This morning as we gather to celebrate the manner that Jesus rose from the dead we will consider some of our own feelings about death and the way Jesus helps us to overcome death.
This week we will consider the three different entries into Jerusalem taking place on Palm Sunday, and the way that helps us to reflect on what kind of king we serve in Jesus.
Every year as the weather warms up we spend time thinking about all of the Spring Cleaning projects that need to happen to get our house in order. In the same way, we need to become people that regularly go through the practice of examining our lives to identify things that need to change in order to live in a manner that is more pleasing to God.
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The conclusion of the book of Acts can leave us unsatisfied because it is easy to focus in on how much we don’t know about the way the story of the apostle Paul ends. However, as unsatisfying as it might be to miss elements of the story, it is important to remember that the book of Acts is about the work of God’s Spirit to build his church and not about Paul.
The second missionary journey of Paul teaches us how important it is for us to have a plan as we seek to do the work of God, and how important it is for us to allow God to change that plan without much notice!
This week we will examine some of the details that preceded the first missionary journey of the early church. As we see the backgrounds of the people that sent out Barnabas and Saul and their devotion to seeking God’s direction, it speaks to how our church should look and act today.
As we continue the journey through the book of Acts we see the conversion of Cornelius and his household. Through this story we see the way the Holy Spirit tears down racial and ethnic divides, and how we need to do the same in our culture.
Personal transformation is one of the core marks of knowing and growing in Christ. This week we examine how this transformation looked in the life of Saul, and how it looks for us today.
The Gospel quickly begins the advance from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth in Acts Chapter eight. Our text today shows us that all are qualified to receive Christ as savior, and that we need to be led in this work.
As the early church grew in influence it began to find itself at odds with the same religious leaders that opposed Christ. As Stephen is martyred by these people, he demonstrates for us what it looks like to be truly living for Christ even in the midst of dying for Christ.