Pastor Carlos

Acts 12: 1-16

Read Acts 12:1-16

Injustice: Because they were preaching the gospel of Christ, the disciples were persecuted, punished, and some were killed.

Purpose: It can be a bit difficult trying to find God's purpose during difficult situations. In Acts 12, the church was going through a very difficult situation. They realize that Peter is in prison, probably he can be dead soon. The church responds in prayer.

Principles about prayer

1. Pray together (Acts 1:14)

2. Pray intensely (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

3. Pray for others (John 17:21)

4. Pray to God (Isaiah 56:7)

God's answer to the needs of the world's difficulties was his church, with a specific purpose to be a house of prayer.

2 Chronicles 7:14

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Pastor Mark Fuller

Acts 8-10

Hinderances are the same today as they were in the early church.

Let's identify them & ask the Holy Spirit to remove them so a new generation of outsiders will feel welcome among us, today & always.

Philip - Prioritize my preferences (Acts 8:26-40)

Saul - Religious blind spots (Acts 9:3-9)

Peter - Deep seated prejudices (Acts 10:9-11)

The common denominator: It has to be the work of the Holy Spirit, dying to self, submitting & cooperating with Him.

Two action steps:

1 - Give up personal preference this week to serve an outsider.

2 - Initiate a relationship with someone who has a different worldview than you.

Read Acts 8-10 (NLT)

Pastor David Morrison

Acts 6:1-7

“So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to

Because this is what we pursue in our lives – we want to thrive and see growth – we want to see things that we put our hands on to grow.

I started to reflect on certain blind spots and temptations I have that leads to the death of things that I love…things that matter. This is why I

am calling our talk today….“Five Ways That Kill A ____________” (You Fill-In-The-Blank, Marriage, Family, Friendship, Church).

Here are the five ways, I think, you can kill what you love/what's important:

1 - Allow distraction to neglect your why

2 - Lead in ways that make sense to you

3 - Never talk about your problems

4 - Only manage what you can control - don't share

5 - Focus on self-preservation, at all costs

Selfishness is the enemy of our vision, our values, our mission. Are you dying to self, so that God's purpose for your life, your marriage, your

Read Acts 6:1-7 (NIV)

Pastor Dale Benson

Acts 5:12-42

Happy Father’s Day!

Last week Pastor John kicked off our summer series Rivers and Roads in the city of Jerusalem. We saw Peter and John healing the lame man at the entrance to the temple. They end up before the Sanhedrin. There is such an uproar or praise to God that the Sanhedrin can’t do anything to Peter and John, so when they get back and tell the church, everyone begins praising again and they are filled with the Holy Spirit, and they all go out and begin sharing the good news. That is some awesome stuff right there. And for a minute it gets even better.

Acts 4:31-37 (NLT) - Let’s stop here for a second. This sounds like Utopia doesn’t it? Everyone just shared what they had.

Acts 5:1-11 (NLT)

11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.

I know that at times people read this passage, and we can make it about money. The reality is, this passage is about lying and posturing, and attempting to impress people and fool God. This is not day one of the church, but it is pretty early, and we already find hypocrites at church. Don’t stop going to church because there are hypocrites there.

God’s apparent lack of response to sin in your life is not evidence that God doesn’t know or care what is going on in your life.

Acts 5:40-42 (NLT)

Pastor John Keating

Acts 3:1-10

Are you headed to a body of water, lake, river, ocean…this summer? Wherever you’re headed, you’ll find a connection to the Book of Acts – as we go through this journey together, of Rivers & Roads.

How many times do we find ourselves on a road or in a river, not where/how we want to be? Looking for help, and/or needing saved.

Acts 3:4 – Jesus talking to men on a road to Emmaus, Zacharias in a tree… He always shows up, even on the rivers, on the roads.

Acts 3:6 – Peter understands what it means to share Christ. He knows that he can help this man because of the rivers and roads he’s been through/on.

He traveled that road so that we can have hope, so that we could be saved.

Redirect your path to bring the healing that you’ve so desperately been in need of.

Join us in celebrating our 2021 Graduates!

Pastor Dale Benson

1 Colossians 4:2-6

Let your conversations be always...

Full of Grace

Seasoned with Salt

Salt preserves, heals...

Paul's letter: Salt "refrigerated," "seasoned,"..."Neosporin" - of its time

Does it need to be said? Does it need to be said right now? Is now the time?

Does it need to be said by me?

"Taste & see that the Lord is good!" -Psalm 34:8

Pastor Dale Benson

Acts 2:37-41

Read Acts 2:37-41

What the Holy Spirit is not:

A spiritual replacement

A physical discipline replacement

A way to gain "super powers"

When we're filled with the Holy Spirit, there's opportunity where we have the power to witness for Christ.

Live boldly.

Pastor David Morrison

Acts 1:15-26

Read Acts 1:15-26

A Christian call is our belief that God has a purpose for us, that He will reveal as we follow Him.

God has a purpose for your life.

"If God calls you to be a minister, don't stoop to becoming a king."

-Spurgeon

We find the call to follow Jesus develops not just from following Jesus but to teach others to follow him, too.

A few insights about the early church that this passage reveals:

1- Peter Assumes Position Of Authority In Early Church (v.15)

2- Men And Woman Hold Positions Of Authority In The Early Church (v.14)

3- Jesus Had Them Wait In A Dangerous Place (v.4)

4- Scripture Guided Their Decisions (v.20)

5- They Called A New Apostle Out Of The Group (v.23)

6- Prior To The Holy Spirit They Prayed And Cast Lots (v. 24-26)

God often chooses people who don't feel like they are up to the task. He calls you out of your comfort zone.

Pastor Dale Benson

Acts 1:1-14

He gives us instructions through this story:

1. Do not leave

2. You will be baptized by the Holy Spirit

3. What about restoring Israel? Is it time?

-What about healing America, is it time?

4. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you

5. You will be my witness

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Martureo - Martyr

We also look at Acts 22:19-20

6. They prayed constantly and in unity

Are you in prayer, united with others? Constantly talking to Jesus?