Iowa Falls Evangelical Free Church Sermon Podcast

Our former associate pastor, Stan Johnson, shared with us from 1 Peter 5:1-4.

The gospel is central to who we are as a church. But what are the essential elements that make up the gospel? Today we start a 6-week series to help us answer that vital question. We will look at a different section of the Bible each week beginning this week with Revelation 4. Here we'll see that the gospel begins with who God is.

Life can be messy and it's easy to give all of our attention to the mess. Today, on Easter Sunday, we will look at a passage from one of Paul's letters to a church that got a lot of attention because it was messy. But as his letter draws to a close, he makes sure to remind them what is "of first importance." What was of first importance for them is still of first importance for us nearly 2000 years later because it changes everything.

Today is sermon #51 in the book of Acts and we have made it through every verse! What a journey it has been as we have seen how the work of Jesus continued through Holy Spirit-empowered believers. In addition to looking at the final verses, we'll also take some time to look back over the whole book, to look back over church history in the 2000 years since, and to look at the last 2 years in Iowa Falls. In all of it, we will see that through many challenges, the work of King Jesus continues.

Many of us like to be independent. WE like to provide for ourselves and enjoy giving and helping others when we can. Today, in the first verses of the final chapter of Acts, we will see God once again provide for Paul and those with him. In it, we will be reminded that, as God provides, we take and we give.

Perhaps your life is going along swimmingly or maybe it seems more like you're in the midst of a long, dark, seemingly hopeless storm. As we near the end of the book of Acts, Luke gives us a detailed account of a journey at sea with a lot of focus on the long, dark, seemingly hopeless storm experienced by everyone on board the ship. In the story, though, we'll see God's grace and saving power on display even as we pray that we, too, will experience God's grace and saving power in the midst of the storms in our lives.

Our series in Acts continues as we finish up chapter 25 and move on to chapter 26. Paul is still held as a prisoner in Caesarea awaiting his trip to Rome for his appeal to be heard by Caesar. While waiting, Paul has an opportunity to share his defense/testimony again. This time, the audience is King Herod Agrippa II.

When everything around us looks bad, will God still make a way to fulfill His promises? Whether we look far away at a war in Ukraine or close to home, we see a host of unfair, unfortunate, and undesirable situations. Paul has been the victim of some political games and has been stuck as a prisoner in Caesarea for 2 years. Will God make a way for His promises to be fulfilled for and through Paul? Will God make a way for Paul to get to Rome? Will Jesus fulfill His promise to build His church? Today, we hear the good news that even in the midst of unfair, unfortunate, and undesirable situations, God makes a way for His promise to be fulfilled.

What should we talk about?

In a typical day, most of us have conversations with many different people. What we talk about depends on many factors. Does our identity as followers of Jesus determine what we talk about and how we talk?

Today, we look at Acts 24 where Paul is a great example for us. Whatever the circumstance and cost, we should take advantage of opportunities to talk respectfully, relentlessly, and relevantly about Jesus.

When will I die? Do I have many years or only a few days to live? Perhaps a health concern has made you anxious. Perhaps you look at the world around you and see danger upon danger. The apostle Paul has heard a promise from Jesus but he also heard about a plot for his death. Today, we finish Acts 23 where we will be reminded that God will guard us so that we will not tide until the day He has appointed for us.