CCF Sunday Messages

As we enter chapter 6, the church has obviously continued to grow and are facing other challenges--like the demands of ministry, and complaints from those who feel like they are being overlooked. God gives wisdom to the apostles and they appoint godly men, filled with the Holy Spirit, to do the work of ministry so that the apostles can focus on teaching the word. This is the beginnings of what we call the role of deacon within the church.

As we continue our study through Acts, the frustration within the religious elite is starting to show. During this next trial, after arresting all the apostles this time, they accuse them of spreading their message throughout all Jerusalem, and obviously they have been unable to stop it due to the power of the Holy Spirit and the boldness provided by God to this growing band of followers! Signs and wonders follow the teaching, as well as God's divine intervention in their prison stay, releasing them in the night by an angel. It is Gamaliel who through his wise words advises the council to leave them alone, lest they potentially end up fighting against God, which he knows would be a losing proposition!

As we continue our study through Acts, the frustration within the religious elite is starting to show. During this next trial, after arresting all the apostles this time, they accuse them of spreading their message throughout all Jerusalem, and obviously they have been unable to stop it due to the power of the Holy Spirit and the boldness provided by God to this growing band of followers! Signs and wonders follow the teaching, as well as God's divine intervention in their prison stay, releasing them in the night by an angel. It is Gamaliel who through his wise words advises the council to leave them alone, lest they potentially end up fighting against God, which he knows would be a losing proposition!

The early church response to their first significant persecution was not to run, but to go to God and pray for boldness to continue teaching in His name! Persecution also brings purity, and as the incredible love and sharing of the church bring about gifts of property and acts of sacrifice, a couple who decide to lie about their gift gets swift judgement from God directly as Peter confronts them. Listen in as Pastor Steve teaches from the final sections of Acts chapter four and the beginning of chapter five.

The early church response to their first significant persecution was not to run, but to go to God and pray for boldness to continue teaching in His name! Persecution also brings purity, and as the incredible love and sharing of the church bring about gifts of property and acts of sacrifice, a couple who decide to lie about their gift gets swift judgement from God directly as Peter confronts them. Listen in as Pastor Steve teaches from the final sections of Acts chapter four and the beginning of chapter five.

After the healing and sermon by Peter in Acts chapter 3, the religious leaders and temple authorities are upset at the resurgence of the name of Jesus and the teaching that is being done in His name on the temple grounds. Given the healing has brought wonder and amazement to the crowds, they don't like the fact that the crowds are now listening intently to Peter and more are starting to believe the message and join the early church. To try and correct this they arrest Peter, John, and the lame man and try and threaten them away from speaking any more of Jesus. Listen in as Pastor Steve teaches through the continuing story of the early church in Acts as they face their first persecution.

After the healing and sermon by Peter in Acts chapter 3, the religious leaders and temple authorities are upset at the resurgence of the name of Jesus and the teaching that is being done in His name on the temple grounds. Given the healing has brought wonder and amazement to the crowds, they don't like the fact that the crowds are now listening intently to Peter and more are starting to believe the message and join the early church. To try and correct this they arrest Peter, John, and the lame man and try and threaten them away from speaking any more of Jesus. Listen in as Pastor Steve teaches through the continuing story of the early church in Acts as they face their first persecution.

In Acts chapter 3, Peter has another chance to preach after the healing of the lame man at the temple gate called "Beautiful". The healing had gotten the people's attention, but instead of drawing attention to themselves, Peter uses it as another chance to share the truth of the power of Jesus Christ to bring about healing--not just physical but emotional and spiritual. Peter preached that He was the one who made us whole again and blotted out our sins by His power!

In Acts chapter 3, Peter has another chance to preach after the healing of the lame man at the temple gate called "Beautiful". The healing had gotten the people's attention, but instead of drawing attention to themselves, Peter uses it as another chance to share the truth of the power of Jesus Christ to bring about healing--not just physical but emotional and spiritual. Peter preached that He was the one who made us whole again and blotted out our sins by His power!

The response to Peter's sermon in Acts chapter two is amazing! From the 120 disciples gathered on the day of Pentecost, now 3000 are added after just one sermon! So, what did they do? They began the early church practices of teaching, prayer, fellowship, and breaking bread together. Pastor Steve applies these principles to our church life today and calls us to be more intent on living out this loving fellowship that was such a draw in the early church.