In this message we look at Isaiah’s image of a shoot growing out of a dead stump—a picture of how God brings life where we’ve already declared the story over. Israel was collapsing, hope was thin, yet God promised a humble Messiah from Jesse’s line who would carry justice, peace, and renewal for the whole world. We feel those “stump moments” too: places in our lives, families, or culture that seem beyond repair. Isaiah points us to Jesus—the Root of Jesse—who isn’t just an inspiring figure but the One who holds everything together and brings real life into the places we’ve written off. Advent teaches us to turn our eyes from ourselves toward Christ, the One who makes dead things live again.

We continue our Advent journey with “O Lord of Might,” the ancient cry that remembers the God who rescued Israel and reveals Jesus as that same redeeming Lord. Throughout Scripture, Adonai is the warrior who saves—powerful in judgment, rich in mercy, and faithful to deliver His people. In Christ we see this fullness: gentle and gracious, yet the One who will return to judge evil and make all things new. This week invites us to take that portrait seriously—not to fear evil, because Jesus conquers it, but to fear drifting toward the very sin He opposes. The Lord of Might stands ready to redeem, lead, and strengthen all who call on His name.

In this Advent teaching on O Sapientia — O Wisdom — we explore what it means to grow in godly discernment. Wisdom in Scripture isn’t just knowledge but the ability to taste and recognize what leads to life. Isaiah points to the One who embodies perfect wisdom—Jesus, the shoot from the stump of Jesse. In Him, we learn to perceive, practice, and proclaim wisdom, allowing His Spirit to shape our desires, decisions, and way of life.

Acts shows us what happens when ordinary people are filled with the Holy Spirit and sent by Jesus. The gospel advances not through comfort or human strength, but through surrendered lives and bold witness. As we follow Paul’s journey to Rome and the early church’s testimony, we are reminded that the same Spirit empowers us today to share Christ and make disciples wherever we go.

Paul’s shipwreck and suffering in Acts 27–28 reveal a peace that transcends circumstance. In this episode, we talk about what it means to endure with hope, to see storms as sacred, and to live with “passionate patience” in a culture addicted to immediacy.

When storms rise, Paul shows us what it means to trust God in the middle of them. From imprisonment and shipwreck to standing before kings, his story reveals that suffering is not a detour from God’s plan—it’s the very soil where faith grows strong. Through patient endurance and a non-anxious presence, Paul turns every trial into testimony and every hardship into hope.

Pastor Ciprian Balta and his family left security in the U.S. for Ireland, not by plan but by providence. This is a story of reluctant obedience that became joyful calling.

In Acts 23 and 24, Paul stands in the middle of his legal and spiritual trial, facing false accusations and strong opposition from both religious and political leaders. Yet even in confinement, his message remains free and his mission unstoppable. Before the Sanhedrin, Paul boldly declares his clear conscience before God and reveals that the true reason for his trial is his hope in the resurrection of the dead. Jesus appears to him, saying, “Take courage…you must also testify in Rome,” reminding Paul that his life is directed by divine purpose, not human plots.  Through it all, Paul remains steadfast—a faithful witness whose calling continues even in chains.

In Acts 21, we encounter a powerful moment in Paul’s life as he journeys toward Jerusalem, “constrained by the Spirit,” knowing imprisonment and suffering await him. Though believers along the way receive prophetic warnings and plead with him not to go, Paul remains steadfast, saying he is ready “not only to be imprisoned but even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.” This passage reveals a key truth about the Spirit’s work: revelation may be clear, but interpretation and application require humility and community discernment. Paul listens carefully yet stays obedient to what he has discerned, modeling courage and submission. In the end, the believers surrender and say, “Let the will of the Lord be done,” reminding us that the Spirit’s purpose is not to control or confuse, but to guide us together into truth, love, and faithful obedience.Clarity Through Humility & Unity

In Acts 19–20, Paul’s ministry in Ephesus shows the gospel’s power to transform lives and entire communities. Through faithful teaching, miracles, and repentance, the name of Jesus is lifted high and the Word of the Lord continues to increase and prevail mightily. As Paul prepares to depart, he urges the Ephesian elders to lead with humility, endurance, and generosity—reminding them it is more blessed to give than to receive. His example calls us to live out the gospel with courage, compassion, and full surrender to Christ