Stapleton Baptist Church

Chapter 7 of Daniel brings us to the climax of the book. Daniel's vision sums up the message of the book: the kingdoms of this world will rise and fall, but the kingdom of God will last forever. It's no surprise that we find Jesus right at the center of this truth. He is the Son of Man who is given full and final dominion from the Ancient of Days. And we as the saints will receive and possess the kingdom forever!

This week we take a look at a principle we find developing in Daniel's story: dual citizenship. As Christians we are both citizens of an earthly kingdom and citizens of God's heavenly kingdom. What does God expect of his people as they remain faithful to him but also work for the good of the people and community he has placed them in.  Let's find out in Jeremiah 29!

Paul exhorts the elders in Ephesus to be bold in their gospel proclamation, serious in the way they approach God's Word, and generous in their relationships with others. Through beatings, imprisonment, trials, and shipwreck, Paul arrives at Rome, and boldly proclaims God's Word. He is able to do this, unhindered, because Christ is Lord and King. Believers today, taking God at His Word, can boldly proclaim the kingdom of God because our King is on the throne.

Paul's three years in Ephesus show us the long-term impact believers can make through daily faithfulness to Christ. Overtime, the gospel should transform both our personal lives and the communities we live in. And it happens through placing Jesus at the center of it all.

Acts 17 is noticeably absent of miracles, yet people still get saved. We find Paul reasoning with people, but doing so in an intentional and winsome way.  He engages people in three different cities, with different cultures, and receives three different responses. This chapter instructs us in how to engage the wide variety of people around us with the Gospel. 

In Acts 16 we discover the start of the church at Philippi. We see it all began with a wealthy business woman, a formerly possessed slave girl, and a Roman jail. Not necessarily your ideal church planting team! But we get to see the triumph of the gospel as it penetrates every barrier and transforms those individuals from different backgrounds and situations. We see the universal appeal and the unifying effect of the gospel!

Acts 15 serves as both the technical center and the theological center of the book. The question is finally settled over what to do with the Gentiles and the Law. This account gives us a great example of godly leaders protecting the truth and purity of the Gospel while also protecting the unity and fellowship of the church.

This week we study Paul's first missionary journey found in Acts 13 & 14. We see the gospel advance and engage with different cultures, religions, and worldviews. Some people receive the truth, some people reject. But through it all Paul and Barnabas serve as godly examples of Christian determination and perseverance when it comes to the mission of God.

Between Acts 11 and 13 we get a glimpse of a new gospel community being started in the city of Antioch. We don't know exactly who started the church there, but we do know the eternal impact of their work. The church of Antioch ends up being one of the most influential churches in the history of Christianity. But what's even more amazing is that they did it through the same exact means available to us still today!

In Acts 10 we see the good news of the Gospel being extended to even the Gentiles. In fact, they receive the very same Spirit that the Jews did on the day of Pentecost. God makes it clear to the Apostle Peter that there is no longer any distinction between Jew and Gentile. Both people have now bene made into one new man through the power of the cross!