Acts - The Story of the Church

DATE: November 26, 2023

THEME: God-Dreams

SCRIPTURE: Acts 16:6-15

After picking up Timothy in Lystra; Paul, Silas, and Timothy journey through the region of Asia, but are not allowed to speak the word of the gospel in that region. They go through the country, between 800-1000 miles, making their way to Philippi across the Aegean in order to unexpectedly continue their gospel journey into Macedonia because of a vision from Holy Spirit. We are led by Holy Spirit when we are receptive to experience and perceive His presence. As our passage will display that the Father desire that we "come alive to God-Dreams and experience His presence and glory to extremes."

DATE: November 19, 2023

THEME: Called & Equipped

SCRIPTURE: Acts 15:40-16:5

Paul and Silas are commended to the ministry of traveling to Galatia to strengthen the churches and then are called to continue the gospel journey. When they get to Galatia there is a brother, Timothy, who Paul takes with them because of the great calling God has on his life. Timothy will become a very prominent leader within the Church and we get to see the beginning. The Church then grows and is strengthened because of the bold preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the building up of the body of Christ.

DATE: November 12, 2023

THEME: Loving & Leaving

SCRIPTURE: Acts 15:36-41

What do we do with conflict and difference of opinion and direction? We need to learn to love and leave well with blessing, honor, and grace. Paul & Barnabas had a "sharp disagreement" about direction of life and ministry and both ended up experiencing and accomplishing great things for the glory of God and the flourishing of the Church. We can disagree and detach from one another, but at the end of the day, we need to see one another as beloved of Jesus and empowered with His Holy Spirit for the work of ministry and building up the Church in love; though we may disagree and go in different directions.

**Apologies for the sound not working well**

DATE: November 5, 2023

THEME: The Way of Yahweh

SCRIPTURE: Acts 15:1-35

A group of Judaizers come to Antioch to try and preach the same false doctrine they preached to the churches in Galatia, but Paul and Silas confront them and make a big scene. So they are sent to Jerusalem to discuss the issue with the apostles in Jerusalem to make a definitive decision on this point of doctrine; "should the Gentiles be required to be circumcised and follow the law of Moses?" The grant the Gentile believers incredible freedom and that as well as the results of the Gentiles faith and freedom brings great joy to the Church, because the Way of Yahweh brings freedom and great joy!

DATE: October 29, 2023

THEME: Living Faith

SCRIPTURE: James & Galatians

GUEST SPEAKER: Amberlyn Felts

There can appear to many to be a conflict between the biblical books of Galatians and James, however, they are actually quite complimentary when you look at their respective contexts; who they were written to, why they were written, and what is actually written in them. They were both written to bring a specific audience into a fuller and more glorious perspective of the gospel, grace, and the Kingdom of God. They PAINT a beautiful picture when brought together in harmony.

DATE: October 22, 2023

THEME: Do Good - Intro to James

SCRIPTURE: James

What is the book of James all about and how do we reconcile the theology of "works" with the theology of "grace" and "faith" from our reading of Galatians from last week? The two books are not in conflict as many espouse. They are in agreement, yet written to two different audiences.

DATE: October 15, 2023

THEME: Jesus + Nothing = Everything

SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:27-28 & Acts 15:1 & Galatians

There is a break of 1-2 years between the end of Acts chapters 14 and 15 during which Judaizers begin to try to undo the work that Paul worked so hard and diligently to establish in Galatia among the Gentiles. He wrote to remind the Galatian churches of the goodness, hope, and glory of the gospel; that it is "Jesus + Anything = Nothing...BUT Jesus + Nothing = Everything!"

DATE: October 8, 2023

THEME: Encourage Endurance

SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:20-28

Paul is healed COMPLETELY at the end of his time in Lystra after being stoned and makes the 60 mile journey to Derbe. His ministry is very peaceful and fruitful here. They then decide to return back to the churches that were planted in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (of Pisidia) to encourage them to remain faithful to Jesus and endure the hardships Jesus forewarned would come to those who are His followers. The point this morning was the same as Paul and Barnabas's : Encourage Endurance through persecutions and disappointments; remain in God’s love & the joy of the Spirit.

DATE: October 1, 2023

THEME: Turn Away from Worthless Things

SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:8-20

Paul and Barnabas come to Lystra to preach the gospel, and they heal a man born lame, who had never walked. Lystra was a heavily pagan town steeped in worship to Zeus and Hermes. Our faith in the Church, unlike Paganism, is centered upon a historical and authoritative work of literature and narrative. We can trust the scripture BECAUSE of its long and beautiful history. It is trustworthy, not only because of the reliability of the narrative, but because it speaks of a God who loved us first and of eyewitness accounts of the the work and teachings of God Himself and the power of God at work.

DATE: September 24, 2023

THEME: Signs & Wonders

SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:1-7

Paul and Barnabas arrive in Iconium and preach the gospel, but like in Antioch, they are faced with opposition. However, instead of skipping town, because they loved the people of Iconium too much to leave too soon, because there were many coming to faith, they stayed. proclaimed the gospel, and God testified to the truth of their message by giving them grace to perform many signs and wonders. The gospel message and signs and wonders are still experienced today through those who will receive! Paul and Barnabas give us a beautiful and powerful equation; love one another + signs & wonders = Glory to God!