Citizens Weekly

From the Series, “Acts.” After arriving in Jerusalem, Paul quickly finds his life mirroring Jesus’ own in ways most of us prefer to ignore or disregard for ourselves. Paul has entered, as he references in Ephesians 6, “the evil day” when life reveals aspects of a Holy God that offend mortal humans. Paul stands firm. How might we also? The very structure of Acts reveals how we might stand with Christ in difficult seasons: 20 chapters devoted to church unity followed by eight chapters of Paul on trial. We will stand with Christ when -- and only when -- we have first learned to live in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Speaker: Ben Rush
From the Series, “Acts.” With tens of thousands of denominations across the world, representing thousands of different opinions about thousands of subjects - why in the world would anyone want to be associated with the church? Why in the world would anyone want to follow Jesus and become part of the family of God when this family looks more divided than their own? Division in the church confuses the world and makes God sick. It might even be evidence that we aren’t truly following Jesus. So is there any hope for the church? Can we be the answer to Jesus’ prayer? 

Speaker: Ben Rush
From the Series, “Acts.” We all know someone who claimed to hear from God to justify an action that God clearly couldn’t have instructed them to do. But, injustices cloaked in spirituality aside, what do we do when we are rooted in God’s word and prayer, seek counsel, analyze the circumstances and have peace, but still someone tries to stop us? What do you do when someone tries to stop you from obeying God’s voice? 

Speaker: Ben Rush
From the Series, “Acts.” In an individualistic culture captivated by relativism and addicted to busyness, how do we live and share the Way of Jesus? Where do we even begin? As apprentices of Jesus, is it possible to define, determine, and distill the point in which our highest contribution lies? Paul knew what was essential, Jesus knew what was essential, and the church must rediscover the essential if we have any hope of bringing God’s Kingdom to earth.

From the Series, “Acts”. In the story of Paul encountering the seven brothers of Sceva (Acts 19:11-20), interesting questions arise through the voice of an evil spirit. In the heavenlies, we want to be known both by God the Father and by God’s adversary, called Satan. But why? And why should we fear not the enemy of God? What does the Bible say about God’s enemy, and what does the Bible say about our response to that enemy’s accusations against us, against one another, and against the church?

Just as Jesus depended on the Holy Spirit to empower Him, we too are invited to receive power from the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses. In Acts 18:24-19:12 both Apollos and this small band of believers hear an incomplete gospel without fully understanding who the Holy Spirit is and the power that he continually offers. We, as believers today, are invited to know the person and work of the Holy Spirit, not just in our minds but through power in our lives.

In Acts 18 introduces us to characters in the biblical narrative who show us what it means to persevere in difficult, unsure, and uncomfortable circumstances to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Look more closely with us as we study the lives of Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos in their roles of reconciling people to God through his God’s plan and because of his love for humanity. Ask yourself: When did you last take a chance so great you needed God to come through for you or much would be lost? When was the last time you risked all comfort to share the name of Jesus with those who need to hear it? Isn’t now the time?

In Acts 17, the early followers of Jesus are described as "...defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus." Amid so many competitors for our attention and affections, how do we live into the legacy of a Church whose loyalty and worship are clearly and wholly offered to God as he is revealed in Jesus?

Worship is a way that God has provided for humanity to come into agreement with Him. Acts 16 is a window into Paul and Silas continually being led by the Spirit and using praise as strength and warfare. We all need encouragement to continue to allow our lives to be yielded to the Spirit. 

Immediately after helping resolve one of the Church's first dramatic theological disputes, Paul and Barnabas disagree over something seemingly far smaller and decide to part ways. We've all lived this reality - ruptured relationships in the church or other contexts we can't seem to fix. What if this story of disunity and disappointment in the early Church can actually point us to hope in our wounding and waiting for the healing of broken relationships?