June 6, 2025
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 ESV). Something extraordinary happens to ordinary people when they spend time with Jesus. When Peter, the former fisherman, stood before a council of
September 15, 2024 | Acts 2:42-47 |
When you visit another country or even another part of our country, you’ll notice several unique features to their community, to their culture. What they believe, whether they are relational, friendly or not, what kind of food they eat and of course what language or dialect they speak. A shared language is one of the key marks of any community.
The same was true of the first century church. They had their own way of greeting one another. They had a shared language–– it was the language of prayer. It was a shared focus, one that focused on spending time together talking to God in prayer.
We can experience this authentic community when we pursue the four devotions of the apostle’s teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. Today, we’re going to focus on the 4th devotion, “A Shared Focus.”
August 25, 2024 | Acts 2:42-47 |
While communities based around politics, sports, BBQ and regional accents may help us find people to associate with as friends, they fall far short of the real community that God has in mind for us. How do we move from these “pseudo-communities” to real community?
In the book of Acts, Luke described the “true community” of the first century church. He noted that they were marked by four “devotions.” These devotions were: a shared faith, a shared family, a shared food, and a shared focus.
We can experience this authentic community when we pursue these four devotions. In this first message in the series, we’re going to focus on the first devotion, “A Shared Faith.”
July 11, 2024
“He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:30-31 ESV). What Satan meant for evil, God used for good. The Jewish leaders that brought charges against Paul
July 8, 2024
“I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:22-23 ESV). Paul’s testimony
July 6, 2024
“When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison” (Acts 24:27 ESV). Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and delivered to Marcus Antonius Felix, the Roman Governor of Judea, at Caesarea Maritima. He was kept in custody there for two years,
July 5, 2024
‘The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”’ (Acts 23:11 ESV). Paul had testified one last time before the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, but their hearts continued to be hardened. After being
June 30, 2024
“Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight… he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed” (Acts 20:7, 11 ESV). The disciples in the city of Troas gathered on a Sunday to hear the apostle Paul preach. They couldn’t get enough
June 29, 2024
“Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices” (Acts 19:18 ESV). An amazing thing began to happen in the city of Ephesus, new believers began to confess their sin and turn from their sinful practices. Their faith in Christ led to life-change. And their confession and repentance led to
June 26, 2024
“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue… they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:10-11 ESV). Those in Berea who heard Paul’s message, listened and compared it to