-Note- Approximately 5 minutes are missing due to internet drop at 16-44.- We cannot live without hope. What if there was a hope that was grounded in history, that meant that life did not end with death- A hope that meant that what is wrong, unjust and heart breaking in the world would be removed and made right- Easter is the day when Christians celebrate such a hope. A hope that changes everything.-Outline--Introduction-I. The story-II. The story- Martha and Mary-III. The story- Jesus comes to the tomb-IV. He calls us to follow

Jesus enters Jerusalem as a king and that week crucified. The entire way that he was crucified in all its details reveal to us one of the gifts Jesus gives to us. Outline--I. We experience shame-Shame ranges from an inward sense that -I am flawed- to a haunting feeling that something is deeply wrong with me.-II. Jesus was shamed.-III. Jesus was shamed for us.

Luke finishes chronicling the First Missionary Journey. Here the focus is on the suffering that all Christians encounter on the road to enter into the final expression of the Kingdom of God. There are many principles for effective ministry in our times to our culture in this passage as well.

Directed by the Holy Spirit Barnabas and Saul go to Cyprus and then Turkey. They proclaim the gospel and experience both opposition and success. We can learn from their experiences how to make Christ known and how to respond to opposition.

Luke, in a series of episodes, takes us to the church in Syrian Antioch. He draws our attention to its attributes that make it a church to study and imitate.

The Church experiences persecution once again with the death of James and the impending death of Peter. The church prays earnestly for his rescue but when he knocks on the door no one believes the servant girl that he is free. Outline--I. Peter-II. Herod-III. Jesus-IV. The one thing certain in an uncertain world

God initiates the movements of the gospel to the Gentiles. His fingerprints are all over the summons of Peter by Cornelius and the willingness of Peter to go. The conversion of Cornelius and his household is rightly called the Gentile Pentecost. -Outline--I Listen to the story-II Living the story

Two of the most consequential conversion stories in the book of Acts are Saul and Cornelius. In between these stories Luke focuses on two parallel healings. These stories are an introduction and a bridge to the advancement of the Gospel to the Gentiles. There is much to learn.

Luke recounts the conversion of Saul, who will be the dominate person in the story in the second half of Acts. Only Saul's encounter on the road can explain Paul the apostle who goes from being the persecutor to the persecuted. Outline--I. Saul is transformed.-II. People react to Saul's transformation.

After Stephen's death, an intense persecution comes to the church in Jerusalem. This turn of events furthers God's purposes and speaks to us at many levels.-Outline--I. The Great Persecution-II. Simon the pretender-III. The Eunuch a sincere seeker-IV. Implications