Have you ever gone to church and found it hard to get connected? One of the most valuable gifts in the Body of Christ are those unselfish folks who recognize that "I"m new here look" and reach out with warmth and openness to new people. In the first century the Jerusalem church almost closed the door on the man who would become one of the church's most influential teachers. Turn to Acts 9 and let's explore together how the persecutor became the proclaimer.

Imagine the worst thing that could happen to you! Would it mean that God's plans had come crashing down? I feel like that when bad things happen, but that's why this week’s lesson "Blindness from Heaven" is so important. When Stephen was stoned in the first century it looked like God was against the ropes, but turn to Acts 9. God was about to choose a new champion for Christ.

Mention Ethiopia and famine immediately comes to mind. What needs to come to mind is explosive church growth, like the early days in the Book of Acts. When a one-party communist state was instituted in 1974, evangelical Christianity was outlawed. When freedom came to Ethiopia in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Block, the number of evangelical believers in the country had doubled from four million to eight million. How was the Church born in this country? Who brought them the good news? What difference should it make in our lives this week? Turn to Acts 8:26-40 and let's take a look at the birth of the Ethiopian Church.

James Arthur Ray used to rake in millions teaching his secret to success and wholeness. He was welcomed on Oprah and Larry King. Now for the next twelve years he will have to persuade inmates about his success. A jury in Arizona convicted him of involuntary manslaughter in the death of three during his Sweat Lodge Ceremony. How can you know when The Secret is delivered to you that it's a lie? Let's find out as Acts 8 uncovers the con of a first century James Ray.

I thought Jesus' followers were supposed to be known for their love feasts, not for their slug fests. Have you ever experiences a church fight? If so, then before you move down the road, you must listen to what Dr. Luke has to say in Acts 6 about the first church fight. Listen, you might learn how to further the Kingdom, instead of tearing it apart.

We discovered this week what happens when people become possessed by the thousands with the spirit of freedom. The crowd could be seen from space and the jubilation could be felt around the world. The spirit of freedom is contagious and it was a more powerful Spirit that gripped the first century believers in Jerusalem. Can we tap into that same Spirit today? Acts 2:41ff exposes us to the basics to Essential Church 101.

Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen are exploding, Dallas' Super Bowl was stymied by ice and snow, and the rest of the country to the east followed suit. Who is control of this planet anyhow? Contrary to popular opinion the Apostle Peter does not believe that human power or blind fate is at the controls. Instead his message at Pentecost to over three thousands Jews faces us to decide who we believe is actually in control. Listen.

It's Super Bowl week in Dallas and Jerry Jones and the rest of the NFL are doing everything they can to get everyone "Up" for the Big Game between the Packers and the Steelers. The world press core is here. Dallas Convention center is filled with the NFL Experience, and every hotel from Dallas to Fort Worth is decked in Packer or Steelers colors or both. What did God do to get Christ's followers up for the biggest assignment in history? Turn to Acts 2 and let's see if we can discover some fresh wind and fresh fire.