As we bring our study in the first section of the book of Acts to a close, we focus our attention on three very different people. Each person is unique and in a unique situation. No one is the same. Yet, for each person, God has a plan. What we will learn from this powerful section of Scripture is that God is always working. Not only in the good and beautiful things but also in the horrible situations of life.

In our lives, we often want to have things all figured out, and we can even take this mindset into our relationship with God. We want God to work in ways that we can expect and understand. Stephen’s speech is a reminder that God has never really fit into the box that people create, and the story of Israel proves it. Reflecting on that story is an opportunity for us to think about our own expectations, shift the way we look at our own circumstances, and truly see God at work in our midst.

The role prayer played in the early church and the role it plays today.

We have a tendency to believe that when God is at work, everything will be easy. We expect smooth sailing when God is in charge. But expectations can ruin relationships. The Bible is full of accounts where God is definitely at work, but rather than things being easy, they can be downright messy and confusing. Acts 5 is a perfect example of this. With all that God is doing inside the early church, we are shocked to see this account of the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira. And to compound it, there are increasing tensions with the Jewish religious leaders. 

We often think that if we were walking in the perfect will of God, everything would be easy and simple. But over and over again, the Scriptures tell us a different story. Oftentimes, the perfect will of God walks us directly into harm’s way. We see this with the early church. After the miraculous healing of the man at the Beautiful Gate, you might think that people will simply celebrate. But no!! Peter and John are promptly arrested and thrown in jail. What will God do next? Join us for this message and see!

Jesus had promised His disciples that when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they would be His witnesses. And Jesus is no liar! Almost immediately, we see God do a unique work in and through the early church. Rather than make a plan, the apostles just continued about their normal routines. But God was moving and they were simply obedient. You will be so encouraged by this message!

The gifts and work of the Holy Spirit are boundless. Sometimes He moves in power through the outward working of His gifts, sometimes it’s a slower process of transforming our character to display His fruit. As we study through the second half of Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost, we uncover how the Holy Spirit moves through the unlikely apostle to expand the early church and beyond. May today’s message encourage and re-energize you in your journey of Simply Responding to Jesus.

Language is one of the most powerful ways to experience art, music, literature, and the various aspects of culture. Language is especially powerful in experiencing a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. But what role does the Holy Spirit play in all of this? Are there languages to which God shows partiality or preference? As we look to the early church in the book of Acts, we find some clarity to some of these questions. In short, a divided church will be limited in their experience of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 

There is something so powerful about watching God work. Whether we find ourselves in awe of a brilliant sunset or overwhelmed holding a newborn child, God’s handiwork is glorious. God is always creative and creating. We see a powerful version of this as we watch God’s work during the formative years of the church of Jesus Christ. We are excited to begin our journey through the Acts of the Apostles. We begin the journey with Jesus’ ascension to heaven.

It’s a brand new year! We often use a new calendar year to begin new habits and rhythms to become the people Jesus created us to be. The same is true here at Crossroads. We love to explore the new things that Jesus has for us as we enter a new year. We are excited to share the unique things that Jesus has for us in this weekend’s vision message as we continue to simply respond to Jesus together!