Introduction to Acts 2 and a reading of the chapter in preparation for Sunday's sermon.

Introduction to Acts 2 and a reading of the chapter in preparation for Sunday's sermon.

On August 6, in the year 1651, Francois de Salignac de La Mothe-Fenelon was born in a small village in France. He would have been unknown to us if it were not his bold, tenacious, and magnetic faith in Christ which earned him the highest honor in the Louis the XIV's court. He lived out his faith in France with such dignity and eloquence that one would write, "His eloquence was winning rather than vehement." Fenelon impacted many people in France. His faith was intoxicating. What makes a person attractive like that? We are about to start a very exciting new series through the book of Acts. It's the earliest account we have of the early church and it's powerful influence in the Romana empire at the turn of the century. It all starts with a proclamation. Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." The entire world will be different when the Holy Spirit comes upon Jesus followers who move forward in their faith, gaining new ground by loving people and living out faith with a fiery and attractive force unknown to man. It's an unstoppable force. Unstoppable Forward Momentum begins now.

See you Sunday,

Todd

The Church over the ages has been through more remodels than most of your homes. We’ve experienced the high church. We've seen the new fad worship style church. We dropped Sunday school hour for adults. We’ve updated from donuts and coffee to croissants and lattes. We’ve added smoke, banners, flag wavers. We even tried painting in church. That was short lived. Why would someone paint in the corner while a sermon is being preached? The big churches have steadily grown, adding restaurants, lakes, landing pads, and children centers that rival Lego Land. Other churches have chosen to divide and meet at separate locations. We call that multi siting. The church now can meet in a bar, a school, an industrial building, and even on a beach, maybe your home! Through all the changes, the church that Jesus promised to inhabit is still God’s church on earth. It’s the only institution that Jesus established on this earth that Jesus started. And if he started it, it’s the place He is best seen. And through it all, there is still one fundamental objective for the church - BE SALT AND LIGHT FOR THE WORLD. Matthew 5:13-16 will be our text this weekend as we look at where the River is headed and how we become salt and light for the world around us. Here’s my premise that may entice you to join us. The church fully alive, fully functioning and fully committed is the church of salt and light. When the church sparkles, hums and delivers, we add flavor and hope.

Todd

This weekend, I would like to speak to you about what I learned this summer. I went into the summer pretty much toast and can honestly say I feel refreshed. From toast to refreshed. How did that happen? By the way, if I still felt like toast, I would honestly have told you that as well. I'm not sugar coating this. How do we go from 0 to 60 or 55? By acceleration? Or gradual? I felt like my friend and writer, John Ortberg, who said, "I am disappointed with myself...I have a nagging sense that all is not as it should be." Ever felt like you have missed out on the life you were appointed by God to live? We have several problems. One is thinking that a single decision seals the deal. The other is thinking that our spiritual lives are separate from the rest of our life. But it really is possible to live the life God has for you. CS Lewis reminds us, "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses..." Lewis is talking about the fact that every person has the god-given potential of becoming a beautiful creature of sorts. We aren't ordinary. We have the potential for more. See you Sunday.

I suspect I'll be back at it for part 2 next week as well. Then we begin a very exciting series on the Holy Spirit from the book of Acts. It's about the powerful presence of the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of our first century brothers and sisters. Capture the Spirit, live in the moment and watch God work. That's essentially what Acts is about.

Todd

If you've lived a bit, it doesn't take long to realize that life has a way of bringing unexpected challenges, or opportunities as some would say. They come in all shapes and sizes! As you look at this season, have you faced something insurmountable? Perhaps a task or situation felt bigger than you? Gideon, from Judges 6-8, is a great example of this, and what he does to face his own situation is something we can all learn from. Soren Kerkegaard once said, "A person's greatest achievement is to let God help him/her". Let's begin by asking God to help us!

Angel Ruiz

Doubting Thomas. Not a great nickname for a disciple of Jesus, but this is usually the nickname we associate with Thomas. However, there is so much more to Thomas. As I hope to show this weekend, Thomas was a radical follower of Jesus; so radical in fact, John's gospel account highlights his confession as the ultimate confession of faith amongst all the disciples. And like all radical followers of Jesus, we learn through Thomas more about the personhood of Jesus and our purpose in the world.

Matt

This summer we have received an up-close look at the people that God puts to work. I hope you have been surprised, encouraged, and intrigued at the character of our God and the nature of God's work in the world. This week we will look at Elizabeth. She only appears in the first chapter of the gospel of Luke, but she plays a hugely significant role in God's Kingdom. Therefore, do not be misled by her little press coverage from the biblical authors; she is a person we all should emulate. Her strong conviction and steadfast faithfulness make her the perfect person for God to put to work to accomplish God's plan of salvation for the whole world.

Matt

It is one thing to stand on the shore at Torrance Beach and dream of surfing big waves, or stand up paddling, or sailing off to Catalina and beyond. It is a very different experience to actually move out into deeper water where we are confronted with bigger surf, bigger wind, and bigger fish. This is the call of Jesus to Simon Peter in Luke 5. The invitation of Jesus consistently prompts us to move from shallow into deeper water as we follow him as a disciple. It will be scary, but the thrill is worth it. Our all beach service will include what Peter did, welcoming home our Hume Lake students and staff, their testimonies, and baptisms.

Bill

Last year, I saw the coolest thing at one of the millions of Redondo Beach 5K's: while the masses ran in one direction, three people dressed in trout costumes were running in the opposite direction through the crowd of joggers. Ha! What a cool shenanigan! Running upstream; against the grain; defying the agreed-upon marathon mores. This weekend as we meet a few of the fascinating folks in the Apostle Paul's ministry network, we meet a mismatched, passionate team running in a very different direction than the ancient Mediterranean masses! Where were they going? Why where they going? And what does any of

it have to do with us? Join us on the beach or at Norris as we meet meet St. Paul's motley ministry crew! The rebel inside you will be glad you did :)

James