Find out more about us at revivearvada.org

In this message from Romans 8:28–39, we are reminded that God is not distant or passive in our lives, but actively working in every circumstance to accomplish His good purposes. That “good” is not a promise of an easy or pain-free life, but that we would be formed into the image of Jesus. Even in suffering, nothing is wasted. God uses both the highs and the hardships to shape us, grow us, and deepen our trust in Him. Because our salvation is fully initiated and secured by God from beginning to end, we can live with unshakable confidence. If God is for us, no opposition can ultimately stand against us, no accusation can stick, and no circumstance can separate us from His love. The result is a life marked not by fear or control, but by surrender, trust, and the deep assurance that we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.

Find out more about us at revivearvada.org

 In this message from Romans 8:14–28, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit meets us right in the middle of a broken and suffering world, giving us confidence, identity, and hope. Paul calls us to “do the math” and see that our present suffering, while real and painful, cannot compare to the future glory that is coming. We are not alone in our struggle, all of creation is groaning for restoration, and yet we groan with hope, like childbirth that leads to new life. Through it all, the Spirit assures us that we are adopted children of God, invites us to cry out to Him as our Father, and even intercedes for us when we don’t have the words to pray. Because of this, we can trust that God is at work in every circumstance, using even our suffering to accomplish His good and perfect purposes in us. 

Find out more about us at revivearvada.org

This sermon unpacks Romans 8 by contrasting the struggle of life in the flesh with the freedom found in the Spirit. After reminding us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ, it explains that while our justification is secure and immediate, our transformation is an ongoing process that requires active cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Paul shows that what we set our minds on determines the direction of our lives, either toward death through the flesh or toward life and peace through the Spirit. Because the same Spirit who raised Jesus now lives in us, we have both a new identity and new power to overcome sin. The call, then, is clear: stop feeding the flesh, set your mind on the things of the Spirit, and actively put sin to death, not out of fear or obligation, but in response to the love and freedom we have already received in Christ.

Find out more about us at revivearvada.org

Romans 8 paints a powerful picture of what it means to live a true Resurrection Life, not just celebrating what Jesus did in the past, but experiencing His transforming power right now. At the core of this chapter are two life-changing truths: in Christ, there is no condemnation and no separation. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are fully accepted by God, not based on our performance, but on His finished work. And through the Holy Spirit, we are given the power to walk in new life, breaking free from sin and stepping into ongoing transformation. This means we don’t have to live stuck in guilt, shame, or old patterns. Instead, we can live with confidence, knowing we are deeply loved, fully forgiven, and forever secure in God’s presence.

Find out more about us at revivearvada.org

This week’s passage in Acts 4:32–5:11 reveals both the beauty and the weight of life in a Spirit-filled church. The early believers were marked by deep unity and radical generosity, living with open hands as they trusted God as the true owner of everything. In contrast, Ananias and Sapphira exposed how easily pride and the desire for appearance can corrupt our motives, reminding us that God cares not just about what we do, but why we do it. Their story underscores that sin is serious, especially within the life of the church, and calls us to live with integrity, repentance, and reverence for God. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to walk in step with the Holy Spirit, cultivating genuine generosity, honest hearts, and a deeper awareness of God’s presence among us. 

Find out more about us at revivearvada.org

Pastor Bill Eliff’s message from Acts 4:23–31 highlights that opposition to the gospel is inevitable, but believers have access to an inexhaustible source of boldness through prayer and the filling of the Holy Spirit. After being threatened by religious leaders, the early church gathered together and responded not with fear but with unified prayer, acknowledging God’s sovereignty over all things. Instead of asking for protection from hardship, they asked God for greater boldness to speak His Word and for His power to continue working through signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. In response to their prayer, God filled them with the Holy Spirit, and they proclaimed the gospel with courage. The passage demonstrates a powerful pattern: when believers pray and depend on God, the Spirit fills them and empowers them to live and speak with boldness. 

Find out more about us at revivearvada.org

 In Acts 4:1–22, Peter and John face their first real persecution after healing a man and boldly proclaiming that the miracle happened through the power of Jesus. Arrested and brought before the same religious council that condemned Jesus, they are asked by what authority they acted. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter declares that the man was healed in the name of Jesus Christ, the very one the leaders rejected but whom God raised from the dead. He boldly proclaims that salvation is found in no one else, because there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. Though Peter and John were ordinary, untrained men, the leaders recognized that they had been with Jesus. Even when threatened and ordered to stop speaking about Him, they refused, declaring they could not help but speak of what they had seen and heard. Their courage shows that a church on fire stands firm under pressure, trusting that the hard moments of faithfulness often become the very places where God produces gospel fruit. 

Find out more about us at revivearvada.org

 In Acts 3:11–4:4, Peter uses the miraculous healing of the lame man as a doorway to proclaim Jesus, not himself. He boldly reminds the crowd that the power on display belongs to Christ alone, the Servant of Yahweh, the Author of Life whom they rejected but whom God raised from the dead. Yet Peter’s message is not condemnation but invitation. He calls them to repent and turn back so their sins may be completely blotted out and erased, not partially covered, and so they may experience “times of refreshing” from the presence of the Lord. True repentance is more than guilt or fear of consequences. It is turning toward God in trust, receiving full forgiveness, and walking in renewed relationship with Him. The gospel impacts our past through total cleansing, our present through spiritual renewal, and our future through the promise of full restoration. Even in the face of opposition, the message of repentance leads to belief, freedom, and transformed lives. 

Find out more about us at revivearvada.org

This week’s message in Church on Fire explored the healing of the lame beggar in Acts 3, reminding us that miracles are not the destination but signs that point to Jesus and the deeper work God is doing. Through Peter and John’s encounter at the Beautiful Gate, we see how God restores dignity, brings healing, and draws people toward Himself, showing that the greatest miracle is not physical healing but spiritual restoration through Christ. While God still moves with power today, miracles ultimately reveal His character, awaken wonder and awe, and point us to a future hope where suffering is fully undone. The sermon challenged us to trust that God gives us what we truly need, to pray boldly for healing, and to pursue the God behind the miracle rather than the miracle itself. 

Find out more about us at revivearvada.org