A Gospel Community is a family of missionaries that are learning and serving together. Join us for our first week where we learn about the identity of family to find out what family is, what family does, and what Jesus has done to make family possible for us. 

If we’re honest, Acts 19:11-20 is a bit strange. People that touch Paul’s handkerchief get healed, a demon decides to beat up a group of pretend Jewish exorcists, and many former witches decide to burn their spell books in the streets. Why on earth would all of this happen? Here’s our big idea: Jesus’ authority over the supernatural world commands our complete surrender! 

Twelve men in Ephesus had never even heard there was a Holy Spirit, yet when Paul told them the truth about Jesus that they hadn’t heard, they obeyed with no deliberation, no waiting for a sign. Then the Spirit worked in remarkable ways. Keeping “in step with the Spirit” is not a moment of power but a life of simple obedience and frequent repentance. Neither is complicated, but neither is easy. We can can’t sustain obedience on our own, which is why repentance is “all the life of the believer,” and why Jesus Christ the righteous stands as our advocate every time we fail.

In Apollos, Priscilla, and Aquila, we see God advancing His kingdom through people with

diverse backgrounds, gifts, roles, and opportunities—each acting, teaching, learning,

encouraging, and going. However, it’s not just their own agency: God remains the one

leading by His Spirit. Because Jesus has saved us by grace and made us His people, we are

freed from both pride and passivity: we can receive the gifts He has given us, learn from

one another, and faithfully participate in the work His Spirit is doing to build the Kingdom of

God in the hearts of men and women and children.

In Act 18:18-23, Paul is used as an example of several important truths including freedom to worship and be sanctified for Christ in numerous ways, never considering anyone too far gone for the Gospel to change them, and a call to strengthen the community of believers. Please don’t come away from today’s sermon thinking “be like Paul, our ultimate example.” Remember instead that Paul was a sinner like you and me, and any example he provides is but a tiny reflection of our true, good, and perfect example in Jesus. 

The mission of Jesus can seem daunting to everyday Christians and it’s not uncommon for us to feel uncertain, insecure, or alone. However, Acts 18:1-17 brings us good news and teaches us that Jesus gives His Word, His presence and His promises to HIs people for His mission! 

In Acts 17:16-34 Paul hosts a masterclass on how to share the gospel with unbelievers, teaching them and us today that our culture is longing for what can only be found in Christ! 

Acts 17:5-10 tells us the story of the Bereans who tested Paul’s words against the eternal Word of God. While this sounds like a good story, it’s a courageous call for believers today to do the same – and we search the Scriptures daily to stand firm in the truth and know Jesus.

In Acts 17:1-9, Paul preaches in Thessalonica that the whole Old Testament story points to a Messiah who must suffer, die, and rise—not merely seize power—and declares plainly that Jesus is that Messiah. The message divides its hearers into three responses: faith that embraces the cost of following Jesus, jealousy that clings to lesser authorities to protect comfort, and ambivalence that just wants to keep the peace. Jesus’ death, resurrection, and kingship are the fulfillment of everything Scripture promised, confronting each of us today with the choice of whether He truly reigns as King in my life.

We are called, through his Word, to live a life on mission for Jesus’ Kingdom. This is accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts in order for us to faithfully step into this calling.