sunday Sermon from the book of Acts from John Bourgeios on November 16, 2025. Our hope for you is that you will know, love, and follow Jesus Christ -- leading to personal transformation, intimate community, and a life of radical mission. You are always welcome to join us for worship at West End Community Church.For more info, please visit the WECC website at westendcc.org

Join us as we review the rest of the book of Acts! We'll also go on a quick scavenger hunt, and play a few rounds of Guess the Imposter.

"Book Of Acts: 7 & 8" Pastor Wayne Gann 11.16.25

The Book of Acts- To the Ends of the Earth (Acts 4-1-22) Thomas Lee by North Valley Church

Acts Series  Message: 03 Episode: 1 of 3 Broadcast: November 17, 2025 Key Verses: Acts 2:42-47 In this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his teaching through the book of Acts in a message titled "Growing Together," based on Acts 2:42-47. These powerful verses paint a picture of the early church—devoted to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to prayer, and to living out their faith with generosity, unity, and joy. Pastor Michael unpacks what it means to be a community rooted in God's truth and committed to growing together in Christ. Be encouraged and challenged as you discover how these timeless principles can equip you to walk through everyday life with purpose, strength, and a deeper faith—so you can live out God's calling with boldness and love. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com

Daily Dose of Hope November 17, 2025   Scripture – Acts 1   Prayer: Holy God, Almighty Father, the Great I AM, Throughout all time, You are good.  Your ways are perfect.  Teach us your ways, Lord.  Help us to know you better, to know you more.  Lord, on our own, we are powerless.  We are desperate for your wisdom, love, and mercy.  More of you and less of me, Jesus.  Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.   Today, we are starting the book of Acts, one of my favorite books of the Bible.  This is the second volume of the two-part work of Luke-Acts, written by Luke, a co-worker of Paul.  The original title of the book was The Acts of the Apostles.  Certainly, different apostles appear throughout the stories, but the only single character who unifies the book is Jesus, appearing in the beginning of the book in human form and then acting through the Holy Spirit throughout the book.    As we work our way through the text, it's going to be incredible to see how the Holy Spirit transforms, leads, directs, and shapes the new Christians and the young church.  Chapter 1 opens with Jesus ready to ascend into heaven.  Even though this is post-resurrection, the disciples still didn't understand everything.  We find them asking Jesus when he is going to restore the kingdom to Israel.  Their understanding of God's Kingdom is still a bit misguided, but Jesus redirects them.  He says only God knows the time and place for that.    But there is something even better ahead.  And Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit is coming.  The Spirit of the living God is coming and when it does, they will receive a power like no other.  This is the same truth for us:  When God's Spirit comes upon us, we have the ability to  witness, to bear testimony, to all the things of Jesus.  It really isn't about us but about God's Spirit in us!   And then, Jesus ascends into heaven.  They don't quite get it yet, but now it's a waiting game.  The Holy Spirit is coming and they have no idea what they are in for.  Tomorrow, we get to talk about Pentecost and the birthday of the church.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

The Echo of Redemption

We conclude our Advance series – a tour through the Book of Acts asking the question, “How does the gospel go forward?”  In this final message, With All Boldness and Without Hindrance, based on Acts 28:11-31,  we will explore how advancing the gospel with all boldness and without hindrance is the mission of the Church. We're glad you're here. ABOUT US | We are cultivating a vibrant community of faith, hope and love that follows Jesus into the world so our neighbors may also experience God's goodness. Learn more at https://www.cpchb.org/core-values/PRAY  | To request prayer or pray with us, visit https://www.cpchb.org/prayer GIVE  |  To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people, visit  https://www.cpchb.org/give/ PRAYER REQUESTS | https://www.cpchb.org/prayerGIVE  | https://www.cpchb.org/give/CONNECT  |  We want to connect with you!  Visit us at  https://www.facebook.com/cpchb/    https://www.instagram.com/christpacificchurch/    Weekly eBlast: https://tinyurl.com/swy75ujv  MORE INFO | https://www.cpchb.org/

We continue our Advance series – a tour through the Book of Acts asking the question, “How does the gospel go forward?”  In this message, Anchored in the Storm, based on Acts 27:13-44,  we will explore how God is at work in the storms you face - speaking, accompanying and preserving his purposes. We're glad you're here. ABOUT US | We are cultivating a vibrant community of faith, hope and love that follows Jesus into the world so our neighbors may also experience God's goodness. Learn more at https://www.cpchb.org/core-values/PRAY  | To request prayer or pray with us, visit https://www.cpchb.org/prayer GIVE  |  To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people, visit  https://www.cpchb.org/give/ PRAYER REQUESTS | https://www.cpchb.org/prayerGIVE  | https://www.cpchb.org/give/CONNECT  |  We want to connect with you!  Visit us at  https://www.facebook.com/cpchb/    https://www.instagram.com/christpacificchurch/    Weekly eBlast: https://tinyurl.com/swy75ujv  MORE INFO | https://www.cpchb.org/

Greg Bryan and Jim Reske discuss Jim's upcoming Bible study lesson on Acts chapters 1-4, with Jim sharing many of his insights and preparation methods, which include listening to sermons by Tim Keller and consulting church history materials. A central theme of their discussion revolves around the meaning of the Apostles' Creed, particularly the phrase "I believe in the holy Christian church," leading to a broader conversation about the nature of the church as "apostolic" and not merely a "movement" or "affinity group." A significant focus is placed on the Acts 1:8 passage, where Jesus's words about receiving power are interpreted as a response to the disciples' misplaced desire for political power instead of spiritual transformation through the Holy Spirit, which is highlighted as the true force behind the book of Acts.

Church shouldn't be boring. And, the book of the Acts is proof of that. In every generation of the church, people have rediscovered the story of the early church as it's told in the book of Acts—and it has set the church on fire. In a cultural moment where the church is in decline, we want to read the book of Acts page by page and highlight moments that have the potential to renew the church in our time. We don't just want to read stories from Acts, we want to live them. If that's what you want and you're just curious about faith, join us for Season 3 of Highlights from Acts.

Jason Haygood brings us Chapter 27 in The Book of Acts, Paul's Perilous Journey to Rome.

In this Bible Story, Paul is nearly stoned to death by Jewish Christians who seek to control Gentiles by the law. They are dangerous and controlling. Yet Paul does not let the stones stop him. This story is inspired by Acts 14. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Acts 14:19 from the King James Version.Episode 229: As Paul and Barnabas entered Iconium to preach, both Jews and Gentiles were receptive and restored by the message of love and mercy in Jesus that they brought. But not everyone in the city was happy about this change. Certain men of influence added poison to these teachings and stirred the people against Paul and Barnabas. So they fled to Lystra where they healed a man and were called gods by the men of the city. Just as Paul and Barnabas convinced the crowd that they were mere men, the elders of Antioch came and captured Paul, bringing him out to the city to be stoned. But because of what God did for him, Paul went right back to the city the next day to continue preaching the good news of Jesus.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's message, Timothy Ateek taught through the book of Acts and highlighted ten characteristics that defined the early Christian church.

In this week's message, Timothy Ateek taught through the book of Acts and highlighted ten characteristics that defined the early Christian church.

The Book of Acts invites us into the incredible story of how Jesus began building His church through ordinary people empowered by the Holy Spirit. In Riots & Revivals, we'll follow their journey from fear to bold faith—where miracles happen, lives are changed, and the message of Jesus turns the world upside down.

This week, Pastor Jeff continues a series in the book of Acts named ACTS: The Mission of God is Our Mission. The next message in the series is based in Acts 8:1-25 and is entitled "Great Persecution." The main idea of the sermon is: A great persecution begins, resulting in the scattering of the church and the spread of the gospel to Samaria. ————————  Connect with Us: Website: parkwoodonline.org Facebook: facebook.com/parkwoodonline Instagram: instagram.com/parkwoodonline.org  Check out more resources and sermons online at: parkwoodresources.org

*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. SUMMARY: When a believer begins to experience the Lord, they often encounter the Holy Spirit, which may manifest through speaking in tongues. As seen in the book of Acts, tongues of fire appeared over the disciples, and they spoke languages they had never learned. As believers continue to seek deeper experiences in God, the fire becomes a purifying force—one that cleanses and refines them. This baptism of fire is God's process of perfecting His people and bringing them into true sonship. SHOW NOTES: When a believer begins to reach into sonship and wants to grow in his spirit, he begins to hear about the fire. The refining fire that the Holy Spirit brings on a believer who is seeking to move beyond the salvation experience at first may seem to be more on a soulish level than in a person's spirit. A relatively new Christian can begin moving in the gifts or speaking in tongues and become excited about areas he is moving in, but it may really be mostly the expression of the soul. John the Baptist emphasized that Jesus was coming to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire, which was superior to the baptism that John had ministered. As the Lord begins to put the cross or the fire to a person's life, he feels very uncomfortable and may even try to back out of the pressure on his circumstances. There comes a point in a person's life where he realizes he has an Adamic nature that God is trying to refine out of him. QUOTATIONS: I think one of the things we're looking at in the restoration, and salvation, and then the baptism of the Holy Spirit, is many people went off on a soulish realm to the degree that they thought the soulish realm was the anointing. And it was not. I don't think the understanding was there on what “the fire” meant. I don't think I ever realized we were born with chaff. I always felt like chaff came as a development as we grew up, and that's not true. A part of the old nature was called chaff, and the chaff had to be burned off. It couldn't remain if we were going to come into the presence of a holy God. You have to realize too that God doesn't technically put the fire on us. We are beaten, and that is how you get rid of the chaff. You're beaten, and then it is thrown in the air, and the wind takes it off. But then when it is done, to make sure the chaff is gone, they pick it up and burn...

If you've ever nodded off in church, this sermon is for you. And if you haven't… well, give it time. We all take a little spiritual nap now and then. Today we're looking at one of the wildest moments in the Book of Acts—the night Paul literally preached someone to death. And then brought him back to life. Try topping that with a sermon illustration. Here's the thing: Everyone jokes about "falling asleep in church," but the real danger isn't dozing off during the message. "It's not sin that gets us first — it's sleepiness." The world lulls us into spiritual drowsiness, and we don't even notice it happening. Meanwhile, Jesus is over here yelling, "Wake up," not because He's annoyed, but because "falling asleep in faith is inevitable; but being raised by Christ is certain." This message isn't a guilt trip. It's not caffeine for your conscience. It's about the God who refuses to let you stay asleep. "He doesn't just forgive you — He wakes you up." And trust me, you're going to want to hear what happens when He does. So buckle up, stretch if you need to, and—no promises—but I'll try not to preach long enough for anyone to fall out of a window. Let's jump in.

Introduction: Romans 14:12 – So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Revelation 22:12 – Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. How to Have a Successful Building Campaign (1 Corinthians 3:10–17) Build on the right FOUNDATION. (1 Cor 3:10–11) Matthew 16:15–18 – He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Use the right MATERIALS. (1 Cor 3:12) 2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Pass INSPECTION. (1 Cor 3:13–17) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 3:10-17What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Your works will be tested by fire (1 Cor 3:13). What determines if a work is good or useless (precious metal or straw)?Is it wrong to be motivated by rewards? How much do rewards motivate you to serve Christ?How would you answer the question: “What exactly is the reward Jesus is giving in 1 Cor 3:14?”?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Open up those Bibles.The 1 Corinthians chapter 3.1 Corinthians chapter 3.Just pause for a second.As we so often do, I'm just going to ask you to take a moment and pray for me to be faithfulto communicate God's Word, and I will pray for you to be ready to receive what it is thatthe Lord has to say today.Let's pray.Father in heaven, your Word tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing throughthe Word of Christ.Father, I pray today that you would increase our faith as we sit under your Word, and thatyour Word would not just encourage us, but it would move us.To be the people that you've called us to be so that we would do the things that you'vecalled us to do, Father, for your glory and honor.We praise you in Jesus' name.All of God's people said, "Amen."1 Corinthians chapter 3.My wife, Erin, loves gardening.And if there's a story that sort of encapsulates Erin's gardening experience, it would bethis one.Several years ago, somebody gifted Erin a little greenhouse, and she was so excited.She spent so much time building this greenhouse, and then inside the greenhouse, you know,she had to build - it wasn't like this massive structure, but it was a pretty nice structure.And then inside the greenhouse, she built all these shelves, and then there were allthese, you know, those little plastic trays, and you fill them with the dirt, and she wentthrough.But some of them, you know, you had to have the pots, and she had the most magnificentgreenhouse.She spent so much time, and I'm like, "We are going to have such a harvest.We're probably going to have to hire people to come and harvest this bountiful crop.We're probably going to have to buy like machines."There was so - I'm like, "This is awesome."Well, one day, we were out somewhere, we returned home.There was a really, really bad storm.And when we got in the house and went about our business, and at one point we looked outthe window and saw her greenhouse was completely leveled.And everything was strewn across the yard.Literally nothing was salvageable.You thought this was going to be funny, didn't you?Trust me, I didn't laugh.Husbands, in a moment like this, you do not laugh.She spent so much time and so much work and so much energy building this thing, and itwas all for nothing.She at the end had nothing to show for it.And you know, the Bible says, Christian, that your life can be like that.Did you know that?That you can live your whole life doing lots of things, lots of energy, lots of time spenton things.And at the very end, you find out that you have nothing to show for it as you enter intoeternity.That's what this passage is about today.We're going to be picking up in verse 10, but I want you to drop down for a second andlook at verse 16, because we're going to grab this so that we understand this passage.Some of you probably know this verse off by heart.1 Corinthians 3.16 says, "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God'sSpirit dwells in you?"And what I want to point out here is in the Greek, that word you is plural.And a lot of times when we talk about you are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we thinkabout individual salvation.Yes, absolutely God's Spirit and dwells in the individual who receives Christ.Absolutely.But listen, at the same time, I want you to hear me very closely on this.There is a corporate aspect of salvation, meaning this.You are saved to be a part of a community.And that is cover to cover in your Bible.Look at Old Testament Israel.God dealt with them as a community nation.Look at the New Testament church in the book of Acts.It is a community.Look at the description of heaven in Revelation.What is it?It is a community.It is a community of people that are saved together worshiping.So salvation yet it is an individual choice to receive Jesus Christ.Yes, it is going from death to life individually, but we are always, always, always called tocommunity.Always.We are God's temple.That's why this unity issue is so important.Salvation is not just a me thing.It's a we thing in the church.And in this passage we are looking at today, we have a new analogy.Last week Pastor Taylor walked us through the previous analogy that Paul gave us.That was the farm.Planting and watering and harvesting.We are moving today from the farm to the construction site.And in this passage we are going to see that you are each a part of God's building project.And the inspector is coming to evaluate your work.And Christian, you are going to be judged.You are like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, time out, time out.Pastor Jeff, this isn't my first time at this church.And I've heard you say that a Christian will not be judged.You will not be judged for your sin.You will not.But I want you to understand that when the Bible talks about judgment, there are many,many, many, many, many, many, many kinds of judgment the Bible talks about.For example, the Bible talks about the judgment of the nations.Matthew 25, the Bible talks about the judgment of demons.Jude 6, the Bible talks about the judgment of the unsaved, the great white throne judgment,Revelation 20.The believers will be judged.And if you are a follower of Christ, you will be judged not for your sin.Jesus took care of that on the cross.If you are a follower of Christ, sin is in the rear view mirror forever in God's perspective.That is a done deal.But you will be judged for your works in terms of receiving rewards.Jesus is the judge, John chapter 5, and He will judge you for rewards according to whatyou do after you are saved.The Bible is so clear in this.There are so many verses.Here's a couple that just highlight this.Romans chapter 14, verse 12, there it is.So then each of us will give an account of himself to God, each of us.He's talking to the church.He's talking to us.We will give an account to God.And look what Jesus says, end of the book, right?Revelation 22, Jesus said, "Behold, I'm coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repayeach one for what he has done."Each one.And you look at the context of that passage.He's talking for the bad, and He's also talking for the good.He's going to repay.Alright?So in this passage we're looking at today in 1 Corinthians, believers works.Listen, this is the whole theme.This is the whole, I don't know, is it a metaphor?Is it a simile?Is it an analogy?Whatever the whole word picture here is construction terms.And in this passage the Bible is talking about your good works in terms of building something,building a structure.And your works will be judged.Are they worthy of a reward?So on your outline, this is very timely for us as a church.It's all straight from the text here.This isn't gimmicky or campy.This is all straight from the text.How to have a successful building campaign.You want to enter heaven someday with something to show for your time here on earth?That's what this passage is about.And it's actually exactly like having a regular building campaign.Same principles.How to have a successful building campaign.Number one, write this down.Build on the right foundation.That's where it has to start.You get a build on the right foundation.Look at verse 10.Paul says, "According to the grace of God given to me like a skilled master builder,I laid a foundation and someone else is building upon it.Let each one take care how he builds upon it."Paul here talking about himself, he planted the church in Corinth.He spent 18 months laying the foundation.And he refers to himself as a skilled master builder.He wasn't exalting himself.He wasn't bragging.He just said in the previous passage that he is nothing.We already established that.All Paul is pointing out here is, "Look, I know how to plant a church.I know how to do that."Like, have you ever read the book of Acts?He wasn't bragging.He's like, "I know how to plant a church."He had a technique and it worked.And he planted many churches that we're still talking about today.He knew what he was doing.And he says, "Someone else is building upon it."Pastor Taylor talked about that a little bit last week.That's Apollos.The next pastor, Apollos is building on the foundation of Paul-Aid.But notice he says here, verse 10, "Lest you think..."Well, you know, good for preachers, right?Good for them.He says, "Each one..."Look at that.Look at that in your Bible."Each one, take care how he builds upon it."Each one.You know what that phrase, "Each one" tells me?This passage isn't just for pastors.This passage isn't just for the clergy.Each one.Each one.Look, you serve in this church in any way.Church Academy, teaching the kids.Guess what?You're one of the each one.You're a small group leader.Each one.Are you a ministry team leader?Each one.Are you serving on one of the ministry teams?Each one.This is for all of us here.Each one of us have to take care on how we're building on the foundation.Every single one of us.You know what the problem is?It's too often the church is like Pendant.Some of you already know what I'm going to say.And if you work for Pendant, I'm certainly not talking about you.But how many of us?Come on, let's just be honest.We've been driving by Pendant, road work.What do you see?One or two people working and eight or nine people watching.True or false?Don't leave me up here.Pastor Jeff hates Pendant?No.Pastor Jeff is just observant.You've seen it too.But you have one or two guys like really working.And then you have eight or nine guys just standing around watching and eating a sandwichor smoking a cigarette and like hanging out on their cell phone.That's the church, honestly.That's what you have at the church.You have a small percentage that are working really hard in so many ways and you have alot of people that just kind of sit around and watch.Maybe contribute with some occasional criticism.The church is too much like Pendant.Look, if we're going to build, we're going to start with a foundation.And you're like, "Okay, well Paul said he laid a foundation.Are we just going to go with the one that Paul laid?"Yeah, I would recommend that because look at verse 11.He says, "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is JesusChrist."The church, listen, the church only has one foundation.And the foundation of the church is Jesus Christ.This is what he talked about in Matthew chapter 16.I'm going to paraphrase here.But Matthew chapter 16, Jesus said basically like, "What's the word on the street?Who do people say that I am?"And the disciples are like, "Well some people think you're John the Baptist or Elijah, oneof the prophets."Jesus says to his disciples, "But who do you say that I am?"And then Peter spoke up.Look at that."You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."That's what Peter said.And Jesus blessed him for that.Jesus said, "And I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.On this rock I will build my church."They're like, "Well what is the rock?"Well, some people believe that Peter is the rock because the name Peter means rock.But there's a lot of Greek linguistic reasons why that isn't exactly accurate.But Peter is not the foundation of the church.The foundation of the church is Peter's confession.Because we see here what the foundation of the church is.The foundation of the church is Jesus.The foundation of the church is Jesus.So it is Peter's confession, meaning the church is built when people confess that Jesus isthe Christ.That's the foundation of the church.Churches abandon the mission when they try to build on another foundation.And listen, when a church is built on a foundation other than Jesus Christ, then it's not reallya church.Well we believe the church is here to go after social causes or focus on politics or tryto entertain people.We're on the wrong foundation.But I want you to listen very closely.Yes, the church is called to be salt and light.Yes, the church is called to influence every arena where God puts us.Absolutely.But any of that stuff that's happening has to come from the foundation that we are acommunity that believes in Jesus Christ.We are a community that has been transformed by the spirit of Jesus Christ.And we carry out the mission of Jesus Christ to make more disciples of Jesus Christ.So I have to ask you, have you personally made that confession?Have you confessed in your own heart and mind with your own mouth that you believe thatJesus is the Christ?You believe that Jesus is the Son of the living God?Have you made that confession?Because Jesus must not only be the foundation of this church, he has to be the foundationof your very life.So the first step in having a successful building campaign, you've got to make sureyou're building on the right foundation.We could spend so much more time on that, but we recently had a whole sermon about buildingon the rock, not on the sand.Right?So build on the right foundation.Number two, successful building campaign means you've got to use the right materials.You've got to use the right materials.Look at verse 12.He says, "Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood,clay, straw, stop right there."All right, building project.Let's say you're putting up a structure.All right?And let's say money is no object.What kind of materials would you want to use to build your structure?Have the three little pigs taught us nothing?The materials matter, don't they?You'd obviously want to use the highest quality, right?Marble, gold, silver.What's Paul's point here?The quality of materials.Listen, if you miss this, you're really going to be confused for a few minutes.The quality of materials speaks to the quality of your service.Are you teaching biblical doctrine representing the Word?Are you led by the Holy Spirit?Are you rightly motivated by the glory of God?Are you putting forth your best effort serving the King of the universe with excellence?That's not about the show.It's about dazzling people.We already talked about that.The question that you have to ask yourself, you have to evaluate yourself, it's this,what kind of an effort am I putting in to glorify in Christ by doing His work?What kind of effort are you putting in?Because some people settle to build out of wood and grass.Well, it's easier, quicker, right?You want it a building, here's a building.I did my job.You have to understand that Christ considers that type of effort to be worthless.I want you to look at Paul talks about this again in 2 Corinthians.Look at 2 Corinthians 5-10 on the screen.It's the same teaching, but I'm going to point something out here.He says, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each onemay receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."Now there's a problem with this translation.The problem is the word evil.That is not the right translation of that word.You can do the Greek study yourself and you'll find that that word evil should be translatedworthless.He's not talking about something morally evil like from the devil.He's not talking about that.He's talking about something that's worthless.Things done even in the name of Jesus that ultimately end up being worthless.What in the world are you talking about?Things like things done for Christ only in human effort.How about that?Not spirit-led.Not really motivated by God's glory.I mean, I'm doing this and I'm doing it in the church, but I'd really be happier ifpeople noticed me.Those kinds of things aren't really evil as much as they are worthless.Just building out a straw.And you know, church, we can fill up the church calendar with all kinds of busyness that hasnothing to do with the mission of evangelism and discipleship.And at the end of the day, do you know what it is?Straw.It's just straw.On the other hand, when you are motivated by God's glory, when you are dedicated to maximumexcellence, when your heart is in the right place because you're being led by the HolySpirit, that's like building with gold and silver and precious stones.And you're like, oh, okay, so being part of a big church means big reward, right?No.Look, we're not speaking negatively of big churches, but I do have to point out thatsometimes we think that size equals value, and that's just not true.A handful of diamonds is much more valuable than a truck full of logs, despite the obviousdifference in size.But if you want a successful building campaign, better use the right materials.You're like, man, wow, this might be new information for some of you, and you're like, how do Iknow?How do I know?How do I know I'm using the right materials?Well I know one thing for sure we're going to find out, because number three is you'vegot to pass inspection.You've got to pass inspection.Look at verse 13.Paul under inspiration, the Spirit goes on, he says, "Each one's work will become manifest,for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will testwhat sort of work each one has done."The day is coming.You know the day, the day.And the inspector is coming to test by fire.You're going to see here throughout the rest of this passage, there's three kinds of people.Let's look at the first one, verse 14.He says, excuse me, "If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he willreceive a reward."There is a reward for the faithful worker.Again, we went through the sermon on the Mount.We talked quite a bit about this.From Matthew chapter 6, verse 20, "Jesus commanded us to lay up for ourselves treasuresin heaven."And anytime we talk about rewards and treasure in heaven, people say, "Well, what is it?What are the rewards?"And I'll tell you the same thing I always say.Not really sure.But we can't imagine that it's a kind of reward like earth, like cash.Right?What is the reward?And again, I would suggest to you that maybe God's word isn't specific because it's somethingthat we wouldn't fully understand on the earth.But we do know quite a bit about eternal rewards.We know a lot about them.First of all, we know they're eternal.We know this is something you're going to have for eternity.And something else we know is it's better.It's better than anything that we know of on earth.And if every good and perfect gift comes from above, don't you trust when God says, "Thisis awesome.You should work for this."Don't you think that it's going to be good?You're like, "No, it's going to be awesome."Right?So we know that.We also know there's no second chance to earn rewards after we die.According to the Bible, this is your chance.If you're hearing this message right now, you are in prime opportunity to earn rewards.We also know that this is a motivator.It's a motivator.We build with excellence because it's going to result in eternal reward.How are you doing?Some of you are going to get a huge reward.Some of you are.Who is?Those of you who have spent the money that God has entrusted you on missions, on the church,on gospel purposes, Jesus said you're going to get a huge reward.Those of you who know your spiritual gift and you have used it to bless the church, you'veused the time that God has given you here.You've taken your opportunity.There is a huge reward coming for you.On the other hand, let's look at the second group of people, verse 15.He says if anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will besaved but only as through fire.Okay, so we talked about the person that's working, giving, serving, faithfully, usingthis opportunity.Now we're going to talk to some of the rest of you.On the other hand, some of you are saved but you're lazy.You're irresponsible.God gave you two things to use for him, time and money, and you have spent both of thoseon yourself.You attend church but that's really about it.Your contribution to the kingdom is warming a seat.You didn't invest much money into the kingdom.You don't really serve the church in any way.You're like, am I still going to heaven?Yeah.If you truly believe in Christ, if you've truly been born again, yes, yes, he says righthere.He's still saved but it's like jumping out of a burning house and then watching it burnto the ground.You lost everything and you got nothing to show for it.Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.You're telling me.You're telling me, Pastor Jeff, everything I worked for in my life is ultimately goingto be nothing in eternity.Are you telling me that when I cross over into heaven that I'm going to have nothingto show for my time on earth?That's what he said.I think that's also why he said in verse 10, "Take care how you build."So take care.Take care, pewsitters, God tippers, and part timers.Take care, ear scratchers, bench warmers, and buck passers.Take care because today you should examine the quality of the work that you're puttingin to serve Jesus because He's coming to test it.Salvation in Christ is a gift.But what we do with it, it's on us.There's a third group.Look at verse 16.He says, "Do you not know that you are God's temple and God's spirit dwells in you?"Do you realize how precious you are to God?Do you realize what you are to God?You're not some she-shed.You are His temple.You are the place where God resides.You individually, and again, this is plural.He's saying you corporately.This is where God chooses to dwell.Therefore, verse 17, "If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him.For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."This is the third group.And I think it's pretty obvious, right?He's talking about unsaved people here, right?People that destroy what others build.We're talking about false teachers, obviously.But you know what else we're talking about?Those in the church who aren't saved but are divisive.Those who hinder the work of the church.Those who are constantly causing problems for the leaders of the church.Are you protective of your house?If you went home from church today and there was somebody inside your house destroying it,what would you do?Well, God is pretty protective of His house, too.And when He looks down and He sees His house and He sees somebody that's trying to destroyHis house, God says, "I'm going to destroy Him.I'm going to deal with Him severely."Any building campaign, really, at the end of the day, any building campaign can onlybe said to be successful if it passes inspection, right?I'd like to invite the worship team and our communion servers to come up because we'vegot to close a passage like this by gathering around the Lord's table.Why?Well, the Lord's table for the Christian, for the church, it means so much.A couple of things in particular means that we are reminded as we gather around.First of all, this brings us back to our foundation.Lest we ever be tempted to build a foundation on anything else, the Lord's Supper bringsus back to the place.You know, this is the foundation of the church, the Lord who died for His church, who rosefrom the dead for His church.So not only is it our foundation, but I think another huge aspect of the Lord's table isour motivation.Because look, the Bible talks about rewards.Should we be motivated by rewards?Absolutely.But rewards should be a motivator, not the motivator.The motivator is the God who died for you, the love that He poured out on the cross.He died for you.So we are motivated to live for Him.

Long before believers were called “Christians,” they were known as People of the Way—followers of Jesus whose lives reflected His movement in the world. This series walks through the book of Acts, exploring how the early church lived, served, and shared the gospel in a changing world. As we study their story, we're challenged to rediscover what it means to be the church today—faithful, united, and always on the move.

Pastor Mike continues our series on the Book of Acts, speaking from Acts 15 - A New Identity Through the Gospel 

Have you ever wondered how a small group of Jesus' followers turned into a global movement of hundreds of millions?The book of Acts gives us a powerful glimpse into the first three decades of the Church—from 33 AD to 64 AD—when a gospel movement was born. In just 30 years, the message of Jesus began to spread with such force and impact that it has since shaped civilization, culture, education, medicine, freedom, and family life around the world.You could say the gospel has gone viral.Throughout history, people have approached Acts from different angles:The cold scholar sees it as a record of dates, places, and historical figures.The casual admirer treats it like a museum—something to observe from a distance.But the committed disciple reads it as a call to action—a blueprint for continuing the mission of Jesus.Our goal is to respond not as scholars or admirers, but as committed disciples. Let's continue the mission of Jesus Christ, becoming His witnesses in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Rev. Brad Williams teaches from the series: Acts, in the book of Acts, verses 19:21 - 41

God's heart is to make His home in us and to fill us with His joy and His peace and His grace and His power, and I believe that with every fibre of my being. In fact, I know it. And the other thing I know is that He wants to do that for you. Today. Right now.   We're All Different It is fantastic to be with you again this week on Christianityworks. You know the process of boy meets girl has always fascinated me. Before I met my wonderful wife Jacqui, somebody encouraged me to go out on a blind date with a woman and the moment I knocked on her door and she opened the door, I took one look at her and in the instant, I knew there would be no relationship there - I just knew! And yet the very first time I laid eyes on Jacqui, I just knew that she would be my wife. How does that work? What is that chemistry all about? How does chemistry and attraction turn into love and commitment and lifelong companionship? I don't know, I really don't know. I guess for one person there are many potential spouses and only a handful of real candidates, and sometimes one or sometimes none that people meet. It's really a mystery, isn't it? how a boy and a girl meet and become husband and wife and share a life together for the whole of their lives. The same is true with friends – you can pick your friends but you can't pick your relatives. And I guess that saying acknowledges this reality, that sometimes there are people with whom we have chemistry and we have relationship and yet other people – they may be similar to us, they may have the same interests – but there is just no potential there for relationship, because somehow you just don't click. You know what I'm talking about. Well it that's true of people – if there is kind of a custom fit between people for having relationships what about our relationship with God? There is one God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons in one God - an amazing mystery of God in three persons. But what about our compatibility with God? We are all different – some of us know things in our heads; some of us know things more in our hearts; some of us are right-brained people, some of us are left brained people; some people are loud and noisy, other people are quiet and deep. For some people experience is the most important way of knowing something but for others, they just know that they know that they know that they know that they know. Whatever it is – wherever each one of us is in terms of faith – let's just make a couple of assumptions: firstly, that God is God and secondly that it was His idea to make us all so incredibly different. So, if that's the case, how is it that God deals with that reality in establishing and developing a personal relationship with each one of us? That's what we are going to visit today on the programme. We are in the third programme of a four-week series called "The Holy Spirit and Me". The last few weeks we have been looking at the subject of walking in the Spirit. Two weeks ago we began looking at Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised – if you want to read it it's in John chapter 14 – He promised another Counsellor; another Advocate "just like Me". So Jesus did His public ministry for three and a half years and just before He went to the cross He promised His disciples: I won't leave you as orphans. I'll come again. I'll be with you through My Holy Spirit, My Father and I will come and make our homes with you. And then He died on the cross, He rose again, He ascended into Heaven and not long after…and that's what we are going to look at today, in the Book of Acts. If you have a Bible, grab it; open it at Acts because that's where we are going today. Not long after He poured His Holy Spirit out on His disciples – the Holy Spirit of grace; the Holy Spirit of power; the Holy Spirit of God in us with a relationship that we just can't put into words. And last week on the programme we looked at one of the significant implications of having the Holy Spirit present in us, in that the Spirit who is Holy deals with our sin and that means change; that means repenting; that means ditching that rubbish in our lives. It may not be popular but the Holy Spirit gives us the power to change. But how does the Holy Spirit deal with each one of us who are so different? And this week we are going to look at how God strikes up a relationship with us. We are all so different – God is God – God doesn't change, so how does He do it? How does He customise or tailor His approach or is it one size fits all? Is there some kind of standard approach that is the same for each one of us? How do I know I have the Holy Spirit? It's amazing in the church, that the Holy Spirit is a source of great division – people's understanding of the person of the Holy Spirit – one of the three persons in the Godhead, brings a whole bunch of misunderstanding. And we are just going to open the Bible today very simply and very plainly and just read what God says about God, the Holy Spirit. I was sitting having dinner the other night with a really good friend of mine and this man is very well-known in ministry in Australia and around the world – God has used him to do some amazing things. And you would have to say he is a high-profile sort of person – I won't use his name because we were having a private dinner together. But we were talking about how God deals with each one of us and I was saying. "Well, I love getting up in the morning early and spending forty-five minutes or an hour with God because God speaks to me." You know, I find out what God is doing. "God what are You up to today?" And God gives me guidance as I do that – as I read His Word, as I listen to Him, as I pray. God just impresses on me what He wants me to do. And this friend of mine – and people look at him from a distance; they see him on television, they hear him on radio, they read his biography and they look at this man and they say, "WOW, here's this super-spiritual man that God has used powerfully," and he said to me, "It doesn't work like that for me." He said, "You know, I go to God and ask Him, 'What do you want me to do, God?'" And God says to me, "I have already given you a job, go and do it." You think, "Well, it doesn't sound very spiritual", but on the other hand "the proof of the pudding is in the eating". I mean, look at the fruit in this man's life and God has clearly used him amazingly. God knows each one of us. He knows exactly what you are like. He knows exactly how to connect with you, just as He does to connect with me. So over the next twenty minutes or so we are going to spend some time looking at three different examples of how God connected with people, with the aim of getting the sense that God knows how different each one of us are. We will look at that when we come back.   A Personal Relationship What I said earlier, that the person of the Holy Spirit is one of the greatest sources of division in the Christian church right now and it is true. On the one hand it's very clear from the Bible that everyone who believes in Jesus has the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans chapter 8, verse 9: Anyone one who does not have the Spirit of Christ doesn't belong to Him. And again in Ephesians chapter 1 and elsewhere, Paul writes along these lines – he says: In Him, in Jesus also, when you had heard the word of truth; the Good News; the Gospel of your salvation and you believed in Him, you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit. This is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God's own people to the praise of His glory. So in other words, any person that has believed in their heart that Jesus is their personal Saviour has received the Holy Spirit; the promised Holy Spirit; the Spirit that Jesus promised in John chapter 14. Another comforter; another one just like Me, is what He said about the Holy Spirit. But, it's also true by observation that this Holy Spirit makes a difference in some people and not in others. Jesus said: You will know a tree by its fruit. Good trees have good fruit and bad trees have bad fruit. I don't know where you are on your journey – I have a bit of a sense where I am on my journey but we are all on a journey. If we are walking with Jesus, if we have accepted Him and said, "Lord, I want You to be my Saviour, I believe that You died for me on the cross" – if we are with Jesus then somewhere in our lives, Jesus is making changes – we are on a journey. And I know that today I make fewer mistakes that I did five years ago and my prayer is that as I grow in God's Word and in my relationship with Him and through the presence of the Spirit in me, I pray in another five years I will be able to look back and say exactly the same thing. But there are some people who say, "I believe in Jesus" and you look at their lives and you think 'I can't see any fruit.' There is that wonderful story in Luke's Gospel of Jesus going to His friend's grave – Lazarus. Lazarus had died; he had been dead for a few days and when Jesus got to his grave, He said" Roll the stone away. And they said: You don't understand he has been dead for a few days, he is going to smell And Jesus said: Roll the stone away. And when they did that He said: Lazarus, come out. And Lazarus got up from the dead and walked out but he was bound up in grave-clothes. Now under those grave-clothes there was red in his cheek – the Master had spoken life into Lazarus's dead body. But Lazarus was still bound up in the grave-clothes. You know, you can't do much for God; you can't serve other people when you are bound up in grave-clothes. And to tell you the truth, I know plenty of Christians that look just like Lazarus when he came out of the tomb. Yes, the Master has spoken life into them – yes, they have eternal life but they are still bound up in the grave-clothes of the past. Jesus said, "I came to set you free," and I believe that the Holy Spirit – in fact the Bible tells us the Holy Spirit has so much to do with setting us free. Some people believe that you become a Christian, you receive the Holy Spirit and that's it! That's one side of the argument. Other people believe, "Well, no, there is a second blessing. You know, sure you receive the seal of the Holy Spirit – you receive the Spirit when you become a Christian but you have got to be baptised in the Spirit." There is a significant experiential event of power, of gifts, of tongues and prophets and all those other things that happen after the event. And I know well-intentioned Christians of both sides of that argument – in both camps – who argue their cases strongly and passionately and believe that the other party is just plain wrong. Why is this important? Because it goes to the question 'How do I know if I'm filled with the Spirit? How do I know if I'm walking in the Spirit? Because I don't know about you, but I'm passionate – I want all that God has for me – all of Him, all of His presence, all of His blessing, all that I can do with God, I want everything that God has for me. How incredibly sad to believe in the cross; to believe in Jesus and then to walk the rest of our lives as though nothing happened? Come on, do you want everything that God has for you? Because I tell you, God has an abundant blessing and over flowing blessing of grace and mercy and joy and peace for each person who puts their faith in Jesus. And to understand how God approaches this, we are going to look at three very distinct; very different approaches in the Bible in the Book of Acts. The first one happens at Pentecost – let's read it very quickly. Acts chapter 1, verses 4 and 5. While staying with them, Jesus (this is after the resurrection and before He ascends), this is what it says: While staying with them Jesus ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for the promise of the Father. This, He said, is what you have heard from Me for John baptised with water but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. And then in Acts chapter 2, this is what happens: When the day of Pentecost came they were all together in one place and suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind and it filled the entire house where they were sitting and divided tongues as of fire appeared among them and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them ability. One thing is clear – God poured His Spirit out on these men and women in the most amazing way. And you read on in Acts chapter 2, 3 and 4 – Peter gets up and addresses the crowd and gives the most powerful message – God filled them with His Spirit and His power. What does it show about God? He does special things - things that we don't always understand; things that don't always make sense to us. He did them then, He does them today – He does amazing things. And yet He does different things too. We are going to look at two different instances of how God poured His Spirit out on people next.   We Can't Put God in a Box We are looking on the programme today how God touches people differently with His Holy Spirit. We have just looked at the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on to the disciples with rushing wind and flames of fire – really unusual and amazing and maybe you and I wouldn't have done it that way, but God did. Have a look at this one though; this is another really interesting one. We are going to Acts chapter 19 – if you have a Bible, go there because God does things differently. Have a listen, this is in Ephesus: While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul the Apostle, passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus where he found some disciples. He said to them "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" and they replied "No, we don't even know that there is a Holy Spirit." Then he said "Into what were you baptised?" and they answered "Into John's baptism." And Paul said "John baptised with a baptism of repentance, telling people to believe in the One who was coming after him, that is in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of Jesus and then Paul laid hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in tongues and they prophesied and all together there were about twelve of them. See, some people argue so strongly, "Well, you receive the Holy Spirit; it is a one-off thing when you become a believer", as we saw before in the Book of Romans chapter 8 – when you become a believer you receive the Holy Spirit and that's it! That may be how God works with some people but it's not how He worked in Ephesus. In Ephesus, I'm sure that when these people believed in Jesus, they put their hearts into Him, they received the Holy Spirit but they had to be taught about the Holy Spirit. They didn't know that the Holy Spirit existed and when Paul told them about it; when Paul laid his hands on them, they received the Spirit in power and they prophesied and they prayed in tongues. There was a second experience for them. Don't you love how God does things differently? And the third one that I would like to look at is Cornelius and his family. Let's go to Acts chapter 10 if you have a Bible because Cornelius received the Holy Spirit in a different way. In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian cohort as it was called. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household and he gave generously to the poor and prayed constantly to God. One afternoon about three o'clock, he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel coming and said to him "Cornelius!" He stared at the angel in terror "What is it Lord?" "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God." And so the angel told Cornelius to send some men to Peter to get Peter the Apostle to come and tell them about Jesus, which happened. And while Peter was still talking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the Word. So the example we looked at before, in Ephesus, those people had believed – we don't know for how long – but they received the Holy Spirit after they believed. Here Cornelius and his family were still listening to the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit fell upon them there. See, how silly it is to have these arguments about "Well, you know, you only receive the Holy Spirit when you first believe," or "You have to receive the Holy Spirit as a second blessing." There are two examples where God did it differently and the one at Pentecost before, these people had walked with Jesus – they had spent three and a half years with Him, some of them, in the best Bible school you will ever come across – the Bible school of Jesus Christ. And God dealt with each of them differently. I remember, I received the Holy Spirit the way Cornelius did. I remember when I gave my life to Jesus Christ that day, I know that I know that I know that I know that I know that I was filled with the Holy Spirit and it's never changed for me. That joy and that peace has never left me; the courage to keep going has never left me, even through the dark times; even through the painful times; even when I felt like I was walking alone, I knew in my spirit and my heart that my God was carrying me. And that comes from the Holy Spirit. What about you? Have you been filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit - God's presence in you? You know that joy, that peace, that thing that happens when you all of a sudden get a revelation in your spirit and in your soul, that Jesus Christ is Lord. Do you walk around every day in that knowledge that you are filled with the Holy Spirit? That the Holy Spirit is just overflowing out of you? Someone is listening there going "I have never experienced that, I have never tasted that, I want that," well I am going to pray for you right now. Father, I pray for each person who is listening right now. We are together in Your Spirit in Your Kingdom. I pray for each soul who is hungering for Your presence. I pray each person who is aching to receive Your Holy Spirit and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that You would pour Your Spirit out on them, right here and right now. That You would fill them with the Holy Spirit, not just today but tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next, every day between now and when each one of us stands before You in glory. I pray that You would pour Your Spirit out on us in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Well, I know that if you prayed that prayer with me, I know that if your soul is dry and thirsty and hungry and poor and empty and just yearning to be filled with God, I know that God will honour that prayer and when we accept God for who He is, to let Him do just what He wants in our lives, just how He wants to do it in our lives, that is the most awesome and wonderful and amazing thing. Whether we are a Cornelius and we received the Spirit and were filled to overflowing when we first heard the message or whether we are someone who has been walking for twenty or thirty years and never been filled with the Holy Spirit – it doesn't matter – God shows up for each one of us because if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, His heart is to make His home in us and to fill us with His joy and His peace and His grace and His power and I believe that with every fibre of my being I have seen it in other people's lives – I have seen it in my life and I am believing for your life too. God is no man's debtor – God has no favourites – God wants to pour His glory out in your life, in my life, in everybody's life, who puts their faith in Jesus Christ. Let's come back to the question – does God have a standard way or does He customise His approach? Look at Pentecost – look at Ephesus – look at Cornelius, look at my life – look at your life. God will meet you in your place, in your life, in your need, just the way you are. I believe that and I am praying for that, for you, in Jesus Christ's name.

Welcometo Pastor's Chat. Today we're looking at Ephesians 3:14-19. These are powerfulverses reminding us of the Apostle Paul's prayer for the church at Ephesus. Inthis prayer, there are four request, but they're not to be looked at asinsulated individual petitions because these four requests are like four partsto a telescope. One request leads into the next one and so on. He prays thatthe inner man might have spiritual strength, which will, in turn, lead to adeeper experience with Christ. This deeper experience will enable him to “apprehend”(to get a hold) of God's great love, which will result in being “filled untothe fullness of God”. So, then, Paul is praying for strength, for depth inour spiritual life, for apprehension, and for fullness.  That'swhat we'll be talking about these next couple days because this prayer, thispetition is so vitally important to our spiritual growth and our spiritualwell-being and our spiritual standing as we fight and stand against the wilesof the evil one (Ephesians 6). Please read the petition in these six versescarefully. Oh my friend, it's almost unimaginable that we have a prayer herethat tells us that on earth we can be filled with the fullness of God. JesusChrist himself was the exact image of God (Hebrews 1:3). He was the fullness ofGod manifest on earth (Colossians 1:19). Now we as His believers, as His light,as His witnesses, can be filled with the same fullness of God to make a bigdifference in the world in which we live.  Oh,if only we as believers would learn this truth and pray for this greatanointing, this great strengthening of the Holy Spirit to make us all that weshould be for the glory of God. The lack of power and weakness of the churchestoday is that we have no idea as far as most believers are concerned what wehave in Christ Jesus and the fullness of God and the riches of His glory that'savailable to us. And that through this prayer that we read about here we can experiencethis power and strength in our lives Thefirst thing Paul prays for is “to be strengthened with might throughHis Spirit in the inner man”. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lifeis evidence of our salvation. Romans 8:9 says: “But you are not in the fleshbut in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyonedoes not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His”. Scripture is very clearthat at the moment of our salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us. But thepower of the Holy Spirit is enablement for Christian living. It's this powerthat Paul desires for these believers here at Ephesus.  InActs 1:8, Jesus had said to the disciples, you shall receive power after thatthe Holy Spirit is come upon you. We are told in Luke 4:1, 14, that Jesusperformed His ministry on earth in the power of the Holy Spirit. This power ofthe Holy Spirit is the only resource that we have for Christian living today.When you read through the book of Acts, over and again you see the importanceof the Holy Spirit in the life of the church. There are at least some fifty-ninereferences to the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. This is one fourth of allthe references found in the New Testament on the Holy Spirit. Someonesaid, that if God took the Holy Spirit out of the church today, He wouldn'teven be missed because we would just go on working as usual. How sad that thisis so true. We can't imagine the wisdom that we would have, the strength thatwe would, the witness that we would in the world, if we would receive this greattruth and allow the Holy Spirit to fill us. living and working in us, andthrough us.  Today,how real is the Holy Spirit to you? Are you praying to “be strengthened withmight through His Spirit” to face the challenges of living theChristian life in today's godless culture? Are you praying this for others too? Godbless!

Acts Series  Message: 04 Episode: 3 of 3 Broadcast: November 14, 2025 Key Verses: Acts 2:1-13 In this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his powerful teaching series through the book of Acts with a message titled "The Baptism and Filling of the Holy Spirit" from Acts 2:1-13. As the Holy Spirit descends on the believers at Pentecost, we see the birth of the church and the transforming power of God at work in ordinary people. Pastor Michael unpacks what it means to be filled with the Spirit and how this same power equips believers today to live boldly, walk in truth, and make a lasting impact for Christ. This teaching will encourage and strengthen you to live out your faith with confidence and rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance in every part of your life. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com

11-14-25 & 11-21-25 H.C.C. is a non-denominational, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation specializing in counseling, healing, teaching, ministering in the Spirit and deliverance. It is based on Matthew, Mark, Luke & John and patterns its practice after the Book of Acts. It’s board members include one licensed Assembly of God pastor and one former Arizona prison chaplain. The ministry also operates the House of Healing and the Charity Counselor’s Association in central Phoenix. The Biblical theme of the ministry is Acts 10:38: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost & power. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil." One of the main services provided by the ministry is to provide free counseling services to the poor. https://hardcorechristianity.com/Support the show: https://hardcorechristianity.com/donations/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Bible Story, Paul and Barnabas began their journey to preach the gospel in parts of Greece and Rome. Although they are met with some opposition, the Lord moves. This story is inspired by Acts 13. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Acts 13:9 from the King James Version.Episode 228: The Church in Antioch continued to grow under the direction of God and His servants Barnabas and Saul. As they were praying, God showed them His call for them to move on to the next city. As the men ventured to Paphos they met a man named Bar-Jesus. A man filled with evil intent who held great influence over the people. When Paul and Bar-Jesus came face to face, the sorcerer was blinded by the power of God and the people came to believe the message of Jesus.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Adam Koontz introduces key ideas for understanding the Acts of the Apostles and their relevance to today's church - why understanding this book is more important to a struggling church than almost any other. Watch the series of lectures on YouTube Visit our website - A Brief History of Power Dr Koontz - Redeemer Lutheran Church Music thanks to Verny

Josh Monday Christian and Conspiracy Podcast Ep. 319How to Support the ministry: $5.99 a monthpatreon.com/JoshMondayChristianandConspiracyPodcastJoin the Patreon here: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Joshmonday_podcastIf you want to donate to the Ministry CashAPP:https://cash.app/$JoshmondaymusicNew affiliate: https://wsteif.com/ Paul and Crystals links: https://thetinfoilhatfactory.com/Flat Earth Books by Sakal Publishing Affiliate Link: https://booksonline.club/booksonlinecYoutube: ⁠@joshmondaymusicandpodcast ⁠ Tips for the show to Support our Ministry: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/joshmondayCoffee Mug Is Available email me your mailing address Joshmonday⁠@rocketmail.com ⁠ Please subscribe to our Spotify and You Tube Channel Joshmondaymusic and Podcast and help us grow so we can keep on spreading the good news. To all of our current and future subscribers thank you for your time, we appreciate you. Please do us a favor subscribe to our You Tube Channel, hit that bell, share, like and comment below on our You tube. Please leave us a 5-Star review on Apple and Spotify.Check out my new show Sunday Service and Wednesday Brought to you by Cult of Conspiracy Podcast. On Cult of Conspiracy Spotify, Patreon and Apple Podcast Channel.Join the study as I go deep into the Bible. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17.#jesus #podcast #christianshow #christianpodcast #gospelofhopeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/josh-monday-christian-and-conspiracy-podcast--6611118/support.

In this Bible Story, we witness the tragic yet noble death of James. He would be the first apostle to become a martyr, and he would not be the last. As persecution of the church increases, so does the risk of imprisonment. Yet death is no match for Jesus, nor is it a threat to those who believe in him. This story is inspired by Acts 12. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Acts 12:7 from the King James Version.Episode 227: As men and women ran from burning buildings to escape death, they were captured by King Herod and imprisoned. These Christians were the only thing standing between him and power. James, one of the Lord’s twelve disciples, remained in the city preaching about the restoration that Jesus brings. While he was preaching, Herod sent guards to kill him where he stood. A public death sent a message from Herod that he is King, not Jesus. But this persecution could not stop Jesus or His followers. Even when Peter was captured and imprisoned, God made a way for him to escape death.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're kicking off a brand new 7-week series in the Book of Acts, inspired by our Bible study The Wild Invitation! In this episode, we reflect on how waiting doesn't have to be passive or frustrating—it can be a beautiful season of prayer, unity, and expectation when we're led by the Spirit. Together, we share honest stories, biblical truths, and encouragement for anyone who finds themselves in a holding pattern. We're learning, growing, and studying right alongside you. In This Episode 01:56 – Why Acts Resonates Deeply 04:08 – The Power of Bible Study in Community 08:16 – Bible Girl Crush: Deborah vs Ruth 11:20 – Reading Acts 1 Together 15:35 – What It Means to Wait With the Spirit 18:45 – Raising Expectations in the Waiting 20:19 – Prayer That Sustains Us 23:12 – Navigating Disappointment With Faith 27:08 – Unity and the Power of Community 31:14 – Listening for God's Voice in the Silence 34:05 – Final Encouragement & This Week's Challenge ORDER OUR NEW STUDY!⁠ This seven-week, verse-by-verse study through the book of Acts invites you to embrace the unpredictable, sometimes challenging adventure of Spirit-led living that characterized the early church. Thanks to Our Sponsors Operation Christmas Child: Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, partners with churches to collect and distribute gift-filled shoeboxes to millions of children around the world, telling them the Good News of Jesus Christ, God's Greatest Gift. For more, visit ⁠samaritanspurse.org/occ.⁠ Piper and Leaf: Visit ⁠PiperandLeaf.com⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to pick up an Advent Tea set for you or someone you love! NIV Application Study Bible - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab your copy today!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Winshape: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more or submit your application today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you'd like to partner with For The Girl as a sponsor, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form! Follow us!