The Valwood Park Sermon Podcast

After healing a man who has been crippled since birth, Peter and John are explaining the source of the miracle in the temple complex when the religious officials descend on the crowd. For the first time, the leaders of the early church are put in direct confrontation with the same Jewish officials who saw Jesus crucified. Will Peter and John back down to their intimidation, or will they hold their ground?

As we celebrate 70 years of ministry together, we reflect on Moses' famous commands in Deuteronomy 6. In it, we are confronted with the command to love the Lord and teach the next generation to do the same. We are encouraged by those who have done this for us, and challenged to do it for those ahead of us.

Having just healed the lame man, Peter and John cause a loud commotion in the temple complex. They take the large crowds outside to Solomon’s Portico, where Peter explains the true source of this man’s healing, confronts the people with their rejection of the power behind this act, and calls them to repentance.

As our journey through Acts continues, the church is exploding. It has just grown from 120 to 3,100 overnight. The people are relentless in their commitment to Christ. 

In chapter three, Luke gives us the first glimpse into how this new spiritual life is impacting the community around them, all through the story of a man who has never been able to stand on his own two feet.

Now that the Holy Spirit has arrived, he is transforming both the hearts of his people and the relationships between them. As we reach the end of Acts 2, Luke explains the nature of this new community known as the church.

In the wake of the Holy Spirit’s dramatic arrival, Peter addresses the growing number of onlookers who have witnessed this event. Some ask, “What does this mean?” while others dismiss the believers as drunks. He makes it clear that this is the culmination of God’s promises throughout the Old Testament.

When you consider the unmatched majesty of God, it can be intimidating – even frightening. But throughout the Psalms, we see examples of God’s people confidently approaching him with their worship, their requests, and even their shame. This week, we look at one of those examples in Psalm 130.

As Jerusalem bursts at the seams with travelers in town for the Pentecost festival, the Holy Spirit finally lands on the believers who have been prayerfully waiting. It creates a commotion that takes the busy city by surprise and offers a glimpse of what’s ahead for the early church.

A Special Note: This week's sermon contains some audio and video issues. As a result of a failing HVAC unit, we had to move our service to another venue. We apologize in advance.

Now that Jesus has ascended to the Father, the period of waiting begins. In the meantime, the church finally deals with an issue that has yet to be settled - what should they do about Judas’ betrayal and who will replace him? It also brings up a bigger question - why did Jesus ever allow such evil into his inner circle to begin with?

Beginning this Sunday, we’re unpacking the story of the early church in the book of Acts! This is the first of three parts, looking at the church’s beginnings. In the process, we will see who we were designed to be and how we’re called to glorify Christ together. 

A Special Note: This week's sermon contains some audio and video issues. As a result of a failing HVAC unit, we had to move our service to another venue. We apologize in advance.