This passage is pivotal for the book of Acts and God’s work in saving all people because it shows us the moment that the gospel went to the Gentiles and the Holy Spirit fell on them. We will take a look at the pathway of both Peter and Cornelius as we spend time reflecting on the barriers that keep us from being part of God’s work in saving all people, and consider the barriers that had to be overcome for us to hear the gospel.

One of the biggest challenges Christians face in the public square with rapidly shifting ethics is the criticism of inconsistency. You've heard it before - "If you believe in ______, then why do you eat shellfish? Why do you wear mixed-material clothing?" People will point to Old Testament laws on food and clothing, and then claim the ability to extend similar fluidity to other moral and ethical lines. We will see this Sunday that what feels like a complicated web of determining what ethical laws still stand, Scripture is remarkably clear and helpful for us. This passage stands at the center of that discussion as Peter had to wrestle through God's command to do what stood against some of the OT law.

This passage brings the Apostle Peter back into the narrative as we see his pastoral care for Christians who were scattered throughout the region. We also see the ministry of Jesus extending through Peter in power as he heals a man and raises a woman from the dead. It's a stunning and miraculous set of stories. It also shows us something important for our lives.

Every one of us is fighting against wounds. For some they seem crippling this week. This passage will help us to cope with the reality of pain and suffering in life, and to find hope in a Savior who has the power to overcome it.

This section shows us the immediate aftermath of Saul’s conversion to follow Jesus Christ. In the face of intense pressure and attack, the Church still multiplied. We talk about multiplication a lot at RHC. This passage helps us to see the means God used to multiply the church, which shows us what we can focus on if we want to see His multiplying work in and through us.

This is a critical moment for the early church. We have seen already that Saul was ravaging the church, overseeing the execution of Stephen, and persecuting and arresting Christians. In this text, a crazy turn is taken as Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus. It's a powerful story and helps us to understand what happens in our own salvation. The power of the gospel is on full display for us as we dig in this weekend.

Pastor Chuy preached from Acts with a special focus on evangelism. The past two weeks we have seen Philip's effort with the Samaritans and with the Ethiopian Eunuch. The upcoming chapters show us more stories of individuals coming to follow Jesus in powerful ways. The same Spirit is still moving through God's people today. This week we will explore our part in the story God is writing.

Philip, who was introduced last week, follows God's leading from Samaria to a roadside encounter with an Ethiopian man south of Jerusalem. The evangelism we have seen in Acts thus far was proclamation to large crowds of people. This is the first of a series of individuals' stories that we see in the bigger story of the advancement of God's Word. We have a lot to learn from Philip's approach, as well as from the faith of the Ethiopian man.

We begin with Acts 8:1-25 as we see that the persecution erupted in Jerusalem following the martyrdom of Stephen. The suffering was real and intense, but had an unexpected consequence that the Word of God and the gospel spread beyond the geographic and ethnic lines that we see represented in Acts 1-7. The first chapters of Acts are dominated by the ministry of Peter and the Apostles. In chapter 8 we see the scattered church proclaiming the gospel as Philip brought God's Word to Samaria.

To close the series, Pastor Bill Riedel recapped the journey through the previous weeks and cast vision for the future. This combined a vivid picture of what Jesus has called His Church to, in every time and place, as well as a particular vision for what this church is called to at this time in this place.

With a theological foundation and an understanding of church history, this sermon will turn toward understanding our own story and place in God’s work through history. This will include a survey of Christianity in America, including a clear-eyed look at the role Christians have played in racial division and injustice. It will also look at the history of DC, and work toward an understanding of the historic brokenness of our city, and how the gospel can bring healing and reconciliation.