Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful look at Acts chapter 22 in a message titled “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” Returning to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey, the Apostle Paul stands before a diverse and hostile crowd of over two million people to deliver his personal defense and testimony.

The sermon explores four major themes in Paul’s story that apply to every believer today:

Compassion—God’s Extravagant Love: Paul opens with respect, addressing the crowd in Hebrew and sharing his elite background as a student of Gamaliel. He openly confesses his past as a murderer of “the Way,” proving that God’s grace is greater than any past and that He pays the penalty for our sins once and for all.

Conversion—A Life Redirected by Christ: Paul recounts the Damascus Road encounter where Jesus personally intervened. This reminds us that God is the initiator of salvation, coming to seek and save the lost right where they are—whether in a church, a tree, or on a road.

Confirmation—Evidence of Change: Through the healing of his blindness and the witness of Ananias, Paul’s life shows the immediate and undeniable power of God. The promise remains: everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Calling—Sent with Purpose: Paul reveals his specific mission to go “far to the Gentiles.” This fulfills the ancient promise that God’s people would be a blessing to all nations, breaking down every cultural and socio-economic barrier.

The greatest story ever told is not just Paul’s—it is the story of the day Jesus came to you. We invite you to surrender to His grace and find your new purpose in Him.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell in Acts chapter 20 for a profound message on “Leadership in the Church of God,” focusing on Paul’s emotional farewell to the elders of the Church at Ephesus. Recognizing that the apostolic age is passing, Paul delivers a critical “baton handoff” to the next generation of leaders (elders, overseers, and shepherds).

The sermon outlines the key responsibilities and character required of Christian leaders and applies these characteristics to all believers:

- The Character of a Christian (Acts 20:18-27): Paul modeled integrity, serving the Lord with all humility and tears, enduring trials, and demonstrating that sacrificial living is greater than playing it safe by declaring: “I do not account my life of any value.” He declared the whole counsel of God, refusing to “cherry pick” parts of Scripture.

- The Heart of a Shepherd (Acts 20:28-35): The shepherd’s duty is to protect the flock from “fierce wolves” who twist the truth, to care for them with the Word of God, and to give/help the weak, living out Jesus’ words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The good shepherd searches for the one lost sheep, just as Jesus left heaven to seek and save the lost.

The message is a powerful reminder that all believers are called to be on mission, sacrificing their comfort, and that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves, seeks, and forgives.

Join Pastor Scott Cannon for a message titled "Calling the Huddle," as he delves into Acts chapters 18 and 19, exploring the diverse responses to the Gospel encountered during Paul's ministry in Ephesus. The sermon calls the church to lean in and listen to the "play God is calling" for their lives, emphasizing how believers should respond to different people in ministry.

The sermon identifies four types of people encountered:

- Some will need clarity and completeness: Like Apollos, a passionate but partially taught believer, some sincerely know about Jesus (John's baptism) but lack the full understanding of Christ's redemptive work and the Holy Spirit. We must be like Priscilla and Aquila, offering patient instruction and clarity, not public condemnation.

- Some will need to be called out and need consistency: Paul encountered twelve disciples who only knew John's baptism, moving them from religious activity to spiritual vitality. In contrast, others in the synagogue became obstinate and publicly maligned the Gospel, showing inconsistency between their profession and practice. An authentic Christian life requires surrender to biblical authority, not just knowledge.

- Some will need Christ and His character: When the seven sons of Sceva tried to use Jesus' name as a magical formula for exorcism, the evil spirit responded: "Jesus I know, Paul I know, but who are you?". This exposes that power comes only from a union and relationship with Jesus, not imitated spiritual power.

- Some will need confrontation and courage: The public riot in Ephesus, stirred by the silversmith Demetrius, shows that resistance to the Gospel often comes because it threatens an idol—in this case, the economic engine of the Temple of Artemis.

Pastor Scott concludes by urging listeners to seek deeper clarity, authentic witness, and the courage to dethrone idols by making Jesus Lord of their identity and priorities.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a message titled "The Power of God," drawn from Acts chapter 16, detailing the beginning of the Gospel's spread into Europe in the privileged Roman colony of Philippi. Paul's second missionary journey faced unexpected resistance and clear divine direction from the Holy Spirit.

The sermon focuses on how God works through unexpected means:

1. The Presence of God Leads Us: Paul's plans to go east were forbidden by the Holy Spirit (closed doors), and a vision of the Man of Macedonia redirected him west across the Aegean Sea—the first step of the Gospel into Europe. The sermon affirms that God directs the steps of the righteous, using "no's" to lead us to His will.

2. The Purpose of God Fulfills Us: Paul finds a place of prayer, not a synagogue, and ministers to women. The first convert in Europe is Lydia, a successful businesswoman and "God-fearer." God used an unmarried, successful businesswoman to start the church in Europe, demonstrating that He cares less about our past brokenness and more about where we're going.

3. The Power of God Delivers Us: Paul and Silas deliver a slave girl from demonic possession, leading to their brutal beating and imprisonment. Despite being thrown into the inner prison, they are found praying and singing hymns at midnight. This praise leads to a miraculous earthquake that frees them and leads to the dramatic conversion of the Philippian Jailer and his entire household. The sermon emphasizes that only the finished work of Christ is needed for salvation: "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved."

The message concludes with the powerful testimony of Horatio Spafford, who, after immense tragedy, wrote the hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul," reminding us to glare at God, not at our problems.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for an in-depth theological defense of the Gospel of Grace in a message centered on the Jerusalem Council in Acts chapter 15. While often considered a "business meeting," this chapter is a crucial "safeguard for the story of grace," addressing the first major conflict in the early church. The issue at stake: Did Gentile converts need to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses to be saved?

Pastor Allen uses the council's decision to affirm six points:

1. Conflict arises when convictions become conditions : Adding anything (like circumcision or moralistic behavior) to Jesus plus nothing equals nothing. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone.

2. Healthy churches create space for hard conversations : Disagreements are inevitable, but unity is paramount, often requiring grace and concession.

3. There's grace for all: The Council decided that the law was an unbearable yoke that no one—not even Moses—could bear; Christ is sufficient and salvation is for Jews and Gentiles alike.

4. This was all about unity, not uniformity : The four non-salvation prohibitions given to Gentiles were concessions to avoid being a stumbling block to Jews and to ensure new converts truly left behind pagan worship and sexual immorality.

5. Spiritual authority is not about control, but about alignment.

6. Gospel clarity doesn't eliminate human intention : Even Paul and Barnabas had a "sharp disagreement" over John Mark and separated, but the Gospel ultimately redeems and reconciles.

Pastor Allen closes by condemning "repressive religion" that shames, reminding listeners that God sees them as a fully restored "new rose" and beloved child, welcoming all to receive His free and finished grace.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a celebratory message, "Grace on the Move," delivered on the first Sunday in the new Immanuel Baptist Church Williamsburg building. The message, drawn from Acts chapter 13, recounts Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey, commissioned by the Holy Spirit from the diverse church in Antioch.

The sermon focuses on the theme of grace as the core of the Christian life:

The Grace of God Cleanses You: Preaching to Jews and Gentiles in the synagogue, Paul contrasts the Law of Moses (which only points out sin) with the Grace of God (which offers forgiveness and frees believers). This is a call to honesty, rejecting the "mask of pretension," and finding freedom in the finished work of Christ.

The Grace of God Commissions You: Paul, once a zealot who murdered Christians, was not only saved by grace but sent by grace. His life illustrates the urgency of sharing the Gospel with the whole world, driven by a deep understanding of God's unmerited favor.

The Grace of God Causes Celebration: When the Gentiles heard the message of full inclusion in the family of God, they began rejoicing. Persecution followed, but Paul and Barnabas were "filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit" because they were being faithful.

Pastor Allen uses powerful testimonies of transformation and a compelling invitation to encourage listeners to become "trophies of grace" by receiving Christ, getting baptized, and becoming an active owner of the local church family.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell as he examines the formation and characteristics of the New Testament church in Antioch from Acts chapter 11, in a message titled "A Clear Picture of an Early Church." This church, born outside of Jerusalem and the Jewish context, becomes the blueprint for the mission-focused, grace-filled body of Christ.

Pastor Allen highlights three marks of a healthy New Testament church:

-- They Pass It On: Scattered by persecution after Stephen's martyrdom, ordinary disciples preached the Gospel to Hellenists (Greeks/Pagans) in the decadent city of Antioch, demonstrating that evangelism is the responsibility of every believer.

-- They Come Alongside: The Jerusalem church sent Barnabas—the "Son of Encouragement"—who found a place where grace abounds and exhorted them to remain faithful. This illustrates the necessary parakaleo—coming alongside one another to speak truth (rebuke) and offer mercy (encouragement).

-- They Bring Others: After a year of intense discipleship by Barnabas and Paul, "they were first called Christians," a term initially derogatory but embraced as a badge of honor, signifying they were "soldiers of Christ." This church was diverse in ethnicity and socioeconomic status, reflecting that the Gospel is for all people.

The sermon concludes by emphasizing a fourth mark: Giving Graciously. The Antioch church immediately demonstrated generosity by raising relief for the brothers in Judea, modeling sacrificial giving—for "God so loved the world, He gave."

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell as he teaches from Acts chapter 10 on the groundbreaking conversion of Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, in a message titled "Boundary Breaking Grace." This chapter is pivotal, signaling that the Gospel is for all people of all places, not just the Jewish people.

Pastor Allen breaks down the account into three main points:

-- A Devout Seeker, God Notices: Cornelius was a highly moral, pious, generous, and prayerful man—yet he was still missing Jesus. The sermon emphasizes that being "good" is not enough, as we are all "dead in our transgressions and sins" and need the resurrection life of Christ.

-- A Reluctant Apostle, God Redirects: God uses a vision of "unclean" animals, repeated three times, to teach Peter that what God has cleansed, he should not call common. This vision, alongside the Spirit's clear direction, compels Peter to cross the threshold into a Gentile home, shattering deeply held cultural and theological barriers.

-- A Public Confirmation, God Provides: Peter preaches that God shows no partiality. The message is one of peace—reconciliation with God through Jesus' atoning sacrifice—and the declaration that Jesus is Lord of all. The Holy Spirit falling on the Gentiles is the undeniable public verification that salvation is now through rebirth, not birthright, and is for everyone who believes.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a message titled "A Transformed Life," diving into the radical conversion of Saul (Paul) on the Damascus Road in Acts chapter 9. Pastor Allen contrasts the dramatic, immediate conversion often associated with a "Damascus Road experience" with the equally powerful, quiet transformation experienced by faithful, lifelong followers of Christ.

The sermon first highlights the cruel depravity of the human heart as seen in Saul, who was "breathing murderous threats" and ravaging the church—a picture sadly reflected in modern-day persecution. It then focuses on Saul's surprising, radical encounter with the Way, as Jesus personally defends His followers, stating, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" The three days Saul spent blinded is presented as a metaphor for dying to self, underscoring that we must die before we can be resurrected. Finally, the sermon celebrates Paul's life transformed by the power of the gospel, which immediately turned him from persecutor to proclaimer.

Pastor Allen uses the humble figure of Ananias and the story of Billy Graham's conversion to encourage listeners that while we may not be the next Paul, we can all be an obedient "usher" or a faithful follower used by God to impact the world. He closes with an invitation to lay burdens down and accept the abundant life that Jesus offers, even amid suffering.

Join Pastor Bob Russell for a profound and practical message on marriage, titled "Modeling a Godly Marriage," delivered after 60 years of marriage experience. Pastor Bob asserts that the best thing a married couple can do for their children, church, and community is to model a godly marriage. He notes that the traditional family is disintegrating under a relentless attack from culture.

Drawing from Ephesians 5:22-33, Pastor Bob outlines God’s design for the home:

-- Husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church. This love, agape, is a commitment to doing the right thing regardless of feeling. It is expressed by sacrificing for her, focusing on her positive qualities, and being perceptive of her needs (affection, conversation, trust, financial security, and family commitment).

-- Wives are commanded to respect their husbands. This respect is an act of submission to the husband's delegated leadership, even if the wife is more capable, acknowledging the Lordship of Christ. It is expressed by responding to his needs (including sexual fulfillment and admiration).

The sermon is a candid call for authenticity, reminding couples to stick together even through disagreements, and emphasizing that forgiveness must always trump divorce. Pastor Bob closes with a heartfelt invitation for couples to come forward for prayer to strengthen their marriage or for individuals to accept Christ as their Savior.