Worldly hope is characterized by doubt, uncertainty, and a lack of control. We hope for things that may or may not happen. But in Jesus, hope is a guarantee, a sure thing. Our hope is actually a “know-so” rather than a “maybe-so.” Today we unwrap this gift of hope by looking at hope past, present, and future as we journey toward Christmas.

God has a mission for each believer, but what makes us ready to fulfill that mission? More importantly, how do we know when to start, what to expect, and how to move forward when we face opposition? These are questions that can be answered as we study Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey.

The message of God’s grace sits at the heart of the Bible. In this sermon, we will focus on how God’s grace intervened in the Apostle Paul’s life and then propelled him toward serving the God he once persecuted. In the process, we’ll discover how God’s grace changes our mission, perspective, and attitude towards unbelievers.

What is the best gift you’ve ever given? You may not realize it, but God’s grace - His divine influence on your life - is a gift that He willingly gives when you express faith in Christ. God’s grace is what changes us from sinners to saints.

It’s impossible to go through life without ever experiencing problems or obstacles or opposition, especially with regard to our faith. We will feel it. Today we’re going to see how Stephen, a leader in the early church, dealt with it. His opposition was more extreme than what most of us will ever face, but we can learn some important truths from his experience.

Throughout the book of Acts, we read about how the early church was an unstoppable and irresistible movement. Pentecost is where that energy originated. Today, we will examine the volcanic power of the Holy Spirit as God empowers some uneducated, ordinary people to change the world. In the process, we will gain the confidence that the Spirit is empowering us to take part in the same movement that originated with the disciples and learn what brings real spiritual transformation.

The story of the church’s expansion begins by focusing on Jesus. In this sermon we will focus on Jesus’ last words to his disciples, which set the stage for them to be his witnesses to “the ends of the earth.” To do so, they would need the power of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to them. The Holy Spirit would enable them to be bold witnesses despite any setbacks that the church encountered along the way. What was true for them is true for us. We should remember God’s unchanging plan and God’s promise of power. Regardless of the ups and downs, God promises to fill us with the Holy Spirit and help us be bold witnesses, both locally and globally.

A Prayer for a Faithful Loving People based on Ephesians 3:14-21

O Lord, You have created me and know me better than I know myself. I confess I have searched for love in destructive ways. Thank you for loving me and knowing me.

Humanity has been in conflict with God ever since Adam and Eve sinned. Our conflict with God was not one that we could resolve on our own. We needed Someone to be our mediator. Jesus Christ was uniquely qualified to, not only mediate the conflict between humanity and God, but also to be our Savior.

Jesus never resisted the Holy Spirit’s prompting to move forward with God’s plan. He always chose calling over comfort and He always relied on the Holy Spirit to help Him fulfill God’s calling. Each of us must move forward whenever and wherever the Holy Spirit leads us, even when we feel overwhelmed by the situation He leads us into. If we rely on Him, just as Jesus did, then we come through that experience full of His presence and power.

When do you have a hard time relating to others? When you learn how to relate to people who believe and live differently than you, then you will have the impact on people’s lives that God wants you to have. Your kingdom impact and relatability are directly proportional.