E100 #17: “Running on Fumes”Text: Acts 9:1-19The story of Paul is exhausting! We struggle to keep up with the passion and determination of this Apostle. And yet, we recognize that Paul did not accomplish all of that by his own strength and ability, but because of a constant reliance upon the power and presence of…
The Trip to Rome – Acts 25:1-28:31 “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” Under house-arrest and supervised by guards, we might think that Paul’s ministry ends in failure. He’s been arrested, he appeals to Caesar and is transported to Rome (after being shipwrecked), and…
More Missionary Journeys – Acts 16:1-20:38 It seems that conflict and violence follows Paul wherever he goes. Paul and Silas are jailed in Philippi, Jason is arrested on Paul’s behalf in Thessalonica, and Paul has to run from Thessalonian agitators in Berea. He is abused and accused in Corinth, and he causes a two-hour riot…
The Council at Jerusalem – Acts 15:1-41 “…we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.“ I realize that this verse is in the context of a very specific discussion about what Gentiles must do (or not) in order to be considered part of this new Christian faith. As the…
The First Missionary Journey – Acts 13:1-14:28 Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! Given the chance to speak in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, Paul stands up and begins a history lesson, summarizing God’s interactions with the people of God from the time of Abraham until the time of…
The Road to Damascus – Acts 9:1-31 Saul/Paul experiences a true one-eighty, about-face, switching teams. He was going full-tilt in one particular direction, and within days is going full-tilt in the completely opposite direction. From persecuting Christians and “breathing out murderous threats” to not only becoming a Christ-follower, but preaching and evangelizing – to the…
E100 #16: “Homecoming – Koinonia”Text: Acts 2:42-47On this Homecoming Sunday and 45th Anniversary Celebration, Pastor Jon helps us to consider how the local church should be shaped in the Image of the Triune God. Since the early church, communities of Christians have been defined by Koinonia – Communion by Intimate Participation. We conclude our service…
Good News for All – Acts 10:1-11:18 Now send men to Joppa… It’s interesting to note that Joppa is also referenced in the book of Jonah. You might remember that Jonah was called to go to Nineveh (the capital of Assyria) to preach the Gospel to a city that was full of pagan worship and…
Sharing the Word – Acts 8:26-40 Why shouldn’t I be baptized? We don’t know for sure, but it’s pretty likely that the Ethiopian Eunuch had previously encountered all sorts of barriers and hurdles which prevented him from worshiping God. As a Gentile who had probably been emasculated in order to serve a pagan queen, it’s…
The First Martyr – Acts 6:8-8:8Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Has it ever occurred to you that we are among the scattered? We don’t worship at the temple in Jerusalem. We don’t have a particular holy site that we make pilgrimages to. We don’t have a centralized monolithic authority…