Melissa: We were recently talking about things that have changed since our early Christian lives. I focused a lot on DOING rather than BEING. I could really relate to Martha. And if I weren’t doing enough, I’d feel bad about myself. God taught me a lot through that – and I know I was being obedient to Him – but recently I’ve started focusing on how much God loves me, regardless of how much ...

After a long, somewhat heavy and in-depth series on Acts – we are going to focus on some personal issues that relate to spiritual growth and the transformation of our souls. This is the thing that God is most concerned about now – that His people would be transformed and the Church would be transformed – because as that happens, His gospel will spread throughout the world. I think this lack of transformation might be one of the ...

Today we will be looking at the Spirit leading and guiding – which happened often in the early church in the Scripture.

There is some very clear guidance at times:

Acts 8: 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to this chariot and join it.“

The Spirit said!

19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 "But get up, go downstairs ...

Acts 20:17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.

Ephesus was 60 miles away (a bit shorter if by sea) – but it would have taken the elders a few days to get there.

18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 ...

Acts 17:30

30 "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,

Several of the gospel messages in Acts mention REPENTANCE.

Does the gospel require that we repent?

Back in the 70s, when I was on campus at Ohio State – Campus preachers would yell at people to REPENT! And they would name specific sins – and it was really rude.

Were they doing what the ...

Melissa: I saw a story on IG recently that stuck with me and has made me think about how we see–or don’t see–people.

It’s from Carlos Whittaker who is a speaker, writer, podcaster–but really someone who has trained himself to see people. He travels a lot, and one day he and his wife, Heather, were in the airport headed home. Here is the picture, the conversation they had, and the ...

Acts 4:32 The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind,[cc] and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common.[cd] 33 With[ce] great power the apostles were giving testimony[cf] to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. 34 For there was no one needy[cg] among them, because those who were owners ...

John: We’re focusing on the early church in Acts – the practice of the Church shortly after Jesus ascended.

Acts 2:42 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The teaching of the apostles – we think of Sunday school or Bible study – and not often to think of the context of what they had – They didn’t have the gospels – the ...