Branch Church

In Acts 3:12-19, Simon Peter explains who was responsible for healing the crippled man earlier in chapter 3 - JESUS. As Simon Peter addresses the crowd, he shares 5 truths about Jesus.

God knows our needs better than we do! In Acts 3:1-11, Peter and John encounter a paralyzed man who felt his greatest need was financial but God knew his greatest need. This message reminds us that we must trust God's plans for our life, not our own plans.

In Acts 2:42-47, Luke gives us a glimpse of what church community was like in the beginning after Pentecost. He paints a vivid picture of what marked the very first church – what held those believers together after Jesus left them on earth, what inspired them to leave everything behind for His sake and what sustained them in the face of horrible opposition and persecution. Our prayer is that we would see the same "marks" at Branch Church!

In Acts 2:14-41, Simon Peter stands up and preaches a "Spirit-filled" sermon. This message looks at how Simon Peter took the unusual circumstances of the "pouring out of the Holy Spirit" and used the Bible to interpret the experience.

In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit is introduced and the church is launched on the same day - the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit gave power to the disciples and manifested Himself in ways that people marveled at what they saw. As Christians, the Holy Spirit empowers us to advance God's Kingdom. Don't allow fear, doubt or excuses paralyze you from doing great things for Jesus!

Before Jesus ascends to heaven - His last words were WAIT. They are waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. Faith to wait is often more difficult than faith to move.

Just as Jesus had foretold, Simon Peter deserted Jesus to face the cross alone. That Friday and Saturday was filled with shame and pain for Peter. But that all changed Sunday when Mary Magdalene said the tomb was empty. The resurrection of Jesus is the most significant event in history because it represents HOPE! It's an invitation to experience HOPE & GRACE and not SHAME for our past, mistakes and sin!

Jesus spent His last day alive with Simon Peter and His disciples in the upper room. In the upper room, Jesus stood up and washed each of His disciples feet. This act of service was done by Jesus as an example. We are to love and serve others as Jesus loves and serves us.

In Matthew 16, Jesus shares His ultimate plan and purpose for leaving heaven for earth - DYING FOR OUR SINS. Simon Peter rebukes Jesus' plan and is quickly rebuked by Jesus. Peter had created his own idea of who Jesus should be. It's so easy to think like Peter and not see God's perspective in life.

Jesus introduced "the church" to Simon Peter and the disciples for the first time in Matthew 16. It was clear that Jesus was going to build HIS Church and nothing was going to stop it.