Podcasts about in acts

Think about a goal you have accomplished. When you first set yourself on the path towards that end, you were committing to a new way of life until it was completed. Along the way, you became a new sort of person. God uses these seasons of effort to transform us. In Acts 9:1-19, God calls Saul and Ananias into something new. There would be beauty for them in the end, but the process took effort, surrender, and cost. Learn more about Going Together at canyonridge.org/goingtogether.MESSAGE NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49502131RESOURCES: https://www.canyonridge.orgBLOG: https://canyonridge.org/blogs/

In Acts 14, we uncover four practical steps to confidently share your faith—by seeing the overlooked, identifying idols, pointing to Jesus, and enduring with gospel-grit and mission.

In Acts 22, the Apostle Paul stands before the people and the authorities to share his life-changing encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. In this message, we explore how God can transform your past mistakes, setbacks, and struggles into a powerful testimony that inspires, influences, and impacts others.Learn how to:Share your personal story with boldness and clarityTurn challenges and pain into platforms for influenceLive courageously for Christ even in the face of oppositionMain scripture: Acts 22

We Celebrate Loudly Ever feel stuck on the edge of something better but unable to step in? In Acts 3, a man carried daily to the gate called Beautiful discovers that God's timing can change everything. This message shows how access, restoration, and new life are unlocked when ordinary people stop, see, and share what they have in Jesus' name. Acts 3:1-10  Discussion topics What's one place or event you've always wanted to get into but couldn't? (Could be funny or serious — concert, club, group of friends, etc.)   Follow-up: How did that make you feel — excluded, frustrated, unseen?  Scripture Reflection (Acts 3:1–10, Acts 4:1–4) a. When you think about God's will, do you tend to think more about the “big decisions” (The gate was called Beautiful, which comes from the Greek word for “right timing.” What does that reveal about how God works in our lives?  b. Peter said, “What I do have I give to you.” What has God given you that you can give to others this week — spiritually, relationally, or practically?  Who in your life needs to be “carried” to the gate?  Is there someone God's nudging you to invite, encourage, or walk with toward faith?  How does your personal story of breakthrough or healing invite others to experience Jesus? When's the last time you shared that story? What's holding you back?  Check out our other audio series and video playlists that can help you find Jesus in every moment and then discover what's next

Luke's first work for Theophilus gave us all that Jesus began to do and teach, and his second work, Acts, gives us all he continues to do. Our risen Lord ascended to the Father and now continues his mission to spread his glory to the ends of the earth. That mission launches from his Spirit-empowered body, the church. In Acts 13:1-12, we meet the church at Antioch, a church formed by persecution and eager to get about that mission. How did they go about that work? What did they actually do? List as we learn from this sister church the work to commit ourselves to for the sake of this unstoppable mission.

Today on Bridging the Gap, pastor Lloyd Pulley will draw out some important lessons from the story of Ananias and his wife Sapphira. In Acts chapter five, Ananias And Sapphira sell some property just to get some accolades. What they receive is the judgment of God. It makes us wonder if they were really Christians at all. 

(Bilingual) このメッセージでは登牧師が「コミュニティーの中でそれぞれのミッションを成し遂げろ」について以下の２つのポイントから話します。ディスカッション用の質問はノートの最後に確認できます。In this message Ps Noboru talks about “CARRY OUT YOUR MISSION IN COMMUNITY” in these 2 points:Check the questions for discussion at the end of the note. 使徒1:6-9 ERV / Acts 1:6-9 ERV伝道者4:9-12 ERV / Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ERVエペソ4:3 ERV / Ephesians 4:3 ERVローマ12:3-5 ERV / Romans 12:3-5 ERVマタイ5:13-16 ERV / Matthew 5:13-16 ERV1.一致の中にこそ大きな力が働くTHERE IS GREAT POWER IN UNITY2.自分のアイデンティティを大切にし、役割に目を向けようVALUE YOUR IDENTITY AND FOCUS ON YOUR ROLEQUESTIONS(質問) : ・In Acts 1:8, Jesus said we would be his witnesses everywhere. What does it mean to be a witness for Jesus in daily life?・How does working together make our mission stronger?・What gifts or roles has God given you?・How can we shine Jesus's light in our community?・What is one step you can take this week to share your story of Jesus with someone?・使徒1:8で、イエスは「あなたがたはわたしの証人になる」と言いました。日常生活の中で、イエスの証人になるとはどういうことですか？・力を合わせて仕えることは、どのように私たちのミッションを強めてくれますか？・神様はあなたにどんな才能や役割を与えてくれていますか？・私たちはどのようにイエスの光をコミュニティの中で輝かすことができますか？・今週、誰かにイエスとのストーリーを分かち合うためにできることはありますか？Connect with us:Web: mylifehouse.comInstagram: instagram.com/lifehouseglobal/Facebook: facebook.com/lifehouseglobalVideo Messages: ビデオメッセージ: youtube.com/LifehouseTokyoOther Podcasts:Want to listen to our messages in other languages?Lifehouse Messages (English): https://lifehousemessages.captivate.fm/listenLifehouse Hong Kong (Cantonese & English): https://lifehousehongkong.captivate.fm/listen

Today on Bridging the Gap, pastor Lloyd Pulley will draw out some important lessons from the story of Ananias and his wife Sapphira. In Acts chapter five, Ananias And Sapphira sell some property just to get some accolades. What they receive is the judgment of God. It makes us wonder if they were really Christians at all. 

Imagine walking through your city streets and seeing people healed just by the shadow of Peter! In Acts 5, they experienced this. Signs and wonders were everywhere. Lives were changing. God's power was evident. All of this gave the apostles credibility. But how did the authorities react ? Today we are going to study Acts 5:12-26. This amazing passage has a lot going on. Miracles, imprisonment. Iron clad courage. I believe it will encourage and challenge you.Acts 5:12-26 Bible study guide with companion discussion questions on our https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/acts/acts-5-12-26/Study and Obey's Bible study guides on Amazon -https://amzn.to/48SgPEN(As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)Study and Obey Free Weekly Podcast on Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/study-and-obey/id1571266150Our website of 800+ practical and free Bible studies - https://studyandobey.comSupport this ministry -https://studyandobey.com/support/25+ Bible study guides for individual or group study on many different books of the Bible - https://studyandobey.com/shop/Sign up for a weekly Bible study to your inbox. 20+ studies to choose from - https://studyandobey.com/weekly-bible-study/Support the show

In Acts 4:1–22, Peter and John face opposition for proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus. Yet even in the midst of threats and imprisonment, the gospel continues to advance. This passage reminds us that everyday mission is both God's work and our witness: growth and opposition can happen at the same time, effective witness is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and resistance to the gospel often stems from a desire to hold on to power.We are called to courage—not in our own strength, but in the Spirit's power. The same Jesus who builds His church then is building His church now. Our mission is not to rely on cleverness or comfort, but to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus, trusting that He will make His mission effective through us.For more information about Integrity Church, visit our website, http://liveintegritychurch.org Connect with us on social media throughout the week to stay up to date on events and things happening at Integrity! Instagram: @integrity_church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveintegrity/

Welcome to Christ Community's Online Service! As we continue through the book of Acts, we see Paul model a powerful approach in Athens: connecting the gospel to people right where they are. How do we share the good news of Jesus in ways that truly connect with our culture today? In Acts 17, Paul shows us how to see people through God's heart, affirm His image in them, and invite them into real life with Him. For prayer and to stay connected, please visit: https://www.cccgreeley.org For Giving: https://www.cccgreeley.org/give/ Discussion Guide: https://cccgreeley.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-9-27-28-Group-Discussion-Questions.pdf Baptism Weekend Details Inside – Don't Miss It! https://mailchi.mp/cccgreeley/weekly-digital-newsletter-16047780 Christ Community Church – Greeley, CO 

MOVE – Week 10: “Finish Well” Acts 20:17–38What does it take to finish well?In Acts 20:17–38, Paul shares a farewell message with the Ephesian elders, showing us that the Gospel doesn't just need people who start strong—it needs disciples who endure to the end.This week, Pastor Kevin closes out the MOVE series by pointing us to three anchors that help us keep moving: Jesus at the center, the Spirit's leading even when it costs, and a love for the Church that Jesus bought with His own blood.This message will encourage you to see how God still moves through consecrated lives—not just the celebrated ones. If Paul could finish his course with joy, we can too. The Gospel is still moving in Lower Fairfield County, and God is calling us to be a church that doesn't just start… but finishes well.Broad River Church | Norwalk, CT Join us Sundays: 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM (English) | 12:45 PM (Español) Learn more or take your next step: https://broadriver.church/nextsteps Follow us on Instagram: @iambroadriverchurch

In Acts 21, We see Paul boldly walking into God's calling, even when he knows hardship is ahead. This message dives deep into:How to discern God's will in challenging seasonsTrusting the Holy Spirit as your ultimate “warranty” through trialsCourage and faith in the face of oppositionLessons for today's believers about obedience, perseverance, and God's provisionWhether you're stepping into a new calling, facing trials in ministry, or simply wanting to grow in your faith, this message will encourage and equip you to walk faithfully with God.Main scripture: Acts 21:1–36

In Acts 2, the church is born and thousands are added in a single day. It paints a picture of believers who gathered faithfully, prayed constantly, and lived with glad and sincere hearts. This message calls us to be a community rooted in Jesus and empowered by the Spirit, so that God can use our devotion to impact the world around us.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas freed a slave girl from a spirit, but this act disrupted her owners' profit and led to false accusations, prejudice, and imprisonment. Pastor Damian highlighted how greed and injustice fueled opposition, showing how truth can be twisted when money and power are threatened. He connected this suffering to God's earlier word in Acts 9, reminding us that following Christ often includes hardship but also brings freedom and purpose. #GreedAndInjustice #Acts16 #PowerOfTheGospel #FaithThroughSuffering #RiseSeries

John 9:1-6,As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud…”When we describe a person as polarizing, what do we typically mean? Well, we mean that that person is someone who tends to cause heightened responses in others just about everywhere they go. In other words, were you to follow around a polarizing person throughout their day, you would find in their wake: wave after wave of people who either really, really liked having that person around, or really, really didn't.Typically, we call a person polarizing because of something that's bad within them. Maybe they use foul language. Maybe they lie or cheat. Maybe they treat other people unjustly. It's the darkness within them, that has the polarizing effect. Well, when it comes to Jesus, I think it's safe to say that he is a polarizing person. In fact, I'd dare to say he is the most polarizing person in the history of the world. But unlike so many others, the reason Jesus is polarizing is not because of inward darkness, but light.Jesus is not just good, but so good, and so holy, and so just that when he comes around, he exposes our darkness. He reveals that we're really not as good as we thought. When he does, some turn, and come to the light, and others flee.In this morning's passage, we're going to see Jesus' polarizing effect in full force. And we'll see it in the form of peoples' responses to three claims about Jesus: Jesus Does the Work of GodJesus Is Sent From GodJesus Himself Is God Let's pray, and ask God to help us once more ….So, three polarizing claims about Jesus: Jesus does the work of God, Jesus is sent from God, and Jesus himself is God. We'll begin with that first one.A Man Born BlindVerse 1,“As he [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.”A man who'd likely been sitting out on the roadside, hands held out, all day long, hoping to feel the cold, weighted touch of a coin being dropped into his hand. Verse 8 tells us that this man was a beggar. And the reason he was a beggar was not because he wanted to be. It's not like he grew up dreaming that one day this would be his life — sitting on the side of a road, day after day, as the people of his community passed him by.But, the fact is, he'd been born blind. Light, for whatever reason, had just never reached his eyes. And because of that, there was no job that he could hold. No service that he could offer. He was doomed to a life of begging — looking out for help from a world he had never once seen. And who knows how many people might have passed him by that day prior to Jesus and his disciples. How many people, just like Jesus' disciples, asking the question: “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” But when Jesus and his disciples came by that day, something unique happened. To the question of why he'd been born blind, came an answer that, for once, didn't cite sin as the reason for his blindness. Rather, verse 3:“It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Works of God, in me? Think of it. All this man has ever known is blindness — a kind of blindness thought to be the mark of God's curse over him. Suddenly, he hears: God has a purpose. God has a design. “You mean to tell me I've been made this way to show something good and wonderful about God?” Jesus says, “Yes, and I'm here to make it happen.” Which brings us to our first claim: Jesus does the work of God.1. Jesus Does the Work of GodVerse 4, Jesus says to his disciples,“We must work the works of him who sent me…”We must do it. For,“…night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”You hear what Jesus is saying? I'm the light. And I'm here. But I won't always be. Therefore, the time to work is now.So Jesus spits on the dirt, mashes it into mud, and spreads it upon the man's eyes. Far from improving his vision, at this point, if anything, Jesus has made his vision worse. He's covered over his already blind eyes. But, he doesn't leave the man that way. He tells him, “Go, wash.” And the man does. Verse 7:“So he went and washed and came back seeing.”The man could finally see! He could see! Light, colors, shapes, faces — can you imagine seeing all these things for the very first time in your life!? It's a miracle! And Jesus did it. Because Jesus does the work of God. He calls us to as well. Verse 4 reads,“We must work the works of him who sent me.”What works of God might God be calling you to? What kind word, what helping hand, what giving up of your time might you be able to walk in and say, we're doing it. We're doing the works of God that he has called us to, as a church. Ephesians 2:10,“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”Sabbath WorkNow from here, the formerly blind man is going to get shuffled around a bit. First he'll go before his neighbors, then the Pharisees, then his parents. And the reason he's going to get shuffled around is not mainly because his eyes were opened. See it with me in verse 13. Following a back-and-forth with the neighbors, we read, in verse 13:“They [the man's neighbors] brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.”And now, we've got to ask ourselves, why did they do this? What prompted them, on the heels of such a miracle, to not say, “Let's bring you to the mountains and show you the sunrise. Let's bring you to the riverbank so you can watch the water shine. Let's bring you into the city to show you architecture and design.”But, instead, let's bring you to the Pharisees.What prompted that instinct in them? What made them to think, “hmm, the Pharisees ought to see this”?We find out in the very next verse. Verse 14:“Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.” We've seen this before, haven't we? Back in chapter 5, we had another healing miracle with incredibly close parallels to this one. And there, the problem was that Jesus had worked the miracle on the Sabbath. That had angered the Pharisees then. And not because Jesus had broken one of God's Laws. He hadn't. But because he had broken one of theirs.Now a few chapters later, here we are again. It's the Sabbath. And thanks to the events of chapter 5, the neighbors now know how the Pharisees feel about healing on the Sabbath. And so when Jesus gives sight to this blind man, the neighbors think, “we ought to bring this now seeing man to the Pharisees to find out if this was okay.”Follow along with me at verse 14:“Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, ‘He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.'”Now, it's unclear exactly what the problem was. It seems though that it could have had to do with the mud. After all, John clearly wants us to know about the fact that Jesus made mud. He records that detail twice in verse 6, then again in verse 11, again in verse 14, and again in verse 15.And the Pharisees did have a law concerning the making of a dough, or mud, on the Sabbath. Might seem strange, but think about it: both dough and mud can be associated with work — Dough for baking, Mud or mortar for building. So Jesus may well have made this mud on the Sabbath for that very purpose — to show that the Pharisees laws were not God's.Well regardless of the reason, the fact is: Jesus gave sight to a blind man on the Sabbath and the Pharisees didn't like it. Enter, our second claim: Jesus is sent from God. 2. Jesus Is Sent From GodIt'll begin with the Pharisees claim to the contrary. See it with me in verse 16, some of the Pharisees said,“This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”That's their assessment of him. Jesus is not from God, if he was, he'd obey our laws.But as we read in John 1:1,“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”And as Jesus says in John 3:13,“No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven.”Descended from God.John 5:24, Jesus says,“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.”John 7:29 Jesus claims,“I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.”John 8:42,“If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.”And then, of course, from our text this morning, John 9:4,“We must work the works of him who sent me.”Jesus is from God. The Pharisees take Jesus' work on the Sabbath to be a proof he's not. But what John has been laboring to show us throughout his gospel is that it is because Jesus is from God that he does the works of God, even on the Sabbath. Just as Jesus said back in 5:17,“My Father is working until now, and I am working.”Jesus is from God. He's sent from God to do the works of God. But the Pharisees can't see that. And the reason they can't is because they are spiritually blind. What about the formerly blind man? His physical blindness has been healed, but has his spiritual blindness been healed as well?There's certainly been a progression. First time he's asked about his healing, he seems to know little about Jesus. He simply calls him a man. Verse 11:“The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes.”Then in verse 17, in response to the Pharisees, he calls Jesus not just a man but a prophet. Someone who speaks the words of God and does the works of God. It's quite a statement to make in the presence of these learned, powerful elite who clearly think otherwise. And yet, it's not yet a claim to Jesus' divinity. Something more is needed.Blind ParentsWell, the next group of people to be called in are the man's own parents who confirm to the Pharisees, “Yes,” verse 20,“We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes.”Does that strike you as just a bit odd? Someone has rescued their son from a lifetime of blindness. And yet they don't know who it was? Like, they just didn't think to ask, “Hey, by the way, son, who'd you say it was who healed you?” No, but instead, they tell the Pharisees, verse 21:“Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.”You know what they're doing in this moment? They are lying. And they are lying because they care more about their own public perception than their son. See it with me. Verse 22. John is abundantly clear:“(His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.”You see it? His parents knew it was Jesus who had healed their son. And they also knew that if they told the Pharisees that, and even suggested that could mean Jesus was the Christ, they'd be kicked out of the Synagogue — exiled from their community and way of life. So, they lied. And they sicced the dogs on their son instead.“Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.”And we might add, speak for himself, by himself. For by now, this man has been sold out by his neighbors, sold out by his parents, and turned over to the Pharisees who have their teeth bared.Verse 24:“So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, ‘Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.' The man refuses to agree with them. 'He answered, ‘Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.'”Verse 26, the Pharisees fire back, asking him the same exact question they've already asked him:“What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” And now, have you ever been on hold with customer service before? Maybe you've called a company about a faulty product, or a project that just wasn't done right. And every time you got through to someone, they just kept asking you the same question, “Sir, could you tell us the reason for your call?” You tell them, then they just transfer you to the next guy.It gets tiring having to answer the same question over-and-over, right? Well, by this time, the man has already given his answer to his neighbors and to these Pharisees. And so, he responds in verse 27, how we'd expect:“I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Wrong About MosesAnd this is where things get interesting, because Moses is going to get referenced. And, listen, you just know that any time Moses gets mentioned in the New Testament, things are about to get interesting.Here's what they say — Verse 28:“And they reviled him, saying, ‘You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.'” And then, the incredible irony:“We know that God has spoken to Moses.”And they're right. It's true. God had spoken to Moses. And do you know who God had spoken to Moses about? Jesus — the very one they're trying to kill. And Jesus had already told them that, back 5:46,“If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.”Spiritual blindness is a terrifying thing, is it not? The Pharisees have called Jesus a sinner. They've put terror in the hearts of those around them. They've claimed to follow Moses and yet disclaimed the very one he wrote about. Spiritual blindness is terrifying. At least with physical blindness you know your condition. These Pharisees are blind to the reality of God in the world, and they don't even realize it. In fact, they think they can see better than all the others. And when the formerly blind man calls them on this, they think he's the one with the problem, verse 34:“You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?”They are intending to kill Jesus, and yet they say the man in front of him — he's the sinner. And to top it all off, verse 34, they cast the man out of the synagogue.See this man with me now. Quite a day it has been for him, yes? Just that morning, like every other morning of his life, he'd woken up blind. Blind he'd eaten his breakfast. Blind he'd been led to the roadside. Blind he'd sat begging. Now he sees. But the cost of his seeing has involved his neighbors, his parents, and the Pharisees all essentially disowning him — sending him away with the words, “You were born in utter sin” ringing in his ears. Now, he stands, alone. Eyes open, but alone.Has his life improved? Have things gotten better for him? Sure, he can now see, but all he sees is exile. He's on his own. Rejected. Discarded. Cast out. The man is alone. But Jesus does not leave him there. Jesus hears what has happened, and goes after him. Others have sent him away, but Jesus goes out to find him. To speak to him. To give him one of the greatest gifts in all the world — spiritual sight.Verse 35:“Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?'”The man responds, verse 36:“And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”Jesus answers:“You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.”And the man who had been born blind can suddenly see with spiritual sight. Verse 38,“He said, ‘Lord, I believe,' and he worshiped him.”3. Jesus Himself Is GodAnd he worshiped him because Jesus is God. That's our third and final claim — Jesus is God. Here's a Jewish man that was raised up on Moses, the Ten Commandments, and the Hebrew Scriptures. A man who knows God is one, Yahweh is his name. But then he drops to his knees to worship a man named Jesus.In Revelation 19, the same thing happened to one of the angels. When it did, the angel shouted out: “You must not do that!” In Acts 14, the residents of Lystra begin bowing down in worship of Paul and Barnabas. When they do, Paul and Barnabas tear their robes and cry: “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you.”But when Jesus is worshiped, he doesn't protest. He receives.Jesus receives worship because Jesus is God. Jesus does the work of God. Jesus was sent from God. And, Jesus is God.Jesus is a polarizing figure, yes? Just as he'll say near the close of this section, verse 39,“For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”So there really are two choices: spiritual sight or spiritual blindness. Spiritual light or spiritual darkness. Fist shaking at Jesus or knees bowing before him. And so I want to invite you today if you are here this morning, and you want to see. See that Jesus is more than just a man. More than just a prophet. But God himself. Ask him.Jesus, come find me too.Come help me see you are the Son of Man. If you don't, you will remain in darkness. Guilt for your sin, just as Jesus says in verse 41, will remain. Don't live in the dark. Don't stay in your guilt. Ask Jesus to help you see, and he will. He will.If you are here today and like this man can say, I was spiritually blind and now I see: Realize that just as Jesus found this man in his rejection, his isolation, his loneliness, so has he come and found you as well. You see because he gave you eyes to see.Brothers and sisters, never take that sight for granted. It is one of the greatest gifts you could ever receive. Should you lose all and yet still have spiritual sight, you still have all. Treasure your spiritual sight and use it to see and enjoy Jesus every day.The TableNow, what brings us to the table this morning is both the reminder of Jesus' spilled blood and broken body, as well as the promise that one day we will eat a far greater meal with him in Heaven. There, we will finally see him, face-to-face. Because that's what this table represents, I gladly invite those who are trusting in Jesus' death on their behalf, to take and eat this meal with us. If you've not put your trust in Jesus, we ask that you'd let the elements pass for now, and instead take this moment to ask Jesus,Help me to see.

 In Acts 20 Paul gives his farewell address to the church in Ephesus. He assures them that they will overcome and succeed through faith and grace. It won't be easy but they will cross the finish line victorious as long as they keep their eyes on Jesus.   

 This morning Rev. Schuller takes us through the 19th Chapter of Acts and highlights the life of Charlie Kirk. In Acts we see that the persecutions of Christians have always been a reality. When we look at the life of Charlie, we realize that that will not stop until Jesus returns in all His glory. Our goal is to live a life of courage and faith and face our fears with the power of the Holy Spirit of God. 

What does it mean to be a conduit of God's grace? In Acts 3:1–10, Peter and John encounter a man in desperate need — and through them, God pours out His power and mercy. This passage reminds us that God wants to use ordinary people to bring His extraordinary grace to others. In this message, discover how being devoted to prayer, intentional with your time, and committed to God's glory allows His grace to flow through you.

Love | This Changes Everything (Week 4) | Acts 2:42-47What does it really mean to be a community marked by love? In Acts 2:42-47, we see a picture of the early church—a people devoted to one another, sharing life, caring for needs, and living out the love of Christ in practical and powerful ways.This message is part 4 of our series This Changes Everything, where we're walking through Riverview Christian's core values: Heal. Connect. Grow. Love. Together, we're learning what it looks like to live out these values in everyday life and in the life of our church.

Waiting isn't easy. Can I get an amen? Ha!Whether in line at Costco or in life's hardest seasons, whether in waiting seasons with an end date or open-ended ones, how do you handle waiting?Waiting for a wedding date.Waiting for a prodigal kid to return.Waiting for a spouse to heal from hurt.In Acts 1:12–26, we see the early church waiting on Jesus' promises and we see how Jesus continues to lead His Church through His Word and how He replaces Judas with Matthias.We also learn from the godly example of how the early church how they:➡️ Obeyed Jesus' commands.➡️ Get into His Word.➡️ Trust their King.We will be talking about all of these things this weekend: seeing how Jesus continues to lead His people and how His people set a godly pattern of waiting, getting into God's Word, and trusting Him to lead them.

The Lord gifts us each with unique strengths and talents that we can use for his glory. Today, we'll see how this happened in the early church. In Acts six, the Apostles learned the importance of organization and delegation of authority. Each member of the church has a ministry to be faithful to. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/621/29

In Acts 28, Paul and his companions spend three months on Malta—a season of healing before continuing their journey. Gene reminds us today that deep wounds don't heal overnight, and God doesn't rush the process. Hurts that take time can become the very places where we're equipped to walk alongside others in their pain. The church isn't meant to be a showcase for perfect people but a refuge for real people—scarred, grieving, learning to heal. And as Isaiah 53 declares, “By his stripes we are healed.” In God's time, our scars can become the source of someone else's hope.Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside's conviction that God's grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God's presence and activity in your life.

Thursday September 25, 2015XV Week After Pentecost---

In Acts 28, Paul heals the father of Publius instantly with the touch of his hand—but the very next verse describes others who were “cured” through a longer, therapeutic process. Gene points out today that God sometimes works in moments, but often He works through months of care, recovery, and time. Just as Paul and the shipwreck survivors needed three months on Malta to heal, we sometimes need extended space to grieve, adjust, and recover. Healing is not about faking that you're fine—it's about giving God time to bring you through.Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside's conviction that God's grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God's presence and activity in your life.

Wednesday September 25, 2025XV Week After Pentecost

In Acts 28, after Paul shakes off a poisonous snake without harm, the islanders quickly shift their opinion of him—first calling him a murderer, then a god. Gene points out today how fickle public opinion can be and how unjust criticism often lands hardest on those already hurting. Proverbs 10:19 reminds us, “When words are many, sin is not absent.” Sometimes the wisest response is simply presence, not advice. In seasons of healing, what matters most is the steady love of Jesus—unchanging, even when people's opinions swing wildly.Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside's conviction that God's grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God's presence and activity in your life.

SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:1-31 SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God. In Acts 3 and 4, Luke describes Peter's bold testimony for Jesus after he heals a crippled man at the Beautiful Gate. That afternoon at the temple, thousands of people heard the message and believed in the name of Jesus. Peter and John were arrested and kept in prison overnight before being brought before the Sanhedrin early the next morning. "They were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand." Acts 4:2-4 As Peter addressed the religious leaders, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke truth. Peter experiences a special moment of inspiration that clearly highlights the person of Jesus Christ and the work of God's Spirit. The Sanhedrin warned Peter and John “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20The church's response to the apostles' release was an immediate outpouring of praise and prayer. Most importantly, these early Christians were not praying for relief from oppression but for the ability "to speak Your word with great boldness" amid persecution and for God to act with mighty power. The focus of these new believers was on spreading God's word and glorifying Christ's name. Luke clearly made sure to include this prayer so that it can serve as a pattern for us to follow in our own prayers. "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, all because of my name. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand about how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." Luke 21:12-15 SONG: "I Speak Jesus" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcmqSfr1ENY&list=RDPcmqSfr1ENY&start_radio=1

“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6 NLT) You’ve probably heard more than a few objections to the inevitable answer to this question. “How can Christians say that Jesus is the only way to God?” “Are you saying that if someone doesn’t believe in Jesus, then they’re going to Hell?” “Do you understand how narrow-minded that thinking is?” “Why are you so intolerant of other people’s beliefs?” “Why can’t you be more inclusive?” Let’s get one thing straight. The only reason I say that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father is because Jesus Himself said it. Look again at those words in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (NLT). In Acts 4:12, the apostle Peter put it this way: “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (NLT). Why? Because only Jesus Christ was qualified to bridge the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. Jesus Christ—not just a good man, but the God-Man—died in our place and took the full wrath of the Father upon Himself because there was no other way that we could settle the debt that we owed God. Only Jesus Christ could conquer sin and death and make it possible for us to live forever with Him. Such exclusivity is hard for a lot of people to embrace. Some say, “I choose to believe that whatever religion you want to follow is fine. As long as you sincerely believe, God will let you into Heaven.” The problem with that reasoning is that Adolf Hitler probably believed in his heart that what he was doing was right. Does anyone want to suggest that his sincere belief should earn him a place in Heaven? Others say, “I don’t believe that Jesus was God. I believe that He was an influential philosopher and a great moral teacher, but nothing more than that.” C. S. Lewis responded to that kind of thinking with these words: “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell.” Lewis concluded, “You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” Jesus is the only way to God. The Christian faith is built on that truth. Reflection question: What would you say to someone who believes that all paths lead to God? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday September 23, 2025XV Week After Pentecost---“Living Ready for the King”

The book of Acts shows that following Jesus is both joyful and challenging, filled with revival, miracles, and unity, yet also marked by persecution, conflict, and disagreement. In Acts 15–16, we see the Church wrestling with theological debates—whether Gentiles needed to follow Jewish customs—and personal disputes, such as Paul and Barnabas parting ways over John Mark. Through it all, God kept purifying the Church's understanding of the gospel. These stories remind us to stay humble, teachable, and committed to Christ's mission, even when disagreements arise. 

XV Week After PentecostMonday September 22, 2025

Welcome to Christ Community's Online Service! The book of Acts shows us how Jesus can turn our world upside down—or right side up. In Acts 17, Paul's critics said, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” What if that could be said of us today? Join us as we discover three key ways we can engage our culture, live with full allegiance to Jesus, and root ourselves in God's Word—becoming people who bring real transformation to a broken world. For prayer and to stay connected, please visit: https://www.cccgreeley.org For Giving: https://www.cccgreeley.org/give/ Discussion Guide: https://cccgreeley.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-9-20-21-Group-Discussion-Questions.pdf There's Something for Everyone This Fall

What makes Christian community truly different? In Acts 20, Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders shows us that community is more than fellowship, it's sharing life with other believers as we follow Jesus together. In this message, Carlos Velez unpacks the rhythm of community and explains how community includes humble leadership that serves like Jesus and guards the truth from distortion. While living in community, the church will experience God's embrace and have God's love revealed through his people. Subscribe for More: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdBjWoX3iFFfi7rhni6iUxQ?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More on Our Website: https://www.calvary-church.com Follow Us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvarychurchpennsylvania and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calvarychurchpennsylvania #calvary #church #christian #sermon #message #souderton #quakertown #pennsylvania

In Acts 2, the Spirit of God fills the disciples and launches the mission of the church. This message explores what happens when the Spirit moves—giving boldness, uniting people across barriers, and pointing everyone to Jesus. The same Spirit who moved at Pentecost is still at work in us today.

Over the last 6 weeks, we've been talking through our vision, mission, and philosophy as a church. We started with 4 sermons on the pillars to our ministry. ·      First, being a faithful church, which begins with God's faithfulness to us in the Gospel. ·      Second, the means through which God applies his grace in us – which are his Word, prayer, and the sacraments. ·      Third, the overarching theme of the entire Bible, God's covenant promises and their fulfillment in Christ. ·      And forth, God's appointed leaders for his church – elders. And now we are applying those pillars to our worship, our discipleship, and our missions. Last week we focused on worship – that is, corporate worship. This week's focus is on discipleship, and then next week, we will conclude with missions and outreach. Please turn to Matthew 28 in your Bibles. Our first of two sermon texts is what we call the great commission. Matthew 28:18-20. That is on page 993 in the Pew Bible. You may be wondering why our sermon text is the great commission, yet our focus is on discipleship. Well, that is because this passage is about discipleship. You can't really separate missions and discipleship. In fact, worship is in the mix as well. Discipleship begins in worship and includes missions. They all overlap. Reading of Matthew 28:18-20 Our second sermon text is from 2 Peter chapter 3. That is on page 1209 in the Pew Bible. 2 Peter 3 verses 14-18. This is one of the more traditional passages related to discipleship. The apostle Peter has just written about the second coming of Christ. And then Peter writes these very important words as far as our godliness and our knowledge of Jesus Christ, as we wait for the new heavens and hearth. Reading of 2 Peter 3:14-18 Prayer If you were to survey 1000 pastors and you were to ask each one for a definition of discipleship, you would get 1000 different answers. Some would focus on relationships. Others would focus on Bible study. Some would center their answer on serving. Others would say it's about being real. Others would make the case that discipleship is all about missions. Some would say that it is about God's kingdom – kingdom discipleship. For others, it's life-on-life ministry. Others talk about sonship – being sons of God. Yet others describe it as head, heart, and hands. For some, families are the most important thing. For others, the church is key. Some say discipleship is about self-denial and taking up your cross. And we ask why? Why are there a gazillion definitions of discipleship? Well, I think the main part of the answer is quite simple. The word “discipleship” is not in the Bible. It is therefore difficult to come up with a Biblical definition for that reason. To be sure, the word “disciple” singular and “disciples” plural are in the Bible. It's just that the word discipleship is not. It's is a word that we've come up with to capture the task of making disciples. The word discipleship seeks to answer the “how” questions. How do we make disciples of Jesus? Discipleship is about implementation. That is why there are so many definitions. And so, I think it's better not to come up with a single approach to discipleship. Rather, I think it's best to first understand what a disciple is, then second, consider the foundations to making disciples. And only after we do that, can we evaluate discipleship approaches and start identifying our own principles. Here's what I am saying…  rather than trying to come up with a definition of discipleship, it's better to consider the broader Biblical framework for the task of making disciples. That framework can then be used to evaluate discipleship approaches. By the way, this is an impossible task. I'm not talking about identifying the Biblical principles for making disciples, I'm talking about trying to preach on it in one sermon. I realized this on Friday afternoon. I thought, what have I got myself into? There is no way to fit this into a 30+ minute sermon. I also thought, I'm looking forward to getting back to our regular expository sermons in a couple of weeks. But we are here now. And many of you have mentioned that this series has been helpful. So, I'm going to press on and try. 1. What is a disciple and what is the call? As I mentioned, let's begin with the question, what is a disciple? Let's start by looking at Matthew 28. These verses give us a good foundation on what a disciple is and what a disciple should pursue. And we know these verses well. Matthew 28 verse 19 – “Go therefore and make disciples.” By the way, much debate has been had about the underlying Greek words, especially the word “go.” We're not going to “go” there today. Let me simply say that the imperative here is to “make disciples.” The call is to bring people from not following Jesus to following Jesus. That is what the word disciple means - a follower. Being a follower includes, of course, believing in Jesus, but it implies a lot more. It includes a commitment to Jesus' teaching, and his ways, and pursuing his commands… just like Jesus' 12 disciples did. So the call in Matthew 28 is to “make disciples” and that involves two things here. First, it's bringing them into the covenant community. That's what Baptism is. It includes either being part of a household, like circumcision in the Old Testament – that's one reason why we disciple our children. Or it includes those coming into the covenant community for the first time as believers in Christ. So that's the first task. Second, making disciples also includes teaching the commandments of God. That is captured in verse 20. After the call to baptize, Jesus adds, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Being a disciple requires learning God's commands and pursuing them. I think that all makes sense because that is what a disciple is and what he does. He believes and follows Jesus. And the message to make disciples is simple. Faith, repentance, and obedience. Matthew 28 does not speak to the message. But Jesus has been clear. The Bible is clear. The core message is repentance from sin and faith in Christ. That is what we call our children to, and it is the call for all humanity. Obedience is part of that call. It comes after faith and repentance, as a response to God's grace. Again, Jesus said, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” However, let me say this. The call to faith and repentance does not end when we come to Christ. No, actually, faith, repentance, and obedience is the ongoing call for a disciple. Ongoing repentance from sin; an ongoing renewal of our faith; and an ongoing commitment to observe the commandments of God. Now, just to be sure, when you come to faith in Christ, you are secure in him. You are forgiven of your sin. That does not go away. Rather, renewing your faith in Christ, repentance from ongoing sin, and new obedience are in response to God's saving grace. I just want to be clear about that. Now, you may be thinking, “well, yeah, isn't that obvious? Of course, a disciple should believe that Jesus died for his or her sin and should believe that we need to pursue holiness despite our ongoing sin.” Well, the reason you may think those two points are obvious is because we teach them. We teach the heinousness of our sin before our holy God. We teach that the only path to God is by faith, repenting to God of our sin and trusting in Christ as our Savior. We teach that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is necessary to atone for our sin. And we teach that in our redeemed state, we are still sinners. We are redeemed sinners who struggle with sin but are empowered by God's Spirit to pursue holiness – and God calls us to pursue him. That is the Gospel. But let me say, that message is not emphasized in many parts of Christianity. Often sin is minimized. The word “sin” is not seen as culturally sensitive today. And so, some circles replace it with words like “brokenness” or “struggle” or “woundedness.” I am not saying that we are not broken nor struggle nor have wounds. But when those ideas are used in place of sin and not in connection to it, then the underlying problem of our separation from God because of sin is suppressed. What I am saying is that the task of making disciples of Jesus begins and ends with faith, repentance and the call to observe Jesus' commands. 2. How do we mature as disciples? Ok, let's move on to a second helpful question. Let me ask you, how do you mature as a disciple of Jesus? It's important to ask that question because the Bible calls us to mature in our faith. We call that maturity sanctification. It is the ongoing work of God's Spirit where more and more we die to our sin and live to righteousness. The task of making disciples needs to include that lifelong pursuit. All throughout the Bible we are called to grow in our faith. We're called to be conformed to the image of Christ. We are called to be filled with the knowledge of his will. Hebrews 5 calls us to mature from milk to solid food like children. Ephesians 4 calls us to mature into manhood, growing up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. In 2 Timothy 3, we're to know the Word that the man of God may be equipped for every good work. Romans 12, we're to renew our minds. We would be here all day if we were to go through every single passage that speaks of being conformed more and more to Christ. Rather than doing that, I picked one example that I find to be very helpful as a representative passage. 2 Peter 3:14-18 – it was our second sermon text. If you'll turn there. This is one of my favorite passages about our sanctification. We're going to focus on verse 18, but I don't want to overlook the context. The apostle Peter had just written about Christ's second coming when he will make all things new. While we are waiting, we're called in verse 14 to “be diligent” that we may be “found by him without spot or blemish…” And then a couple of verses later in verse 17, there is a warning against sin. It says, “…take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people...” Then we get to verse 18 which is my favorite. If you only remember one thing about this sermon on discipleship, I want you to remember this verse. 2 Peter 3:18. It says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” I love it. Let me read it again. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Look first at the titles given to Jesus. Lord and Savior. He is to be both. He is to be Lord over us as we live. We look to him, as Lord. He is to lead us in what is true and right and good. But Jesus is not only our Lord. Jesus is not just a model for living. His teaching includes more than just commands about how to live. He is also our Savior. He has redeemed us. He calls us, as I mentioned earlier, to faith and repentance. And the command in verse 18 is to grow in two things: grace and knowledge of him. ·      First, we are to grow in grace. That is, more and more we need to see our sin and the depths of his mercy and love. We are to grow in our understanding of the cross and the hope of the resurrection in our suffering, and grief, and pain. That is all growing in grace. ·      And second, we are to grow in our knowledge of him. We need to know his Word, not for the sake of head knowledge but for the sake of knowing him, knowing God, in his fullness, and living out his commands. You see, when it comes to discipleship, verse 18 is so very helpful. It directs us to the core things that discipleship needs to be about. It direct us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And that is very consistent with the rest of Scripture. A few weeks ago do you remember that I sang you a song during my sermon? Remember it? “Read your Bible, pray every day, and you'll grow, grow, grow.” That was probably the first and last time that I'll do that. Remember that we talked about the ordinary means through which God changes us. And what are those ordinary means? God's Word, Prayer, and the sacraments. We considered Acts 2:42, about the early church, and we looked at Hebrews 4 as well as 1 Corinthians 10. Our sanctification, that is, our growth in grace, comes through the Holy Spirit's work in us as we engage in these appointed means – (1) reading and studying God's word, (2) praying to the one true God of heaven and earth, and (3) participating in the visible signs through which he shows us the Gospel and strengthens our faith, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. And to tie that back to what I mentioned earlier, through those means, we are called again and again to repentance, to a renewal of our faith, and to further observance of and obedience to God's word and will. Here's what I am saying. Any discipleship approach needs to include some aspect of those foundations. I'm not saying every discipleship approach needs to include all of it. But every discipleship approach needs to direct us toward maturing in Christ by… revealing our sin and his grace and commands… or directing us to God Word, prayer, and the sacraments. It is through those avenues, that God conforms us more and more to his image. ·      So, if a discipleship approach is only about loving as Jesus loved but mentions nothing about sin nor Jesus' call to repentance and faith, then it falls short. ·      If a discipleship approach is all about being a better husband or wife, or a better doctor or electrician, or a better neighbor, but there's nothing about the grace of God in Christ and being conformed to him and his commands, then it falls short. ·      If a discipleship approach is about the disciplines of the Christian life, but does not focus on knowing God's Word and being in prayer, then it falls short. I could go on with more examples. My point is that the Scriptures do give us a framework for making disciples. And that framework needs to be at the heart of our discipleship approach. Discipleship at Tucker Presbyterian Which brings us to our church – Tucker Presbyterian. Given what I've said already, how are we seeking to make disciples? By the way, it's entirely impossible for me to answer that question over the next 10 minutes. But I do want to let you know that on the welcome table is a draft of our new philosophy of discipleship. We, as your elders, have been working on this for the last 2-3 months. It includes the foundations to discipleship, which I've just mentioned, but also includes our priorities in discipleship and how we desire to work those out… in worship, in our children and youth ministry, and our adult ministries, which includes our men's and women's ministries. I can't cover it all, but I do want to highlight 8 priorities or principles of our discipleship. 1. We believe discipleship begins in worship. This is really important. Corporate worship is where the means of grace converge, as I mentioned last week. God works through our worship, including our family or private worship. Through worship, he conform us to him as we declare salvation in Jesus Christ and praise God for his grace and mercy. 2. In our discipleship, we desire to foster a heart for missions – a heart for our neighbor and a heart for the nations. In other words, disciple making involves disciple making, which is calling people to faith in Christ. More on this one next week. 3. Discipleship needs to direct people to the local church. Local congregations, where God's covenant people gather, are God's ordained avenues for worship, discipleship, and missions. The sign of baptism is the sign of our ingrafting into Christ and therefore ingrafting into one another as a body of believers. 4. We seek to disciple one another across generations. God's call for the church is to be a people of God together. We want our members, old and young alike, to know and care for and support one other in the task of discipleship. To be sure, we do not believe this should be the exclusive pattern. As Proverbs teaches, a brother is born for adversity, and as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. There is value in peer discipleship, but often times, churches overprioritize that and not intergenerational discipleship. 5. Every single one of us is called in one way or another to the task of making disciples. You may be a parent, you may be an ordained leader in the church, you may have been given one of several Holy Spirit given gifts mentioned in the Bible such as teaching or knowledge or wisdom. Even if none of that applies to you, you are still called to be a witness to your neighbor or co-worker or family member. We are all to be disciple makers. 6. This next one is about children and parents. Parents are ordinarily to be the primary disciplers of their children. However, not all children have believing parents or parent, nor are all parents available for different reasons. The church needs to support parents and children in the discipleship endeavor.o 7. Church discipline is a matter of discipleship. Two months ago, when we were in 2 Corinthians chapter 13, we considered the responsibility that the church has to disciple those whose sin is destroying the family of God or whose sin is unrepentant and grievous. We can't unpack all of that here, but that sermon is out on our website and podcast. And let me remind you that the goal of church disciple is always repentance, renewed faith, and restoration.   8. Finally, number 8. Discipleship needs to happen in the context of fellowship. In Acts 2:42 intentional fellowship, or koinonia fellowship, is included with the means of grace. Fellowship is important. We believe discipleship happens in relationships with one another because we are brothers and sisters united together in Christ. So, those are our priorities in discipleship: the priority of worship, a heart for missions, the centrality of the local church, discipleship across generations and in support of peers, assisting parents, church discipline, and all in the context of deep fellowship. Conclusion In summary, we do not believe there's a one-size-fits-all pattern for implementing discipleship. However, that does not mean that all discipleship approaches are good. We need to evaluate each according to God's pattern for making disciples which he has given in his Word. And at its core, that pattern for making disciples involves (1) calling each other to faith and repentance and obedience in Christ, and (2) directing one another to the Word, prayer, and the sacraments. It is through those means that God will grow us in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In Acts 4–5, Luke shows us that the Church is the one holy temple of God, where His Spirit dwells among His people. This countercultural community is marked by unity, generosity, and integrity—signs of God's great grace at work. Barnabas models Spirit-filled generosity, while Ananias and Sapphira reveal the danger of hypocrisy in God's house. Ultimately, our hope is not in our efforts but in Christ, the truly whole man, who makes His church alive and holy.Time:MorningMinister:Rev. Taylor KernTexts:Acts 4:32—5:11Series:The Church on Fire

Prayer isn't about escape. It isn't about begging God to take away all the hard things. In Acts 4, when the early church faced persecution, they didn't pray for protection or revenge. They prayed for boldness.In this message, Pastor Cory explores how prayer has always been the place where God reshapes our desires, opens our eyes, and fills us with courage. It's where we learn to see God making all things new—even in the face of evil—and where we find the confidence to live differently in the world.Prayer doesn't change God. It changes us.

In Acts chapter twenty-eight, the apostle Paul is making his way to Rome through a storm, and then then a shipwreck and to top it off a snake bite! That's a lot to cope with! Now he's on the last leg of his journey, and he receives what must have been an unexpected yet very timely encouragement from some fellow believers, who traveled down from Rome to greet him. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/621/29

XIV Week After PentecostSeptember 18, 2025---

In Acts 27, as the storm raged and panic spread, Paul shifted the crew's focus. Instead of obsessing over the obstacles ahead, he pointed to the objective: survival. He urged them to eat, regain strength, and prepare for what was coming. Gene reminds us today that effective leaders see beyond the hurdles to the finish line. And like Paul, they don't just speak courage—they model it. True leadership is proven when actions match words, especially in crisis.Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside's conviction that God's grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God's presence and activity in your life.

Wednesday September 17, 2025XIV Week After Pentecost---

In Acts 27, Paul not only survives the storm—he strengthens others in the middle of it. Even as the ship is breaking apart, he points the crew to God's presence and promises, reminding them to take courage. Gene shows us today that effective leaders build others up when fear takes hold. And just as Paul refused to let the sailors abandon ship, true leaders never compromise on the absolutes of God's Word. Integrity may cost you, but it also secures the trust and courage of those you lead.Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside's conviction that God's grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God's presence and activity in your life.

In todays Leadership Lessons Pastor James Murray shows us shows that maturity in Christ requires self-devotion. A healthy church happens when believers take responsibility to worship, serve, and give without being told. In Acts 2:42–47 hospitality was central to the early church. It wasn't entertaining, it was including. Open tables, open homes, and open hearts made the Gospel visible. As leaders, we must ask: Do we live as Jesus lived? True hospitality transforms, reminding people they are worthy of God's love.

Tuesday September 16, 2025XIV Week After Pentecost---

In Acts 27, Paul steps up even as a prisoner on a storm-battered ship. First, he takes initiative—warning the crew of dangers ahead. Later, when fear has gripped every man on board, Paul speaks with authority, sharing God's promise of protection and courage. Gene reminds us today that true leaders don't just point out problems; they step forward to meet needs. And when storms come, they ground others with the unshakable authority of God's Word.Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside's conviction that God's grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God's presence and activity in your life.

Anna and Matt welcome Andy the Postal Worker to help explain today's attribute: God is Faithful—He always keeps His promises. Kids learn that while people sometimes mess up, God never fails. In Acts 1–2, we see how God kept His promise by sending the Holy Spirit to His people—right on time, in the perfect way. What You'll Learn:

Monday September 15, 2025XIV After Pentecost ---

Ever felt like life keeps throwing one thing after another at you? In Acts 28, Paul survives a shipwreck, gets bitten by a snake, and just shakes it off. This timeless message from Pastor Wendell Smith reminds us that what was meant to harm us can become the very thing God uses to bring healing. We're thankful to bring this teaching out of the archives so a new generation can be encouraged to shake it off and keep moving. SUBSCRIBE TODAY for Weekly Service messages, Daily Guided Prayers, & more! Download the FREE Churchome app in the Apple App store or Google Play store! https://www.churchome.org/app

We're great at sitting, but Jesus told us to go. From his passion for the gospel, family hunting stories, and even a bar room encounter that changed everything, Willie Robertson shares how the call of Jesus moves us out of comfort and into the Great Commission. Matthew 28 is not theory, it is movement: make disciples, baptize, teach. In Acts 18 we see a church on the move as Priscilla and Aquila opened their home, Apollos was corrected and sent, Paul heard God say “Do not be afraid, I am with you,” and whole households believed. He challenges us to run three checks that push us forward: check your pulse, check yourself, and check your stories. This is not about watching a few people on mission but about all of us moving together. What is one move you will make this week to share the gospel with a real person by name?