Podcasts about acts chapter

Welcome to North Church! Our mission is to inspire others to say “Yes” to God! We are located here in Spokane, WA, and we are a part of the Foursquare denomination. We meet both digitally & in-person every Sunday at 9am & 11am! To find out more about who we are as a church, visit our website at www.northchurch.net! We're so excited to have you join us today!

Welcome to North Church! Our mission is to inspire others to say “Yes” to God! We are located here in Spokane, WA, and we are a part of the Foursquare denomination. We meet both digitally & in-person every Sunday at 9am & 11am! To find out more about who we are as a church, visit our website at www.northchurch.net! We're so excited to have you join us today!

As we enter into Acts 9 there is a common theme appearing. That theme could be described by this: YOU have the goods! If you have Holy spirit in your life, you have been given POWER! So, Use it!!!Lets talk about it. 

Are you resting in the ultimate sufficiency of Jesus, or are you letting the chaos of life steal your peace and limit your willingness to obey? This week on Off Script, Neil and Scott are back together as Scott returns from his six-week break to dig into Week 2 of the Resilience series out of Acts Chapter 8. The guys dive into the story of Philip, Simon the sorcerer, and the Ethiopian eunuch, exploring what it looks like to be flexible in our faith and willing to go wherever God sends us. They break down the modern allure of the new age and the occult, unpack the tension between the word, power, and mission of God, and challenge us to push past our own embarrassment so we can point "one more" person to Jesus. The Challenge This week, audit your heart for anyone you have marginalized, written off, or assumed is "too far gone" for the Gospel. Choose to stop talking about them critically, begin praying for them intentionally, and let your desperation for their eternity overcome your fear or embarrassment so you can invite them to take a step toward Jesus. Hosts: Neil Gregory and Scott Nickell What We Discuss  • Scott's chaotic travel nightmare coming back from Colorado and finding true rest in Jesus amidst elusive circumstances • Why Scott expanded his sermon beyond Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch to walk through all of Acts Chapter 8 • Unpacking the story of Simon the sorcerer and our modern cultural fascination with the occult and new age mysticism • Resource recommendations including Ensnared by Jac Marino Chen and books by Aaron Renn and Carl Trueman • The crucial distinction between "freedom OF religion" versus "freedom FROM religion" in public spaces like FCA • The difference between the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit versus the empowering manifestation of the Spirit on believers • Why it's our job to faithfully sow seeds of the Gospel without trying to manage or judge the soil of people's hearts • Letting your desperation for people's eternity exceed your fear or embarrassment when making an invitation • The three-circle balance of a resilient church: holding the Word of God, Power of God, and Mission of God in equal tension • How Southland can practically live out speaking truth unashamedly, worshipping defiantly, and extending grace generously ⸻ About Southland Christian Church Southland is one church meeting in multiple locations across central Kentucky. We believe Jesus came for the lost and the broken, which means there's a place for everyone here. Around here, that means we worship defiantly, speak truth unashamedly, and extend grace generously. To support this ministry and help us continue to reach across Central Kentucky and all around the world, visit: https://southland.church/give

In Acts 11:26 we read that the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. "Disciple" is the most used word in the New Testament to describe followers of Jesus. It is used 261 times. The word "Christian" is used only 3 times in the New Testament. Brothers and sisters, believers, followers are also used but "disciples" is Jesus' favorite word to describe His followers.   Matthew 29:19-20 - the Great Commission - Jesus says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."   The other 2 uses of Christian: Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.   The New Testament word appears to be invented by the opposition, a derisive term patterned after the names of Roman political parties; Example those following Herod = Herodians, or followers of Pompe = Pompeians.   Christian = Christ followers. Or "Christ-ers."   Followers of Jesus accepted and reveled in the name.  In the writings of non-Christian people we see them embracing that term. "And the tribe of the Christians so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared." - Josephus, Antiquities, Book 18 (ca. 93A.D.)    Another example from an adamant unbeliever: "Consequently, to get rid of the reports, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilat…" Tacitus, The Annals, Book 15 (ca.118 A.D.)   Christian is all about the Messiah, the Christ of God, the Lord Jesus our Savior and the world's Savior.  It's also about our mission to bring others to Christ where there is healing, forgiveness, and hope of eternal life.     We are called to bear His Name with joy, confidence and power!!     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos     Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

The Redeemed of God Jonathan Parnell Download Psalm 107,Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.10 Some satin darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!16 For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.17 Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew nearto the gates of death.19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters;24 they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep.25 For hecommanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted awayin their evil plight;27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end.28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.33 He turnsrivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,34 a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.35 He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.36 And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;37 they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.38 By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish.39 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow,40 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.And we just heard verse 43. Now we want to do exactly what it says… This morning, by the grace of God, we're gonna be wise and we're gonna “attend to these things.”There are three central truths in Psalm 107 that we need to see. The first is this:1. The redeemed of God come from everywhere.This is verses 1–3. The psalmist is commanding the people of God to praise him. And notice in verse 2 that he calls the people of God “the redeemed of the Lord.” And that word “redeemed” is another way to say to be saved. It means to be claimed as one's own and brought back into safety at a cost to the redeemer. That's true for the people of God! We are who we are, first and foremost, because God has taken it upon himself to rescue us. We've been saved. Then verses 2 and 3 tell us more: We've been redeemed from trouble and gathered in from lands east, west, north, and south. I read this verse to the kids the other night and asked what it means if something is from east, west, north, and south — and John Owen said right away: It means from everywhere.That's exactly right. These are the four corners of the earth. It means everywhere— fromevery direction.And from the start in Psalm 107 this means two things are happening: this is an answer to prayer and it's a sign of hope. Thinking CanonicallyThis is an answer to prayer because of the immediate context. Last week, Psalm 106 closed with this prayer in verse 47: “Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.”This week Psalm 107 opens in thanks and praise to God because he has answered that prayer. The people of God had been scattered, but now God is starting to do what looked like the new exodus. This is where we see the sign of hope … For this part, we gotta zoom out from the Book of Psalms and remember the whole storyline of Scripture and the history behind this: The Book of Psalms was shaped into its final form within the historical context of Israel's captivity in Babylon. The people of God were in exile, longing for the Messiah to rescue them. They longed for the restored kingdom the prophets foretold. And in 538 BC, Cyrus king of Persia allowed Jewish exiles to return to their homeland. Eventually the temple was rebuiltand the walls of Jerusalem were restored (we read about this in Ezra and Nehemiah). That's the historical situation behind Psalm 107. It was a foretaste of the hope to come, but it was still a far cry from the new and greater exodus envisioned by the Old Testament prophets … that's because:The nations are not yet streaming to Zion. The earth is not yet full of the knowledge of the Lord.The wolf is not yet hanging out with the lamb. Jerusalem was not yet new — it wasn't even what it used to be. That's why Psalm 107 is mainly a pointer. It's a signpost looking beyond itself. The real hope is that one day — quote: “people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at the table in the kingdom of God” — that's a direct quote from Jesus in Luke 13:29.Jesus affirms this Old Testament hope. One day the redeemed of God will come from everywhere, and every direction. And that's the church that Jesus is building now. Ever since Acts Chapter 2, Christians are from all over the world.Worthy of Global GloryAnd this is really important. It's one of the most glorious things about our faith. It's why Christianity has been called a missionary faith. And it's unique to us. Christianity is not like Islam. Islam is a coercive religion that imposes itself on other cultures. The goal of Islam is not to seek the good of a city, but the goal is conquest. Takeover. It destroys what was there before and tries to do something different. But see, the gospel is able to enter any kind of culture on this planet with both challenge and affirmation … There are parts of every culture that the word of God challenges — it says: “This is out of step with God's design. Change it.” And there are also parts of every culture that the word of God affirms — it says: “This echoes something good in God's design. Redeem it.”It's always both, which is why expressions of the church can look so different all around the world, and the Bible can be translated in any language — it's beautiful! The gospel never requires someone to become culturally Jewish or Roman or American. Jesus makes one people from every people. Because he is worthy of global glory. … That's where we're headed. This Old Testament hope, and what Jesus taught, one day is gonna be a “great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” and we will all gather around the throne of the Lamb and we will praise him together (see Revelation 7:9).The redeemed of God come from everywhere. That's the first truth to see. Here's the second:2. The redeemed of God are rescued from every trouble.Now notice the word “trouble” in verse 2. The redeemed of the Lord (from all over the world) are redeemed from trouble.And then that trouble is explained in verses 4–23 as four different kinds of trouble. We can put it in four categories: God redeems his people from being … Lost, Trapped, Defeated, and Afraid.Now, look, I don't think these four categories are exhaustive or exclusive. You can be in other kinds of trouble, and you can be in all these kinds of trouble.But what I do know for sure is that all of us have been in some kind of trouble. And some of us are still there. … and if that's you, you're at the right place this morning. Now I'm going to read each kind of trouble to you, but remember this is poetic — it's not gonna describe every detail of your story, but it's gonna make sense to you.First, the trouble of being lost.We see two in verse 4:“Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.”Again, most likely none of you have literally wandered around in a desert … but you know what it's like to wander around in a desert. You know what it means to be lost. You're looking for a place to land, for a place to call home, for a place to plant your tree. But everything around you is just flat and dry, and there's nowhere to even sit. So you just keep wandering.This reminds me of earlier this summer. Y'all know I love summer, and I watched a lot of youth sports this summer, but there was one field we were at … flat ground as far as the eye could see, synthetic turf surrounded by concrete surrounded by asphalt surrounded by lava — that's what it felt like. There was no shade at all. The sun was just bearing down. And it was kinda funny to watch, because the parents and spectators would get there, and everyone is trying to figure out where to sit, everyone is wandering around holding their chair, but it's all the same: It's either scorching hot or scorching hot. Like a desert.And in a desert it doesn't take long before you're drained. Your soul gets hungry and thirsty and starts to faint. This the trouble of being lost. Second, the trouble of being trapped. We see this is verse 10:“Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons …”Let me stop here for a minute to make sure you get the picture: This kind of trouble is not being lost, it's being stuck. There's a seat in this trouble, but it's a seat in darkness. It's the shadow of death. And you're imprisoned there. You can't get out. And when you try, you realize that you brought this whole thing upon yourself. The psalmist tells us in verse 11:“for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.”Sometimes we choose our trouble. That's what this is. We enslave ourselves to sin, and we can't escape. It's this cycle of a slow downward spiral. We've been there. The trouble of being trapped.Third, the trouble of being defeated.This is verse 17:“Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.”I want you to see here the resignation. They're defeated. They've quit. The word for “fools” in verse 17 is one that shows up a lot in the Book of Proverbs. It means “culpable stupidity.” It's the recognition that “Yes, I brought this trouble on myself” but then it's just an implosion. You're beat. You're done. You give up. Think about this as cynicism to the extreme. It is the so-called ‘respectable sin' of our times. You're just grumpy about everything. Despairing. Nothing is ever good enough. You loathe any kind of food. The trouble of being defeated.Fourth, the trouble of being afraid. This is verse 22, and it's a longer description. … it's a picture of being in the middle of a storm at sea … huge waves are rising up around you … and we read in verse 26: “their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end.”Now one of my favorite commentators said something about this verse that struck me. I want to read it to you. Listen to this. He said:Given the wider biblical resonances of the sea and the deep, it is reasonable to suppose that we are to feel here the terror not just of a literal storm at sea but of the forces of wickedness and chaos in the nations that afflict the church of God. (Ash, 124)Try this metaphor: Cities Church, we are in a ship (and it's not a cruise ship — it's a lifeboat) — and we are surrounded by a storm at sea. The wind and waves are raging around us. That's the image.One thing that helps us with this image is that this sanctuary is properly called a nave. That's what this room is. It's the “nave” — which is the Latin word for ship. These wooden beams were built to replicate an old boat. We're in an ark, and we're passing through the storm of this world, and we're trying to get as many people as we can in the ark with us. But right now the storm is bad.And bad storms cause fear. That makes sense. Some of us are at our wit's end. That makes sense too. Both makes sense when you're in a storm, because a storm is something we can't control. This reminds me of a moment when Earnest Shackleton and his team were attempting to cross the Drake Passage. (If you're not familiar with Shackleton, you will be, I'm gonna talk a lot about him for a while.) The Drake Passage is the most dangerous body of water in the world, between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica. It's common for there to be 50-foot waves.The year was 1916, and Shackleton, along with five other men, were trying to make this voyage in a 26-foot sailboat … because it was the best they had. They almost died several times. They kept having to break off the ice that was starting to cover the boat. But all they could really do was hoist the sails and hold on … they needed the right wind. Which was not up to them. And I get that. But the good news for us is that we know who controls the wind. And therefore, in our storm, we do what the redeemed of God have always done when they're in trouble: we cry out to God! This is the refrain we underlined earlier, in verse 6, verse 13, verse 19, verse 28. It's repeated four times: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.”The pattern in this psalm is trouble, prayer, deliverance.Trouble, prayer, deliverance. Trouble, prayer, deliverance. Trouble, prayer, deliverance. And it's deliverance for what? What do we want deliverance for?Is it to be comfortable? This is where we need to think hard and be honest. Churches that are compromised by a love for comfort prefer to be in situations where God doesn't need to be God. Sometimes, if we're honest, many Christians want to be in a place where Jesus doesn't have to be real. Now, what's amazing about this room is that you're here. You're in the boat. And I know it's not easy. I'm preaching to the choir here, as they say. But we're gonna be able to stay in this boat together and make it through as long as Jesus is in the boat with us. And he is. And he will bring us through the storm. And not just the storm of present opposition, but the storm that is the journey through this world. Look what he can do in verses 33–42! We're pilgrims, y'all. Our home is that better country, that lasting city. And Jesus will lead us there … rescued from every trouble. Finally, here's the third truth to see:3. The redeemed of God respond with grateful praise. This is what we do because God is God, because Jesus is real: “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!”This refrain is verse 8, verse 15, verse 21, verse 31. And it's no surprise to us. If our experience is trouble, prayer, deliverance, then of course, our response is grateful praise.Trouble, prayer, deliverance, praise.And this grateful praise is not simply an action we do every now and then, but it is a way of life. Everyday we live grateful to God because we're saved! We are forgiven for all our sin! We are free from the power of Satan! Heaven is our home! God is our treasure!Some of you may know Steve Treichler.He's the senior pastor at Hope Community Church in Minneapolis. He's been there for like 100 years, and one thing I love about Steve is that he knows he's been saved. It's just fresh on his heart. Thinking about this sermon, I sent him a text yesterday and asked him: Steve, what's the secret? How do you keep that reality so fresh?He texted me back, and I gotta tell you what he said. He said — and I quote:“If I've got one spiritual gift it's that I remember where I came from. I remember what it was like to not know the Lord, to be lost, to be terribly afraid and without purpose.”And then he said: he remembers how the gospel came into his life and changed everything. He was lost, now he's found. Me too. Us too.Trapped, but now we're free. Defeated, but now we're saved. Afraid, now we're secure. And we can say:Through many dangers, toils, and snares,we have already come;Grace has brought us safe thus far,And grace will lead us home.And that's how we come to this Table.The TableWe come to this Table remembering from where Jesus has brought us. And that we have come to him. If you're here this morning and you've put your faith in Jesus, we invite you to eat and drink with us. Let's give Jesus grateful praise.

Today we continue our review of the Apostles' Creed with the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed: We believe the the Holy Spirit. What did it take to say ‘I will leave what I know and go out?” How do we deal with the experience of absence. The life of following Christ is not defined by absence, but by presence.  Holy Spirit is present with us at all time. Three ways that the Holy Spirit is with us: Holy Spirit brings the miracle of faith.  T That faith persists even in times of trial. That the Holy Spirit brings us peace and understanding.   Today's message comes from Pastor Jason. Our New Testament Lesson comes from Acts: Chapter 1 Verses 6 - 8.. Our Gospel lesson is from John Chapter 14, verses 25-27.   Acts: Chapter 1 Verses 6 - 8.  John Chapter 14, verses 25-27 We believe in the one High God, who out of love created the beautiful world and everything good in it. He created Man and wanted Man to be happy in the world. God loves the world and every nation and tribe on the Earth. We have known this High God in darkness, and now we know Him in the light.God promised in the book of His word, the Bible, that He would save the world and all the nations and tribes. We believe that God made good His promise by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, a man in the flesh, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left His home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and man, showing the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by his people, tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died. He lay buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch him, and on the third day, He rose from the grave. He ascended to the skies. He is the Lord. We believe that all our sins are forgiven through Him. All who have faith in Him must be sorry for their sins, be baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, live the rules of love and share the bread together in love, to announce the Good News to others until Jesus comes again. We are waiting for Him. He is alive. He lives. This we believe. Amen.

God's Gospel Goes Global   After Peter told the story of his vision and going to Joppa to the home of Cornelius, we read in Acts 11:18 that "… the believers in Jerusalem had no further objections and praised God saying, 'So even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.'" And now the barriers that had existed between the Jewish world and the non-Jewish world are down in a single moment. The believers in Jerusalem that had grown up as devout Jewish people had their eyes opened to understand the new age that God promised had arrived. AND God's Gospel Goes Global!!!   Then + Now  GOD's Plan - His plan and intent have always been to win the entire world to Himself. God's plan is coming to fruition. Romans 10:12-13 we see that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile because the Lord saves all who call on Him.   In verse 19 and 20 we read that those scattered by the persecution following Stephen's martyrdom are spreading into Cyprus, Phoenicia and Antioch sharing the gospel message to Jews and Greeks. Peter's ministry to Cornelius opened the flood gates!!  Verse 21 tells us that the Lord was with them and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.   We see the gospel exploding in Antioch, a place with many from multiple backgrounds and cultures, a wealthy city and an incredibly immoral city and this is where the Gospel explodes!!  Unbelievers discover what they are living for has no lasting value, leaving them empty.  Does this sound like the world today?  It is there that God desires to bring the Good News that changes people lives, transforming them from the inside out, that brings an eternal destiny, and great joy and He does that through His people then and NOW!   God's People - God uses His people to do mighty things. He desires to use us to touch our families, neighbors, and even our enemies with His word and his love. In verse 22 the news of the spread of the Gospel got back to the church in Jerusalem, so they send Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas was from Cypress and was known as an encourager and once he saw what the grace of God was doing there, he encouraged the new believers to persevere in their faith with all their hearts, just as we need to do TODAY!   God's Grace - God's breaks into our lives because He is good, not because of anything we have done, but because He is gracious. It is all based on what Jesus did at the cross. We all need to encounter that grace and know that God cares for us. His grace is powerful and changes lives, families, marriages, communities and the world both then and NOW!.   God's Leaders - Through Barnabas a great number of people are brought to the Lord. And Barnabas goes to Tarsus to bring Saul to Antioch. God assembles a great group of leaders, an amazing team uniquely qualified to carry out God's plan. In verse 26 we read that great numbers of people in Antioch were taught for an entire year by this leadership team, equipping God's people to know God, His Word, His guidance, His direction, and His Holy Spirit. These leaders were specially needed in a corrupt age, in a corrupt city, because if God's people are not equipped they will fall prey to the enemy. Today we see God continuing to raise up leaders to do His work, in His strength and with His guidance and Holy Spirit.    God's Teaching - we need to be instructed in the Truth.  It is a matter of connecting what the Bible says to the life of a believer.  Orthodoxy - right opinion - Beliefs - essential to be grounded in God's truth - the message of Christ's forgiveness. Orthopraxy - right practice - Conduct - knowing how to live our lives in a fallen world.  It's not just head knowledge, it is about heartfelt, Spirit-guided living - conduct that becomes a follower of Jesus.   Titus 2:11-14 - the grace of God offers salvation to ALL people and teaches us to live self-controlled, godly lives as we await Christ's return.    God's Mercy - In verses 28-30 we read that Agabus, a prophet, predicts a famine, so the disciples decide to support the believers living in Judea. In the mercy of God they reached out to those in the midst of famine, then. Today, God's mercy shows in us as we walk by faith and follow the Holy Spirit's leading.   … and God's Gospel continues to Go Global!   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT: Acts chapter 11-12.    Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Grace and Faith Fellowship Thursday Night Bible Study 

In our series in the book of Acts today we see Philip heading into the city of Samaria where he finds an entire city under the spell of witchcraft. A sorcerer had filled the void with his devilish ideas and signs so that the entire region thought that he was the great power of God. That was until Philip rolled in and preached Christ unto them, suddenly the real power of God was on full display! Evil spirits ran out, bodies healed and everyone born again and even baptized in the Holy ghost! Let's learn from this one today! this is how we do it, let's talk about it! 

Using the Bible and Roman sources, Pastor teaches us about Centurions.   In Sunday's message we met the Centurion, Cornelius. (See teaching here https://youtu.be/yjK_CB20Fk0) Acts 10:1-2 Cornelius was a centurion in the Italian Regiment.    What we know about Centurions Backbone of the Roman Army Tested and dependable leaders Commanded 80-100 soldiers - 6 Centurions to a Cohort (600) and 10 Cohorts to a Legion (6000) Mentioned more that 20 times in the New Testament - Luke 7:1-10, Matthew 8:5-13, Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39, Luke 23:47, Acts 10:1-7, Acts 21:32, Acts 22:25-29, Acts 23:17, Acts 23:23, Acts 24:23, Acts 27:1ff Viewed in very positive terms in the New Testament -    Pastor speculates that these centurions shared their stories with each other and that knowing the stories influenced their actions toward believers   Pastor closes with the proclamation of the centurion at the foot of Jesus' cross who said as Jesus died, "Surely he was the Son of God!"     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Day 1 of our story Today's story takes place in Caesarea - Acts 10:1-8. Cornelius, a Roman soldier, a Centurion, lives there. (Pastor shares pictures of this city, still visible today!) Cornelius was one who worshiped the God of Israel but was not a full convert. He and his family were devout and God-fearing.  Then he receives a vision of an angel. The angel tells him to bring a man from Joppa named Simon known as Peter. We see Cornelius respond immediately to what the angel told him to do.    Day 2  Story moves location to Joppa where Cornelius' servant and one of his soldiers are headed - Acts 10:9-23a. Meanwhile, Peter goes up on the roof of the house he is at and goes into a trance and sees the heavens open and a sheet with all kinds of 4-footed animals, reptiles and birds. (Unclean animals according to the Torah) Then a voice tells him to eat them, but Peter says, I've never eaten anything impure or unclean.  I've obeyed the Torah!  The response from heaven, three times was, "Do not call anything pure that God has made clean." And the sheet was taken back into heaven. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men Cornelius sent found him. The Spirit tells Peter to go downstairs to the men that were sent.  They tell Peter about the vision Cornelius had seen and Peter invites them in.   Day 3 Now our story goes on the road- Act 10:23b.  Peter and some witness head, with Cornelius' servant and soldier, to Caesarea.   Day 4 They arrive in Caesarea - Acts 10:24-48. (Pastor shares more pics of the area) Cornelius has a crowd of people gathered at his home to hear Peter when he arrives. Peter knows he's on God's mission: "You are aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me I should not call anyone impure or unclean." Cornelius retells his vision and says now they are in the presence of God to hear everything Peter has to tell them. Peter responds that he now realizes how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation those who know the Good News of Jesus Christ, Lord of ALL. He recounts the Gospel story of Jesus, He tells of the Savior's Good News and all that believe in Him receive forgiveness of sins through His name. Then suddenly the Holy Spirit fell on all of them, including the Gentiles. They were baptized in Jesus' name and ask Peter to say for a few more days.   What do we learn from this story?   Then + Now God's Agenda - God sets the agenda for His people, for individuals and for human history. God is fulfilling the New Covenant - That the day would come when the NATIONS would come to God. These are new covenant times! God Shows No Partiality - it is easy to be in our own groups and only see people like us and avoid people who don't fit our mold. But Jesus died for ALL. We are called to reach the world - therefore no partiality - God wants them all. Jesus is LORD - He is the New Covenant. Will we acknowledge His Lordship? He is the judge of the living and the dead. He is the Messiah, the Savior of the Nations, the Anointed Son of God who gave His life for all, rose, ascended and is coming back. Spirit Guided Life - God is not in a box, He sets the agenda, not us. Everything needs to be the way He deems it!   Pastor closes with the questions: Are you listening to God's Agenda for your life? Do Jesus and the Scriptures inform your daily living and actions? Do you sense and heed the Holy Spirit's promptings?   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT: Acts chapter 10 - 11.    Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

In our series on the book of Acts, we see Stephen, chosen to wait tables and yet was found to be working mighty miracles! The religious leaders began to attack him but he being filled with the Holy Ghost, gave an amazing answer, BUT, it just was not going to be enough. We have many leaders like this today, who rather protect the establishment than to allow Holy Spirit to do His work. In the end, this man was killed for simply doing what any spirit filled believer should be doing. Could you hang? Let's talk about it. 

We dig into Acts 9:15-16: "But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."   This isn't about Saul being punished for who he used to be, but rather there is a cost to following Christ, but we see Saul understanding it is worth every penny of the cost. We see persecution taking place right after his conversion.   As Saul went from synagogue to synagogue preaching of Jesus, people didn't trust him and wanted to kill him because they felt he was guilty of blasphemy against  God by claiming Jesus to be God's son. They saw him as a religious traitor.    Acts 9:23-30 ⁃ Conspiracy to kill him in Damascus ⁃ Shunned in Jerusalem ⁃ Befriended by Barnabas ⁃ Received by the Apostles ⁃ Conspiracy to kill him by the Hellenistic Jews ⁃ Returned to hometown of Tarsus   In 2 Corinthians 11:23b-27 we read of his imprisonments, exposure to death, beatings, stonings, whippings, shipwrecks, and being in constant danger, facing daily his concern for the body of believers.    This news of Saul's persecution causes us to: 1. Admire him for his courage in sharing the Good News of Jesus.   2. Recognize that he was saved from hell by direct intervention of Jesus. Jesus' intervention resulted in Saul knowing everything he has is a gift from God.  We too have sinned and are saved by Jesus resulting in the free gift of salvation - and so we live for Him. We may suffer like Saul/Paul - under the enemy's attack. But our courage is found in God and in Saul's encouraging last written words. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord will award on that day!"   God is good, and He brings His people through each and every day, including the darkest ones.     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Today's class is about how God Himself moves things, moves people, moves history, moves events to accomplish everything He desires, to fulfill His plan of winning the world into the knowledge of Living God and today we will see an amazing part of that plan coming to fruition.   Today's story is truly a story of how God ACTS - how He acts in the heart of Saul, a persecutor of followers of Jesus, working to imprison believers.   As Saul was walking on the way to Damascus suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him and he fell to the ground as he heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" His response, "Who are you, Lord?"   This is an important question! The response he hears is, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." Note "I am", this is significant because these are the very words God calls Himself - the "I Am."  These words show that  Then and Now: Jesus is alive! And thus there is hope, a future and life transforming power! Theophany - a visible manifestation of a deity  burning bush at Sinai Israel at Mount Sinai - voice of God from heaven and the mount on fire transfiguration of Jesus And now Saul encounters God Jesus is who He said He is! Jesus gives sight to the blind. Saul is left blind following the encounter with The Light (Jesus). The others with him, led him to the city and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything. However, while he was physically blind his heart was opened and could "see" who Jesus is. When we don' know Jesus - we are blind, but He gives sight to the blind when we come to know Him.     As we continue reading: A disciple name Ananias. through a vision from the Lord, was told to go to see Saul because God tells him that He has given Saul a vision of a man named Ananias who will restore his sight. That Saul will be expecting him. However, Ananias knows who Saul is and is hesitant to go. But the Lord says, "Go! This man (Saul) is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."   Knowing Jesus changes everything!  Ananias goes to Saul and says, "Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit!" This is a personal Pentecost for Saul.  Then scales fell from Saul's eyes and he is able to see and was baptized.  Saul's heart was changed when he met Jesus. Our lives, too, are changed by Jesus. Knowing Jesus changes our hearts, our lives and our eternal destiny. Knowing Jesus brings new purpose to life! Now this man that was sent to Damascus to arrest Jesus followers, is now in the synagogues preaching that Jesus is the Son of God! People were astonished to see the change in Saul. Saul continued preaching growing more and more powerful, baffling the Jews by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. Saul went from being a persecutor of Jesus Followers to sharing the Good News of Jesus and gaining more Jesus Followers for God's Kingdom. Saul was sold out to Christ and nothing but sharing Jesus' story was important to him.   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 9-10 (read and reflect on these two chapters together).     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

In the final message of our "Get in the Game" series, Jacob shares how one of the greatest ways we can play the assist in someone's life is through prayer. Taking a look at Acts 4, we explore how the early church responded to persecution and discover four moves every believer can make to faithfully play the assist.Message: Play the AssistSeries: Get In The GameSpeaker: Jacob Blouse (Outreach Minister)Date: 7-26-2026Find out how you can connect or partner with us: wcconline.org/connectFollow us on social media: @wcconlinechurchChapters00:00 - Intro03:45 - Acts Chapter 406:47 - Show Up for Your Teammates13:26 - Set Your Eyes on the Coach18:36 - Strengthen Your Teammates for the Match26:16 - Send Your Teammates Back Into the Game30:45 - Get In the Game Testimonies

The Power Of Jesus Name  Part 3 Acts Chapter  9

The Power Of Jesus Name  Part 2 Acts Chapter 4

In this message, Josh Macdonald continues diving into Acts Chapter 2, teaching on what it looks like to live a life completely surrendered to God!If you want to stay connected with us, you can follow us on Instagram @gatekeepersatl, or to find out more about us in depth, visit gatecityatl.com/gatekeepers!

In this message, Josh Macdonald speaks from Acts Chapter 2 on what it looks like to live selflessly for God and for others!If you want to stay connected with us, you can follow us on Instagram @gatekeepersatl, or to find out more about us in depth, visit gatecityatl.com/gatekeepers!

In our series on the book of Acts, as we come into chapter 6, we see things are going well, the word is spreading, but suddenly troubles arise. A group of widows were being overlooked. The disciples made the decision that it would not be good for them to stop doing what they were doing to take care of these others, so lets find some men who can do it. The Bible gave some awesome qualifications, men of honest report, good reputations and filled with the Spirit.  One of these chosen men, Stephen, was reported to be found working great miracles! Lets talk about that. 

In chapters 3 and 4, we'll witness the miraculous healing of a man who had been lame from birth at the gate called Beautiful. But as remarkable as that miracle is, it simply becomes the doorway for something even greater—the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.We'll follow Peter as he preaches to the crowds, stands boldly before Israel's religious rulers, and demonstrates what a life transformed by the risen Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit truly looks like.Send us Fan Mail Support the show

We delve into Acts 8:9-12 about a man named Simon who boasted that he was someone great and so people paid attention to him thinking he had the power of God because he amazed people with his sorcery.   However....   When people believed what Philip was saying as he proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ, people were baptized.   THEN…   Acts 8:13 tells us that Simon himself believed and was baptized.  He followed Philip everywhere astonished by the miracles he saw.   But then the arrival of Peter and John…   Acts 8:14-17 - Peter and John show up to support and bless what Philip is doing and proclaiming.  As Peter and John laid hands on the new believers the Holy Spirit came on them because the Spirit is for ALL people.    That message that it was for all also had an impact on Simon…   We read in Acts 8:18-19 that when Simon saw the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered John and Peter money asking them to give him the ability to have people receive the Holy Spirit from his hands.    Simon was a sorcerer - magician - it is obvious Simon is still walking in his old ways. We see the danger of greed.     And then we read…   Acts 8:20-21 that Peter tells Simon, "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God."   The message of Jesus is not about how can I get rich. It is about how can I share the riches of God with others.   The gospel message is not about what's in it for me. It's about what God has done for me and what He desires to do for others.   The Call to repentance…   Acts 8:22-23 Peter continues by saying, "Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that He may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."     But then…   Simon doesn't articulate repentance, instead he asks Peter to pray to the Lord for him so that nothing Peter has said would happen to him.   In closing…   Simon does not show up in the New Testament scripture again. But Simon does shows up in many stories written by early Christians in the 2nd 3rd and 4th centuries. 2 early dependable christian authors:  Justin Martyr Samaritan believer Irenaeus  Are two who share more about Simon.    Twenty Centuries Later…   Simony - is the buying or selling of a church office or ecclesiastical privileges.    Another way money was used was in the buying of indulgences. (Paying for forgiveness) But it is ONLY the blood of Jesus that saves us. Redemption cannot be purchased, it is something God paid for in full and it is a gift offered to each one of us.   The question..   If you have not yet received this most precious gift of forgiveness and life forever through faith in Jesus, the question is… will you? He's waiting with open arms! And it's ALL FREE!     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos     Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Acts 8 begins with the day of Stephen's death:    Then  +   Now - What we learn All things - work together for good (God used the persecution for His purpose in spreading the Gospel) We read in Acts 8:1 that starting that day (of Stephen's death) a massive persecution broke out against the believers in Jerusalem and especially against those like Stephen, Greek speakers, who were not native to Jerusalem. And the believers (except the apostles) fled throughout Judea and Samaria and still they talked about Jesus everywhere they went. Gospel Peace - that the message of Jesus changes people and brings divine peace between us and God. Philip and the Samaritans Acts 8:5-8. Philip proclaimed the Messiah in Samaria and when people heard him and saw the signs he performed, that paid close attention to what he said as he proclaimed the risen Savior to them. Spirit Guided - As followers of Jesus we cannot believe in Him without the Holy Spirit. And we are called to listen to the Holy Spirit, go where the Holy Spirit leads, and to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Philip and the Ethiopian Acts 8:26-27a. Philip is told by the Holy Spirit to take the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. He simply obeys God. So from Samaria he heads to that road. Prophetic Word has power.  When we share with others, Jesus story,  that story has power! To change people, to change lives! Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch along the road. Acts 27a - 34.  This man worked for the Queen of the Ethiopians. The man was reading the Book of Isaiah while riding in his carriage on the way back to Ethiopia. Then the Holy Spirit told Philip to go to the carriage and stay near it.  He could hear the Ethiopian reading Isaiah.  Philip asks if the man understood what he was reading and is invited into the carriage to explain the verses. The verses were, verses 32-35: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."  These are verses all about Jesus' trial, crucifixion and death. And the man pleads with Philip to tell him who is being talked about. And Philip tells him all about Jesus the Messiah. Christ's witnesses - we are to be God's witnesses to the world as we fallow Him using the gifts He has given us.   Philip baptizes the Ethiopian Acts 8:36 -  40 we read that they came to some water and the Ethiopian says that nothing is standing in the way of him being baptized, because after hearing of Jesus, his life was changed. They stop the carriage and he is baptized. As they came up out of the water the Spirit suddenly took Philip away while the Ethiopian continued rejoicing in Jesus. Verse 40 tells us that Philip continued to preach the gospel in all the town along the way to Caesarea.    FLASHBACK to Acts 1:8 Jesus says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." We see Jesus' words being fulfilled in Philip's story.   We to can be part of that story! Our testimonies can have a ripple effect in spreading the Good News of Jesus.    Set aside excuses and recommit to the Lord Jesus and the Father. Listen to the Holy Spirit and allow God to do amazing things with our lives for His kingdom. Using us is just what He desires to do in winning the world to Himself!   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 8-9 (read and reflect on these two chapters together).     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

As we continue our Get in the Game series, Dale McCamish takes us to Acts 4 to discover the power of sharing the story of what God has done in our lives. Scripture reminds us that every follower of Jesus has a testimony, and our personal "highlight reel" can point others to the hope, grace, and transforming power of Christ.Message: Share Your Highlight Reel Series: Get In The GameSpeaker: Dale McCamish (Senior Minister)Date: 7-19-2026Find out how you can connect or partner with us: wcconline.org/connectFollow us on social media: @wcconlinechurchChapters00:00 - Intro02:45 - Who Are You Being Discipled By?05:26 - Acts Chapter 411:47 - We Must Tell What We Have Seen & Heard13:48 - One Way to Share Your Testimony20:26 - Before & After24:01 - How He's Changing You Now26:10 - Jeannine Ebert Testimony33:18 - Jesus Is Home35:14 - Get In The Game Challenge37:27 - Communion40:50 - Closing Thoughts

Have you ever felt powerless? Have you ever thought "how can God use me?" Have you ever felt jaded or discouraged in your Christian life? Well as we work through Acts Chapter 20, we're going to discover that we have unstoppable power, an unstoppable calling, and that an unstoppable loves us. We will see three things. First, God works through people and places. Second, God empowers us to do remarkable things, and then third, God's plans cannot be shaken. The overarching theme is that God is building His church and is unstoppable. He wants to use you if you are willing to be open to it, and His good and perfect will and way will prevail. This is encouraging and reassuring for us all. 

Acts chapter 2 records one of the most significant moments in the history of the church. In this episode, we examine the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, Peter's sermon to the gathered crowds, and the birth of the New Testament church. Together, we'll explore what the Bible actually says about the gift of tongues we see here, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, the gospel message that brought thousands to Christ, and the characteristics that defined the early believers. Join us as we study this foundational chapter verse by verse and discover its enduring significance for the church today.Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In our series on the book of Acts, here we are again, persecution! Not from politicians nor the people but the religious leaders. How do we handle ourselves when the religious leaders say, "No", when God said, GO"? In this chapter we are going to discover something that every born again, spirit filled believer needs to understand, that is, the supernatural is just what we do now.  It's not some special calling, some anointing, or manmade. Let's talk about it. 

Send Us Your Questions/CommentsPastor Mark is on vacation for July but the Sermon Reflections keep rolling!  Jarvis & Nate sit down this week to reflect on Pastor Mark's sermon yesterday from Acts Chapter 8!Grief hits the early church like a wave, and Acts 8 refuses to skip past it. Stephen is gone, the pressure rises, and believers are forced to scatter. We sit with that reality and talk honestly about what it's like when you're trying to walk faithfully and life still hurts.From there, we trace a surprising theme: providential persecution. What looks like setback becomes spread. The gospel moves outward through ordinary people, including Philip, and we connect that to the hard seasons many of us know well: job loss, family change, unwanted transitions, and the kind of disruption that makes you ask what God is doing. We also talk about persistent proclamation and why believers around the world who face real persecution can expose how comfortable faith in America can become.Then the passage gets even more personal. The Holy Spirit's work in Samaria raises questions that require careful Bible study and context, not quick assumptions. And Simon the magician forces a heart check: he “believes” and gets baptized, yet still tries to buy God's power. We wrestle with what true repentance looks like, why religious habit can mimic real faith, and how humility marks a genuine relationship with Jesus.If you want a thoughtful sermon reflection on Acts 8, Christian persecution, the Holy Spirit, and the difference between admiring Jesus and surrendering to him, press play. After you listen, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so others can find it too.New episodes every Mondaywww.lifehousemot.cominfo@lifehousede.comJoin us Sundays at 9 & 11 AMIntro music by Joey Blair

We dig deeper into a few specific aspects of Stephen's execution.   Acts 7:57 When Stephen completed his speech the leaders and people covered their ears and rushed at him dragging him out of the city to stone him.   Why stone him? Because they thought he was guilty of blasphemy (but he was not) and the Torah in Numbers 15:35 we read that the guilty were to be stoned outside the city. Keep in mind, though, that Stephen was not guilty of blasphemy.    Acts 7:58 We read that the witnesses involved in the stoning, laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.    What do we know about the witnesses? We read in Acts 6:13 that they were FALSE witnesses. We know that they also stripped off their coats. But according to Jewish tradition, the guilty were stripped so that the punishment would be more brutal. However, here we read the witnesses took off clothing. (Unbeknownst to them admitting guilt)    Saul, who we know today as the Apostle Paul, had not yet experienced his conversion, he had not yet met Jesus on the road to Damascus. At this point he is young, probably late teens to early 20's.    Acts 7:60 Tells us that Stephen fell on his knees and cried out to the Lord not to hold this sin against them. Then he died.   Again Jewish tradition sheds light on this. The tradition was that the guilty were to confess their own sins. But instead, here we see Stephen (the innocent one) confessing the sins of the guilty. He was confessing the sins of the ones who were his persecutors.   The enemy attacks the innocent and applauds the guilty but Stephen walked faithfully with Jesus and even in death showed the mercy of Christ in his final words.   Pastor wonders how impactful that prayer of Stephen was as he was being stoned…. Was that prayer part of the reason that the young man named Saul would ultimately become the Apostle Paul?     God moves in mysterious ways!     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos         Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

There's Power In The Name Of Jesus Acts Chapter 8

The Bible is not ancient words. It has so much to say to us today. It is for every generation but especially needed in this generation.   Then Accusations False witnesses came forward accusing Stephen of blasphemous words against the Torah and the Temple (Acts 6:11, 13) These are charges that would lead to capital punishment. Acts 7:1 the high priest asks Stephen if these charges are true. Stephen begins his response very graciously "brothers and fathers…" and at that moment Stephen goes from Defendant to Prosecutor. Stephen's Response (part 1) - Torah A trip through Israel's history… Abraham (Acts 7:2b-3)  Stephen begins his speech with "The GOD OF GLORY appeared to our father Abraham…" and shares the story of Abraham. We will see he ends His story with the words Glory and God as well! Joseph (Acts 7:9-10)  Joseph was hated by his brothers, but ultimately used by God to save his brothers and families. Those God uses are often persecuted. Moses (Acts 7:25-40a)  Moses was used by God to save the people, but the people did not recognize he was sent to rescue them. Using the history of Israel Stephen continues to demonstrate how often God's people have rejected the very ones God has raised up. Steven talks about Moses receiving "LIVING WORDS" to pass onto the people. Jesus is the Living Word - we see this in John 1:1, John 1:14. Stephen is communicating that Messiah has come and He is the Living Word all without mentioning Jesus name.   Stephen's Response (part 2) - Temple The history of Israel's idolatry… Tabernacle (Acts 7:44-47) God gave Moses the pattern for the tabernacle of the covenant law to have with them in the wilderness. God gave the people the design of the tabernacle and that He would dwell in their midst but the people chose to worship idols instead and that resulted in exile. David ushered in a period of revival and Solomon built the Temple but ultimately ended up worshiping false deities. Temple (Acts 7:48 - 53) Stephen shows how the temple has become an object of worship rather than God: Worship of things rather than the Creator. Stephen calls these important leaders a stiff-necked people and accuses them of being just like their own ancestors. He tells them they resist the Holy Spirit and asks them, "Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?" And he goes on to accuse them of killing the Righteous One.   Now Ignore the Scriptures -  Then - they took the parts of Scripture they liked and ignored the parts they didn't.  Now - this same thing continues today. Followed self-made gods  Then - followed the gods and ideas of others rather than the Scriptures Now - today we buy into the lies of the culture - Christians are often ignorant of what the Bible has to say. Buildings over Mission Then - they idolized their temple Now - many see the Christian faith as having a nice social network when instead our mission is to lead the world to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Miss Jesus the Messiah Then - this testimony of Stephen was for calling the people back to God Now - God today seeks to call us back to the knowledge of Jesus the Messiah.  Resist the Holy Spirit Then - many resisted the Holy Spirit Now - today many resist the Holy Spirit. God calls us to despair of doing things in our own power and to humbly receive what He offers in Jesus our Savior. He desires we listen to Him and follow Him as Abraham, Joseph, Moses, the prophets, Stephen and the Apostles followed Him.   God yearns for us to know Him Jesus loves us desperately and in Him is hope, forgiveness, power to live a new life and life forever.   Acts 7:54-60.  There are only 2 ways to respond to this message: 1 - to be angry  2 - to be repentant   How did the Sanhedrin respond to Stephen's message? They were angry, but Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looks up to heaven and sees the GLORY OF GOD and concludes his testimony with, "Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man (Jesus) standing at the right hand of God." Then they take Stephen out to stone him and his final words are: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Do not hold this sin against them."    This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 7-8 (read and reflect on these two chapters together).     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

A study of Acts Chapter 2 by Dr. Darrell Tate.

In our series on the book of Acts we find ourselves in a bit of a harsh transition. Chapter 3 is ending in an awesome sermon being preached due to that amazing miracle at the gate Beautiful. All of Jerusalem is buzzing because of it, people are being born again be the thousands and then we find ourselves into chapter 4, thinking this is just going to be amazing...NOPE. Here come the religious elite. These men find themselves in trouble for simply doing what God commanded them to do!  I hope you are ready for it! lets talk about it. 

We are beginning a brand-new study through the book of Acts. Before we jump into chapter 1, though, I want to spend some time looking back at the events that took place after Jesus' resurrection. We'll revisit the last part of Luke 24, John chapters 20 and 21, and then work our way into Acts chapter 1.As we do, we'll see Jesus appear to His disciples, give His final instructions, restore Peter, commission His followers, ascend back to the Father, and prepare them for what would soon happen on the Day of Pentecost. Understanding these events gives us the foundation for everything that follows in the book of Acts.Send us Fan Mail Support the show

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How do you combat prejudice? How do you break the stronghold of generational discrimination? Chip unpacks six principles, from Acts Chapter 10, that help you identify and confront the prejudice around you.ResourcesMessage NotesSpecial OffersDonate to the MatchDouble Your GiftConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

How do you combat prejudice? How do you break the stronghold of generational discrimination? Chip unpacks six principles, from Acts Chapter 10, that help you identify and confront the prejudice around you.ResourcesMessage NotesSpecial OffersDonate to the MatchDouble Your GiftConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003