As God's people, we are called to unity. How can we pursue unity today?

As we come to the end of the book of Acts, we can take away three important points. First, containing the gospel is impossible. Its spread in the face of persecution and even chains. Secondly, the Great Commission was meant to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. And lastly, we can receive courage to spread the gospel from other believers.

The excellence of love is emphasized by Paul in a series of statements about how love gives value to activities that might be highly valued, but have no value in and of themselves apart from love.

Often we face storms that deter us or detain us as we are moving in the direction of God's plan. It's easy to become discouraged or even disillusioned wtih these obstacles. However, if we look carefully at the blessing God sends our way, we can see His provision that often comes through the people around us.

You never know where you will have the opportunity to share the gospel. You never know, once your've shared it, how the gospel might affect someone. Sometimes people we never targeted with the gospel overhear it and God plants a seed in them through His Word - so share it - whenever and wherever you can!

Throughout the pages of scripture, we find God's will being accomplished by those who don't know Him or give Him a thought. Unaware or not, no man can outthink God - God is always an infinite number of moves ahead of man. He is all-knowing and all-powerful while man is short-sighted and finite.

This morning we're going to see two important truths about God's purpose and plan. First, we'll see that God's plan will always succeed. he can take the most hardened sinner and the most broken vessel and use it for His plan. Next, We'll see that the purpose of the Lord unfolds according to His will. Once He has told us that He will do something through us, He accomplishes it.

Easter Sunday is a day to reflect on life and God's grace. Jesus died on the cross that we might live. His resurrection is the guarantee of our future resurrection and the fact that He overcame death and the grave as the firstfruits of many who will follow. All of this is of God who grants us these things by His grace which is unearned favor that is freely given to all who will receive it.

Today's we'll see Paul arrested by Roman officers. While this sounds bad and we know the eventual ending for Paul was death - even in the midst of a riot, God was using the Romans to protect Paul and allow him to proclaim the gospel before the Jewish and Roman authorities. What a gracious God we serve wh reaches out to the lost who spurn Hm and reject Him when left to themselves!

Today we'll explore the dynamics of church community that are the hallmarks of unity. We'll see in scripture how during Paul's journey towards Jerusalem and ultimately Rome, he touched based with churches he had planted along the way, knowing it would be the last time he would see them.