There’s an old saying that goes, “God said it. I believe it. End of story.” This can be easily learned by watching the life of the apostle Paul. Over and over again, in Paul’s life, we see him standing in an unstoppable hope, in the face of dire adversity. That might be most clearly seen in the treacherous journey Paul must take, by boat, from Jerusalem to Rome. Paul knew he was going to make it safely to Rome. But what an adventure getting there!

Sometimes we receive a direction or word from God and it can show up in the least expected ways. As we take the step of faith, we find that our journey leads us into unlikely situations that allow us to increase our trust in God or relinquish our trust in God. As we open Acts 26, we find the continuation of the trial that the apostle Paul is part of. Not only is this scene a confirmation of a prophetic word he received from Jesus, but Paul also sees this as an answer to prayer. Where others would have viewed it with despair, the apostle is full of gratitude to be able to share the Gospel of Jesus with the king and his dignitaries. We learn that though Paul was physically enchained, the hope he found in Christ gave him a new sense of freedom. Join us today as we unpack what it looks like to have an unstoppable faith that is rooted in Christ. 

It’s amazing to see the doors that God opens. But if we are not careful, in our frustration with our circumstances, we often miss the opportunities that are right in front of us. You might think of the misfortune of the apostle Paul to be wasting time in jail. But God was working, in miraculous ways, to make sure the message of the death and resurrection of Jesus was making it to everyone. In Acts 25, we see the amazing ways the Lord orchestrates the fulfillment of His will.

God’s plans are unstoppable. But there are all sorts of twists and turns on the journey. When God saved Paul, He told him that his journey was going to be unique. Now we find Paul imprisoned and he will have the first of what will be a series of trials before Roman officials. Paul does not lament his situation. He chooses to embrace each situation as an opportunity to share the good news about Jesus.

In Acts 23 we see Paul’s story continue to take unexpected and challenging turns. But, even in the middle of those challenges, it is evident that God is at work. For us, this story helps us learn how to live with an Unstoppable Hope as we face the disappointments and challenges in our lives. 

Have you ever been wrongly accused? Whether small or large, any unjust accusation is painful to endure. Accusations are a form of opposition many of us go out of our way to avoid if possible, yet the apostle Paul leveraged an unjust claim about himself to make Jesus known to people far from him. Join us as we take a closer look at the power of an Unstoppable Defense, a testimony of the power of Christ unto salvation. 

God’s desire for His children is that we seek to discern His will. God also wants us to submit ourselves to Him so that we can join Him in His work. This is something that we see on display in the life of Paul the apostle. Paul is constantly seeking to be a part of God’s will. We will see this, once again, this weekend, as we continue our Unstoppable series through the last section of the book of Acts. We will see the Spirit revealing, over and over again, Paul’s impending imprisonment. Paul accepts his situation and seeks to glorify God in his arrest in Jerusalem.

The life of the apostle Paul is nothing short of amazing. From his exploits as an upstart Jewish rabbi to his miraculous conversion, Paul’s journey is unique. As we continue to watch his third missionary journey, we find Paul making disciples and building up the body of Christ at every stop he makes. He is singularly focused on this one thing. This is such a great challenge and encouragement for us: that we might seek to live our lives like the apostle Paul!

This weekend at Crossroads, we are beginning our final series through the amazing book of Acts. From what we have seen thus far, it is undeniable. The gospel is unstoppable. The message and ministry of Jesus will not be denied. No matter the pushback or the persecution, God is moving. When God is working, the movement it creates is Unstoppable. As we begin our series, we will see a riot starting because of God’s work. Don’t miss it!

Strength is an attribute most of us would say is physical. But we know that strength is also emotional and spiritual. When faced with trials and circumstances that appear to be gigantic and unbeatable, we naturally want to lean on our own strength to fight. What we learn in scripture, however, is that God calls us to solely rely on Him, and not ourselves. As we read today’s passage in 1 Samuel, we will find just as David did, that surrender to God allows the strength of God to fight the giants we face.