Life is full of surprises - some are welcomed and some not so much! If you've ever faced disappointment or rejection, it is easy to get cynical and be skeptical when good news comes your way. Christmas is a season that reminds us that God is a God of good surprises, and even when the day seems dark - dawn is right around the corner.

Life is full of surprises - some are welcomed and some not so much! If you've ever faced disappointment or rejection, it is easy to get cynical and be skeptical when good news comes your way. Christmas is a season that reminds us that God is a God of good surprises, and even when the day seems dark - dawn is right around the corner.

Ironically, while Christmas is supposed to be a season of reflection and growing near to Jesus, the season itself has become so loud and busy that we can struggle with drawing near to God. How can we find Peace in the middle of a busy season? How can the Holy Spirit empower us to cut through the distraction and noise?

While conventional wisdom might have led God to choose a woman of power to bring Jesus into the world, God chose Mary, a humble peasant girl from Nazareth, to be part of His plan. Her response of "yes" to God brought hope into the world and transformed it forever.

When many would have doubted the genuineness of Saul’s sudden life change, Barnabas vouched for him with the apostles. This act of kindness opened doors to launch Paul’s life calling as the church’s greatest missionary. What does it mean to embrace the ministry of Barnabas today? How can we seek to take one another to the next level in our faith? 

Join us as we explore the dramatic conversion story of Saul on the road to Damascus. From being a sworn enemy to Christians, to becoming one of the great Apostles, the story of Saul and his conversion is full of lessons for us today.

Philip preaches the gospel to Samaritans and encounters two unique individuals: the fraudulent Simon and the devout Ethiopian Eunuch. These contrasting interactions demonstrate that God's love and call for repentance extend to all people, especially those typically excluded by religious prejudice. Ultimately, the message challenges believers to overcome their biases, step out of their comfort zones, and emulate Philip's obedience in proclaiming Christ to the outcasts around them.  

Stephen was a faithful man of God who died for his beliefs. After pouring out his heart, he was brutally stoned by people who should have known better. Yet in the middle of the suffering of the early church, God was up to something. How is it that God can turn our most difficult and dark hours into the ones that define our lives?

Have the growing demands on your life ever outpaced your personal capacity to meet them all? In Acts 6, the Apostles came to a realization that if they took on any more responsibilities they would neglect the things that mattered most to them. How can Followers of Jesus learn an Empowering Focus that pleases God, serves the world, and raises up others in the process?

When the apostles are facing heat for bringing about positive change in Jerusalem, God's power showed up in direct and indirect ways. Through God's Common Grace, He mercifully upholds the whole creation and preserves His Church. As Followers of Jesus engaging the world today, how can Common Grace give us confidence to proclaim the Good News in our daily lives?