Let’s say someone comes up to you at church and thanks you for all that you’ve been doing as you’re serving the Lord. How do you respond? Do you take the credit, and receive the glory for it? Let’s talk about it today on Abounding Grace, as we return to our series, Be the Church.

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I’m sure you can think of a time when someone said something really awful about you, behind your back, and it was untrue! Worse yet, people believed it, and before you know it, it was spread all over town. Sadly that sort of behavior has only gotten worse, with the advent of the internet. But how should we respond to that sort of thing? Do we lash out in anger or shutdown? Actually, there’s a much better way to go, and it’s modeled for us by the apostle Paul in Second Corinthians two. That’s where we join pastor Ed Taylor today on Abounding Grace.

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Whether it’s at the office, in school, at home or even in church we’ll face opposition and tribulation. And that’s usually a sign we’re on the right track. The enemy opposes the work of the Lord, and so if we’re doing what God wants us to do we’ll be opposed at some point in time. So how do we persevere? That’s the question we’ll present today on Abounding Grace.

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Pastor Ed Taylor will give attention to verses 13-52, where we find Paul’s first recorded sermon. Back in the first century there were those thoroughly convinced that the way to heaven was by observing the law. That sort of thinking is still around but nothing could be further from the truth! Paul wants to make it clear that justification is by turning and trusting. Turning from your sin and trusting in Jesus alone!

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What makes a good sermon? Well I think you’d agree there needs to be teaching from the Bible, and it would be a good idea to include the Gospel message too! Paul’s first recorded sermon features just that. It’s a survey of the Old and New Testaments up until that point in time, and also he emphasized the Gospel. It’s a powerful sermon and one we’ll look at today.

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We’re about to continue our series, Be the Church, a study in the book of Acts. As we get back into chapter thirteen today, we’re following Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. You might think of it as a journal of their fascinating trip. God may or may not call you to leave your home and go to a foreign land, but whether you’re in Africa, Aurora, or Philadelphia you’re to be involved in the ministry and sharing the gospel.

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Today Ed Taylor will continue his series through the book of Acts. As we delve into chapter thirteen today, we’re witness to Paul and Barnabas as they embark on their first missionary journey. Every Christian is a minister and missionary, and so let’s allow the Lord to speak to our own lives about our own missionary quest!

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I think it’s safe to say we’ve all been misunderstood and had someone falsely accuse us of something. Worse yet is when people believe it, without even talking to you! Today on Abounding Grace we’ll see that this even happened to the apostle Paul. And how he dealt with it will provide helpful guidance for the next time it happens to us.

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It really is a privilege to be used by God and be on mission with Jesus. Grab hold of that mindset as you join us for Abounding Grace. As we’ve just begun a new year, it’s a good time to recall what our purpose in life is. We have a wonderful calling from the Lord, and pastor Ed Taylor will point that out to us as we continue in Acts chapter thirteen.

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As we’ve just entered into a new year you can be sure we will have many opportunities to reach people with the gospel in 2025. God desires to reach the lost, and wants to use you to do it. Today on Abounding Grace we’ll be encouraged to receive our assignment from the Lord to share this gospel. We’re on mission with Jesus!

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