Nov 7, 2021
A Healthy Faith Community (Reflections in Acts)
What can we learn from the principles we have seen in Acts? How can we apply them? As we come to the conclusion of this brief study we will look at a summary of our eight principles condensed into four purpose statements. All which may give us a better picture of what a healthy local church and faith community can look like. We can be that community.
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  • Nov 7, 2021A Healthy Faith Community (Reflections in Acts)
    Nov 7, 2021
    A Healthy Faith Community (Reflections in Acts)
    What can we learn from the principles we have seen in Acts? How can we apply them? As we come to the conclusion of this brief study we will look at a summary of our eight principles condensed into four purpose statements. All which may give us a better picture of what a healthy local church and faith community can look like. We can be that community.
  • Oct 31, 2021Endure the heat of Persecution
    Oct 31, 2021
    Endure the heat of Persecution
    Persecution is real. Persecution is painful. Persecution transforms us. We don’t like to think about persecution but it is something that we may all face. We each need one another in community to endure any level of persecution that may come our way. We learn to trust God more through persecutions. Bear in mind that our persecutor may be the agent of the trial, but they are not the source. When we suffer for our faith we need to remember that God is still in control.
  • Oct 24, 2021Put the Servant into Servant Leadership (Acts 6:1-7)
    Oct 24, 2021
    Put the Servant into Servant Leadership (Acts 6:1-7)
    Leadership is important. Jesus, reminded his disciples that the best leaders were servants first, and he modeled that. In the book of Acts we see the apostles exercising servant leadership and choosing those who also showed that they were servant leaders. Even those who do not consider themselves leaders should still exercise the qualities of servant leadership in their daily lives.
  • Oct 17, 2021The Unifying Power of Generosity (Acts 4:32-5:11)
    Oct 17, 2021
    The Unifying Power of Generosity (Acts 4:32-5:11)
    Generous people are not necessarily wealthy. Generous people tend to understand the temporary nature of things. Generous people understand that generosity extends beyond stuff. Generous people see others through the eyes of Christ. Generous people are most often, gracious, humble, and empathetic. There is a unifying power in generosity.
  • Oct 10, 2021Embrace the Strength of a Faith Community
    Oct 10, 2021
    Embrace the Strength of a Faith Community
    Community. In community we can feel safe. In community we feel we belong. In community we feel we have a support network. From the very beginning, the Church has realized the strength of community. As followers of Jesus we have been invited to join and embrace the strength of the faith community.
  • Oct 3, 2021Stick to the Core Message of Jesus
    Oct 3, 2021
    Stick to the Core Message of Jesus
    So often we hear of organizations working on their branding and messaging. One of the realities of the early movement of the followers of Jesus, that became the church, is that they all knew and were deeply committed to the core message of Jesus. One could say their branding was as clear as it was simple. Sometimes the simplest message is still the most effective.
  • Sep 26, 2021Following Our Guide The Holy Spirit
    Sep 26, 2021
    Following Our Guide The Holy Spirit
    From the beginning of the book of Acts we discover that Jesus did not leave his followers alone. He promised to send the Holy Spirit and he did. The Holy Spirit guides us, empowers us, and helps us to do God’s work right now. The key is that we need to pay attention and wait as the Holy Spirit’s timing is always perfect. We will discover the importance of living life in the Spirit this morning.
  • Sep 19, 2021Prayer: Our main line of communication (Part 2)
    Sep 19, 2021
    Prayer: Our main line of communication (Part 2)
    We continue our focus on prayer this week. We will look at several different aspects of what it looks like to make prayer a core reality in our lives both individually and as a corporate entity. Our prayer for this part of our Acts series is that each one would seek to make a small step of growth in their prayer relationship with the triune God.
  • Sep 12, 2021Prayer: Our main line of communication
    Sep 12, 2021
    Prayer: Our main line of communication
    It is easy to say that prayer is important. However, we each need to think long and hard and determine if our prayer activity, matches our prayer declarations. Prayer is a vital necessity for the life of any church. It is not just an individual necessity, it is a corporate necessity. We need to be praying people. We need to be a praying church. How will we make that happen?
  • Sep 5, 2021“I am right here Joe” Psalm 23
    Sep 5, 2021
    “I am right here Joe” Psalm 23
    Joe reflects on his journey through the dark valley of clinical depression. Psalm 23 and John 16:33 are key passages in this deeply personal reflection.
  • Aug 29, 2021What Now? (Acts 1:1-11)
    Aug 29, 2021
    What Now? (Acts 1:1-11)
    No matter how much instruction you receive there comes a point in which you have to step up and do what you have learned. There comes a time when you have to act on what you have learned. That time came for the first followers of Jesus in what is recorded in Acts 1:1-11. We will look at the “marching orders” given to them by Jesus and some pre-cautions that we all need to follow.
  • Aug 22, 2021Looking Back…Looking Forward
    Aug 22, 2021
    Looking Back…Looking Forward
    We all face times of transition. We all face times when we know we need to leave something behind as we move forward in life. But what we leave behind is not forgotten, it becomes the foundation for our next step. The two volume set of Luke and Acts provide that transition for us. As we finish Luke we have a clear foundation and a certainty of God’s plan. As we begin Acts we will find clarity in God’s principles for His Church that we can all follow.
  • Aug 15, 2021One for the Ages (Luke 24:13-49)
    Aug 15, 2021
    One for the Ages (Luke 24:13-49)
    Imagine what it must have been like for the disciples to process the events leading up to the resurrection. Two of the disciples are privy to what had to be the most amazing sermon mentioned in the Bible. The risen Jesus explaining to them the flow of prophetic history and how it pointed to him. It was a sermon for the ages. We will look at some of those high points in the Scriptures this morning as we consider the risen, living, Jesus Christ.
  • Aug 8, 2021The Righteous for the unrighteous (Luke 22:63-23:49)
    Aug 8, 2021
    The Righteous for the unrighteous (Luke 22:63-23:49)
    To read again one of the crucifixion accounts should cause anyone to pause. Repeatedly, Jesus is declared innocent. Repeatedly, we see him caring for others in the middle of his own suffering. Repeatedly, we see the anger and vitriol that led to his death. One wonders how things would have been different had Jesus been welcomed and accepted as the Messiah. But for now we are left with the mystery of the only righteous one, willingly paying the price for unrighteousness.
  • Aug 1, 2021When God said, “No” Luke 22:35-62
    Aug 1, 2021
    When God said, “No” Luke 22:35-62
    Sometimes we fall into a trap of thinking we have heard all the stories of the Bible and there is nothing new. But as we examine the prayer of Jesus, his subsequent arrest, and Peter’s denial more closely, we can learn a great deal that will help us when we go through times that are confusing, tempting, and devastating. We must always remember that Jesus understands.