Podcasts about in acts

Todaywe continue to look at Ephesians 4:7-11. Weneed to understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the unity of the church isvitally important to sharing this great message of the Gospel of Christ to theworld around us. God has chosen the church today to do this. The New Testament churchcan best be describes as a local body of baptized believers, under thediscipline of the Word of God, being led by the Holy Spirit, exercising thegifts of the Spirit, organized under spiritual leadership for the purpose ofworship, fellowship, discipleship, evangelism, and ministry, and fulfilling theordinances of the church—the Lord's Supper and baptism. That is the localchurch. Inthat church God has placed people with various spiritual gifts to make surethat body functions properly in such a way that they are able to fulfill,complete, and carry out God's great commission. That is the purpose of thespiritual gifts. We see that specifically as we look at the passage here inEphesians chapter 4, verses 7-11.It says in verse 11, “And He Himself gavesome to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors andteachers.” Interesting,as you look at all three passages in the New Testament speaking specificallyabout spiritual gifts, you will find that in Romans 12, and also 1 Corinthians12-14, that Paul lists many gifts. Some people estimate up to 18 differentspiritual gifts were given to the church initially. But here in Ephesians 4:7,it appears that Paul is talking not so much about the gifts of the Spirit as heis talking about some of the offices that are being fulfilled because of thegift of the Spirit that were given to particular people in his day. Thefirst one Paul mentions was the Apostles. “He gave some to be apostles”.The word apostle means one who is sent with a commission. Jesus had manydisciples—even one time 70 disciples are mentioned—but we know that He onlyselected 12 apostles (Matthew 10:1-4). The disciple is a learner, a follower.But an apostle is a divinely appointed representative. For someone to be anapostle, he had to have witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts1:21-22). In Acts 1, when they were replacing Judas as one of the twelveapostles, they prayed about it, sought God's will about it, and particularlychose one person, Matthias, to become that twelfth Apostle (Acts 1:26). Today,there are no apostles in the strictest New Testament sense. These apostles laidthe foundation of the church along with the prophets as we are told in Ephesians2:19-20, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, butfellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, havingbeen built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himselfbeing the chief corner stone.”  Oncethe foundation of the church, the New Testament church, was laid, there was nolonger a need for apostles. Today when I hear someone saying, “I'm an apostle,”I hope they mean that they are one who is sent with a commission. Because allof us as believers are sent. As Jesus said to the disciples and to theapostles, “As the Father has sent Me, even so send I you.” Every believer inthat sense is sent. We are sent with a commission to share the good news ofJesus Christ. Butthere were only twelve who laid the foundation of the church in the NewTestament. That is very important to know. Today we should not claim to be anapostle. We should claim to be a follower, a disciple of Jesus Christ. We havebeen sent even as an Apostle was sent, but we are not apostles because we didnot physically witness the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That was thequalification given in Acts 1. Aswe study these four offices of the church that are mentioned by Paul here, theyshould encourage us to be what God wants us to be with our spiritual gift inthe church so the body of Christ can function as it should. Godbless!

In Acts 28:11–16, Pastor Jared Proctor explores Paul's weary arrival in Rome and his longing for encouragement from fellow believers. Through Paul's example, we learn that even the hardships that feel like prisons can become places of spiritual formation when we seek the Lord within them. This sermon reminds us that every circumstance—praise or prison—can draw us deeper into God's presence.

Scripture: Acts 9:23–25 This message reminds us that prayer must lead to obedience. Prayer is powerful, but it becomes effective when we take action in the things God tells us to do. In Acts 9, Paul was facing certain death, yet unnamed disciples lowered him over a wall in a basket. God used ordinary people to save a life and advance His kingdom. People today are trying to escape spiritual, emotional, and physical death. There is an identity crisis in our world, and many have reached the end of their own ability. Every person carries an inner emptiness that only Jesus can fill. Success, possessions, and temporary comforts cannot satisfy. What people trust in becomes their god, yet only the living water can quench the thirst of the soul. God has given each of us a responsibility to hold onto the rope. He has placed us in specific places at the right time to help, to speak life, and to lift up those who are hurting. Being a rope holder is not about recognition. Some do it for attention, but true rope holders do it for the glory of God so that Jesus is lifted up and people are drawn to Him. Holding the rope is often inconvenient, just as it was for those who helped Paul in the night. It can be risky, costly, and tiring. Discipleship can feel heavy, and spiritual warfare can affect us if we are not mindful. Yet revival is worth it. People are worth it. We must stay sensitive to the Holy Ghost, willing to be inconvenienced, and ready to hold the rope for those who have stumbled, fallen, or are just beginning their walk with God. To whom much is given, much is required. We are called to feed, support, intercede, and stand in the gap so others can be saved, healed, and delivered.

What if God wants to do it again—moving in power just as He did in the early church? In Acts 19:9–10 we read that “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” What began in a lecture hall in Ephesus spread across an entire region. Revival did not stay small. It multiplied. In this message, Pastor Dustin calls us to believe for that same move of God in our generation. This message connects Scripture, prophetic invitation, and the biblical vision of unity—from ancient Asia Minor (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea) to what God is doing in the church today. WHY THIS MATTERS Unity does not erase differences; it dignifies them. Unity is not everyone doing the same thing; it is everyone moving in the same direction. When the church aligns with the heart of Jesus, revival becomes unstoppable. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES • Acts 19:9–10 — The gospel spreading across Asia • John 17:20–21 — Jesus' prayer for unity • Acts 2:1 — One place, one purpose, one Spirit

In Acts 7 we see that Stephen spoke the Truth with boldness. See how and what we can do as Patrick Dennis shares.Share your stories, prayer requests, or your response to this devotional in the comments below.If you would like to know more about New Life, who we are, what we believe, or when we meet, visit http://newlife.church. Or you can fill out a digital connection card at http://newlife.church/connect - we would love to get to know you better!

In Acts 7 we see that Stephen spoke the Truth with boldness. See how and what we can do as Patrick Dennis shares.Share your stories, prayer requests, or your response to this devotional in the comments below.If you would like to know more about New Life, who we are, what we believe, or when we meet, visit http://newlife.church. Or you can fill out a digital connection card at http://newlife.church/connect - we would love to get to know you better!

Daily Dose of Hope November 26, 2025   Scripture - Acts 6   Prayer:  Almighty God, As we move into our Wednesday, we pray that today will be a day that we see glimpses of your glory.  We need you, we yearn for you.  Lord, help us set aside our distractions and settle our scattered thoughts so we can focus on you and you alone.  In the next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers... In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently walking through the book of Acts.  Today, we working through all of chapter 6.   In Acts 6, we see the choosing of the first deacons to serve the widows from both the Greek and Jewish communities.  The apostles felt strongly they needed to keep preaching and teaching but they knew someone needed to be in charge of serving those in need.  There was a conflict that had to be dealt with – the Greek Jews felt that their widows weren't being cared for in the same way as the Hebrew Jews when it came to food distribution.  It wasn't insurmountable issue at all, but it could certainly create battle lines if not addressed promptly.  Stephen is chosen to lead the group who would ensure all of the early believers are fed fairly.  This is such a great model for solving a problem in the church.  They had an issue, they came together and discussed it civilly, and a solution is chosen.  No drama.   I should also note this is the first time we see a differentiation in the roles in the church.  Deacons are caring for the physical needs of the people.  The apostles, serving more like elders, are preaching and teaching.  There are many people in one body with many different gifts.  It takes all of us for Jesus' church to be effective and fruitful.  This will get clearer as the church develops.    Later in the chapter, things take a turn for the worse.  Stephen is being targeted by the Sanhedrin.  They don't like how the Gospel is spreading.  I wonder if the Jewish leaders are beginning to feel like things are getting out of control.  They see the church growing and they don't have a way to stop it.  Stephen is exhibiting extraordinary wisdom.  How do you fight against that?  Well, you cheat and lie.  And that's exactly what they did.  They have people say that he is speaking blasphemy against Moses.  They are willing to do whatever they need to do to slander Stephen.  They are abandoning Torah in favor of keeping political control.    More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Acts 5:1-11 | Greg Opean Packinghouse's Sunday morning worship service from November 23, 2025. In Acts 5 we step into the only church on earth—a massive newborn body full of joy, generosity, and danger from within. After Barnabas' sincere gift, Ananias and Sapphira chase image over reality, lying about their generosity to win applause, and Peter exposes it as a lie to the Holy Spirit—not about amounts, but about pretending. God subtracts their hypocrisy so He can multiply the church, because that one-upmanship, Hollywood-style image game would have killed a community meant to live by great grace. The lesson lands close: drop the mask, walk in the light, tell the truth about where you're really at, and let Jesus give you the real thing—fellowship, cleansing, rest. Enjoy what God gives, give freely as He leads, and refuse the pressure to look “more spiritual” than you are; there's one name worthy in the church, and it's Jesus. - Greg Opean - Sunday, November 23, 2025

Have you ever been in a high-pressure situation—maybe facing a tight deadline at work or having to make an unexpected, high-stakes decision? It's often in those moments that we discover who we truly are.Last week, we met Stephen, a leader in the Jerusalem church. He was chosen to help care for widows and preserve unity within the church. In Acts 6:8–7:60, Luke tells us more of Stephen's story. Like other church leaders of his day, he is falsely accused, arrested, and put on trial. When questioned, he courageously stands firm in his convictions, even though doing so only intensifies the danger around him.The situation escalates quickly, and a furious mob stones Stephen. Talk about a high-pressure moment.

Taking up from where we left off last lesson, our teacher, Dr. Mitchell continues with Matt.22:23-33.The enemies of the Lord Jesus try again to trap Jesus. Only this time, they are Sadducees. In Acts 23:8 Luke writes that the Sadducees ‘say there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all'. As Dr. Mitchell says, these were the rationalists of their day. They are the anti-super-naturalists of this day.So why do they appeal to the Scriptures? Only to try and trap our Savior. There are those who use the Scriptures, they don't really believe in, to confront the Christian with hypothetical questions in order to suppress the truth about God, His creation, His Messiah and His eternal salvation and His soon coming for us.Here is Dr. Mitchell, Matt.22:23 on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast.

Lloyd will continue his series through Acts today with a stop in chapter eighteen.  If you have someone in your life who lives by their convictions, you know what a unique trait that really is. You may be such a person yourself. Too many people today say one thing and live their lives another way. In Acts chapter eighteen, Paul finds himself in Corinth, and addresses the issue of Christians living by their convictions.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:11–14, 18–20 • Acts 4:29–35 • Genesis 11:1–6 • Proverbs 29:18 • Mark 8:22–26 This message focuses on the power of unity in the body of Christ. Scripture shows that although we are many members, we are placed by God into one body with one Spirit and one purpose. In Acts, the early church walked in one heart and one soul, and their unity produced boldness, miracles, and great grace. Genesis 11 shows that even unbelievers who are unified can accomplish anything they imagine. How much more can the church do when our vision, speech, and goals are aligned with God. A dream stays a dream until it is written down and becomes a goal. God calls His people to walk with one vision that is centered on Jesus. We should make the vision clear, speak life, and stay focused. Vision that comes from the flesh will fail, but vision from God brings clarity like the blind man in Mark 8 who received his sight and then saw clearly after Jesus prayed for him again. Unity in speech and unity in purpose opens the door for revival. Love covers a multitude of sins, and when we come together with a common vision, we move toward the promises God has set before us.

This week, we finish our Why Church? series in the book of Acts. In Acts 6:8-15, we see Stephen seized and brought before the Sanhedrin. We also take a quick jump forward to Acts 7:51-60 to the stoning of Stephen, highlighting his faithfulness to the Lord through trial and hardship. Pastor Eric shares three points from the text: 1) Expect trial and hardship to test faithfulness. 2) Seek the Lord for lasting faithfulness. 3) Faithfully worship the Lord through trial and hardship.

Ever feel like you were headed one way and life blew you somewhere else? In Acts 27–28, Paul is promised Rome, then runs into hurricane winds, a shipwreck, and a snakebite. Yet God keeps His word in the middle of the storm. Jesus had already said Paul would testify in Rome, and even as the waves rise an angel reaffirms the promise. Our call is to trust what God has said more than what we can see and to obey Him while the seas are still rough.    When the ship breaks, everyone reaches shore safely and a “detour” named Malta becomes a three-month ministry assignment. By the end, Paul is in Rome preaching “without hindrance.” The route changed; the promise held; the mission advanced.     Here’s a couple key takeaways • When your plans break, hold to God’s promises. He keeps His word even in the storm.   • Detours are often assignments. Serve where you land and watch God work • Chains cannot chain the gospel. The mission continues “without hindrance.” SUBSCRIBE for weekly sermons, stories, and other resources: https://www.youtube.com/@GracePointNWA?sub_confirmation=1 ============================= Connect with Grace Point Church: ============================= Instagram: https://instagram.com/gracepointnwa Facebook: https://facebook.com/gracepointnwa Website: https://gracepointchurch.net #Sermon #GracePointChurch #NorthwestArkansas

John 11:45-53,Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.We live in times, sadly, in which it's not hard to imagine public officials seeking their own benefit. Covering their own interests. Talking arrogantly and rudely. Pursuing political expediency in which seemingly righteous ends are said to justify grossly unrighteous means.Unfortunately, it's not hard to imagine leaders like Caiaphas. As we hear about Caiaphas, we have lessons to learn by way of contrast. And there are marvels to see here about our God and his Son and the wonder of the grace of his gospel.Jesus on the RiseLast Sunday we heard how Jesus's sovereign, omnipotent word raised the dead man, four days in the tomb. John 11:43-44,“‘Lazarus, come out!' The man who had died came out…”Jesus continues as the ascendency, and now, having raised a well-known dead man, so near Jerusalem, he's turning the city upside down. Many believe (v. 45), but others go to the Pharisees and stir up trouble (v. 46). They gather the high court, “the council,” called the Sanhedrin, made up of 70 priests and elders and scribes, with the high priest presiding. And they say,“What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.”Indeed he does: water into wine (2:11), cleansing the temple (2:15), restoring a dead son to life (4:53), healing the sick of all kinds (6:2), multiplying five loaves and two fish to feed thousands (6:14), giving sight to a blind man (9:16), and now, raising a dead man who had been in the grave four days (11:44).Yes, he has done many signs. But instead of asking, like many common people are, “Could this be the long-promised Christ?” the leaders as a whole are tragically more concerned with preserving their own place and privilege. They are more oriented on political concerns with the unbelieving Romans than with spiritual concerns in their Scriptures. “If we let [Jesus] go on like this,” they say, “everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (v. 48).Which bring us to the fateful moment, in verses 49–52.God Versus High PriestAt the council, Caiaphas, the high priest, speaks the decisive word. It comes from his mouth; it comes out of his heart. It is fully his. He is fully responsible for it. And John tells us in verse 51, “He did not say this of his own accord.” Who's accord, then, was it? God's accord. Jesus has talked over and over in this Gospel of his coming and his acting as “not of his own accord” but his Father's. This is God's accord, God's plan.So what we have in verse 50 is two visions of the coming death of Jesus: Caiaphas's and God's. Caiaphas perceives the situation, considers his own interest, and issues his counsel, which carries the day. And God is not caught off guard; he doesn't rush in to fix things and “turn” them for good. No, before Caiaphas willed it, God willed it. Before Caiaphas said it, God planned it. God superintends these evil words, from Caiaphas's evil heart, for God's good purposes and the salvation of his people from sin and death.And strange as this sounds in our ears, this is not new in the Bible. This is how the first book of the Bible ends. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph says to his brothers who sold him into slavery,“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…”He doesn't say God used it or that God turned it. Sinners meant evil; God meant it (same evil) for good. Same evil, two intentions. And we see something similar near the end of the Bible in Revelation 17:17,“God has put it into their hearts [wicked earthly rulers] to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled…”So, as the council meets, God is not wringing his hands, saying, “Oh no, the high priest is giving the decisive word to put my Son to death.” No, God has planned it. He has orchestrated every detail. In Acts 4:28, early Christians would praise God for bringing to pass at the cross “whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.” Oh Caiaphas means evil against Jesus, but God means it for good, to bring it about that many people should be saved.So, let's meditate on this double meaning in the words of Caiaphas in three parts.1. Two Visions of the PeopleWhat does Caiaphas mean when he says the people? Look at verse 50:“…it is better for you [Sanhedrin] that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”For Caiaphas, “the people” and “the whole nation” are ethnic Jews. Caiaphas wants to preserve his own ethnicity, and as we'll see, he has very selfish reasons for doing so. So, by “people” and “nation” Caiaphas means ethnic Jews.What does God mean? Verses 51-52:[Caiaphas] did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.So, for God, “the people” means “the children of God” which is not every ethnic Jew, nor is it limited only to ethnic Jews. The “children of God” are all who believe in Jesus — many believers in Jesus are among the Jews, as we've already seen, and now comes a stunning expansion, like we saw in John 10:16: Jesus has “other sheep” who are not of the Jewish fold — that is, Gentiles!God's chosen children are not limited to Israel; nor is every ethnic Israelite included. From the beginning, God chose ethnic Israel historically as a channel to bring his eternal salvation to all the nations. Now, at last, Messiah has come. And now, by surprise, Messiah goes to a sacrificial death — and through him the gates swing wide to all who believe, all believing Jews and all believing Gentiles. The chosen sheep, scattered among the nations, are “the children of God,” which will come to be called “the church.”And here's the scandal of Jesus's sacrificial achievement in gathering God's children from all nations: in Christ, fellow believers in faraway places, of different nations and ethnicities, are closer by far than fellows in ethnicity, place, and mere human nation. And so today, if you are in Christ, you have something far more important in common with a Christian in China or Russia, than you do with your unbelieving American neighbor who just happens to prefer the same political party you do.So, first, two visions of the people: Caiaphas means ethnic Jews. God means a new-covenant spiritual people from every nation, scattered abroad, and called the church.2. Two Visions of SubstitutionCaiaphas's proposal is for substitution. A people are in danger of destruction. So substitute one man on behalf of the people, and kill him, so that the people do not perish. A political scapegoat. Verse 50 again:“…it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”For Caiaphas, one man, Jesus, should perish, so that the Messianic fervor dissipates, the Jesus movement fades, and almighty Rome remains undisturbed and doesn't come and destroy Jerusalem and the temple. And amazingly, in the superintending providence of God, Caiaphas words this in sacrificial language. One man, he says, will die “for the people” — literally, on behalf of the people. Of course, Caiaphas means it politically. This is pure politics, not spiritual leadership. This is vintage political expediency. And par for the course in world politics. Perhaps you've heard it called the end justifies the means. The end goal is seen to be good, and so the means used to get there are compromised. And mark this: this is evil. Normal and justifiable as it may seem, this is evil in God's eyes. And this, normal politics as it might be, carries the day not in Rome but in Jerusalem among the council of 70 priests and elders and Pharisees, from the mouth of Israel's high priest. More on that in a minute.What about for God? What does he mean by this substitution? Verses 51-52 again:[Caiaphas] did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.For God, his own Son, the eternal second person of the Godhead, fully divine, now fully human as man — Jesus dies on behalf of the children of God. And oh the irony of the sacrificial language — uttered by Israel's high priest for political expedience, and totally unaware that in his very words he formulates, in the sacrificial terms of Israel's religion, the very mechanism God uses to bring that sacrificial system and first covenant to its long-awaited apex and conclusion. This sacrifice of Jesus is the very Sacrifice that for centuries all the animal sacrifices have anticipated — all the endless blood of bulls and goats and lambs that has flowed and flowed for centuries has pointed to this one man's flow of blood at the cross.Which brings us right to the heart of the good news of Jesus, and amazingly, in God's sovereignty, the words of Caiaphas, meant for evil, have us here, as God means them for good.Christians have long called this “penal substitution.”Penal means that a penalty is due for human sin. Sin is an affront to an infinitely worthy God. He made us, and in our sin we have turned our backs on him. And the New Testament makes it clear that the payment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). We all deserve the penalty of death, and eternal separation from God, because of our sin against him. Penal means there's a just penalty for our sin that must be paid.And the good news is that Jesus, in his death on the cross, is our substitute. We deserve death for our sin, but Jesus puts himself forward to die in our place, “on our behalf.” This sacrificial language of substitution runs all the way back to Leviticus — Jesus offers himself as the substitute, in our place, to receive our penalty of death (as animals did only temporarily in the old covenant), that he might then rise, and with him we too might be released to life.So, God's vision is penal substitution: Jesus is our substitute sin-bearer. He took the penalty of death we deserve for our sin, by substituting himself in our place at the cross, that all the children of God, scattered abroad, could be joined to him by faith and live.3. Two Visions of High PriesthoodCaiaphas is Israel's official high priest. There is no other high priest, only one. There are whole chapters of Scripture (Exodus 28–29; Leviticus 8, 16) that deal with his clothes and how to consecrate him for office, and what he does on the Day of Atonement, which is the one day each year when the high priest enters the Holy of Holies to offer the climactic annual sacrifice on behalf of the people. So, who was Israel's high priest that year? John tells us three times. Don't miss this, and don't miss the scandal of it.Verse 49: one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all…”Verse 51: [Caiaphas] did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation…And John 18:13-14: once the soldiers arrested and bound Jesus, “First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.”So, it is Israel's high priest who gives the decisive word that puts Israel's long-awaited Messiah to death. The last act of Israel's final high priest is to give the word to kill Israel's Messiah.Oh the failure of the mere human and hereditary high priesthood! It failed from the very beginning:Think of Aaron, Moses's brother, the first high priest. What was his infamous first public act? He made and led the people in worshiping the golden calf. Then his sons, Nadab and Abihu “offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord” (Leviticus 10:1-2).Next we think of negligent Eli and his worthless sons, Hophni and Phinehas (1 Sam 2).And more broadly, over and over again, Isaiah and Jeremiah and Ezekiel and Malachi condemn the greed and corruption and idolatry and neglect of Israel's priests.The history of Israel, from beginning to end, makes the lesson plain: mere humanity and heredity cannot provide the needed high priest to mediate between God and man.And Caiaphas sees that Israel's high priesthood goes out with a bang. This is so tragic: politics and its expediency have captured the high priest! He's ordained as the nation's spiritual leader and playing at politics! As Don Carson observes: “the nation perished anyway [in 70 AD], not because of Jesus' activity but because of the constant mad search for political solutions where there was little spiritual renewal.”O God, give your church spiritual renewal and free us from any “constant mad search for political solutions.”Lessons by ContrastWe see the kind of guy Caiaphas is by the first thing out of his mouth: “You know nothing at all.” That's how he talks. That's his tone: you guys are stupid. You're fools. What are you trying to do, solve this problem righteously? You're trying to fix this trouble without resorting to evil? Let me show you fools how to do it.And then, with the same mouth, and as with the mouth of Satan himself, he speaks the decisive word to put the nation's Messiah to death: “it is better for you that one man should die for the people.” Don't miss that “for you” in verse 50. He does not say it's better for the nation but “for you,” for you priests and elders and scribes in the room. It's better for you, Sanhedrin. This is wicked leadership.So, beware: fathers and mothers, teachers, business people, fellow pastors. Beware a tone that treats others like fools. It may seem small (“fight the world on the world's terms”). It's not small. Where is it coming from? From the heart. Your careless, socially conditioned, socially permissible words are coming from your own heart. And where are they going? It may be a first indicator that expediency is taking root in your heart. Beware the spirit of expediency that would say (or usually not even say it but just live it): my good ends justify these shady means. You are, in effect, saying, “Sin is okay, evil is okay, deception is okay, injustice is okay, if it serves the purpose for something I really want and would make my life a lot easier.”And in leadership beware the spirit of self-service (rather than self-sacrifice). Let me tell you what's really easy to do in a room of decision makers: decide on what's easiest for the room. What's best for the people here. Whether it's a Sanhedrin of 70 or an elder table of 8, the natural pull, apart from the help of God's Spirit, is for a room of sinners to work toward decisions that are easiest and best for the room.As your pastors, we are aware of this pull, and we pray and we resolve and we keep each other accountable that we not make decisions that are best for the room. Rather, as your pastors we take it as our call to ask for God's help and work toward decisions that are best for this church — and are often more costly for us personally. More work to do. More conversations to have. More calls to make, letters to write, topics to research, tasks to compete. This is how good leadership often works: more, not less, is required of the leaders to care well for their people. (A critical parenting lesson, especially in discipline!)Our Great High PriestI end with this, as we come to the Table: Did you realize there are two high priests in this passage? I didn't see this at first. Yes, there is Caiaphas, and as the high priesthood in Israel fails, and comes to its appointed end with one last and greatest failure of all, the one who emerges is not only our sacrifice and substitute but, as Hebrews calls him, our great high priest. I know priesthood can seem obscure and distant to us in the 21st century. Perhaps here's one way to get your bearings more around what it means to have Jesus as our great high priest: he is not like Caiaphas. Caiaphas was one of many and the last in Israel. Jesus is the first, and one and only, in the new covenant. Caiaphas's office was temporary. Jesus's is forever, and of an entirely different order. Caiaphas was evil, rude, self-serving. Jesus, our great high priest is…holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those [other] high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. (Hebrews 7:26-27)Brothers and sisters in Christ, “we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 8:1). “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

When God's people face opposition, fear can silence their witness—but the early church shows a better way. In Acts 4:23–31, believers gather in bold, unified prayer, asking God not for safety but for courage to proclaim Christ. In this message, Pastor Ben Palka highlights how the Spirit empowers His people when they pray, filling them with renewed boldness and unwavering trust in God's mission.

What do we do when opposition to Jesus comes our way? In Acts 4, the disciples face their first opposition to the Gospel and respond with incredible boldness. In this sermon, Pastor David Horner examines 6 things that made them bold, and how we too can become bold for Jesus in the face of opposition.

In Acts 3, Peter used God's gift of healing to allow God to restore a lame man. Fr. Mike reminds us that God gives us gifts so he can be known in the world and all great miracles are attributed to the name of Jesus. Fr. Mike also tells us why our suffering matters, and how God wastes nothing. Today's readings are Acts 3, Romans 4-5, and Proverbs 27:1-3. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

In Acts 16, we see grace reach Paul, flow through Paul, and ultimately break through the hardened heart of the jailer. This message reminds us that grace received always leads to grace extended — even when it's undeserved. Be encouraged as you learn how God's grace can anchor your mind, heal your heart, and open doors for the gospel in your everyday life.   Thank you for listening to the Truth for Today Podcast! For more content from Pastor Terry Fant, click the links below! www.youtube.com/@terryfant885 www.facebook.com/terry.fant.14 www.instagram.com/pastorterryfant

Conflict happens. It is a part of all human relationships. Thriving marriages, booming businesses, and close friendships all experience conflict. Churches aren't any different.In Acts 6:1–7, we see the first recorded church conflict. And no—it wasn't about the color of the carpet or whether deviled eggs are appropriate for a church fellowship meal.So what happened?The church had been generously giving to meet needs, including providing food for widows. But a problem arose: the Greek-speaking widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food, while the Aramaic-speaking widows were receiving their food. What seems like a simple oversight that could easily be remedied began to grow into a much larger issue.How did the early church respond? And what can we learn from their example about handling conflict within the body of Christ?

It's Monday, November 17th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Catholic cathedral bombed in Bangladesh On November 7, a Catholic cathedral and school in Dhaka, Bangladesh, were bombed hours before a worship event that drew bishops from across the country, reports International Christian Concern. A suspect on a motorbike threw two homemade bombs at the church — one exploded near the gate, and another landed near the property, failing to detonate. Thankfully, no one was injured in the attack.  The incident did not deter 500 Catholics from attending the worship event the following morning at St. Mary's Cathedral, nor did it deter students from returning to school at St. Joseph School the following Monday.  Police investigators arrested a suspect and identified him as a member of a banned student political party. They have been initiating violent protests against the government, but more recently, their attacks have shifted toward churchgoers as they prepare for the February 2026 election.  St. Mary's Cathedral plans to take legal action and punish the perpetrator.  One churchgoer said, “Anxiety grips many of us while going to church.” And Bulbul Rebeiro with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh, said, “We are peace-loving people, but these incidents are frightening us.”  Bangladesh ranks 24th on the Open Doors' World Watch List of the countries most dangerous for Christians. Gen Z protests in Mexico City, storming presidential palace AUDIO: Sounds of rioting against police Those are the sounds of rioters who stormed the barricades outside the presidential palace in Mexico City on Saturday as an anti-cartel protest descended into chaos, reports The Daily Mail. Mobs of frustrated, mostly Gen Z Mexican protestors traded blows with cops and screamed slogans about how corruption and cartel killings have spiraled out of control in their country. Thousands of people filled the streets of the nation's capital and marched to the palace, which is the official residence of President Claudia Sheinbaum, the liberal politician who took office last October. The demonstration, largely organized by young activists and supported by older supporters of opposition movements, was the culmination of citizens' frustration with the government's inability to stop violence and provide economic opportunity. Pablo Vazquez, Mexico City's chief of police, said 20 people were arrested and are set to be charged with battery, assault and robbery, reports Bloomberg. Vazquez added that 60 of his police officers were injured, 40 of whom had to be sent to the hospital for treatment.  Trump supports Christian foster parents against pro-LGBT states President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at “modernizing” the child welfare system in the United States, including a guarantee to side with foster families discriminated against by states for their religious convictions, reports LifeSiteNews.com. For example, Heath and Lydia Marvin, a Christians couple in Massachusetts who have fostered eight children under the age of four since 2020, lost their license to foster children because they refused to sign an agreement to “affirm” the alleged LGBT status of any children placed in their care.  LYDIA MARVIN: “We have been an active foster family in Massachusetts for the past four and a half years, and lost our license earlier this year due to new discriminatory policies against Christian families in Massachusetts. So grateful to be here and have the [Trump] administration's support for foster care, but also specifically for Christian families and faith-based organizations to continue caring for those who are most vulnerable in our communities.” Her husband Heath offered his support for the Trump administration as well. HEATH MARVIN: “It's so neat to hear the President and First Lady talking about both foster care and just the need that exists across the country for that, but also specifically, how Christians are twice as likely to be a part of foster care and to adopt.  They recognize that there are states that are putting policies in place that actually drive Christians out of foster care.” In Leviticus 18:22,  the Bible affirms heterosexuality, saying, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; such a thing is an abomination." High school Worldview listener upset no reference to Veterans Day Last Tuesday was Veterans Day. Genevieve, a high school listener to The Worldview, was disappointed that we failed to acknowledge that special day. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation. He noted, “The story of America is written with the courage, honor, and dedicated service of our veterans.  Through their sacrifice, the fires of freedom burn brightly, our Republic secured, and our way of life made possible.  “For nearly 250 years, their unyielding spirit has carried our Nation through every trial and triumph, ensuring that liberty endures for all time.  This Veterans Day, we show our gratitude and recommit to honor their service, uphold their legacy, and give every veteran the loyalty, respect, and support they have earned and so dearly deserve.” Genevieve, we apologize for the oversight. Michelle Obama: America not ready for female president Former First Lady Michelle Obama has shut down the idea she might one day run for president. While speaking to actress Tracee Ross this month at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Obama insisted the United States is “not ready for a woman” to lead, reports TheWrap.com. Listen. ROSS: “Think that that impacts the room that we've made for a woman to be President.” OBAMA: “Well, as we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain't ready. That's why I'm like, ‘Don't even look at me about running, because you all are lying. You're not ready for a woman. (cheers) You are not. So, don't waste my time. “You know, we got a lot of growing up to do. And there's, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman, and we saw it. What was the question?” (laughter) Perhaps America was not ready for Kamala Harris to be president. Mercy Ships surgeon saves baby's life by removing gigantic tumor And finally, a British surgeon removed a life-threatening tumor from a baby's neck that was as big as her entire face, reports GoodNewsNetwork.org. The lump has been growing since she was just five months old, but when her mother, Aminata, took her to the local hospital in Sierra Leone, West Africa, doctors told her she was too young for surgery. By the time Memunatu was ten months old, her family began to fear the worst until her mother bumped into a volunteer who works for Mercy Ships, a healthcare charity that operates hospitals aboard ships. Providentially, the Global Mercy ship was docked in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. When the staff saw how the tumor would eventually suffocate her, they immediately agreed to perform surgery aboard their ship for free. Earlier this year, she was admitted and prepped for the meticulous four-hour surgery performed by Royal London Hospital's Head and Neck Surgeon, Dr. Leo Cheng. He successfully removed the tumor, effectively saving Memunatu's life. In Acts 20:35, Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” If you'd like to make a donation to help the ongoing work of Mercy Ships, look for the special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, November 17th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Welcome to Christ Community's Online Service! In Acts 23, the apostle Paul faces danger, injustice, and uncertainty, yet stands firm with conviction rooted in Jesus. In this message, we unpack five practical ways to grow courage and confidence in our everyday lives through integrity, self-respect, wisdom, God's presence, and His providence. If you've ever struggled with fear, hesitation, or knowing what to do, this message is for you. 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/2025/11/2025-Nov-15-16-Group-Discussion-Questions.pdf Could You Use a Parents' Night Out?? https://mailchi.mp/cccgreeley/weekly-digital-newsletter-16048145 Christ Community Church – Greeley, CO 

In Acts 19 and Ephesians 6, we consider spiritual warfare and what it means to stand strong in the Lord, not against people but against the real enemy. Ephesus is a city full of spiritual power, occult practices, and a dramatic clash between the kingdom of God and the powers of darkness. We talk consider why many of us struggle to take the supernatural seriously because our worldview has been shaped more by secular stories than by Scripture. We unpack how the Spirit still speaks, leads, and empowers us today and why cultivating a biblical imagination matters for everyday discipleship. And finally, we consider what it looks like to stand firm with the armor of God—rooted in Jesus, filled with the Spirit, and grounded in a worldview where God is present and His kingdom is advancing.

Life can feel like a storm sometimes — and it's easy to wonder if we'll ever make it through. In Acts 27, Paul shows us how to trust God in the midst of life's storms, even when the waves are crashing, hope seems lost, and others don't take your warnings seriously.Join us today as Pastor Jon Eastlick touches on the topics of finding peace, gratitude, and hope in the middle of life's storms, praying for those around us, even when they don't listen, and staying faithful and courageous in overwhelming circumstances.

In Acts 7 we see that Stephen spoke the Truth with boldness. See how and what we can do as Patrick Dennis shares.Share your stories, prayer requests, or your response to this devotional in the comments below.If you would like to know more about New Life, who we are, what we believe, or when we meet, visit http://newlife.church. Or you can fill out a digital connection card at http://newlife.church/connect - we would love to get to know you better!

This week, we continue our Why Church? series. In Acts 6:1-7, the Apostles lead out in choosing seven men to minister to the widows among them, ensuring that all who were in need were taken care of and the word of God would continue to spread. Pastor Eric shares three points from the text: 1) The ministry of service. 2) The ministry of prayer. 3) The ministry of the Word.

What if the question we're asking isn't the one God wants to answer? In Acts 1:6-11, we find the disciples asking Jesus when He will restore the kingdom—essentially, when will everything be fixed? But Jesus redirects them entirely. Instead of revealing His timeline, He reveals their mission: to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This passage isn't about waiting passively for Jesus to return; it's about living actively on mission until He does. We discover four powerful truths here: the heart of missions is bearing witness to what we know about Jesus—simply telling others that He died, rose again, and offers forgiveness. The scope of missions is comprehensive—here where we live, near in surrounding communities, and far to the ends of the earth. The power for missions comes through the Holy Spirit, creating an explosive spiritual dynamic where what we know intellectually collides with what we experience personally, transforming us from the inside out. And the motivation for missions is the return of Christ and the conviction that Jesus deserves to receive the reward of His suffering. This isn't just about professional missionaries; it's about every believer recognizing that we're either on the saved list or the lost list, and those who are saved have one primary responsibility: to witness to those who are lost. The challenge before us is simple yet profound: can we say 'Here am I, send me' and sign our blank page over to God?

In Acts 27 St. Paul goes through the storms and it looks like all is lost. But God Always Wins. On the Island of Malta they are rescued and establish the base to save Christianity 1500 years later.

In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas face a community divided between faith and unbelief. Some respond with worship, some with hostility. This sermon explores the irrationality of unbelief—how people can reject clear evidence of God's power—and contrasts it with the enduring witness of God, who patiently displays His truth and mercy through His servants. We reflect on what it means to trust a God who is faithful even when the world resists Him, and how we can stand as witnesses of His grace in a skeptical world.Time:MorningMinister:Rev. Taylor KernTexts:Acts 14:1–23Series:Acts: The Church on Fire

Have you ever wondered what ignites ordinary people to become extraordinary witnesses for Christ? In Acts 1, Jesus reveals the transformative secret—the power of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Blake unpacks how this divine power source activates every spiritual rhythm in our lives, from Sabbath to service. Through compelling parallels between Christmas gifts and spiritual power, he illuminates why we can't sustain faith on willpower alone. Whether you're running on empty or seeking fresh passion, this message reveals how to tap into supernatural empowerment for authentic witness. Don't miss this vital conclusion to the Rhythms series—discover how to move beyond ritual into Spirit-filled living that naturally draws others to Jesus.

There are a lot of things we can be devoted to in this life, a thousand things we can give our time, energy and commitments to. In Acts 2 we see the very first Christians in history devoting themselves to 3 main things. They were continually: Devoted to Gods Word. Devoted to Gods people. Devoted to worshipping God. This created a community that put the love of Jesus on display for one another and the world around them.

In Acts 4, the disciples faced fierce opposition as God worked public miracles through Peter and John—especially the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. This undeniable act drew thousands to faith, alarming the religious authorities, who arrested the apostles and demanded to know by what power they had acted. Filled with the Holy Ghost, Peter boldly declared that the miracle was done through Jesus Christ, whom they had crucified and whom God had raised, affirming that salvation is found in no other name. Unable to deny the miracle, the leaders threatened them and commanded them never again to speak in Jesus' name. But Peter and John answered that they could not stay silent about what they had seen and heard, revealing that no earthly authority has the right to silence the truth God reveals. Once released, the believers gathered to pray—not for safety, but for boldness—asking God to continue performing healings, signs, and wonders through the name of Jesus. In response, God shook the place where they prayed and filled them again with the Holy Ghost, showing that the Spirit's power is not a one-time experience but a continual outpouring for strength, courage, and renewal. Just as the early church depended on fresh infillings of the Spirit, we too must seek new outpourings today so we can stand boldly, witness powerfully, and experience God's healing and miraculous work in our lives.

What does healthy growth look like in the church—and what challenges come with it? In Acts 6:1–7, we see a rapidly expanding church face real problems, but also discover a God-designed solution: every believer has a part to play. As the apostles remain devoted to prayer and the ministry of the Word, the church raises up Spirit-filled servants to meet needs, protect unity, and advance the mission of Jesus.This passage reminds us that meaningful ministry is never a solo effort. When God's people step into their gifts and serve together, the church flourishes and the gospel multiplies.

In Acts 7 we see that Stephen spoke the Truth with boldness. See how and what we can do as Patrick Dennis shares.Share your stories, prayer requests, or your response to this devotional in the comments below.If you would like to know more about New Life, who we are, what we believe, or when we meet, visit http://newlife.church. Or you can fill out a digital connection card at http://newlife.church/connect - we would love to get to know you better!

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning. My name is Spencer and I'm one of the pastors here. We are continuing through our Remember series. We're in the last couple of weeks of this series. We're walking through our membership commitments and what binds us together and belief and practice as a church. We're in the 13th commitment. Today we've got this and then next week our 14th commitment. And then we'll launch into our gift series for December. But I want to read the 13th commitment before we begin. It says, I will practice and grow in generosity by financially supporting Jesus mission in church in our city and the world. Therefore, I will consistently and sacrificially give to Mill City Church of Cayce and to Mill City Church of Cayce family as they may have need. So this is what our church commits to. But this really embodies the people of God for centuries. This is our story. If you haven't thought about this before, much of actually Western culture is impacted and shaped by the generosity of Christians. Like the majority of hospitals over time were started by churches and denominations. That's why so many in many cities have a Baptist hospital, a Methodist hospital, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, all at one point were they begun as seminaries. They were training grounds for pastors and educating laypeople in theology. The Salvation army was started by Christians in an effort to wage war on poverty in the London's east end over 100 years ago. The YMCA and the 19th century began as an effort to help Christian men. So it's the Young Men's Christian Association, Christian men who've been negatively impacted by the Industrial Revolution. Samaritan's Purse was started to wage to help kids that were affected in Korea by starvation. Habitat for Humanity was started by Christian missionaries who were building homes and then brought that back to America and has impacted many people for the last few decades. The majority of orphan care, orphanages, adoption agencies were started by Christians that have been run by Christians into the day. The examples go on and on. If you just think locally for a moment, the organization that's had the most impact on homelessness in the city of Columbia, without a doubt has been Oliver Gospel Mission. They've been doing it for over 137 years, since 1988, started by a Methodist minister. Our own hospital, Baptist Hospital, was started by the denomination that we belong to, the South Carolina Baptist convention, years over 100 years ago. So this is a part of the people of God. This is our story. And there are many examples of how this shows up. And our 13th commitment is in line with what God's people have done for Thousands of years. So today I want to show you where this comes from in the Scriptures and why we're called to live with sacrificial generosity. We're going to do a fairly quick blitz through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation to see this theme. This is going to be a biblical theology of generosity, this theme that gets pulled from Genesis all the way through Revelation, the end of the Bible. So we're going to see where this comes from, where we're commanded to live like this. And then I want to take a step back and examine ultimately why and how we're supposed to, as the church, live this out. So let me pray for us, and then we'll walk through this together. Heavenly Father, I pray that you might help us see the gift that it is to live a life that is generous, that is not about self, but about ultimately you and your purposes here and beyond. And I pray that you would speak to us in a way that would disarm us and instruct us, and we wouldn't just be hearers of the Word, but would leave here as doers. And that's going to come through your work. So we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.Okay, so starting in the book of Genesis. One of the earliest examples we get of generosity in the Bible is in Genesis 14, when Abraham is. He wages. He's in a battle. And after they win that battle, there's a king and a high priest named Melchizedek that comes to him. In Genesis 14, it says,> And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:18–20, ESV)And Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. So this is one of the earliest examples we see of giving up your material blessings. Abraham gives up a tenth of what he has in response to this priest. This type of generosity gets enshrined into the Old Testament law When you read past Genesis, into Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Numbers. When you read these books, you see throughout the law, this type of commanded generosity of the people of God. When you get to numbers 18, it's one of the places that commands the people of God to give of their finances to support the work of the priesthood. You see, the Levitical priesthood, that tribe did not have an inheritance from the Lord. That was land Their inheritance was to serve the Lord. And the people of God and the promised land were commanded to give to sustain the work of the Levitical priesthood. So you see this in the Book of Numbers and other places. In Leviticus 19, you see that the giving that God calls us is not just to help those who are priests, like Melchizedek, like the Levitical priesthood, but it is also to help one another. As you read Leviticus 19, this command to be holy as I am holy, there's a bunch of different parts in it. But one of the things that shows up in verses 9 and 10 says,> “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:9–10, ESV)It's just built into the law that as you harvest, don't take all of it. Don't be about the enrichment of self, but realize that there are the poor, the widows, the sojourners among you that do not have food and make sure that they can come and take part in the harvest as well. You see this in other places, like Deuteronomy 15. Deuteronomy 15 says,> “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.” (Deuteronomy 15:7–8, ESV)Do not harden your hearts against your brothers who are in need. Throughout the law, you just see how God is commanding his people to think about one another in a way that is beautiful. And when you read the law, I'm picking places that I can't go to, all of it. But you read it. You read about the redemption laws, you read about the year of jubilee, you read about all these things that God commands of his people so that they might take care of one another, take care of the priesthood, who ministers on behalf of you, and then also take care of one another together. That's all over the Old Testament law.As you keep flipping through the Old Testament, you see examples of how this is lived out. But one of the places that you'll get to is in the wisdom literature. You won't just see that generosity is commanded, but generosity is also wise. It is wise to be someone who lives generously. In Proverbs 3, 9 and 10, it says,> “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” (Proverbs 3:9–10, ESV)I so appreciate that it's proverbial, which means it's not a promise or a guarantee. But what he just said there is that if you honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce, that first fruits language shows up in the Old Testament law as well. That is the idea that you take the first of your harvest, not the leftovers. And that theme carries throughout the Bible as well. Don't give the Lord your leftovers, give him the first fruits, the first and best of what you have. If you do this, then your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will be bursting with wine, which means, again, proverbial. Generally, if you will be willing to be generous, the Lord will provide for you over and over again. So we don't treat it like a formula, but we see that it's wise that those who live generously, the Lord provides for them again and again and again. We see this in 11:24.> “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” (Proverbs 11:24, ESV)Again, proverbial. But the idea here is that if you are giving freely, the Lord is taking care of you. But if you are greedy, if you withhold, if you are self interested, you will only suffer want. And there are plenty of other proverbs that hit different aspects of what it means to the wisdom that is bound up and not living for the enrichment of self, but living generously.Now, the Old Testament law, you see this from start to finish in the Old Testament law. This theme of God's people who were called to live generously. Then we get to the New Testament and then Jesus comes and begins teaching. And one of the most consistent teachings that Jesus has is on money and generosity over and over again. And Jesus doesn't just get to the commands, he gets to the hearts behind the commands. Because when you get to Matthew chapter six in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says,> “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21, ESV)So Jesus gets the heart of the matter, which is, do not, do not live for the riches of this present world. Everything that your heart so quickly desires, all the shiny objects and things in this life, all of it will end up in a landfill. It will decay. But if you will put your heart where God's heart is and the kingdom of God in eternity, you will store up riches that will never spoil or fade. Put your heart there. He gets to the heart of it. And this teaching that we get in Matthew 6 that is so helpful, helps us see, this is what we're called to be, is to put our heart in the things that God cares about that last into eternity. And listen, if you just do the Gospel of Matthew, I'm gonna do just some quick hits of just how he teaches this over and over again. But if you go back to Matthew 5:3, he says,> “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3, ESV)You get to Matthew 5:42. He says,> “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:42, ESV)You get to chapter six, verses one through four. He says,> “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,” (Matthew 6:1–4, ESV)which is the teaching that we should give not to be seen. That we should not strut to the offering box and say, look at what I have done. That we should not let everyone know on GoFundMe that I'm the one that has given. We shouldn't make it known to everyone that I am giving, but we should do it in secret, because ultimately our giving is to the Lord and not to be seen by others. And he continues, I mean, 6:19, 24, we just read do not lay up treasures in heaven. 6:24 we read earlier is,> “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24, ESV)6:25–34 he says, do not be anxious about material needs. Seek first the kingdom of God. In Matthew 13:22, when he's teaching the parable of the sore sower, talking about the seeds of faith that are sown, one of the seeds that gets choked out is by the thorns, which is the riches and the cares of this present world. And that's a warning that if we care so much about material blessings in this life, we care so much about money and riches here, it will snuff out our faith. In Matthew chapter 19, we get an example of what that looks like. When a rich young man comes to Jesus and says, I want to follow you. And he gives his resume of all he's followed the law. And then Jesus goes straight to the heart and he says, okay, so sell everything you have. Come, follow me. And he says, no, it went away sad because he had great wealth. And then Jesus goes on to say in teaching that he says, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And listen, that's the eye of a sewing needle. Have you ever heard some prosperity? False prophets say, that's a tiny little door in Jerusalem. That's a lie. The whole point there is that, no, you cannot be saved as a rich man in your own, your own self. It comes through faith in Jesus Christ and him shaping us and our approach to how we think about money. That's just the Gospel of Matthew, but if you keep reading the Gospel of Mark, the Gospel of Luke, the Gospel of John, Jesus continuously, repetitively, aggressively, at times teaches on riches because there's a lot at stake now.Jesus goes to the cross, he dies for our sins. He rises from the grave, conquering the power of death and its grip on us. And then when he ascends to the right hand of God the Father and the Holy Spirit descends upon the church. In Acts 2. We've been in this passage multiple times throughout this Remember series. We see the early church embody Christ's teachings on generosity. In Acts 2:44, it says,> “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (Acts 2:44–45, ESV)They believe it. They are all in on what Christ taught. And they just say, give it away. I'll sell this and I'll give it to you. Make sure that the saints are taken care of, make sure that the gospel can go forward. They believe this wholeheartedly and they begin to live this out. And when you read the rest of the book of Acts, you see this. And when you read the rest of the New Testament letters, Romans all the way through, you're going to see this over and over again. I can't hit all of it, but I just want to show you a few different parts of the New Testament letters that teach this theme of generosity. In Second Corinthians, chapter eight, Paul put he's talking to the church at Corinth, which is a very wealthy church and a wealthy city. And when he's talking to them, he uses the Macedonian church, which is in a different area that is not as wealthy, as an example to spur them on to generosity. And in chapter eight, verses three and four, it says,> “For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.” (2 Corinthians 8:3–4, ESV)That little phrase is one of My favorite phrases on generosity in the Bible, that this church was begging, they were eager. We cannot miss out on this. Can we give? The saints in Jerusalem were struggling, they needed help. And they said, I want all in on this. Can we be a part of this? And he's trying to help the Corinthian church. Do you not see how we're called to live? And if you read different parts of the New Testament in the letters, you're going to see this call to give to the efforts of gospel ministry and give to one another, to take care of one another. I mean, when you read the book of Philippians, y', all, we spent time a couple years ago in the book of Philippians, wonderful, beautiful theological insights, wonderful, beautiful passages. But when you get to the end, you see that it wraps up like a support letter because he's thankful for their partnership with him in the gospel. In 4:15, he says,> “And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.” (Philippians 4:15, ESV)And he's just thankful, thankful for the church at Philippi and how they've invested in his ministry efforts. Paul at times had to be a tent maker, but he did need money to live on. He needed money to travel. And in First Corinthians 9, at one point when he's talking to the church at Corinth, he makes the point that it is my right as a minister of the gospel to be paid. And it makes that clear in the New Testament. Ministers of the gospel, those who do gospel work, should be paid to make their living by the gospel. But he tells the church of Corinth, I'm not demanding that of you because I know that's a stumbling block for you. I want you to believe the gospel. I don't want you to think I'm money hungry. And that is something that even shows up today. It's hard for pastors at times to talk about money because you don't want to fall into the category of money hungry pastors. But God talks so much about it and it's so important. So we will. Throughout the New Testament, you see this commanded generosity, these examples of generosity for the advancement of the gospel, moving forward through caring for one another, and all of that. As you read through the N terminates in the Book of Revelation. And if you were with us the last year as we walked through the Book of Revelation, those final three chapters is a vivid picture of where all this is going, that God's people get to experience the eternal generosity of God unendingly, that we get to have a feast with our God, that He provides for us, that we get to have eternal dwelling with our God, that He provides life and light and riches beyond imagination. Our God freely, lovingly, joyfully, gives to his people forever and ever and ever. Amen. And that is how the Bible ends. And you see from start to finish this thread that is pulled of generosity, of how God's people have been shaped by this and really how we've lived this out for thousands years.But all these examples that are wonderful and beautiful, all these commands that are powerful and all these teachings that shape us, it is also important to realize it's pretty dang hard to live this out. It just is because we're just so self interested. We're just self interested people. I know I am. I mean, I see it like I y', all, I see when my. Give you an example. When my kids, when there's a dessert in our household, they, they, they become feral. It's it's mine. Like you ever seen a, you ever seen a raccoon that's eating trash pizza? You come up on a raccoon eating trash pizza and you try to meet my children with a dessert, it's theirs. Do you know where they got that from? My wife? No, I'm just kidding. They got that from me. One of the most infamous stories in my family is when I was in college, I was home for Thanksgiving, my mom made this chocolate pie and she made it for me to take it to college back for exams. And I had it and my stepdad and my sister saw it and they said, ooh, I want a bite. And I grabbed it and I licked the whole thing. Which in my family was claiming it. I know in your family that might not have stopped anyone, but in my family that stopped everyone because this was mine. And that self interested instinct is all over how we think about riches. It's all over how we think about money. This is what we do, y'. All. That's why when the pandemic hit, what was the first thing to leave the shelves? Toilet paper. That's just everyone's like, gotta get it. I gotta get in my house. It's what we do. This is a human infection that we pass down from generation to generation, from forefathers to their children and grandchildren. This desire for the enrichment and care of self. We have a Bible reading plan that anyone in our church is welcome to go through, but a few of us have gone through over the last few years and I'm in this Bible reading plan the other few weeks ago, and we come up to 1 Timothy, chapter 6. And I'm reading it, and I just. Was just slayed. I read it, and I just want to read. Gets right at the heart of this. It says,> “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:6–10, ESV)Do you hear that? That's a warning. That riches can become your ruin. The desire for them can become a ruin for you. Verse 10. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pangs. And it's like, I just. I read that. I went, oh, my God, woe is me. If you, if you don't read that and tremble if you don't receive that and go, I. Where. Where have I fallen in love with riches and, and money in a way that is. That is literally risking me walking away from the Lord, then we're. We're not reading it correctly. It's a. It's a real danger. And if you, if you realize the danger of our. Of our. Of our besetting sin in our hearts. It's not enough just to look at the whole Bible and look at all the examples, because those examples, enough, even those commands are not enough for us to take our eyes off of the riches of this present world. We have to get to the heart of why. Why are we commanded to live this out? Why should we do this? And the example that we have of why is found in, in Jesus Christ. When you read 2 Corinthians, chapter 8, it says,> “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9, ESV)That teaches that Jesus Christ, the second member of the Trinity, left the glory and the comfort and the heaven to become man and dwell among us in poverty. That he left the riches and the comforts of heaven to live a lowly human life in need constantly. And then he goes to the cross where he has nothing. The garments that he has are divided amongst the people below and he's crucified for our self interest and greed and desire for the riches of this present world. And he resurrects to conquer the power of sin so that we might not be slaves to riches, we might be slaves to our desires for this present world, but we might be resurrected in faith to have new eyes and a new heart. That we might see that he is better and that following him and putting all of our hopes in eternity is better than anything this present world could have to offer. And that by the power of the Holy Spirit he might break us of a desire for things that will spoil and fade and fix our eyes on eternity. We read 1 John 4:19 the why is we love because he first loved us.> “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, ESV)The only hope we have to grow in being generous people is to look at the example we have in Jesus Christ and put our faith firmly in him as our only hope. That is one and that is the why which shapes our commitment. I will practice and grow in generosity by financially supporting Jesus mission and church in our city and the world. Therefore I will consistently and sacrificially give to Mill City Church of Cayce and to Mill City Church of Cayce family as they may have need. God, who loves us, who came to rescue us, who saves us from our own selfish desires, sets us apart to follow him and calls us to trust him, to yield to him open handedly that he will provide for us and to lift our gaze to the heavens, to store our riches there, where one day we will taste and see of things that we could not passively dream, possibly dream or imagine about. That is what guides us and the hope that we have in this commitment as a church.So if that is why I want to end with how. How do we practically take steps to grow in this? It begins with giving. And one of the things that we say is in the language we have in our commitment is to is to sacrificially give. We use the language of sacrificial giving in our Give series in a few weeks. That's a language that's going to show up. That's a language we've used for years. We do not use the language of tithe. And if you grew up in the church, that's a very common phrase. It shows up all over the Old Testament law. Tithe, that just means a tenth. It goes back to the example of Melchizedek and Abraham. But you read the Old Testament, it says to give a tenth. The New Testament actually doesn't command the tithe. It embodies the heart of generosity from the Old Testament. But the language we see consistently in the New Testament is one of sacrificial giving. Therefore we command from the scriptures. You need to sacrificially give. And I think that's more helpful language than the time I do. I think that calls us to consider what we should give before the Lord in a way that is, that is meaningful. And I think for some whom God has blessed in this church, making money that you never thought you could make, if you say that giving is the tithe, you have limited yourself and you are not actually growing in sacrificial giving. For some of you, the tithe is the floor, it's not the ceiling. And you should be looking for ways to continue to grow in giving. And for others, like that's. If we just use the language of tithe, that's a hard place to get to. If you're not giving anything at all, that's a tough thing to accomplish. We want us to take steps of faithfulness and growing and sacrificial generosity. We do not dictate how much you should give. We do not dictate exactly where you should give. You see, the language that we got here is I will consistently and sacrificially give to Mill City Church of Cayce and Mill City Church of Cayce families. And above it, it says I will financially supporting Jesus mission in the church and the city and the world. So we're not saying that you've got to give all of your money to formally the local church though I would caution, I have heard and seen this over the years that some folks will say, ah, I just, I, no, I'm not, I don't know if I can, I don't know what the church is doing. I want to be able to dictate where my money can go. So I'm going to give to people in my church, I'm going to give people to my community. I'm going to give to orphan care, I'm going to give to missions. But I really, I don't know if I can give formally to the local church. I just, I don't know how. And I just want to caution you, if you have any bit of that zone in your heart, I want you to consider what functionally that means. It means that you do not trust the leadership of this church and work with our boss team, our boss Business Oversight and Sustainability Squad, that's our team that oversees finances in our church. So the elders and our boss team, I don't trust them to be able to give to the local church. And I just want to caution you on that, because I'll be honest, if I was a part of a church and I didn't trust the leadership of that church to handle the finances, I wouldn't be there. I just. I was like, if I can't trust you with money, then I can't trust you, period. And if that's the position of your heart, I want you to evaluate that and I want you to reckon with that argument, because I think you should trust the leadership of this church. You should formally give. You should give in the give boxes, you should give online. You should give to the local church and the ministry efforts entrusting us to figure out what is the best use of how these gifts have been given to use and distribute in a way that accomplishes the purposes of the local church. You should also give to your church family. You should be saving up regularly to give to your church family. You should be looking eager, like that Second Corinthians language. If I'm eager to jump in and give at a moment's notice to someone who is in need, y'. All. One of the benefits I have as a pastor is that I regularly get to see people who are embodying Matthew 6, not being public, letting the left hand know what the right hand is giving. So they come to one of the pastors and say, hey, I just. I want to be able to bless this person. Can you make sure they get this? Can you make sure that this person gets this? I see this all the time. I've lost count of how many cars have been given away in this church, how many washing machines, how many medical bills have been paid off. I've watched people just live it out in beautiful and wonderful ways. We should do that. You should be looking for ways to just bless people in our church who are in need and to see the beauty and the wonder and the glory of just joining in in God's mission and caring for his people, just as they did in Acts Chapter two.And beyond that, we should be eager to give beyond our church, beyond the local mission. That's one of the reasons why we give regularly to 1040 HOPE. 1040 HOPE is the mission organization that Ben Johnson, one of the members of our church, leads. It's on the meets on the third. They have office space on the third floor of our building. And we give to them, and we encourage you to give to them because we want to see the gospel Reach every nation, tribe and tongue and the areas of the world where there are not Christians or anyone that even knows the gospel. We want to be about all of it. So we. That's what. That's what it means to. That's how we should do this. We should give, firstly, meaning of your first fruits. Do not give your leftovers. We should give consistently, which means that some of you should set up regular giving and we should give sacrificially, meaning we should be considerate of giving in a way that we feel it, that it actually is a sacrifice. This is something we should grow in and take steps of faithfulness in. So if you're in a place where you're like, I just, I can't. I just. I literally can't give right now. I want to say very clearly that's a problem. But that's a problem we'd love to help you with. We have a financial care team that will sit down with you, that'll sit with you in your budget, that will help you figure out how you can take steps of faithfulness here. We want to help you to be able to do this. And when I'm coaching people up on this, that's why I think language of tithe can be discouraging at times. Because if you're like, I'm going from 0 to 10, I don't know how I'm going to get there. Just take steps of faithfulness. Start by giving 40 to 50 bucks a month. Do that and commit to it. And you might have to cut things out. But of how much you spend on Starbucks and Amazon prime and Netflix, and if you total all of that up, and that's more than what you give to the mission of God, that's a value statement. That is a problem and it needs to change. So we need to do some soul work in this. And I say, take steps of faithful. So I'm coaching people on this. I'm like, start here. Maybe next year you can carve out 1% of your budget and maybe the following year you can take a step of faith and double it at 2%. And maybe in three years you could double it again and get to 4%. Maybe in four to five years, if you're really figuring this out, you could jump up to eight. Figure this out before the Lord and ask the Lord what he wants you to give. But we can take steps of faithfulness and growing in this. It's worth it for our own souls to not fall in love with the riches of this present world. Some people will Say, like, I don't know if I can get. I don't know when I'm gonna have enough to give. I don't know if I'm gonna get there. And I will say to you very clearly, we have to be trusted with the small things that we're given so we can step into the greater things. The idea that if I make more down the road, I'll be able to give. It's not how we logically work. It's not how the scriptures teach this. We need to be faithful with little so we can later be faithful with much. We need to take steps of faithfulness to grow in this. I was talking with Raz Bradley. Raz, one of our pastors, was in Florida for a conference a few weeks back, and he got to meet a guy and hear his story, and I got to watch this video of this guy's story. But this. This man was. Him and his wife, years ago, were going to be missionaries. They're excited to go on the mission field. And as they're gearing up, ready to go on the mission field, his father sits down with him and his brother and says, hey, I'm retiring. He had a small mom and pop crane company. Because I'm retiring, and it's either y' all are taking this over or it's gonna end. But, like, I mean, we're. And he had a decision to make, and he prayed, do I go on the mission field or do I take over this business and use it for the glory of God and funding missions? And much to his wife's dismay, they didn't go on the mission field. Him and his brother took over this crane company, and they started out from the very beginning. They said, this is what we're going to do. We are not going to build this company for the enrichment of ourselves. We are going to take the profits. So about half invest it back into the company itself, and the other half we're going to give away. We're going to invest in gospel efforts. Now, a normal company, you do the first half, you've got to invest money back into the company, otherwise it won't make it. But the other half is yours. You get to keep the profits. And that's what it means to be a small business owner. And they said, no, we're going to take salaries and we're going to grow this company, and we're going to see the Lord grow this company over the years. We're going to see what he's going to do with this. And they did this for Years and tens of thousands turned into hundreds of thousands of profits, which turned into millions of dollars in profit to this year. They've given away over $70 million this year to mission efforts across the world. And it's like all along the way, it took salaries, they took decent salaries for a long time. He had $100,000 salary. You see the video of his house. It's a normal house. His car, it's an old beater car. And they had their most need. They had, you know, kids are going to college. He had a good salary of $150,000. And then when his kids were done with college, he went back down to $100,000. But they are handling tens of millions of dollars a year. And they're saying, I don't want it. I want to put that in the kingdom of God. And to think if this continues that for years to come, that they might invest a billion dollars into mission efforts across the world. Can you imagine the riches that they are storing up in heaven? What a life to live. What a legacy to leave behind. And y', all, the heart that is bound up in those men and their story is the same heart that is bound up. If you remember the story of Jesus and the widow's mite, the widow who comes to the temple and has only a few pennies to give, and she gives all of it. And Jesus points to her and says, look at it, look at her heart. This is what it means to be generous. And she gives all of it away. That's the same heart that was embodied there. It's the same heart that is bound up in the Christian who is looking at their budget and they're saying, you know what? I want to grow in generosity. I want to give to the church, to orphan care, to missions, which means I might drive the same car for the next 10 years and my co workers might have nicer trucks and nicer cars. But I'm going to take it on the chin here. I'm going to drive this thing until the wheels come off because it matters that I have the margins to give to what God wants us. This is the heart, the same heart that is in that. And that man is the same heart that sent a young Christian who's figuring out money for the first time. And they realize that the normative pattern that we've just accepted, that I just upgrade a phone every two years doesn't have to happen. So I'm holding this phone for three, four and five years so that I can have the ability to give and give generously to others. This is the same heart that's in the Christian right now that's looking at their budget and looking at inflation and going, I don't know how we're going to make ends meet, but I'm not cutting my money to this missionary. I'll cut my Starbucks habit before that happens because it matters to invest in the kingdom of God. That is the heart that shapes this commitment. Let me read it one more time. I will practice and grow in generosity by financially supporting Jesus mission and church in our city and the world. Therefore, I will consistently and sacrificially give to Mill City Church of Cayce and to Mill City Church of Cayce family as they may have need. Let's be a people that forsake the love of money and the love of riches in this present world, that look to Christ as our hope to change us and then take steps of faithfulness to be the generous people that God has called us to be.Let's pray. Heavenly Father, I pray that you might help us submit something that is so dear to our flesh, something that we don't like to talk about, something we don't like anyone else talking to us about. But let's take seriously the teachings about money and riches in this life and let's be a people that embody the heart of generosity that flows throughout the scriptures that you perfectly exampled and that you hold out for us all the way to the new heavens and the new earth. In Jesus name, amen. The band's going to come up. We're going to sing one final song together. I hope as we consider these teachings this week, as they may be difficult for us to receive and even more difficult to live out, that we would seriously consider them, that we would not hear them and discard them, but we would actually let the Holy Spirit, as we sing right now, do some work in our heart that as we leave this place, we would sit quietly before the Lord and ask God, how do you want me to grow? What steps do you want me to take? And if you need pastors or financial care or anyone to help you figure that out, we'd love to sit down and help you do that.

Sometimes we get caught staring at what God did… and miss what He's calling us to do next. In Acts 1, the disciples were looking up into the sky, waiting—until two messengers reminded them: “Why are you standing here?” Jesus had already given them a mission, power, and a promise. Their next step wasn't to stay still, but to move.This message is an invitation to do the same. To pray first, yes—but then to move with God, to give sacrificially, and to stay united as we step into what's ahead. If He's calling, we won't stand still. We'll move now.

In Acts chapter eight we find the Church expanding after the death of Stephen. It's in the eighth chapter of Acts that we meet one of the most significant men in the bible - a man named Saul. When you consider that after his conversion to Christianity he wrote a significant amount of the New Testament, it is striking to see the terrible man he was prior to his conversion. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/621/29?v=20251111

This week is our special Veterans Day Service, where United honors our veterans who served our country. This week's message involves an illustration of the “White Table” which is a silent reminder of the soldiers who never made it home. It's empty, yet it speaks volumes about sacrifice, longing, and hope. Pastor Rob will make reference to the passage In Acts 17:26–27, where the Apostle Paul tells us how God has placed every person, in every place and time, with purpose — so that we might seek Him and find Him. The “White Table” reminds us that while some never returned to their earthly homes, God's desire is that every person would come home to Him. In this message, we'll look at how even in our remembrance of loss, God's grace is calling us closer — reminding us that He is not far from any of us.If you have any questions about this podcast or would like to share a testimony or prayer request, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to us at the following email: churchoffice@unitedassembly.org

Are modern faith healers the real deal—or are they deceiving people? In Acts 9, Peter healed a paralyzed man and even raised a woman from the dead, proving the power came from Christ alone. Join Jim Scudder on InGrace for part one of Are Faith Healers Fake Healers?

Welcome to Christ Community's Online Service! When it comes to relationships, conflict is unavoidable—but how we respond makes all the difference. In Acts 21–22, the Apostle Paul faces intense relational tension and shows us both what damages relationships and what can restore them. In this message, Pastor Alan unpacks four ways we often hurt the people around us—avoidance, assumptions, accusations, and judgments—and four ways to move toward peace and reconciliation. Listen to discover how following Jesus can transform the way we navigate conflict and become true peacemakers. 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/2025/11/2025-Nov-8-9-Group-Discussion-Questions.pdf Find Family at our Engage Lunch!

What happens when Jesus starts messing with your economy? When faith stops being a hobby and starts costing you something? In Acts 19, the people of Ephesus lose their minds because the Gospel hits them right where it hurts—their wallets. Paul preaches that "gods made with hands are not gods," and suddenly the idol industry crashes. That's what the Gospel does—it disrupts business as usual. It threatens the systems that profit from our sin. And when Jesus becomes Lord of your life, all your lesser lords panic. Mic drops: "When faith gets real, it shakes things up." "When Jesus becomes Lord of your life, all your lesser lords panic." "The Gospel wins the day—not by shouting louder, but by outlasting the noise." "The Gospel doesn't just rearrange your playlists—it rewrites your song." This message is called "No Little Disturbance." Because when the real God shows up, all the fake ones start a riot. You are always welcome: www.NewChurch.Love 

In this message from Everyday Mission, we watch the church scatter under persecution and discover that this isn't a setback at all — it's the strategy of God. In Acts 8:1–8, the Holy Spirit moves Jesus' mission forward through everyday people and sends them to overlooked people, fulfilling the promise Jesus made in Acts 1:8. Philip, an ordinary servant, becomes a bold witness in Samaria, showing that the mission doesn't advance through the elite but through Spirit-filled believers willing to speak about the work of Christ in their own lives. God uses ordinary people to bring extraordinary joy to unexpected places.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/

This week, we continue our Why Church? series. In Acts 5:17-42, the apostles are arrested and put into jail, but then broken out by an angel. They continue to preach the gospel, and are reprimanded by the Sanhedrin to stop proclaiming Jesus. The apostles endure beating with grateful hearts and continue to preach the gospel. Pastor Eric shares four points from the text: 1) Opposition to the mission is inevitable. 2) When the enemy attacks, God's grace and power abound. 3) God's power is greater than all opposition. 4) The gospel drives godly ambition.

When God's plan looks different than we expected, it can feel confusing or even disruptive. In Acts 9, Saul's encounter with Jesus completely changed his direction, showing that God's purpose often unfolds in unexpected ways. This message invites us to trust that when God redirects our path, He's still working out His greater plan to transform our lives for His mission.

Ezra 5 tells of the work of building the house of God recommencing with the prophets of Yahweh - Haggai and Zechariah - supporting and encouraging the work. Still the attempts to frustrate the building came from Tatnai, the Governor on the other side of the river (the Jordan). The faithful Jews continued building while Tatnai's letter was sent to Darius (the Persian king). The Jews faithfully answered as to why their realm had been overturned and to their obedience to the God of heaven and the decree that came from king Cyrus to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. The Jews suggested that search be made in the Chronicles of the kings of Persia to prove their claim. Chapter 6 tells us that the search was made in the house of the scrolls in Ecbatana proving the accuracy of the Jews' claim. A letter came from king Darius asking Tatnai and his people to materially support the building of the temple. Verses 15-18 report the completion and dedication of the house of God. From verses 19-22 we read of the great joy as the new kingdom of Judah kept the Passover. Let us be daily builders of God's House and let those labours bring joy to our hearts.Chapter 7 of Hosea contains some very graphic Hebrew poetry. From the rulers of the nation to the common people they were so intent on sexual depravity that they are described by the figure of a baker with an overheated oven. They had no shame for what they were doing. Another of the figures sees them as a dove that cannot make up her mind on whom to dote - Egypt, or Assyria. God wanted it otherwise and even when judgment was brought on them they didn't repent. A soft and penitent heart is always to be found among the LORD's children.In Acts 25 we are told that, when Festus was determined to send Paul to Jerusalem, the Apostle had no alternative but to make his appeal to Caesar. After a short period of time Festus conducted another hearing of Paul's matters. Festus once again sought the favour of the Jews and at this time Paul announced that he would exercise his right as a Roman Citizen to be judged by Caesar. Herod Agrippa and his wife Bernice were visiting Caesarea and at this time Festus requested they hear Paul's case for Festus was struggling with the wording of the charge against Paul. Festus explained to Agrippa that to him there was no capital crime, but simply matters concerning Jewish law. With great pomp and ceremony Agrippa, Bernice and all the other dignitaries entered the judgment hall. Festus was seeking Agrippa's opinion on the nature of the charge to appear on the letter to be sent to Caesar. Chapter 26 records Paul's defence and appeal to Agrippa to embrace the Christian cause. Paul tells his audience of his fervour for the Jewish way and his concerted opposition to Christianity. But when he was confronted by the risen Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus everything changed. He told the audience of his great commission and then knowing king Agrippa to be a man who read the prophets he appealed to the king to adopt the Christian belief. Festus, being embarrassed by the situation, attempted to finish the hearing immediately by declaring Paul to be mad due to his great learning. Paul was not to be silenced so quickly and continued to ask Agrippa whether he believed the prophets. He stated plainly I know you believe them king Agrippa. At this point king Agrippa and all the dignitaries rose and left with the king stating Paul's innocence. Let us remember that we are bondslaves to our Lord Jesus Christ and as his prisoners let our testimony burn before all to whom we witness.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow

Pastor Troy Dobbs contrasts theory and reality, demonstrating that while many Christians view persecution as theoretical, the early church and many believers today experience it as a daily reality. In Acts 4:23–31, after being threatened, the disciples responded by praying not for safety, but for boldness to keep proclaiming Jesus. Their prayer began with recognizing God's sovereignty, was rooted in Scripture, and reflected deep confidence in His control over all things. God answered by shaking the place where they prayed and filling them with the Holy Spirit, strengthening them to speak with courage. The message reminds us that God's sovereignty means nothing is random or beyond His power, even in the midst of suffering. Because of this, we can rest in His control and, like the early church, pray for strength and courage rather than comfort and ease.

Pastor Troy Dobbs contrasts theory and reality, demonstrating that while many Christians view persecution as theoretical, the early church and many believers today experience it as a daily reality. In Acts 4:23–31, after being threatened, the disciples responded by praying not for safety, but for boldness to keep proclaiming Jesus. Their prayer began with recognizing God's sovereignty, was rooted in Scripture, and reflected deep confidence in His control over all things. God answered by shaking the place where they prayed and filling them with the Holy Spirit, strengthening them to speak with courage. The message reminds us that God's sovereignty means nothing is random or beyond His power, even in the midst of suffering. Because of this, we can rest in His control and, like the early church, pray for strength and courage rather than comfort and ease.

It's Friday, November 7th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Indian Christians rally for rights The Christian Community in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh has planned to organize a public rally in protest of the ongoing discrimination against Christians there, reports International Christian Concern. The Civil Rights Rally is being organized by Rashtriya Christian Morcha, a nation-wide civil rights advocacy group, in association with the Christian community in Kanker. They seek to uphold justice, equality, and the values of the Indian Constitution. No date has been set. Numerous Hindu villages in the Kanker district previously erected billboards banning the entry of pastors and “converted Christians,” creating fear among members of the Christian minority. The warnings declared these villages off-limits to Christian missionaries and evangelists, citing provisions of a 1996 law. In Acts 4:18, Jesus' disciples faced similar restrictions. “Then [the Sanhedrin] called them in again and commanded [the disciples of Christ] not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” Senator Cruz: Democratic victories were “an electoral blowout” Appearing on Sean Hannity's Fox TV talk show on Wednesday, the day after the Democrats won the races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey as well as for New York City mayor, Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas sounded the alarm. CRUZ:  “Last night was a disaster. It was an electoral blowout. The results in New Jersey were disastrous. The results in Virginia were terrible. The results in in New York: Comrade [Zohran] Mamdani is the face of the Democrat Party. “We have an actual communist jihadist. And it's important to note, Mamdani is not a socialist. He is a full-on communist. He is called for seizing the means of production in our economy. He is a Marxist. That is profoundly dangerous. “And look, I know there's some Republicans who are saying, ‘Well, gosh, this will be good politically, because they'll be the face of the Democrat Party.'  I think it's terrible for America. New York is the largest city in America. It is the financial capital of the world; it's the media capital of the world. This is a lunatic who wants to abolish the police. This is a jihadist who cheers on the radicals and the terrorists who chant ‘Globalize the Intifada.'” Senator Cruz explained that the Democrats are fired up and if Republicans don't wake up, they could lose the Congress in the 2026 mid-term election. CRUZ: “Last night should be a warning sign. It should be a warning sign to Republicans across this country. The left. They're energized. They're angry. Democrats are out raising Republicans right now, 3-1, 4-1. “I think, on our side, the Republicans, and they're just people who are common sense in the middle, who I fear are feeling potentially complacent. That is really, really dangerous. The left showed up in big numbers last night, and common sense conservatives did not if that happens a year from now, we face disaster in the midterms.” Most major US airports are among 40 targeted for shutdown flight cuts Airports in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are among 40 of the busiest across America where flights will be cut starting Friday due to the government shutdown, reports The Associated Press. The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday it would reduce air traffic by 10% across “high-volume” markets to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers go unpaid and exhibit signs of strain during the shutdown. The affected airports in more than two dozen states include the busiest ones across the U.S., including Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Orlando, Miami, and San Francisco. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi retires at 85 Nancy Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House and one of the most powerful women in modern American politics, will retire from Congress next year, reports Politico.com. The San Francisco liberal Democrat, who announced her decision Thursday, had come under increasing pressure to step aside amid her party's widening generational divide. Now 85, she defied political observers in 2023 when she ran for a 20th congressional term despite Democrats losing the House and her speakership the year before. But next year, she faced a tougher-than-expected group of primary challengers. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America gave Pelosi a grade of “F” on the life issue.  Most recently, she opposed protecting babies who are born alive after an attempted abortion and she supported using taxpayer dollars under the Biden-Harris administration to pay for a female soldier to travel to get an abortion. Pelosi also faced personal struggles in recent years that fueled speculation about her political future. Just before the 2022 midterms, David DePape broke into the Pelosi's San Francisco mansion and attacked Paul Pelosi, her husband, with a hammer. He was sentenced to life in prison. And last year, she underwent hip replacement surgery after suffering an injury while traveling. Singer alleges Gold's Gym terminated membership after complaint about man in women's locker room A Los Angeles-based singer is calling for a boycott of Gold's Gym after claiming her membership was terminated for raising concerns about a man, who was pretending to be a woman, who was allowed in the women's locker room, reports The Christian Post. In a video shared on social media on November 2, Tish Hyman, age 42, was seen confronting a man named Grant Freeman, who goes by the name “Alexis,” wearing earrings and a necklace in the women's locker room of a Gold's Gym location at Beverly Center.  Hyman said the gym “had me escorted out by officers afterwards. It was EMBARRASSING! I left but not before making sure everyone KNEW that they were allowing MEN in the [women's] locker room!” In response to Hyman's viral videos, women's advocate and former swimmer Riley Gaines cheered on her protest in a November 3 post. The swimmer wrote, “If we saw boldness like this back in 2020, this insanity would've never been allowed to fester like it has. God bless you for speaking the truth loudly.” Genesis 1:27 says, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He created them.” 1,200-pound polar bear gleefully eats 1,400-pound giant pumpkin And finally, it's not everyday that Henry, the polar bear, sees something that weighs more than he does. At 1,200-pounds, the polar bear was initially defensive when he saw a giant 1,400-pound pumpkin sitting in his enclosure at The Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat in Ontario, Canada, a sanctuary for polar bears in need of human care, reports GoodNewsNetwork.org. Henry eventually dug into the sweet, crunchy flesh of the mammoth yellow pumpkin. The photos will steal a chuckle out of anyone. The polar bear habitat often receive presents for their bears around Polar Bear Awareness Week. One amusing photo shows Henry, the Polar Bear, in something of a food coma after eating about a third of the pumpkin in one sitting.  Sounds like our post-Thanksgiving sprawl on the couch after too much turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, November 7th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

What are some things you are devoted to? Family? Career? A sports team? In Acts 2, we find Luke telling us what the earliest followers of Jesus were devoted to. Can those areas of devotion inform our living today as well? It's a Discover the Word study that asks us to reflect on the question "what am I devoted to?"WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:

In Acts 3, Peter used God's gift of healing to allow God to restore a lame man. Fr. Mike reminds us that God gives us gifts so he can be known in the world and all great miracles are attributed to the name of Jesus. Fr. Mike also tells us why our suffering matters, and how God wastes nothing. Today's readings are Acts 3, Romans 4-5, and Proverbs 27:1-3. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.