This week we continue in our study through the book of Acts looking at the tail end of Paul's second missionary journey in Corinth and Ephesus. In Corinth, the Apostle Paul receives a promise, "And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, 'Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people” (Acts 18:9-10).

This promise has implications that fortify and assure us in our faith. The promise that no physical harm will befall Paul was a specific promise given to him during his time in Corinth, not a binding promise for his life. The principle of this promise is true however, for every follower of Jesus. Jesus promises all his followers protection and presence. Jesus has protected al his people from the ultimate harm, the greatest attack, the worse punishment in the gospel. He is our defended from our greatest enemies: sin, Satan, and death. Jesus has also promised to never leave us nor forsake. He will be with all of His people always until the end of the age. This promise of Jesus catalyzes faithful perseverance and comfort weary hearts. It energizes and enlivens progressive growth and become more like Jesus. It encourages and eases our worries and fears. The hope of the gospel is that God is for us and that He is with us. As we revel in this promise it leads to our increasing joy, peace, and flourishing.  

As we continue in our study through the book of Acts, we come to the story of Paul in Athens at the Areopagus or Mars Hill. Paul was provoked at the idolatry his saw in Athens. This distress doesn't cause him to be distant, but to dive in as he persuades and reasons with the Jews and Greeks. Finally, he proclaims the gospel and calls his hearers to repentance and faith.

In response to this story we pray for alignment with the heart of God. We pray that what incites God, would incite and provoke us. We don't just pray for alignment of heart, but alignment of speech, perception, and persuasion. We want to care about the way that we speak, seeking to be persuasive, not pushy. We seek to reason, not retreat. We also seek to grow in relating to others in order that we might proclaim the good news of Jesus in a way that others will understand and have the ability to respond to.

The divine being is not like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art of imagination of human beings. He's formed and made in the very likeness of God. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He calls all people to believe in Jesus, to change their mind about who's in the center of their life, and to have their believes conform with His Word.

As we continue in our study of Acts, we continue in the missionary journey of Paul and Silas. They come to the cities of Thessalonica and Berea where Luke, the author of Acts, described different responses to the message about Jesus. Paul reasoned, explained, proved, proclaimed, and persuaded from the Scriptures about the great story of the gospel. We see that the receptivity of the message of the gospel wasn't up to Paul. In a similar way, the receptivity of the gospel isn't up to us. We are responsible for the delivery of the good news about Jesus, but the receptivity of its hearers depends upon the work and grace of God. The biblical preaching of the gospel turned the world upside down and continues to change our lives as well. The message of the gospel doesn't change, but the way in which the gospel is delivered changes. Jesus meets us where we're at, so we want to meet others where they're at.

This week as we continue in our study through the book of Acts we come to a story in the ministry of Paul and Silas in Philippi. It's a story about forgiveness, grace, and self-sacrificial love. In Acts 16:16-40 we find three principles of what it means to believe in Jesus. Belief in Jesus both confronts and comforts us, it cements and cultivates, and it converts and conforms. What we believe affects how we live. This story calls us to believe in Jesus. He didn't use us, but gave Himself up in love for us. He has helped us, helps us continually, and has promised to help us. He has given us the eternal reward of knowing Him and enjoying Him forever.

We continue this morning in our study through the book of Acts looking at Acts 16:1-15. As we consider the story of Timothy joining Paul and Lila, the Macedonian Call, and the Conversion of Lydia we find three principles that describe and shape what it means to live missionally. We live in accordance and alignment with the missions of God as our decisions are motivated by love. Missional living is not only motivated by love, but marked by the Holy Spirit. Our lives and activities are managed, guided, and directed by the Spirit of God. Thirdly, missional living is made possible by grace. As the Lord opened Lydia's heart to believe, we trust that God in His grace, will continue to initiate, empower, and comfort us as we grow as followers of Jesus and call others to follow Him.

How does the person and work of Jesus shape and frame sex and sexuality? How does the gospel apply to sex?

Join us for a seminar on sex and sexuality where we’ll explore how the claims of Christianity affect and apply to sexuality. We’ll consider the meaning of sex and how the teaching of Jesus frames how we think and engage with it. We’ll be providing a time for Q&A after the time of teaching.

This week as we continue in our study through the book of Acts we consider the council in Jerusalem in Acts 15. Acts 15 is at the center of the book of Acts, not only in its position, but in its importance and implications for the church. In our story today we see that the gospel is questioned, clarified, confirmed, and multiplied. Some of the Jewish believers begin to teach that it is necessary to circumcise the Gentile Christians and order them to keep the law of Moses. Peter replies, "God has cleansed their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:9). He later proclaims, "But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will" (Acts 15:11). The gospel is that forgiveness and cleansing is offered in Christ and received by faith. Salvation is by grace alone. As a church we want to keep the gospel central in our life, practices, decisions, and community. We want to make decisions in and from careful consideration of the Word of God. We believe that the Mosaic law has been fulfilled by Christ and we get to walk in the freedom of forgiveness, motivated by the law of Christ.

As we continue in our study through the book of Acts, this week we come to Acts 14. Paul and Barnabas continue on their missionary journey to Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. In our text this morning we see that suffering and opposition will come to gospel ministry, but opposition invites opportunities for perseverance and boldly share the Word of grace. Suffering will not always be. The healings in Acts show Jesus' power to make sad things come untrue. They give us pictures into what life will look like when the Kingdom of Heaven is finally and fully realized. Even in the midst of a world of suffering, good things bear witness to the goodness and grace of God. Finally we see that growth in grace happens through suffering. Followers of Jesus are not to be caught off guard, but expect suffering. The path that leads to glory is through suffering.

"When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." - Acts 14:21-22

This week as we continue in our study through the book of Acts, we consider the story of Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia. After the missionary team is invited to give a word of encouragement at the synagogue, Paul gives a message about Jesus being the promised offspring to David. "After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and urging them to continue in the grace of God" (Acts 13:43). Luke, the author of Acts, summarizes their message as "The grace of God." The grace of God is not just what an individual believes in to become a follower of Jesus. The grace of God is what all followers continue in as they mature and grow in their faith. Growing as a Christian can be described as "growth in grace." It's the grace of God that not only brings salvation, but teaches us to become more like Jesus. "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age" (Titus 2:11-12).

This week as we continue in our study through the book of Acts we consider the story of the church in Antioch sending out Barnabas and Saul and their mission to Cyprus. "As they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off" (Acts 13:2-3). We pray that, similar to the proconsul, many would believe in Jesus because they are astonished at the teaching of the Lord. We pray God would raise up men and women in our church that the Spirit would set apart and send to help others follow Jesus. In response to the story in Acts, we are invited to take the love and grace of God to our neighbors and support the work of sending to the nations. At the end of the sermon, Daniel shares some highlights and pictures from his trip to Frankfurt, Germany. If you'd like to learn more about the trip, support the work of Main Projekt, or missions in general, please reach out to us!