In today's passage first century Christians now face the first major turning point in the church’s future: witnessing through persecution.

Christian persecution – any hostility, experienced from the world, as a result of one’s identification with Christ. This can include hostile feelings, attitudes, words, and actions.

Even though I’m no expert in church transitions, church growth, or church revitalization, all of my experience, research, and observation points to my Top 3 Congregational Challenges. I’ve not listed them in order of importance – all three emerge to...

If we could choose, we would choose to avoid adversity, However, if we never experience adversity, we would miss some of God’s choice blessings and we would stunt our spiritual growth.

I’ve been a Baptist for 65 years, and no doubt we’ve sustained our worship, our ordinances, and our doctrines. But The least practiced discipline in the 21st century church is church discipline.

With our attention on celebrating Christmas we consider The Gift Worth Waiting For. We focus our attention on Luke’s birth narrative of Jesus Christ.

The manger scene occupies center stage of all Christmas celebrations.

And the occupants of every manger scene spotlight the reason for the season.

Prayer that Shakes the ChurchActs 4:23-31

This morning we will conclude our journey through the Book of Acts and What Matters in the Church, but we will continue our journey in January.  We consider this morning Prayer that Shakes the Church.

Acts...

Settled Convictions |Acts 4:1-22

 

Continuing our journey through the Acts of the Apostles narrative and What Matters in the Church, to Acts 4, and consider Settled Convictions.

 

Acts 4:1) While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the...