On this Memorial Day service, we were blessed to hear a message from retired pastor Arnold Jackson. 

The focus again returns to Peter in Acts.  He has been given the "keys to the Kingdom" and he has one more key to turn.  This will prove to be the most difficult.  God will have to overcome Peter's preconceived ideas to get the Good News to the Gentiles.  But He is more than able! By means of a "double-vision" He works with Cornelius and Peter to bring the message of Jesus Christ to this group!

On this Mother's Day service, we look at seven snapshots in time of Mary's life.  We will see how her life's plans are upended in a glorious way.  She will have many twists and turns to process along the way.  Ultimately, she will see her Son die for the sins of the world.  She receives Him as Lord and Savior and continues with the other faithful disciples in the Upper Room. 

Our message begins with Saul, still blind in Damascus.  The Lord appears to a man named Ananias and gives him instructions to pray for Saul.  Understandably anxious, Ananias obeys the Lord and Saul has his sight restored and is baptized.  He immediately begins to preach that Jesus Christ is the Son of God! It's not long before the "persecutor" becomes the "persecuted."  When Saul goes to Jerusalem, he experiences the same challenge he faced in Damascus.  We will also look at Saul's so-called "silent" years. 

In today's episode we look at the marvelous conversion experience of Saul of Tarsus. On his way to persecute the believers in Damascus, Saul encounters the risen Christ.  He is shocked to meet the very One he has been persecuting.  In submission, he asks the Lord what He would have Saul to do.  Temporarily blinded by the encounter, Saul makes his way to Damascus and awaits further instruction. 

Jesus rides into Jerusalem one last time.  This time, He comes in on a donkey just as Zechariah had predicted nearly 500 years earlier.  The crowds are happy to receive their King so they shout and spread palm branches along the way.  But amidst all the celebration and shouting, the Savior weeps.  This is the paradox of Palm Sunday.  Jesus Christ weeps because His people did not realize the time of their visitation!  You and I must be careful not to miss this opportunity to be saved before it's too late! 

Persecution scatters the believers away from Jerusalem. One of the Seven (Philip) goes down to Samaria and preaches the Messiah.  A great revival takes place and many are saved, healed, and delivered from demonic power.  A former magician named Simon also believes and is baptized.  But is he really saved? His actions will demonstrate he isn't bearing the fruit of true repentance.  There was a delay in the Samaritans receiving the Holy Spirit.  Is that the norm for today?  Join us as we look at these important topics. 

Philip is directed by the angel of the Lord to leave the revival in Samaria and go to a desert place.  As he obeys the command, Philip encounters a high-ranking official from Ethiopia.  The Spirit of God directed him to engage the Ethiopian and the man invited Philip to join him and explain the scriptures.  Upon believing, the eunuch requested to be baptized.  Philip discerned that the Ethiopian's faith was sincere and he baptized him.  Coming out of the water, the Spirit caught away Philip and he continued preaching on his way to Caesarea.  The Ethiopian returned home with true joy! 

The church survived the external attack from the enemy in Acts 3 and 4, but now an internal attack will come from within their own ranks.  The believers had a unity so strong it was said they were of "one heart and one soul." Satan sought to undermine this unity through the hypocrisy of Ananias and Sapphira.  In this text we will see "great power", "great grace", and "great fear."

After the healing of the lame man in Acts 3, John and Peter are cast into jail by the Jewish authorities.  The Sanhedrin threaten the apostles to teach no longer in the name of Jesus.  After preaching the Gospel to them, Peter and John refuse to obey the orders of the Jewish leaders.  After they are released, they return to their own company for a prayer meeting.  God answers their prayers in miraculous fashion!