Acts 16:11-15 follows the Macedonian call that Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke responded to. Paul and the mission team board a ship at Troas and sail across the Aegean Sea landing at Neapolis. In the text today we find the first of three individuals who receive salvation through the preaching of the gospel.

Acts 16:6-10 Paul, Silas, and Timothy are set to embark into new territory. They have visited the churches Paul and Barnabas planted in Galatia and given them the letter from the church in Jerusalem affirming Gentiles do not need to convert to Judaism to follow Jesus. Now they head farther west. The Holy Spirit's guidance prevents and does not allow them access into Asia and Bithynia—the districts in the far west and far north of modern-day Asia Minor. The Spirit leads them to bring the good news to Macedonia where they meet up with Luke.

Acts 16:1-5 Sovereignty – a word we use often. But do we really understand what this word means particularly when we speak of it in the context of God Almighty? i.e., God's sovereignty. God, sovereignty of: God's ultimate Lordship and rule over the universe (His entire creation) so that the divine will is supreme over all else. This will is known most fully in Jesus Christ, who expressed God's ways in self-giving service.

Acts 15:36-41 The church – it's not just a building, and practically speaking, the church isn't just about a denomination. Do you want to know what the best thing about the church is besides Jesus our Savior the head of the church? The best thing about the church is its people. Along with that, the most challenging aspect of the church is its people. We are a church (a body of believers) made up of people. As people we are each unique in our own way. Some people are quiet, soft-spoken. Others are more vocal. Some people tend to be more on the gentle side, while some are more outgoing than others. In any event, we are a unique and church is made up of unique people. Praise the Lord for diversity, we are not all the same. If the church was filled with 'cookie-cutter' people – it would not be unique. The one unique commonality all believers share alike is Jesus, as Savior and Lord.

Various Scriptures Every year on Resurrection Sunday the reason for our hope and promise of our faith is renewed by the fact of the resurrection. The four gospels give specific details about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the early arrival of women at the tomb at or before sunrise to the foot race of Peter and John upon hearing the news that Jesus was not in the tomb. The account of the Resurrection is the core fact of the Christian faith. Everything we believe in, hope for, and are promised hinges on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. If I could sum up the Resurrection in 3 simple words it would be this: JESUS IS RISEN!

The Cross, How Can It Be 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Ephesians 5:18-21 This morning we bring this series to a fitting conclusion. In truth, I personally cannot think of a more significant way to conclude this series than what we are about to look at in the fifth chapter of Ephesians.

Ephesians 4:1-6; 25-32 Unity in the body of Christ is a precious essential. It is important for believers to seek and understand its significance through the Holy Spirit. Unity in the body of Christ, is a prime target for the devil. He is always looking for a way to disrupt, divide, and cause discord among the body. In light of this, one commentator put it this way: I learned words years ago in my youth that have stuck with me even to this day. 'To love the world, for me, is no chore. My only real problem is my neighbor next door.' The tragedy with those words is that they have become commonplace defining our relationships with other believers, meaning they have in many instances become mundane, routine.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Ephesians 2:18-22 Access – permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass from a place or to approach or to communicate with a person or a thing. In the world today there are certain areas, places etc. that require permission in order for people to gain access.