The Products of God's Faithfulness 1. Parish Piety 2. Personal Piety 3. Prayerful Piety

Acts 2:42-47 Pastor Nathan Francis continues the series on Acts by examining Acts 2:42-47, highlighting the early church's devotion to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and communal living. He emphasizes the significance of ordinary acts of grace in worship, which foster radical generosity, unity, and joy among believers. Pastor Nathan contrasts modern church practices with the early church's simple yet profound gatherings, reminding congregants that true worship stems from heartfelt devotion rather than flashy displays. He concludes by encouraging the church to embrace these ordinary means of grace, trusting that God will bring growth and impact their lives and communities. 1. Worship in the Early Church by the Ordinary Means of Grace 2. Radical Generosity, Fellowship, Awe, Joy, Unity & Others Saved

How is baptism a means of grace? We also explore the timeline of our salvation from before the foundation of the world, to the cross & through infant baptism, and up to our conversion. Seeing how unique the timeline is can help us understand how baptism should include the children of believers.

Acts 2:14-41 In his sermon, Pastor Nathan Francis explores Acts chapter two, focusing on Peter's powerful address to the crowd after the Pentecost. He emphasizes the transformational impact of the Holy Spirit on Peter, who, just 50 days after denying Christ, stands boldly preaching and unveiling the truth of Scripture. Pastor highlights how Peter recalls prophecies from Joel and David, illustrating that the Old Testament is fundamentally about Jesus. He underscores the importance of understanding the Scriptures as centered on Christ, demonstrating how the Holy Spirit empowers believers to proclaim God's word to all.Pastor Nathan encourages the congregation to make Scripture the focus of their lives and evangelism. He draws a comparison between the real significance of the Word of God and a fictional story about a daughter cherishing messages from her deceased father. He drives home the point that prioritizing the Bible is essential for spiritual growth and witness. The sermon culminates in a call for personal commitment to engage with God's Word daily, drawing strength and guidance from it, much like the inspirational testimony shared by a woman who found solace in Scripture amidst her tragedies. The pastor ends with a prayer for a deeper connection to the Word of God and its life-changing power. How are we to use & understand the Bible? 1. Christ is the Center of Scripture 2. Scripture is the Center of Preaching 3. Scripture is the Center of Evangelism

Acts 2:1-13 In this sermon, Pastor Nathan Francis dives deeply into the significance of Pentecost as presented in Acts chapter two. He introduces this pivotal event, which marks the arrival of the Holy Spirit, and contextualizes it within the overarching narrative of the Bible, highlighting that the Holy Spirit's coming fulfills numerous promises made by God in the Old Testament. By exploring the themes of divine promises and their fulfillment, Pastor Nathan emphasizes the importance of understanding how the Holy Spirit relates to the ministry of Jesus and the establishment of the church.Pastor Nathan further outlines the supernatural signs that accompany Pentecost: the sound of a mighty wind, tongues of fire resting on each disciple, and the miraculous speaking of various languages. These signs not only authenticate the event but also signify God's presence and His purpose to unite diverse nations. He contrasts the bewilderment and mockery that some individuals display in response to these miraculous occurrences, ultimately challenging listeners to reflect on their own responses to the Holy Spirit in their lives. The sermon concludes with an exhortation on the importance of being connected to the Holy Spirit, encouraging listeners to examine their spiritual lives and the transformative power available through Him. 1. The Promises Fulfilled 2. The Three Signs 3. The Nations Gather 4. The Divided Response

Acts 1:12-26 In his sermon, Nathan examines Acts 1:12-26, focusing on the early church's response after the ascension of Jesus and the need to replace Judas, who betrayed Him. Nathan highlights the importance of prayer, noting that the apostles and those gathered in the upper room devoted themselves to prayer for ten days, displaying unity and earnestness in seeking God's guidance. By contrasting the lives of Peter and Judas, Nathan illustrates that while both men faced significant failures—Peter through denial and Judas by betrayal—only Peter sought redemption and restoration through repentance, ultimately becoming a leader in the early church.The sermon emphasizes that true Christianity is evidenced not by past actions but by present choices and attitudes toward sin and God. Nathan encourages listeners to evaluate their spiritual journey, urging them to turn toward Jesus when confronted with sin rather than away from Him, as Peter did. He concludes by stating that true faith rests on real-time relationships with God, shaped through ongoing prayer and the Word, leading believers in navigating life with the Holy Spirit's guidance, instead of relying on outdated practices like casting lots. In doing so, he reassures the congregation of God's compassionate nature, inviting them to confidently seek Him regardless of their past. 1. The Priority of Prayer 2. Compare & Contrast Peter & Judas 3. A Replacement Apostle Needed 4. Foundational or Ongoing Pattern

Pastor Nathan Francis emphasizes the pivotal role of Jesus in the early church as outlined in Acts 1, highlighting His teachings and the promise of the Holy Spirit. He explores the significance of the ascension, illustrating how Christ's exaltation grants power to believers to witness and spread the Gospel. The pastor encourages the congregation to see themselves as part of Christ's continuous work and urges them to embrace humility, trusting in God's timing for exaltation. Ultimately, Pastor Nathan reassures that Christ, reigning at the right hand of the Father, remains actively involved in building His church until His return. 1. Continuing of all that Jesus began to do and teach 2. Origin of the explosive expansion of the early church 3. Exultation of Christ at His ascension

Pastor Nathan discusses the parable of the talents from Matthew 25, emphasizing the importance of being a good steward of our resources while we await Christ's return. He illustrates that saving money is biblical and encourages wise investing while warning against hoarding and greed. The sermon highlights that our goal should be to hear God say, "Well done, good and faithful servant," as we strive for financial responsibility. Ultimately, Pastor Nathan reassures us that our acceptance into God's joy is based on Christ's work, not our performance as stewards. Is Saving and Investing Biblical? 1. "Well done, good and faithful servant" 2. Saving is Biblical, But Hoarding is Not 3. Investing is Biblical, But Greed is Not

In his sermon, Nathan emphasizes the importance of stewardship and budgeting, urging the congregation to take responsibility for their finances by counting the costs before making decisions. He illustrates this through parables from Luke 14, highlighting that to be a true disciple of Christ means renouncing all possessions and living a life of careful financial planning. Nathan also warns against the dangers of debt, particularly credit card debt, and encourages the congregation to live within their means while fostering self-control and delayed gratification. Ultimately, he reminds everyone that their identity is rooted in Christ and that past financial mistakes need not define their future, urging them to press on toward their spiritual goals. 1. Sit Down & Plan 2. Avoid Debt, it is Dangerous 3. Strive to Live as a Disciple of Christ

Pastor addresses the theme of giving and generosity, emphasizing that it is rooted in gratitude for God's grace and the sacrifices made by Jesus. He highlights the example of the Macedonian churches, who, despite their poverty, demonstrated radical generosity by giving beyond their means to support others in need. The message encourages a perspective shift on wealth, urging believers to give in proportion to their abundance and to let love motivate their giving. Ultimately, Pastor concludes that as individuals embrace this mindset, they will experience joy in generosity and contribute to building God's kingdom through their support of the church and those in need. 1. Give to the Lord Out of Gratitude 2. Be Radically Generous in Proportion to Your Means (and Sometimes Beyond) 3. Give Compelled by Love