Podcasts about in acts

What do you do when life doesn't turn out the way you expected?You thought you'd be further along by now.You thought the relationship would last.You thought the diagnosis wouldn't come.You thought the job was secure.And then the storm hit.In Acts 27–28, the apostle Paul is on his way to Rome—confident in a promise God had already spoken over his life. But before he reaches his destination, he faces a violent storm that tears apart the ship, disrupts the journey, and threatens every life on board.Yet what looked like disaster became a platform for God's purpose.In Shipwrecked, we'll discover that storms are often unexpected—but never outside of God's control. What feels like a delay may actually be divine positioning. What looks like a detour may be preparation for something greater.Because the storm may change your plans—but it does not change God's purpose.At Discover Church, we exist to see our city changed by Jesus, one life at a time, by helping people discover LIFE in Christ, BELONGING in Community & PURPOSE in God's Calling on their life so that they can MAKE A DIFFERENCE.-You can join us live on Sunday mornings at 9:00 or 11:00 am, either in person or online! Visit www.discoverchurchkc.com for more information!

In Acts 22, Paul begins his defense by describing who he was before meeting Christ. His testimony shows how fear of judgment, grief over sin, and the work of the Holy Spirit brought him to faith. This episode reminds us that our personal story is a powerful part of sharing the gospel, because no one else can tell what Jesus has done in our lives.

Paul and Barnabas had one of the closest partnerships in the early church, and then they had a fight sharp enough that they went in separate directions. In Acts 15, their disagreement over John Mark ends the pairing, but the gospel keeps multiplying. This week we look at why God seems to prefer partnerships to solo callings, how our need to be right can become its own idol, and why dishonor is so often the language of division. We're left with three questions worth carrying with us: whether we've shut the door on someone who left, whether there's someone who needs a second chance, and how we speak of the people who no longer walk with us.

Looking out for our own interests comes naturally, but paying attention to the needs of others is the work of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas model a Spirit-led attentiveness to people in very different circumstances—a slave girl, fellow sufferers in prison, and a jailer headed toward despair. As the Spirit led them to see and serve the people in front of them, the gospel continued to advance. The same invitation is before us today: depend on the Spirit to notice the needs of others and respond with the hope of Jesus.

Looking out for our own interests comes naturally, but paying attention to the needs of others is the work of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas model a Spirit-led attentiveness to people in very different circumstances—a slave girl, fellow sufferers in prison, and a jailer headed toward despair. As the Spirit led them to see and serve the people in front of them, the gospel continued to advance. The same invitation is before us today: depend on the Spirit to notice the needs of others and respond with the hope of Jesus.

Our world is searching. Many say they're spiritual but aren't sure who—or what—they're looking for. In Acts 17, Paul speaks to a culture much like ours. Join us as we discover the God who has made Himself known, the God who is intimately personal, and the One who gives us everything—even Himself.

The early church exploded across Jerusalem without buildings, budgets, or billboards. So what did they have? In Acts 4, Will looks at a community where no one claimed their possessions as their own and grace spilled over into everyone around them. Generosity there wasn't a single act. It was a way of living, rooted in hearts that had already been handed over.Ownership was never the issue. Stewardship was.Every one of us is holding tightly to something. Money, control, security, a dream we won't let go of. Listen in, then ask what you'd have to open your hands to release.

In Acts 21–22, Pastor Troy highlighted how Paul turned a hostile confrontation into an opportunity to proclaim the Gospel. Rather than defending his reputation, Paul shared how Jesus radically transformed his life, pointing the crowd to Christ instead of himself. Even when faced with false accusations, rejection, and the threat of suffering, Paul faithfully used his testimony, background, and circumstances to advance the Gospel. Pastor Troy challenged believers to remember that every Christian testimony is powerful because it showcases God's mercy and grace, not our own accomplishments. He also encouraged us to keep our testimonies centered on Jesus, grounded in Scripture, and focused on God's goodness rather than glorifying our past. Ultimately, the message reminded us that when we face opposition or difficult circumstances, our greatest goal is not to defend ourselves but to faithfully declare Christ and use every opportunity to share the Gospel.

In Acts 17:16-34 Paul hosts a masterclass on how to share the gospel with unbelievers, teaching them and us today that our culture is longing for what can only be found in Christ! 

After a lengthy journey, my wife and I finally neared our street, but a large road closed to thru traffic sign blocked our path. I felt the urge to drive around it because home was just ahead, and I didn’t like being rerouted. But then I saw why the road was closed: A downed power line lay across the road. Had I ignored the warning, I could have driven into danger. In Acts 16:6-10, Paul and his companions were eager to preach the gospel in the province of Asia, but the Holy Spirit closed that door. Detours aren’t always rejection, however. They can be divine redirections. Like the roadblock on our street, God rerouted Paul from entering the province of Bithynia. It must have been frustrating to be blocked, especially while Paul was striving to do his best. But then he received a vision in which a man said, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (v. 9). God said “no” to something good because He was preparing them for something greater—taking the gospel to the people of another continent (v. 10). Rather than seeing “no” as punishment and rejection, we can see it as His Spirit-led redirection. His detours are often pathways to divine appointments. Let’s not simply trust His direction when the roads are open, let’s follow when He closes them too.

In Acts 11, ordinary, nameless believers—scattered by persecution—stepped into Antioch, crossed cultural lines, and preached the Lord Jesus to Hellenists, and “the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21, ESV). These were not apostles or platformed leaders, but faithful “them” whose obedience launched gospel advance from the third-largest city in the Roman Empire and birthed the very name “Christians.” This message confronts the lie that God only uses the gifted, the clean, or the famous: He delights to rest His hand on ordinary people who simply proclaim Christ with steadfast purpose. Whether you're in a hidden Tarsus season of waiting or feeling sidelined by past failure, the same sovereign Lord who used the scattered is at work in you—preparing, shaping, and ready to unleash fruitfulness for His glory.

In many of its modern expressions, the church no longer resembles the biblical picture of the church we see in Scripture.  Too often, there is too much of the world in the church and too little of the church in the world.  In Acts 2, we are given a vivid portrait—a “baby picture”—of a church alive with the power, unity, devotion, and growth that marked the Lord's church from the beginning.  In this segment, we explore four defining characteristics of that kind of church and consider what every local congregation can become when it truly reflects Christ's design.

In the Church, we need to return to the power of personal testimony. There is too much religious preaching and not enough declaring what the Lord has done in our own lives. People need to hear the evidence of God's transforming power. In my own ministry, I make it a priority to share testimonies of all that God has done. In my own life, I have twice been healed of cancer, and yet here I am in my nineties with more energy than many people much younger than me. My life is a living testimony to God's power and faithfulness. It is this kind of practical, personal witness that the world needs to hear. In Acts 4 we read, “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” That verse presents a powerful challenge to us in ministry today. As I reflect on it, I see three vital keys: 1, The power of the evidence – God confirmed the message through miracles; 2, The Gospel was preached in the Name of Jesus, not through religion or religious ceremony; 3, Above all, the power of their witness flowed from the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The risen Lord was the source of everything they proclaimed and everything they experienced. That same risen Christ is alive today, and He still calls His Church to be witnesses who proclaim His name with boldness and demonstrate His power.

In Acts 19, the spread of the gospel in Ephesus begins to threaten the idol-making economy built around Artemis worship. Demetrius and the craftsmen oppose Paul because obedience to Christ is now costing them financially. This episode reminds us that Satan often uses selfish gain to justify disobedience, but no profit is worth rebellion against the Lord.

In Acts 4:32-5:16 we see a church that is deeply united in heart and no one, not one single person had a need. We see radical acts of generosity prompted by the Holy Spirit to care for the new emerging church - the body of believers. Then, just as quickly we see the pure heart motives and choices of one person, quickly turning into God exposing bad motives and impure intentions on the part of others.    Part of today's discussion involves looking at the different schools of thought around what took place with Annanias and Sappihra. We look at what Scripture actually says and draw some conclusions regarding discernment, heart attitudes, and the importance of guarding our hearts.   You can connect with Amie on her website: https://rawandrealministries.com/   You can connect with me or order my books on my website here: https://debbiekitterman.com/ click on the store tab and choose the book(s) you would like to view under the book tab.   OR on Amazon here using my affiliate links:  Check out my Amazon Store front here:https://a.co/d/0fSFMjq0 D2h Podcast Books  https://amzn.to/4wnk96D Podcast Equipment https://amzn.to/4u8PloC  I even have other categories for my sourdough, chickens, my favorite things, and more…. check my entire storefront out here: https://a.co/d/0fSFMjq0   For Specific Individual Books:   Legacy: The Lost Art of Blessing  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNJNNHKY/ref=nosim?tag=da2he-20   Releasing God's Heart through Hearing His Voice:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615316220/ref=nosim?tag=da2he-20   The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Word of God for Others:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/0800798864/ref=nosim?tag=da2he-20   The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement Bible Study: Living a Lifestyle of Encouragement  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B083J3RCYP/ref=nosim?tag=da2he-20   Symbolism Reference Guide & Dream Journal: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0984012346/ref=nosim?tag=da2he-20  

In Acts 4, the religious leaders were astonished by two things: first, the miracle that had taken place; and second, the boldness of Peter and John. It is time for us to stand with that same boldness and declare the truth we know. The leaders recognised that these ordinary men had been with Jesus – and that made all the difference. Later in the same chapter, the disciples prayed, “Now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” What a powerful prayer! We should be praying like that today. Then, in verse 31, we read that after they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. What an example for the Church today – that we would seek God's presence, be filled afresh with His Spirit, and boldly proclaim His Word, trusting Him to confirm it with His power.

Apollos was eloquent, passionate, and powerful in the Scriptures, but he still needed someone to help him understand the fullness of the gospel. In Acts 18, Aquila and Priscilla humbly guide him, and he becomes a great blessing to the church. This episode reminds us to know the Word deeply, remain teachable, and make ourselves fully available for God's use.

Peace Under Pressure | Acts 12How do you find peace when the pressure feels impossible?In Acts 12, Peter is sitting in prison, chained between soldiers, awaiting what seems like certain death. Yet instead of panicking, he sleeps peacefully. Why? Because Peter had planted God's Word so deeply in his heart that it produced peace when pressure came.In this message, we'll discover that the enemy's goal is to steal what God has planted in you, but when you guard His Word, His Word begins to guard you. The peace you long for isn't found in escaping pressure—it's found in trusting the One who is with you in the middle of it.We'll also see that God's answers often come through simple acts of obedience, that His deliverance doesn't always happen the way we expect, and that every trial you face has the potential to become a testimony that advances His Kingdom.Scripture References:• Acts 12:1–24• Mark 4:14–40• Isaiah 26:3• Isaiah 49:2• Revelation 12:11• 2 Corinthians 4:16–17No matter what you're facing today, remember this: You are an arrow in God's quiver. The pressure isn't pointless—God can use it to sharpen your testimony, strengthen your faith, and bring glory to His name.If this message encouraged you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs hope today.

In Acts 18, Paul's opponents try to use Roman authority to stop the spread of the gospel, but their plan fails before Gallio. This episode reminds us that Satan is stubborn and creative in his opposition, but God remains sovereign over every threat. We must stay faithful, keep proclaiming the Word, and never let our guard down.

What do you do when life doesn't turn out the way you expected?You thought you'd be further along by now.You thought the relationship would last.You thought the diagnosis wouldn't come.You thought the job was secure.And then the storm hit.In Acts 27–28, the apostle Paul is on his way to Rome—confident in a promise God had already spoken over his life. But before he reaches his destination, he faces a violent storm that tears apart the ship, disrupts the journey, and threatens every life on board.Yet what looked like disaster became a platform for God's purpose.In Shipwrecked, we'll discover that storms are often unexpected—but never outside of God's control. What feels like a delay may actually be divine positioning. What looks like a detour may be preparation for something greater.Because the storm may change your plans—but it does not change God's purpose.At Discover Church, we exist to see our city changed by Jesus, one life at a time, by helping people discover LIFE in Christ, BELONGING in Community & PURPOSE in God's Calling on their life so that they can MAKE A DIFFERENCE.-You can join us live on Sunday mornings at 9:00 or 11:00 am, either in person or online! Visit www.discoverchurchkc.com for more information!

Dr. Justin Dancer continues through the book of Acts, focusing on Acts 13:13-52.The gospel is not just the starting point of the Christian life. It is the foundation of everything. In Acts 13, Paul traces God's faithfulness from the Old Testament all the way to Jesus, making clear that Christ is the fulfillment of every promise God ever made. Through Jesus, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed and believers are freed from everything the law of Moses could never accomplish. Life has a way of pushing the most important things to the background, and the gospel is no exception. Preaching the gospel to yourself daily is one of the most practical and powerful habits a follower of Jesus can develop. Joy is always the fruit of receiving and walking in the gospel, not a shallow happiness tied to circumstances, but a deep and settled joy that comes from knowing Jesus. The gospel is not just the door you walked through to begin your faith. It is the foundation you stand on every single day.

What should we do when we hit a wall in the middle of our path? In Acts 8 and 11, we see a man named Barnabas and  his friends encounter several walls that they could given up on, but instead they see how to continue and not just give up. So how can we turn our “can't because” into a “can if?”MESSAGE NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49635546RESOURCES: https://www.canyonridge.orgBLOG: https://www.canyonridge.org/blogs/

Why would God pull Philip out of a thriving revival and send him to an empty desert road? In Acts 8, that unusual assignment leads to one of the most moving encounters in Scripture—a man who traveled hundreds of miles to worship, only to be told his whole life, "You don't belong." What Philip shows him changes everything, and what happens right after his baptism might be the strangest moment in the entire book of Acts. This message will change the way you see the people you walk past every day.Notes for this sermon: https://lifechurchww.cls.co/xdCgWebsite | https://lifechurchww.comFacebook | https://facebook.com/lifechurchwwInstagram | https://instagram.com/lifechurchwwVida Music | https://vidamsc.com

In Acts 21, Paul continued toward Jerusalem even after repeated warnings that suffering, arrest, and persecution awaited him. His resolve showed that faithful obedience to God is not determined by comfort or safety, but by a willingness to follow Christ regardless of the cost. Once in Jerusalem, Paul humbly set aside his personal preferences and participated in a purification ceremony to preserve unity among Jewish and Gentile believers. Although false accusations led to mob violence and his arrest, Paul remained committed to the gospel, demonstrating it through deep relationships, sacrificial humility, and courageous obedience. Like Paul, believers are called to embody the gospel relationally, pursue unity within the church, and obey Jesus even when it costs comfort, freedom, or reputation.

In Acts 10, we witness one of the most decisive turning points in the New Testament as the gospel bursts beyond the Jewish world into the Gentile nations through God's sovereign initiative. God tears down the deepest barrier of the early church—not by human strategy, but by preparing both Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion, and the apostle Peter through visions that forced a complete reckoning with their old categories of clean and unclean. In this message, Pastor Matthew challenges us to examine the lines we still draw—who we think is “too far,” “too different,” or beyond reach—and calls us to live out the gospel's radical welcome by crossing every boundary the Spirit leads us over.

The Bereans received Paul's message with eagerness, but they also examined the Scriptures daily to see if his teaching was true. In Acts 17, they give us a model for faithful listening. This episode calls us to receive God's Word eagerly, test every teaching by Scripture, and live with courage rooted in trust.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. — Acts 2:42 Have you heard of “personal space”? It's described as the amount of space a person feels is needed in order to relate to and live well with others. Personal space can differ by culture, situation, relationship, and personal preference. For an average Westerner, personal space is about two feet on all sides. Does this seem right and healthy to you? In some other cultures, the distance can be a bit less.Have you ever heard of “bee space”? Specifically, that is the space honeybees leave between combs in a hive. It's about 1/4 to 3/8 inch (6 - 9 mm)—a delicate balance of “enough room to move freely but not too much empty space,” according to sources on beekeeping. Bee space allows two bees to pass each other back-to- back and makes it possible for thousands of bees to live and work closely together. Smaller spaces are filled with propolis (“bee glue”), and larger spaces are packed with unneeded “burr comb.”Bees are at their best for life in the hive when they are in close quarters with each other. It's a matter of instinct, not choice.People have more choices in defining personal space. In Acts 2:42 the Spirit of God draws us into a “good and pleasant” space for being and thriving together as followers of Christ. Choose and commit yourself to living in this good space with each other. Holy Spirit, guide us to live in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. May we grow together faithfully in you so that others may come to know you also. Amen.

In Acts 16, Paul and his team discover that even good plans are not always God's plans. As the Spirit closes some doors and opens another, the gospel moves toward Macedonia. This episode reminds us to stay active in obedience, listen for God's direction, and trust Him to guide us as we keep moving in His work.

After the Jerusalem Council, the church in Antioch rejoiced to hear that salvation came by grace alone, not by adding human effort to the work of Christ. In Acts 15, the gospel is protected from legalism and the church is strengthened in unity. This episode reminds us that grace brings freedom, builds up believers, and keeps the church centered on the Word.

Beyond the Wall | Acts 11What kind of church will we become?In Acts 11, Peter returns to Jerusalem expecting celebration after God moved powerfully among the Gentiles. Instead, he's met with criticism. While lives were being changed, some were more concerned with traditions than transformation.This message challenges every believer with three powerful questions:• Will we build walls… or build bridges?• Will we protect our preferences… or pursue people?• Will we receive grace… or become grace?Jesus didn't tear down the walls of division so we could rebuild them. He tore them down so His Church could become a bridge, connecting people to hope, healing, and the life-changing love of Christ.As the Gospel spread from Jerusalem to Antioch, we see that God's mission was never meant to stop with us. Grace that is received should become grace that is given. Revival isn't just something we experience, it's something we carry into the lives of others.Whether you're new to faith or have followed Jesus for years, this message will challenge you to move beyond comfort, beyond tradition, and beyond the wall to live out the mission of Christ.*"The world doesn't need another church that's debating the mission. It needs a church that's living the mission."*If this message encouraged you, be sure to like this video, subscribe to the channel, and share it with someone who needs the hope of Jesus today.

In Acts 14, Paul sees a man who had never walked and commands him to stand. God's healing power changes the man instantly and opens the ears of others to the message of Christ. This episode reminds us that nothing is impossible with God, and when we obey Him boldly, His work in one life can impact many more.

In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas face spiritual opposition as Elymas tries to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul refuses to back down and boldly confronts the darkness. This episode reminds us that opposition to God's Word is inevitable, but the Spirit gives confidence and victory when we faithfully proclaim the gospel.

What does it look like when we have an encounter Jesus Christ? In Acts chapter 9, Saul shows us a perfect example of how Jesus Christ changes people when we say yes to Him and surrender our lives to the will of God.Welcome to the Liberty Church online experience!_If you would like more information about Liberty, get on our email list or just simply want to get better connected, text "INFO" to 478.217.7563 _Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help or answer any questions you may have. Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://lbcdublin.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/133/responses/new_Looking for a place to serve and partner with us? Click here: https://lbcdublin.com/serve_Want to give online or set up automatic giving? Click here: https://lbcdublin.com/give#forgiveness #free #changedlife #conversion #AllinforChrist 

In Acts 26 Paul uses his story to tell the story of Jesus. See you Sunday as we look at the outline Paul used to share his story of meeting Jesus.Got a question about this teaching or a teaching from this series? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit it here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠About Music Track: Track: Inspirational Flight Artist: AShamaluev

Dr. Justin Dancer continues through the book at Acts, focusing on Acts 13:1-13. God is not silent. He speaks through His Word, His Spirit, and the needs around us. In Acts 13, the early church at Antioch models what it looks like to listen, surrender, and respond to the mission of God. Through fasting and prayer, the church heard from the Holy Spirit and willingly released their two strongest leaders, Barnabas and Saul, to be sent out. Being set apart is not just about purity; it is about being intentionally removed for a greater purpose. The gospel encountered real spiritual opposition, but the truth of Jesus Christ prevailed, and a powerful Roman official was astonished into belief. The same gospel that amazed him is just as powerful today. The question for every follower of Jesus is whether we are still filled with wonder at His grace, and whether we are willing to give up something good to pursue something greater for His kingdom.

Paul closes his first missionary journey by walking back through the same cities where he was beaten, driven out, and left for dead. His message to the new believers there is a hard one: we must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.In Acts 14:21-28, we sit with what it means to keep following Jesus after the initial excitement fades. We look at three places hardship tends to show up: pressure from the outside, tension inside the church, and the harder battle within our own hearts. We watch Paul entrust brand new, still-forming believers to the Lord. And we're pushed to think about what following Jesus looks like once it moves past Sunday and into how we spend our money, treat people, and handle disappointment on Monday.

In Week 12 of our Welcomed. series, we explore two very different responses to the same gospel message. In Acts 17:1–15, Paul faithfully proclaims Jesus in both Thessalonica and Berea, yet one city responds with jealousy, opposition, and hostility while the other receives the Word with eagerness and examines the Scriptures daily.What makes the difference?This passage challenges us to consider whether we approach God's Word as a threat to our assumptions, preferences, and priorities—or as a gift from a good and loving God. The Bereans remind us that the welcome of Jesus creates hearts that eagerly receive the truth, submit to God's authority, and delight in hearing His voice.Join us as we discover the joy, freedom, and transformation that come from receiving God's Word on His terms and allowing the gospel to shape every part of our lives.For more information about Integrity Church, visit our website, http://liveintegritychurch.orgConnect with us on social media throughout the week to stay up to date on events and things happening at Integrity!Instagram: @integrity_churchFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveintegrity/

What really shapes a city? Buildings, businesses, politics, and culture may be what we see, but beneath every city is an invisible architecture made up of what people worship, trust, and ultimately live for. In Acts 19, Paul arrives in Ephesus, one of the most influential cities in the Roman Empire. It was a center of commerce, emperor worship, the occult, and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Rather than attacking the culture head-on, Paul faithfully preached Jesus, made disciples, and taught people to live under the lordship of Christ. The result? Hearts changed. Idols fell. Culture shifted. In this message, we'll explore: • Why worship always shapes culture • The spiritual battle taking place beneath the surface • The danger of wanting the power of Jesus without surrendering to His lordship • What the burning of the magic books teaches us about repentance • How the gospel still confronts the idols of money, security, power, and identity today The question Acts 19 leaves us with isn't simply, “Do you believe in Jesus?” It's this: Who is actually sitting on the throne of your life? If Jesus truly is King, He doesn't become another priority. He becomes the One who reshapes every part of life. If this message encouraged you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

In Acts 14:1-20, we look beyond the Apostle Paul's preaching to the character that made him such an effective servant of Christ. Discover three qualities that marked Paul's life: perseverance through opposition, faith that was willing to take risks, and a heart devoted to God's glory above his own. This message challenges us to stand firm in our calling, step out in faith, and serve Jesus with the right motives, no matter the circumstances. We hope you were blessed by this message! Visit our website for more information about Grove City Vineyard.

Does God have favorites?In Acts 10–11, the story of Peter and Cornelius reminds us that the gospel is for everyone. Jesus came for the whole world, and God invites all people to receive forgiveness, new life, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Every conversation about Jesus is different because every person is different. In Acts 17, Paul shares the same gospel in three very different cities, showing us how to engage the world with both wisdom and courage. Join us as we learn how to stand firmly on God's truth while meeting people where they are.

In Acts 17:1-9, Paul preaches in Thessalonica that the whole Old Testament story points to a Messiah who must suffer, die, and rise—not merely seize power—and declares plainly that Jesus is that Messiah. The message divides its hearers into three responses: faith that embraces the cost of following Jesus, jealousy that clings to lesser authorities to protect comfort, and ambivalence that just wants to keep the peace. Jesus' death, resurrection, and kingship are the fulfillment of everything Scripture promised, confronting each of us today with the choice of whether He truly reigns as King in my life.

The Face of an Angel Acts 6 by William Klock I hate doing administration stuff.  I'm really glad that John handles our finances so well and makes sure all our bills get paid.  I don't like filling out annual parish reports and get annoyed when I have fill out one for ACNA and another for the REC.  Why can't they just ask the same questions and share the information?  Our church register is stuffed with Post-It notes going back five or six years so I know what to enter in it whenever I eventually get around to sitting down to make all the entries for baptisms, deaths, weddings, membership, and all of that.  And I wonder if Peter had his own First Century Post-It note system for dealing with the dreaded admin work that was perpetually threatening to cut in on his preaching and praying.  Because that's what we come to in Acts 6.  The church has been growing quickly.  There's something like 5,000 Christians in Jerusalem.  We don't know how they were organised.  We know that the apostles and presumable some others regularly spent time in the temple.  But they met together in their homes.  Were they divided into what we might think of as “churches” or “parishes” with an apostle or two overseeing each—or maybe each apostle overseeing two or three groups?  We don't know.  But what we do know is that the twelve apostles were overseeing everything.  They were preaching, they were teaching, they were praying, they were pastoring, they were making sure everyone's needs were met.  And it got to be too much, even for twelve of them.  I get that.  I have a friend who pastors a Baptist church of about 950.  They figured out thirty years ago that they need one elder to every hundred people or so in order to pastor well.  In Acts we're talking at least 500 church members per apostle.  People started falling through the cracks and complaining.  Look at Acts 6.  [Page 1086 in the pew Bibles.] “Now, in those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the ‘Hellenists' raised a dispute with the ‘Hebrews' because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” As we've seen in Chapters 2 and 4, these first Christians were very aware that they belonged to a new family and they lived accordingly.  They were the beginnings of Gods new Israel.  The Spirit had filled them with love for each other—the kind of love that torah had always envisioned for the people of Israel—and so they began to live it out.  They fellowshipped with each other.  They shared meals together as Jesus' family and they shared with their brothers and sisters who were in need.  They weren't just overflowing with the love and mercy of Jesus; despite most of them having little, as a people they were overflowing with generosity and abundance. And there were plenty who were truly in need.  Widows would normally be looked after by their own family, but when people joined the church—just as in some parts of the world today—it meant being cut off from their families and the support they once had.  The church suddenly found itself providing for a large number of widows.  Maybe it was a language barrier or maybe it has something to do with social connections, but the Hellenists—the Greek-speaking widows—the ones who had come to Jerusalem from the great Jewish diaspora—they were falling through the cracks.  It surely wasn't deliberate.  It was growing pains.  The sheer scope of the church's charity work had become too much for the twelve to handle efficiently.  So the Greek-speaking members of the church take up their cause with the apostles.  The fact that their fellow “Hellenist' believers take up their cause with the apostles, suggests it was a language problem.  Maybe these widows didn't know how or when to ask for food or where to get it and there were simply so church members, that the apostles were no longer able to know the personal needs of everyone.  Whatever the case, the apostles realise they have to do something.  Luke goes on: “So the twelve called the full number of disciples together.  ‘Listen,' they said, ‘It wouldn't be right for us to leave the word of God to serve tables. So Brothers, choose seven men from amongst yourselves who are well spoken of and filled with the Spirit and wisdom.  We will put them in charge of what needs to be done in this matter.  We will continue to pay attention to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The apostles knew what their primary calling was.  It was to study and to teach and to preach the word and to pray.  Sure, they could do some other things.  But when those other things became so big that it meant taking significant time away from their ministry of the word and their time in prayer, well, it was time for the church as a whole to pick up the slack.  To sort of quote Paul: God gave some to be apostles and other to—well—to fill the other multitude of roles that need filling in the church.  Some are eyes and ears and mouths, others are hands and feet and finger and toes.  The body needs them all.  And this was common sense.  But it also—and I think Luke deliberately frames it this way—it had precedent in Israel's own story.  Think of Israel in the beginning, in the wilderness, just delivered from Egypt, and Moses trying to rule over a thousand and thousands of people and feeling totally overwhelmed.  Luke wants us to see the fledgling church as the new Israel and so he shows us the apostles in the position of Moses.  It's time to choose some well-respected men from amongst the people to help.  Verse 5: “The whole gathering was pleased with what they said.  They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus (a proselyte from Antioch).  They presented them before the apostles, and having prayed, they laid their hands on them.” It's worth noting: the seven names are Greek names.  One of these men was even a proselyte, meaning he was a gentile who had converted to Judaism and was now a Christian.  Presumably the seven were meant to serve the whole church, but the church chose seven men who were especially able to help with the problem at hand: the Greek-speaking widows.  So the church elects these men, brings them before the apostles for their approval, prays for them, and then it's the church that lays hands on them.  Now, almost every English translation says that it was the apostles that laid hands on these seven, but the Greek text doesn't really bear that out.  It says they, the church, elected the men and brought them to the apostles and there's absolutely nothing in the text that indicates a change of subject before Luke says that “they” laid hands on the men.  The church—probably a representative few—laid hands on the seven, not the apostles. And when we look at what was involved, it suggests even more that it was the church doing the laying on of hands.  There are several words in Hebrew that, in English, all get sort of generically translated as “to lay hands”, but the Hebrew behind the idea here, has the sense of pressing down on something—as if you're sharing or transferring something of yourself to another: your sins to a the scape goat, or the people of Irael “pressing down on” the Levites who will represent them and fill in for their firstborn sons, or Moses pressing his hands down on Joshua and making him his representative and successor.  Remember, the whole point of this is that the apostles knew “serving tables” wasn't their job.  Their job was word and prayer.  It was the job of the wider church to look after the welfare of each other and so it's appropriate that the church not only elects these seven men, but also “ordains” them, if you will. And what were the seven?  Traditionally we've called them deacons.  Deacon comes from the Greek word to serve—in this case to serve (διακονεῖν) tables, which is symbolic of making sure the widows get their charity.  But otherwise, what we see these men doing doesn't look all that much like what we see deacons doing later in the New Testament.  In fact, when the apostles talk about “serving tables”, there's a probably a word play there—“tables” is a banking or accounting term, not just a word for a literal table—that suggests that what these men were really doing was overseeing, administering the distribution of food and, more broadly, the resources of the church.  And if that was the case, they look a lot more like bishops.  I could be wrong, but what I would tentatively suggest, is that these seven men were the first men to be appointed to pastoral office in the church, before that role had split into bishops on the one hand and deacons on the other.  I think these guys were, more or less, both proto-deacons and proto-bishops.  And while their primary duty was to oversee the church's charity, the church chose them because they were full of the Spirit.  And in Acts, what that means is that they were bold and unafraid proclaimers of the good news about Jesus. So, writes Luke in verse 7, because of the apostles could now be devoted to the word to prayer and because these seven men were now ordained to ensure the church was being what the church is supposed to be, “The word of God increased and the number of disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly.  This included a large crowd of priests who became obedient to the faith.”  Brothers and Sisters, when the church—the people and the leaders—are boldly proclaiming the word of God and are diligent in prayer, God will multiply it.  We might miss it, but Luke makes the point: It's not us.  We don't grow the church.  It's God.  The power lies with him.  We need to trust his word and we need to proclaim it.  We need to pray and entrust our ministry to him.  Not gimmicks, not money, not all the other things churches often do to try to make themselves effective.  Just preach God's word and pray.  He'll bring fruit from it.  And be patient, because God works on his own schedule, not ours.  And, we might miss it: Luke makes a point of telling us a significant new step in the church's growth: now it's attracted a crowd of priests.  And that would not have gone unnoticed by the leaders of the temple.  Luke doesn't say anything here, but this means the Jewish leaders are getting more concerned, getting more angry, becoming more inclined to violent action. But, first, Stephen's story.  Look at verse 8: “Stephen was filled with grace and power and performed great signs and wonders amongst the people.  But some from the Freemen's Synagogue, as it was named, and from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia stood up and disputed with Stephen.  They could not, however resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.”  Stephen preached in the gospel in the synagogues.  And here's the thing.  Luke makes a point of saying that Stephen wasn't just full of power; he was also full of grace.  We've all heard people speak who are full of power, but are short on grace.  They can be jerks.  Maybe they're right, but just the way they speak makes people angry.  But that's not Stephen.  He's speaking with great grace.  But the folks listening still aren't having any of it.  Not that Palestinian Jews were any more receptive, but Luke kind of gives the sense that maybe these folks—they're all hellenised, diaspora Jews like Stephen—maybe they're overly defensive of their Jewish heritage because they feel deficient in some way for not being Palestinian Jews.  Whatever their motivation, they're angry with what he says and they get even angrier because they couldn't resist him.  And then they get even angrier—we've all seent his happen—they're even angrier, because he's not angry in response. He's full of grace  They couldn't refute what he was saying.  But rather than concede, they dig in and at that point there's only one thing left to do: they make false accusation of blasphemy.  Verse 11: “Then they put up men to say, ‘We heard this man speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.'  They aroused the people, the elders, and the scribes.  They set upon him, seized him, and took him in front of the assembly.  They set up false witnesses to say, ‘This man never stops speaking words against this holy place and the law.  We heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.'  Everyone who was sitting in the assembly looked hard at Stephen.  They all saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” It sounds a lot like the accusations against Jesus, when he was accused of saying he would destroy the temple and rebuilt it in three day.  Of course, yes, he said that, but his point was that God was doing something new, that God was about to fulfil his promises, and that God would establish a new temple in which he would come to dwell with his people.  But the Jewish elders didn't hear it that way, not because Jesus wasn't clear, but because they couldn't accept that God was fulfilling his promises through Jesus.  If Jesus was the Messiah, he was doing it all wrong, at least so far as they were concerned.  He couldn't be the one. And now exactly the same thing is happening to Stephen.  We don't have his words, but based on the false accusations against him as well as his defence that will follow in Chapter 7, we have a pretty good idea what he was saying and it was closely related to what Jesus had said.  Just like Jesus, just like Peter, just like the preaching we see through Acts, Stephen told the story of God and his people and how it leads to Jesus. There were four things that were all-important for the Jews and that marked out their identity.  There was the temple; the torah or law; the land of Israel itself and especially Jerusalem, where the temple was; and there was their ethnic identity as Jews—the sons and daughters of Abraham, delivered by God from Egypt when Moses led them through the Red Sea to Mt. Sinai.  Those things marked them out as God's people.  Those things marked them out as separated, as different from the pagan peoples and nations around them.  Compromise those things, and you'd be sliding down a slippery slope into the same idolatry that had got their ancestors exiled to Babylon.  So when Stephen spoke, as any of the Christians would have, about God establishing a new temple or about Jesus fulfilling torah, out came the angry charges of blasphemy. But those first Christians—just like Jesus—were never attacking the temple or the law.  The problem was that Israel—despite knowing her own story so well and so thoroughly—had forgotten where it was going and then failed to recognise how Jesus was bringing it to its climax.  When Jesus or when Peter or when Stephen said that God was doing a new thing, what people like the priests and the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, people like Saul of Tarsus heard was that these Jesus people were saying was the law and the temple were bad. What Stephen (like Jesus and Peter before him) was trying to say is that the word of God tells a story and that this story was moving forward and, as it moved forward, new things would happen.  This didn't mean that the old things that had happened were bad.  Just the opposite!  They were good.  They were necessary to get the story to the point it's at now.  Imagine you take a trip to Montreal.  First you drive your car to Nanaimo to get to the ferry, then you take the ferry to Horseshoe Bay, then you get off the ferry and get on a bus that takes you downtown, where you take SkyTrain to the airport, where you finally board an airplane that flies you across the country.  The fact that you left your car parked in Nanaimo to get on a ferry or that you left Skytrain to get on an airplane or even that you stopped travelling once you arrived in Montreal, none of that means that the car or the ferry or the bus or the airplane or even the trip itself was bad.  You couldn't get where you are without them!  And, just so, God gave Israel the law.  God gave Israel the temple.  And they were good things.  They were necessary things.  They were gracious things.  They were things that prepared the people for and brought them to the part of the story where Jesus became a part of it. But they tuned this part out.  Some modern Christians do the same.  I'm not sure where it comes from.  Maybe it comes from listening to Luther with only one ear.  But we get the idea that the old covenant was a bad thing.  People will get the wrong idea that the old covenant was about being saved by works and that's why Israel refused Jesus, who came to offer salvation by grace.  A thousand time, no.  If that's what Stephen had been saying, the Jews would have been right to be angry with him, because he would have been wrong.  The status of God's people has never been because of works; it has always been because of grace.  That's part of how the old covenant prepared people and led them to the part of the story where Jesus enters. Other times we just ignore God's story altogether and try to write our own.  But what's often even more dangerous is when we know God's story to a point, but then we lock it down and refuse to let him take it in a new direction.  We do that.  And that's what these folks mad at Stephen are doing.  Jesus just couldn't be where the story they knew was heading; instead, Jesus became a threat to their version of the story. And yet Stephen persisted.  Even as they dragged him before the Sanhedrin with a slate of false witnesses against him.  And think about that.  They're convinced they're in the right.  They're convinced that they represent God and everything that is good and right and true.  They think they're the heaven on earth people.  And yet what do that they do in response to his preaching?  They lie. By their actions they condemn themselves.  And in contrast stands Stephen.  For all his speaking with power, he's full of grace.  And as he stands before the Sanhedrim, as false witness after false witness testified against him, the Spirit, God, transforms—almost transfigures him—to the point that the whole assembly is left staring at him.  Luke says his face became like the face of an angel. As far as literal appearance, I don't know what that means.  But the important thing is that everyone recognised what was happening and in that moment, the Spirit revealed Stephen—and along with him the church—for what he, what they, what we really are: In that moment Stephen was revealed as the face of Jesus' heaven on earth people.  He was actively part of the church living out heaven on earth.  He was preaching the good news about Jesus and he is the fulfilment of God's promise to bring heaven and earth back together.  And in the middle of this controversy, in the middle of the false accusations, in the middle of these men who, despite all the evidence, were digging in their heels and refusing to accept the message about Jesus, refusing to let God lead the story they new so well in a new direction, God himself vindicated Stephen and made him a manifestation of heaven on earth.  Stephen was full of the Spirit, a little temple in miniature full of God's presence.  As if the shekinah—the cloud of glory visibly representing God's presence that had been missing from the temple ever since Israel's exile—suddenly became present with Stephen.  God announcing: “In this man, in this people, through my son, in this gospel I am fulfilling my promises.  Listen to him.” Brothers and Sisters, this should be a picture of us.  The bit where Stephen was transfigured and looked like an angel—whatever that means—that was unique.  But the rest of it, that ought to be us.  A people committed to be a covenant family, not just overflowing with talk of love and grace and mercy, but a family of people where love and grace and mercy are abundant in real, practical ways.  A family where we make a point of doing what needs doing to make sure that nothing gets in the way of that love and grace and mercy.  We ought to be a people of word and of prayer who are bold for the gospel, because we know that the power lies not with us, but with God.  His word, not ours, brings life.  His Spirit has the power to renew minds and regenerate hearts.  And so we pray, entrusting ourselves and our ministry to him and we proclaim not our word, but his.  We tell the story that leads the world to Jesus.  And if we're doing all these things, that word, that story will have power, but our telling of it will also be full of grace. The world, the flesh, and the devil will do their worst.  People will dig in their heels.  People will tell lies about us and about the story and the good news we proclaim.  People may even violently persecute us one day.  But remember: It's all of grace.  The story that leads us through the law and the prophets, through torah and temple, is all about the grace of God towards rebellious sinners, and so is the story that leads to forgiveness and life with God, the story that leads us to Jesus and the Spirit and eventually to the New Jerusalem.  Brothers and Sisters, it's all of grace.  Live the story of God's grace and the light of heaven will permeate the church.  Proclaim the story of God's grace, and that light will being to permeate the world. Let's pray: Lord, fill us with your grace.  And don't just fill us with it; ensure that we're ever and always overwhelmed by the knowledge and understanding of your grace, so that we will live it out in practical terms as your church and so that we will go out with boldness to proclaim your good news, not to win arguments, but make your grace known.  Through Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Herod lived under the pressure of pleasing competing powers, and his desire for approval led him to persecute the church. In Acts 12, James is killed, Peter is imprisoned, and the church responds with prayer. This episode reminds us that life is far freer when our allegiance belongs fully to Christ, the one true King and Lord.

In Week 11 of our Welcomed. series, we explore the powerful truth that the gospel doesn't merely change what we believe—it transforms how we see and love people.In Acts 16:16–40, we encounter a remarkable collection of unlikely people brought together by the grace of God: a wealthy businesswoman, a formerly demon-oppressed slave girl, and a Roman jailer. Though their backgrounds, experiences, and social standing could not have been more different, each is welcomed into the family of God through the same gospel.As Paul and Silas endure opposition, injustice, and imprisonment, we see the contrast between a culture of welcome rooted in self-interest and the welcome of Jesus that begins with God. The gospel expands our vision of who God loves, reshapes our identity, and empowers us to love others with courage, humility, and grace—even in the midst of suffering.Join us as we discover how the welcome of Jesus transforms both our hearts and our relationships, creating a new kind of community centered on God's grace rather than our preferences.For more information about Integrity Church, visit our website, http://liveintegritychurch.orgConnect with us on social media throughout the week to stay up to date on events and things happening at Integrity!Instagram: @integrity_churchFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveintegrity/

We dig into Acts 6:9, where we read the opposition against the disciples arose, and members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen - Jews of Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia began to argue with Stephen.     The "freedmen" had formerly been slaves but were now freed and had also become Roman citizens. They were frustrated that Stephen was proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus and in verse 10 we read that they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave Stephen as he spoke. Then they hatched a conspiracy against Stephen.    Ultimately Stephen is stoned (chapter 7) and In Acts 8:1 we read that Saul approved of their killing Stephen. The question is:  How did Saul get involved with the people of the Synagogue of the Freedman Why was he there when they orchestrated the attack on Stephen Why was he given the job of taking care of the coats as the others stoned Stephen   Going back to Acts 6:9 we see the province of Cilicia (southeastern Turkey) listed as one of the places that the Hellenistic Jews came from. We read in Acts 22:3-4 that Saul was brought up in the city of Tarsus in the province of Cilicia. Cilicia is where he grew up and he may have even been a member of the Synagogue of the Freedmen.    After Saul's conversion - after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus - About 20 years after Stephen's stoning, we read in Acts 9:29 that Saul moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. Saul talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.    So is it possible that Saul went back to the Synagogue of the Freedmen to the very place he may have been one of those questioning Stephen. Did Saul go back to this very synagogue to preach to the Hellenistic Jews, many who may have been friends and relatives.   Saul's heart had been changed in his conversion and he knew the power of the risen Lord Jesus. As a result he went back to meet with the very people who had killed Stephen and who now were ready to kill him. Saul knew that without Christ they were lost and so he put his life on the line. He would continue to that in the years that follow.   What an example for each of us, what a powerful testimony to our Lord Jesus Christ.     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams       Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

What if God is still writing your story, even when the storm has raged for 14 days and the ship is breaking apart? In Acts 27–28, Pastor Jeff walks us through Paul's harrowing journey—shipwreck, snakebite, hostile crowds, and two years under guard—revealing five powerful truths: nothing will redirect your course, sink your calling, end your assignment, stop God's timing, or silence your message. Like Paul breaking bread in the storm's chaos, you can trust that God's faithfulness holds even when circumstances scream otherwise. Don't miss this message—it will anchor your soul. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

What do you do when life doesn't turn out the way you expected?You thought you'd be further along by now.You thought the relationship would last.You thought the diagnosis wouldn't come.You thought the job was secure.And then the storm hit.In Acts 27–28, the apostle Paul is on his way to Rome—confident in a promise God had already spoken over his life. But before he reaches his destination, he faces a violent storm that tears apart the ship, disrupts the journey, and threatens every life on board.Yet what looked like disaster became a platform for God's purpose.In Shipwrecked, we'll discover that storms are often unexpected—but never outside of God's control. What feels like a delay may actually be divine positioning. What looks like a detour may be preparation for something greater.Because the storm may change your plans—but it does not change God's purpose.At Discover Church, we exist to see our city changed by Jesus, one life at a time, by helping people discover LIFE in Christ, BELONGING in Community & PURPOSE in God's Calling on their life so that they can MAKE A DIFFERENCE.-You can join us live on Sunday mornings at 9:00 or 11:00 am, either in person or online! Visit www.discoverchurchkc.com for more information!

God is at work, even when we cannot see the whole story. In Acts 12, we encounter a Lord whose purposes prevail and whose word continues to spread. This message continues our series through the book of Acts. Let's discover how God invites us to respond with trust, worship, and a renewed commitment to bear witness to his saving grace. Scripture Referenced: Acts 12:1-24

How Do I Move Past My Biggest Mistakes? | Acts 4:1-22 | Kevin Queen Have you ever wished you could go back and rewrite a chapter of your life? In Acts 4, Peter finds himself standing before the same religious leaders connected to one of his greatest failures. Just weeks earlier, he denied even knowing Jesus. Now, under pressure once again, Peter responds with courage and conviction. What changed? This message explores how God redeems our failures, transforms our hearts and empowers us to live differently. Peter’s story reminds us that our worst moments do not have to define our future. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God can bring restoration where there was regret and boldness where there was fear. Where have past mistakes continued to shape your present? What tends to come out of you when you’re under pressure? How might God be inviting you to trust Him with a place of failure or regret? —————————— If this message encouraged you:• Share your takeaway in the comments.• Send this message to someone who needs hope today.• Join us as we continue our study through Acts at crosspoint.tv/acts.• Find a Cross Point campus near you at crosspoint.tv/locations.