Wawasee Bible Podcast

Two hard situations, two miracles, one savior. God calls us by name, and God is always near whether it appears so or not. Jesus heals and saves by grace and grace alone, we never earn it. In this message from Acts 9:32-43 Peter is used by God in two miracles. God's love for broken and hurting people is evident as Peter seeks out a paralyzed man named Aeneas to show him the love of Jesus. In the second miracle Jesus again shows why he is our resurrection and life. God is never about beating us down but always rescuing, forgiving, redeeming, and raising us up.

After Jesus revealed himself to Saul, we begin to see the outworking of his grace in Saul's life. Saul is radically changed from a persecutor of Christians to a powerful evangelist for the Gospel. God's grace revealed Jesus to Saul and gave him the opportunity to start anew (just as he does for us!). Saul leaves Damascus for a time shortly after his conversion and travels to Arabia (many seem to think to Mt. Sinai) where he likely spent time studying, meditating, processing, and preparing for what God had destined for him. In his grace God used all of Saul's past and this time of waiting as preparation in Saul's life (just as he does ours!). After 3 years Saul heads to Jerusalem where he's befriended by Barnabas. Just as it was with Saul, God's saving grace changes us, prepares us, and sends us!

Acts 9 gives a shocking turn of events in the story of the early church. Saul, who had witnessed and approved of Stephen's murder (Acts 7:58-8:3), was chasing down Christian refugees who'd fled Jerusalem due to persecution. On his way to find, confront, arrest, and extradite believers in the city of Damascus, Saul himself is dramatically confronted by Jesus. After a few days of blindness, Saul repents and turns to Christ in one of the most dramatic conversions in history. Saul will go on to be one the greatest catalysts for the spread of Christianity. God can change anyone at anytime by the power of the Gospel!

Philip's ministry was going good in Acts 8. God was working miracles, the Gospel was advancing, and many were coming to faith in Jesus and getting baptized. But God had plans to move Philip on. He sent an angel to nudge him to leave, and Philip obeyed. Following the Spirit's lead, Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch on his way home after coming to Jerusalem to worship. Philip finds him reading from the prophet Isaiah, the helps him understand that it was about Jesus. The eunuch ends up believing in Christ, getting baptized, and heading back home rejoicing. He was one of the marginalized of society, but who now is fully accepted by God. Just as he did with Philip, God has a way of putting us in the right place at the right time to be his witness.

After Stephen was murdered for his faith, persecution of the early Christians increased in frequency and intensity, causing all but the Apostles to flee Jerusalem. Acts 8 records the ministry of Philip (one of the seven appointed to serve in Acts 6 alongside Stephen). Philips flight from Jerusalem led him to the city of Samaria, where he continued preaching the Gospel (Acts 8:4-25). God did many signs and wonders through Philip to authenticate the Gospel message, and many believed the Gospel and were baptized. We're also introduced to a man named Simon who was known for his dark magic. Simon is said to have also been amazed, not at the Gospel message, but at the signs God was working through Philip. When Peter and John come to see God's work among the Samaritans for themselves, Peter rebukes Simon for trying to buy God's grace and power with money. We learn from Philip's first encounter in Acts that God takes hostile situations and makes them hospitable by the power of the Gospel!

Part 14 - SERIES: Acts

Stephen is the first person recorded to have given their life for the sake of the Gospel. After being arrested and tried due to his faith, he gives a brilliant testimony that traces God’s work in the Old Testament to Jesus. Luke (the author of Acts) tells us that Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit, wisdom, faith, grace, and power. Much of what Luke records about Stephen’s words and actions reflects those of Jesus. Just as the Holy Spirit empowered Stephen, he empowers us to be gracious yet firm with the gospel and to forgive our enemies.

Stephen is the first person recorded to have given their life for the sake of the Gospel. After being arrested and tried due to his faith, he gives a brilliant testimony that traces God's work in the Old Testament to Jesus. Luke (the author of Acts) tells us that Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit, wisdom, faith, grace, and power. Much of what Luke records about Stephen's words and actions reflects those of Jesus. Just as the Holy Spirit empowered Stephen, he empowers us to be gracious yet firm with the gospel and to forgive our enemies.

As the early church grew in numbers, it also grew in complexity. Acts 6 opens with a complaint that needs addressed about how some of the Hellenist widows were being neglected. The leaders of the church call for a meeting and hand off responsibility for some things to others who could do it better. The church was growing because it was fulfilling the call Jesus placed on all Christians everywhere (Great Commandment, Great Commission) and it continued to grow as people embraced the personal call he had put on each one of them. We spend some time talking about your unique SHAPE and calling this week, in addition to church structure. Jesus placed a call on all of us and each of us that he will fulfill!

Part 13 - SERIES: Acts

The early Christians often found themselves in trouble due to their faith. Pastor Josh spends some time at the beginning of the message reviewing the difference between descriptive and prescriptive passages of Scripture. This week's passage starts off with Luke describing some of the incredible ways God was at work among the early Christians in Acts 5:12-16. However, their testimony got them into trouble with the Jewish leaders who were jealous of what God was doing, and zealous to put a stop to this "Jesus Movement". When your testimony gets you in trouble you can still boldly and joyfully proclaim Jesus because God is with us!

The early Christians often found themselves in trouble due to their faith. Pastor Josh spends some time at the beginning of the message reviewing the difference between descriptive and prescriptive passages of Scripture. This week's passage starts off with Luke describing some of the incredible ways God was at work among the early Christians in Acts 5:12-16. However, their testimony got them into trouble with the Jewish leaders who were jealous of what God was doing, and zealous to put a stop to this "Jesus Movement". When your testimony gets you in trouble you can still boldly and joyfully proclaim Jesus because God is with us!