The Family Tree (Advent 2021) | The story of King David's great grandmother, Ruth's experience following God from Moab to Bethlehem shows us the ways that God's love is poured out on His children. Through her story we see God's love removes idols, produces righteousness, and builds a kingdom.

The Family Tree (Advent 2021) | When digging through your family tree you will inevitably find both good and bad apples. And when Christ Jesus humbled himself by taking on flesh and entered this world, he inserted himself into one of these broken family trees. When reading through his genealogy we find the good, the bad, and the ugly. In Matthew 1:5 we find that Jesus is a descendant of Rahab. This is the same Rahab we read of in Joshua chapters 2 & 6. A Gentile woman with a shameful past, but by faith found refuge in God rather within the walls of her city.

The Family Tree (Advent 2021) | Christmas is a time where families around the world gather around a special tree. This Christmas season we will focus on a different kind of tree; the family tree of Jesus Christ that's recorded in Matthew's gospel. In this first sermon we focus our attention on Abraham. As we look at the significance of Abraham we are reminded to hope in God, because He is faithful to His people, promises, and purposes.

To the Ends of the Earth - A Study Through Acts || Opposition in Jerusalem continues. This time, all the apostles are arrested and brought to trial. As an angel of the Lord supernaturally frees the apostles, God reveals that it is the Jewish leaders who are in fact on trial. In the face of opposition, the apostles had a Spirit empowered joy.

To the Ends of the Earth - A Study Through Acts || The growing, believing community continues to face threats. This time, the threat is internal. Satan seeks to destroy the community from within. Yet, God protects His church, and calls us to heed the warning in this passage.

To the Ends of the Earth - A Study Through Acts || After Peter and John are threatened and released we see the early Church pray for boldness. Boldness comes from the empowering of the Spirit, and when the people of God are filled with boldness they are unashamed to proclaim the Gospel, despite threats and persecution, and confident the Lord will provide their needs, making them generous with their earthly possessions.

To the Ends of the Earth - A Study Through Acts || After healing the lame man and proclaiming the gospel to the crowds, Peter and John were arrested and brought before the Jewish leaders. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter boldly stands before the leaders, confidently answering their questions. In this text we are reminded the people of God, empowered by the Spirit, are to stand firm on the rock of Christ in the face of persecution.

To the Ends of the Earth - A Study Through Acts || In chapter 3 of Acts Peter and John heal a lame man at the Beautiful Gate. The crowd, knowing this man has been lame since birth, marvels at this miracle. Peter seizes the opportunity to share the gospel with the gathering crowd. A reminder to us to always be prepared to both do the good works God has for us and share the gospel.

To the Ends of the Earth - A Study Through Acts || We long for community and fellowship. It’s part of the image of God in us. Those that aren’t part of the Body of Christ, search for it in other areas of life, only to be disappointed in the end. We to are drawn to communities of this world instead of communities around the Gospel. Instead of being drawn to those communities to fulfill our needs, How do we live in a way that brings us stronger fellowship with others, God-centered relationships, Gospel-centered community, that grows us individually but also grows the Body of Christ? Looking at Acts 2:42-47 we see an example of how the early believers lived together, caring for each other, all out of their devotion to God and his Gospel.

To the Ends of the Earth - A Study Through Acts || Faithful to His promise, God sends the Holy Spirit. Yet, divine action needs divine interpretation. Peter preaches that Jesus is the promised Messiah, and calls us to place our trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sins.