Ryan takes us through Act 2 verse 14 where Peter addresses the crowd and 3000 people respond to this word and a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit takes place as people hear the goodness of the Kingdom. 

Ryan addresses what Pentecost meant for the early church in partnership with the Holy Spirit and how the impact of that Holy moment in the upper room set up the early church to reach the ends of the earth through everyday people.

We trust you will be encouraged as you listen and that you will experience the fire of the Holy Spirit a fresh. 

Ryan kicks off this series based in the book of Acts and looks at how the early church that exploded was not birthed by a group of the people you would expect. A group of scared people in a room who had been touched by Jesus and then filled with the Holy Spirit. Something forever transforming happened that could not be reduced or diminished.

What does the following statement mean for us today?

The Kingdom of God defines

The Commission which determines

The nature of the Community.

Greg searches the book of Jonah, a place of pain but pain with great hope. Nineveh was a great fortified city, impregnable and it belonged to a people who had chosen and partnered with cruelty, debauchery and violence. A wicked people. Often we have Ninevah within us. Our internal private response of offense, cruelty, violence in our words and thoughts towards others. 

We are encouraged to allow God to deal with the Nineveh within so that, when we are called to the Nineveh without, we can respond with true compassion, love and faithfulness. We are to keep our hearts soft so that we can be close with God and so that His heart can beat in us as we love others.

“Generosity is always a response to a revelation of the magnificence, beauty and generosity of god.”

Nicholas shares from his history with God on the kindness and generosity of God. Generosity is not just about finances - we know we can show generosity with our time, gifts, attention and our finances. A deep and clear encouragement about faith, our hearts, our finances and what God can do with out “little”.

Ryan encourages us that the place where we grow is in the Father’s initiating embrace. When we respond to His embrace in faith, the adventure begins. We look at Mary’s account with the angel Gabriel where when she is overshadowed by God’s presence - when she is with God, that which is impossible (logically and factually) becomes possible.

We trust that you are moved to seek God’s presence wherever this message finds you.

We grow and we go when we experience the embrace of our Father.

Whether we believe in self-sufficiency or we choose the flip side of that, that we are isolated and rejected (the orphan spirit), the reality is, we have never been alone. In Jesus, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have made a home in us as we see Jesus set out in John 14.

We are often governed in our emotions, responses and reactions by our circumstances but we're leaning into the embrace of the Father who is always with us, rightly re-framing our perspective supporting the environment of our spirit and heart for growth. 

Just like the prodigal son, the lies we partner with that become our lenses can only be truly shattered and dispensed with in the arms of the Father on the road, with a ring and robe and a celebration because he was home.

Ryan played the song, "Abba" by Jonathan David Helser and here is the link where you can listen to it:

https://open.spotify.com/track/1Q8hh6k9hkk9Hnwljb6TJa?si=404e06e2e23f41fb.

Our prayer is that you'd choose to pursue the embrace of the Father in the circumstances of your life, today. 

Nicholas brought an encouragement regarding how we value our purpose both as individuals and as a church in light of Galatians 5 v 1 - 6 being a litmus test for how we pursue and express our purpose in the lives we live daily and asked the following questions:

What is your purpose?

How do you feel about that purpose?

How do you feel about your faith?

Is your faith producing anything of value?

On Sunday there were three encouragements to us as a church from the life of Martha, Isaiah and Abraham.

We trust you are encouraged by their authenticity of heart grounded in the soil of the lives-walking out their convictions with great love.

Ryan takes us through the account of Phillip who sees the limitations of his circumstances contrasted to Andrew's response to a little boys lunch box with wondering faith, asking Jesus to intervene. In the account of feeding 5000, Jesus never disengages from Phillip in spite of his limited perspective. Instead, Jesus calls him to repentance which is about a change of heart and perspective and not limited to a religious check box. Jesus invites his disciples to participate in the Kingdom with simple thanksgiving and trust.

We hope that as you listen to this message that your heart is moved to trust God.