Podcasts about lord acts

May 9, 2025

Acts 7:1-8:4 Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.' 4 Then he went out […] The post Stephen's Sermon and Stephen's Lord (Acts 7:1-8:4) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.

Matt Ahrens

Brown Peterson

April 2nd, 2025 The post “Learning to follow the Lord” [Acts 16:6-40] appeared first on Calvary Chapel Mountain Home.

God's Word for Today3 Apr, 2025A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways.-Prov 21:29 ESVBE NOT ARROGANTGod condemns the arrogant for they are unwilling to learn. The "bold face" here is a description of someone ignoring advice or correction, acting as if they are still right (Prov 21:24). It can also imply someone using deceits and rants to convince other people to believe his lies. He tries to gain others' trust by putting on a hypocritical face that hides his deception. There is an imagery of a person scowling or displaying smug, as a stubborn child who refuses to be told "no." Such a person resists correction. When told to repent and believe, he hardens his heart. Indeed, stubbornness is its own form of sinful pride (Prov 29:1)In contrast, a godly person is willing to hear advice (Prov 12:15). He even will change his mind when it's sensible (Prov 19:20). He is more self-reflective, carefully considering what he does. The godly man submits to the Lord. He repents when he is wrong and seeks forgiveness. He relates to others honestly and humbly.The Pharisees practiced deception. Hence, Jesus said they were hypocrites (Mat 23:13). They appeared to be religious, but they were wolves in sheep's clothing. They appeared to be as clean on the outside, but in their hearts were full of rot and death, like painted tombs (Mat 23:27–28). But God can change such hearts. Take for example the apostle Paul. At one time he was a proud Pharisee. He consented with the murder of Stephen (Acts 7:59—8:1), but the Lord changed his heart, and Saul became a submissive servant of the Lord (Acts 9:1–6). The persecutor then became the persecuted. He testified, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”[1 Tim 1:15-16]Watch in YouTube: https://youtu.be/lPuuvKVODmgListen and FOLLOW us on our podcast Spotify: http://bit.ly/glccfil_spotify Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-applepcast Audible Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-audibleFollow us on various media platforms: https://gospellightfilipino.contactin.bio#gospellightfilipino#godswordfortoday

Acts

Acts

I) Is it commanded/prohibited? II) Is it wise/unwise? III) Has God spoken?

Most Wednesdays, our Communications Director, Michelle Leichty, hosts a Facebook Live discussion with the preaching pastor from the previous Sunday. Visit our Facebook page to watch the discussion shortly after 1pm on Wednesdays: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/covenantepc⁠⁠ Be sure to follow our Facebook page for notifications of when the discussion is posted!

Date: January 26, 2025 Scripture: Acts 1:1-2 Preaching: David Henderson Series: Ripples Find notes or a transcript of this sermon on our blog: https://www.covenantepc.org/blog/ripples/

Dan Hayner, Pastor of Discipleship

Recorded on 28 November 2024 for ICMDA Webinars. Howard Lyons chairs a webinar with Dr Alex Bolek ICMDA has eight strategic priorities. Two of these priorities are: ‘Establishing new movements' and ‘Strengthening existing movements.' This is comparable to the small church fellowships established in different regions mentioned in the Book of Acts: “Then the church(es) throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31). In this Scripture we see that the churches were first started, then strengthened and multiplied. In this webinar, we will share some steps on establishing and strengthening new movements and what the outcome are when a fellowship is strengthened. Brother Alex studied medicine at the University of Oradea in Romania and has a Masters in Public and Tropical Health. He has worked as a GP and Medical Director in Khartoum, Sudan, and also for JHPIEGO and other international NGOs. He is the chairman of the CMDA in South Sudan, is the Africa Coordinator for ICMDA, and is the ICMDA Regional Secretary for East Africa. He is married to Helen and together they help care for 14 nephews and nieces. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jason Leonard preaches through Acts 28 and summarizes the whole of Acts. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p9DqTRdimdV9x-EF_xkN8LNB_0flx3Fw/view?usp=share_link

We are in a season where political tensions are high, yes. Our brains are in super-categorization mode, which is made all the easier by the signs on our lawns and the flags that fly in front of our homes. We are quick to put ourselves into categories—and even quicker to do the same for others. SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: Our Brains Like it Simple: Being Aware of the Way We Categorize  By Deidre Braley  Acts 9: 1-5 “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”  The bell jingled as I stepped inside; my little dog Pablo leapt up to greet me, all shorn and shivering and desperate to leave. “How'd he do today?” I sighed as I scooped him into my arms. We had our usual exchange, the groomer and me: he'd been a nervous wreck (per usual), she'd done the oatmeal bath, we'd be coming back in six weeks. Pablo licked my face and begged me to go, but as the groomer handed me his next appointment card, she hesitated.  “There's uh…well, um…could I get your professional opinion on something?” And from under the cushions on her couch, she extracted a notebook: this secret prize, this shimmering of possibility. Amidst the shampoos and shears and flea treatments, this woman held out a collection of poems she'd been working on in private. “Would you read one and tell me what you think?”  She began to ask me how you know when a poem is done, and how you know when it's done well. We talked about the trickery of metaphor and the possibility of publication. Did we tear up at this recognition of kindred-ness—this realization that we were a little less alone in the world than we'd been before my dog's haircut? It's possible.  I share this with you because, before this interaction, I never would have known that our dog's groomer was also a poet. Our exchanges until that point had been limited to conversations around sensitive skin, clipper settings, and Venmo payments. But when she pulled out that notebook filled with poetry, I realized she'd been kindred all along—I just hadn't imagined or known it yet.  I'm afraid that I do this all the time, this designating of spaces and titles for other people. Apparently there's a name for this—it's called social identity theory. See, our brains like to make things as simple as possible, and for that reason, we subconsciously engage in this act of categorizing. We put people into groups so we can understand them better.1  While we can't fault our brains for trying to make things easier, there are spiritual implications that we need to be aware of, here. Because if we aren't aware of the categories we're putting people into, we may begin to make assumptions about the state of their souls that simply aren't true.  1 Saul McLeod, “Social Identity Theory in Psychology (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), Simply Psychology, October 5, 2023, https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html Think of Saul, for example. As someone who was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1), the disciples easily categorized him as an enemy. It's probably safe to say that none of them imagined that the Lord would ever be able to reach him—let alone use him—for the glory of the Kingdom. In fact, even after the Lord struck Saul blind and ordered the disciple Ananias to visit him and lay hands on him so he could regain his sight, Ananias said, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name” (Acts 9:13-14). In Ananias' mind, Saul was firmly in the ‘enemy' category.  But God did not relent, instead telling Ananias, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).  Intersecting Faith & Life  We are in a season where political tensions are high, yes. Our brains are in super-categorization mode, which is made all the easier by the signs on our lawns and the flags that fly in front of our homes. We are quick to put ourselves into categories—and even quicker to do the same for others. We may even be tempted to make assumptions about what God thinks about people based on the categories we've put them in.  But even outside of politics, we may tend to hang back from certain people, never looking them in the eyes and considering that they, too, are children of the Living God. Never considering telling them about Jesus or the hope we have because we don't believe it will matter or make any difference to them.  If God could soften Saul's heart and then totally revolutionize his actions, perspective, spirit, and life, though, what makes us think he can't do the same for any single person he puts in our midst?  Today, let's look up and around, and let's catch ourselves in the act of categorizing the people we meet. Instead of putting them into neat and tidy boxes, let's remember that groomers can be poets, that Pharisees can be chosen instruments of God, and that the very people before us can be hungry for and receptive to the same hope we've been given.  Further Reading:  Here are some stories of other people whose categories made them ‘unlikely' to follow God—but they did. Be encouraged.  ● Rahab: Joshua 2  ● The woman at the well: John 4:1-42 ● Zaccheus: Luke 19:1-10 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

UNSTUCK: From Fatigue “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”      Isaiah 40:28-31 WHY DO I GET MORE FATIGUED THAN I SHOULD? I Carry What I Should Not Carry “You are going to wear yourself out and the people too.  This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.”  Exodus 18:18 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) If you want to get from here to there, you have to learn to travel light. 2. I Worry When I Should Not Worry “Give your cares to God because He cares for you.”  1 Peter 5:7 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?  27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?  31 “So don't worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:25-34 3. I Hurry When I Should Not Hurry I must plan SPACE in my day, so I can keep a steady PACE in my life. 4. I Work When I Should Not Work “Remember the Sabbath day”  Exodus 20:8 “It's the Lord who renews my strength” Psalm 23:3 “Times of refreshment will come in the presence of the Lord”  Acts 3:20 “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the almighty.”  Psalm 91:1 “Come to ME, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28 “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10 Today, I will take inventory of all I carry and will ask God for wisdom to identify what I should no longer carry, and I will lay that burden down. Today, I will list everything I worry about and will confess that worry diminishes faith and belittles God.  And today, I will place these worries in life into the hands of my loving, powerful God and will refuse to take these worries back.  These are His to handle. Today, I will examine my schedule and ask God to show me what matters to Him.   I will build into my day extra margin…SPACE so I can live at a PACE that is without hurry and pleasing to Jesus. Today, I will commit myself to weekly time away from my work and weekly time in relationship with the Lord. I will come to Him to find rest for my soul. I affirm my desire to no longer live in fatigue, but to begin to live in victory! Amen

Guest Speaker Jeff Purswell returns to our series Acts of the Risen Lord for the final message in the series, from Acts 27

Guest Speaker Jeff Purswell returns to our series Acts of the Risen Lord for the final message in the series, from Acts 27

We saw last week that the gift of tongues was a marvelous blessing for those who had ears to hear. For believers, the point was all about the grace of God, and the wonderful works of God. But we also saw that for unbelievers, the reality of gibberish in the streets of Jerusalem was beyond creepy. If they had known the meaning of Scripture, they would have heard ominous music in the soundtrack. They were on the threshold of their doom.We have seen how Luke set the stage for recording Peter's sermon. In English, the sermon takes about two and a half minutes to speak, but it says later (v. 40) that Peter spoke “many other words” in the follow up. Given the nature of the case, it is important to take in all of Peter's sermon at one go.

Acts

Acts

‘Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: he has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.' Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered round him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,' they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples. (Acts 14.15-28, NIV)

13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

The story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 4:32-5:11) offends the modern reader, but it should help us to answer a timeless question: What is the fear of the Lord? Matthew 10:28--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --What is the fear of the Lord?I remember hearing this phrase as a kid and I thought it was a bad thingNot supposed to be afraid of God, are we? I was told that it's just talking about “respect”Respect God, like you respect a sweet old manGrampa GeneBut then I read verses like this:Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.(Gulp) This is not respecting a sweet old man!This is Jesus telling people to fear God. This is in opposition to someone who might say the fear of the Lord is just an Old Testament thing. I bring up this question because today we're covering Acts 4:32-5:11. It tells a terrifying story and then lands on this verse:Acts 5:11 (NLT) 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.That's a BAD thing, right? Wrong. It's a good thing, and that's what we're going to be talking about today. Before we read it, let me ask you a question:Do you take God too seriously or too lightly? (put it on a spectrum)I think 99% of today's Christians take him too lightlyhe is just a sweet old grandpa figureToday's story will hopefully swing the pendulum back a bitNow let's get to the text…The Scary StoryActs 4:32-35 (NLT) 32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.Another general description of the early churchMore than that… it's a setup for the two stories to follow…Acts 4:36-37 (NLT) 36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.There are lots of cool nicknames: “Air Jordan”, “The Rock”, “Billy the Kid”, but how cool would it be to have the nickname “Son of Encouragement".” Now that's a guy I want to hang around. Do you have some encouragers in your life? This is almost certainly the same Barnabus who shows up three more times in Acts (9:26-7; 11:22-6; 15:37)A positive example of generosity in the early church(Pillar New Testament Commentary) Although only a field was sold, ownership of land...

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper. They travelled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. (Acts 13.1-8, NIV)

Big Idea: Our freedom is not based on our communication but on our relationship to Jesus. Bible Teaching by John Brown.

The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticised him and said, ‘You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.' Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” ‘I replied, “Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” ‘The voice spoke from heaven a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. ‘Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, “Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.” ‘As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: “John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God's way?' When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.' Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. (Acts 11.1-21, NIV)

Physical healing is an integral part of the atonement. It has been bought for us, together with our salvation, through Christ's suffering and death. Isaiah 53 states clearly that ‘He was wounded for our transgressions and with his stripes we are healed.' We all believe that our sin was taken away, and the penalty was paid by Christ's suffering and death. We do not question our salvation, which is by faith in the finished work of Christ's atonement. However, the Bible clearly states, that not only our sin, but also our sickness was borne by Him. We need to apply the same level of faith to our deliverance from sickness, as we do to our deliverance from sin! 'Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning towards the dead woman, he said, ‘Tabitha, get up.' She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.' (Acts 9.40-43, NIV)

Most communities and societies function around an unwritten rule: whoever holds the most money, holds the most power. The more money you have, the more influence you have. The more money you have, the more security you have for the future. The more money you have, the more respect and admiration you have. What's interesting about the first community that was formed by the Holy Spirit - the Early Church - was that it seemed to function around the inverse of that rule. In the Early Church, people saw it as powerful to give their possessions and money away for the sake of others. And it seems that those who did so held a certain level of honor in the Early Church, because in Acts 5 we see a couple - Ananias and Sapphira - who want to steal a little bit of this honor. They sell a plot of land, give some of the money to the Church, but want the credit and honor as if they'd given the whole thing. So they lie, and because of this, they die. This is not a case of God striking someone dead, because they didn't give enough money. If so, we all better learn what that dollar amount is so we hit our quota each year. It was their deception that was the problem. It was their pride. Their desire to keep some of the money, while pretending as if they'd given it all, was a scheme to deceive the entire community. For what reason, we're not sure. Maybe they thought they would gain some honor and admiration from others. Maybe they thought it would give them a little more influence or authority in the community. Maybe they thought God would bless them more. But what Peter makes clear to them is that the issue isn't the money they deprived from the community (Acts 5:4), but that they were “conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord” (Acts 5:9). Ananias and Sapphira were not giving due to listening to the Holy Spirit - or from their interactive life with God - but in order to trick the Spirit. We see a picture of generosity led by the Spirit at the end of Acts 4. That from time to time people were led to sell their possessions and entrust it to the Apostles to distribute to those who had need. And the result of this was that there were no needy persons among them. And Luke makes clear this is not just the result of human financial wisdom or a good economic strategy, it's the result of God's grace at work in their community (Acts 4:33-34). A community centered on interactive life with God is a new kind of society. It's not a club or organization or government, it's a family. And families share with one another. This means if we are to be this kind of community, we must become a community of regular generosity.

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The Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. [1 hour 8 minutes]

Sermon for the Day of Pentecost Sunday, 19 May A+D 2024 Rev. Matthew D. Ruesch

It is not what you know, but who you know. What would it mean for your life right now to know that Jesus is ruling over all things in heaven? He does so with you in mind and for your eternal good. Because in Jesus we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom, and Jesus wants to bring us home forever. Intro/Outro "Depth of Field" by David Hilowitz

May 9, 2024 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stjohnrandomlake/support

This week's discussion features David LaManna, Johnny V, Mike McHugh, Lenny Salgado, and James Gowell. For more information visit: www.thrive.church If you would like to give financially you can do so here: www.thrive.church/give/ If you need prayer email us at prayer@thrive.church This is a presentation of Thrive.Church ©All Rights Reserved

For Ascension Sunday, Pastor Brock preached this message from Acts 1 on May 5, 2024.

The Ascension of our Lord - Acts 1:4-14

What are you fighting to protect that will one day lie in ruin because it's not built on God's foundation? That's the question Pastor Josh poses in Part 33 of Acts. As we observe Paul's ministry, the text challenges us to consider our values and where God is leading us as we make His name great!April 28, 2024

Today is a special day as we conclude our chats in the Book of Psalms. We started our chats on Psalms on September 14, 2022. Our chat today will be the 538th one as we have gone through this wonderful book of praise and worship these past couple of years. Remember the psalms began in chapter one describing the “Blessed man” or the person who “does not walk in the council of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3). For sure the “blessed person” is the one who seeks the LORD with their whole heart and desires an intimate relationship with Him through His Word and the Holy Spirit. The “blessed person” will always be found praising and worshiping the LORD! It seems to be so fitting that the very last psalm is a great reminder and summary of what genuine and true worship and praise is really all about! True praise always focuses on the LORD and our awesome God (v. 1a). The place of worship is found any place that God's people meet together, in the sanctuary, the tabernacle, the temple, the synagogues, and the church. But also, in the heavens where not only the angels and saints that are already there, but the moon, sun, the stars, and everything in them praise the LORD (v. 1b). In verse 2, we find the eternal themes of praise and worship, “His mighty acts” and “His excellent greatness”. The Old Testament is a record of "the mighty acts of God" as performed for the nation of Israel, the chosen people of God. Especially notable are the exodus from Egypt, the conquest of the Promised Land, the expansion of the Davidic kingdom, the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon, and the restoring of the nation. In the four Gospels we see the acts of God as done by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and in the Acts and Epistles, we have the record of the Holy Spirit's mighty acts accomplished through the people of God. The acts of God reveal the character of God, His holiness, love, wisdom, power, grace, and so on—what the psalmist called "His excellent greatness". The nation of Israel had a calendar of special feasts to help them remember who God was and what God had done (Lev. 23), and there is nothing wrong with the church having a similar calendar for the great events in the ministry of Christ. However, we must beware lest the routine use of the calendar becomes more important than the meaning of the days, or that the observing of these days is a means of salvation (Rom. 14:1-15:13; Gal. 4:8-10; Col. 2:16-17). We cannot plumb the depths of all that God is or all that He has done (Psalms 106:2; 145:4, 11, 12). This is why our eternal worshiping of God will never become boring! Finally, the psalm ends with describing the means of worship: Musical Instruments and Human Voices (vv. 3-6) When it is used correctly, by God's grace and for God's glory, the human voice is the most perfect musical instrument in the world, but we find no prohibitions in Scripture against using manmade instruments in the worship of God. Instruments will be used in heaven (Rev. 5:8; 8:6-12), and there will also be singing (Rev. 5:9-14; 6:12; 11:16-18; 15:1-4; 16:5-7; 19:1-9). The psalmist seems to be describing an orchestra that has string instruments, percussion instruments, and wind instruments. But the final verse sums it up. Whether you can play an instrument or not, no matter where you live or what your ethnic origin, male or female, young or old, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" After all, that breath comes from the Lord (Acts 17:25), and if things that do not have breath can praise the Lord, surely we can, too! Praise the Lord! Lord, thank you so much for the Book of Psalms that brings us into Your holy presence! God bless!

In Acts 2:22-36, the apostle Peter delivers a bold sermon declaring that Jesus, who had been crucified, had raised from the dead and that "that God has made him both Lord and Christ." In this sermon we see how the Old Testament points forward to this event and how Jesus' death and resurrection reveals Him to be Lord and Christ. This sermon was preached at Legacy Reformed Baptist Church in East Grand Forks, MN. For more information, visit LegacyRBC.org.

Mar 17, 2024  GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCHNeil McClendon, Lead PastorChristian Essentials In An Ever Changing CultureActs 15:22-351. Gospel clarity, v. 24Jesus + politics = not the Gospel!Jesus + Christian nationalism = not the Gospel!Jesus + prosperity = not the Gospel!Jesus + my preferred style of worship = not the Gospel!Jesus + socialism = not the Gospel!Jesus + cultural universalism  = not the Gospel!Jesus + activism = not the Gospel! Jesus + nothing = Gospel2. Decision making order, v. 28v. 22- “it seemed good”v. 25- “it has seemed good”v. 28- “it has seemed good” 3. Relational sensitivity, v 29The Jews asked for consideration in four areas…a) abstain from what has been sacrificed to idolsb) from bloodc) from what had been strangled Leviticus 17:10-12Hebrews 10: 29d) from sexual immorality                 I Thessalonians 4:1-84. The practice of remaining, v. 35“So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord…” -Acts 14:3“And they remained no little time with the disciples.” - Acts 14:28“But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching and teaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.” -Acts 15:35“We remained in this city some days.” - Acts 16:12“Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.” -Acts 17:14I Thessalonians 2:7-8= = = = = = = = = =Mental worship…1. Who or what determines “good” in your life and how do you define it?2. In what relationship could you practice more relational sensitivity? 3. Should anything change in the way you make decisions?4. Does the pace of your life allow for meaningful relational engagement? i.e. “remaining”5. Are you ever guilty of adding something to the Gospel that isn't the Gospel? What need does this meet in you?

Becoming BeYOUtiful YOU Part 7 - Goodness “…when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” Galatians 5:22,23 NLT “Every GOOD and perfect gift is from above, coming from the Father” James 1:17 NIV To Live a BeYOUtiful Life, I NEED GOD'S HELP! First, THE PROOF of the Christian life is in the Fruit If (that is the conditional part) we let Him control our lives, HE WILL (that is the promise) produce the life in us that we have been created to live. This is an EXPECTATION for followers of Jesus Christ “A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced. “Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:18-21 NLT Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.” James 4:17 NIV THERE ARE TWO FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS WHENEVER WE CALL SOMEONE A “GOOD” PERSON- Here's part of the problem: We Judge Goodness By the Wrong Standard Here's the Other Part of the Problem: No one is good! “There is no one righteous…” Romans 3:10 NIV “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” Isaiah 64:6 NIV “The Lord is good and does what is right” Psalm 25:8 NLT “Taste and see that the Lord is good” Psalm 34:8 NLT “For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation” Psalm 100:5 NLT We can't conclude that we just need a “little help” Luke 18:9-14 The Pharisee and the Tax Collector Jesus did not come to earth and die on a cross just to make good people better. “…I no longer count on my own goodness…but I trust God to save me” Philippians 3:9 NLT “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT We don't go to heaven because we are good, but because God is good. God's Good Fruit In You Matters- Because It Multiplies… “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10 NIV It Attracts People Toward Christ- “He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord” Acts 11:24 NIV It Overcomes Evil- “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” Romans 12:21 NIV

Sunday Morning Service - February 4, 2024

Istrouma Baptist Church (BR) Jan 28, 2024 ========== January 28 | Acts Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org. We glorify God by making disciples of all nations. ========== Connection Card https://istrouma.org/myinfo January 28, 2024 Tim Keith ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭47‬‬ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. 1. A Great Church Will Always Stay Together. ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭44‬‬ Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭46‬‬ Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 2. A Great Church Will Always Proclaim Jesus. (v.36) – “Jesus is Lord" Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else[only Jesus], for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. John 14:6 I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized in the name of 3. A Great Church Will Always Obey the Truth. V. 22 says, “…Listen to these words… “ V. 37 says, “When they heard… what should we do?” V. 41 says, "So those who accepted[obeyed] his message..." V. 42 says, “they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching” Follow the G.P.S. Go Encourage Proclaim Jesus Stand for Truth ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬‬ No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬‬ I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery  — Christ. ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬‬ To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week? https://istrouma.org/email Give Online Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to: https://istrouma.org/give Our Website https://istrouma.org

"The Miracle of Malta"Acts 27Pastor Nate ClarkeJanuary 08, 2024SERMON NOTES:- Acts 27:9-12- Acts 27: 27-29- Acts 27:39-41- Acts 28:1- The Miracle of Malta- You can't choose the storm that hits you, but you have to respond to the storm that hits you.- Malta is a place you didn't plan for- Malta is a place you don't recognize- Acts 28:1- Malta is a place you all of a sudden find yourself - Malta is a place you can't just leave - Acts 27:41- Even in Malta, you'll see the kindness of the Lord- Acts 28:2- Even in Malta, you'll see the provision of the Lord- Acts 28:3,5- Even in Malta, you'll do ministry for the Lord- Acts 28:8-9- Even in Malta, God is getting you to RomeOasis Church exists to help people see Jesus more clearly.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Richmond, VA.Stay Connected:Website: https://oasischurch.online Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/

Part 38 | Paul Lives as if He's Already Gone with the Lord | Acts 21:1-26 Pastor Lance’s Notes