Finish the Race

Unhindered, Not Unwounded

November 24, 2024 • Trey Van Camp • Acts 28

Our church gathers every Sunday at 9:15a & 11a at Queen Creek Junior High. 20435 South Old Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek, AZ https://passioncreek.church/sundays

What Motivates a Martyr?

November 17, 2024 • Caleb Martinez • Acts 21, Acts 22

The last third of the book of Acts shows Paul in chains. After being falsely accused of starting a riot and desecrating the temple, Paul will face imprisonment, two assassination attempts, a shipwreck, and then house arrest. And yet, Paul knew all of this would happen. The Spirit consistently warned him that going to Jerusalem would lead him straight into hardship, but he’s still told to go anyway. Paul’s submission to the will of God models for us what it looks like to allow our goals, plans, and outcomes to be formed by Jesus alongside our habits, schedules, and lifestyles. By surrendering our will to God’s will, we too can build courage in the face of adversity and faithfulness in the midst of suffering.

Beware of Wolves Among You

November 10, 2024 • Trey Van Camp • Acts 20:17–31, Matthew 7:15–16

In Acts 20, Paul models what a church pastor should be by speaking directly to the elders in Ephesus. He tells them how he’s pastored, inviting them to follow his example in humility, service, vulnerability, and courage. He also warns them that, should they neglect their calling, the people they shepherd will be vulnerable to wolves. For us today, being a part of a church means submitting ourselves to the guiding and guarding of the spiritual authority placed over us. It also means we are on guard against Satan and his schemes as he threatens to sabotage the church with deceit and manipulation. By maintaining a posture of humility and by fixing our gaze on Jesus, we can become fruitful people who resist the schemes of the Enemy and bring the goodness of the gospel to the world around us.

Unintentional Spiritual Formation

November 3, 2024 • Trey Van Camp • Acts 19:23–41, Ephesians 4:17–24

In the second half of https://ref.ly/acts%2019;csb?t=biblia, Paul starts a riot. After confronting the false idols and spiritual powers in Ephesus, some of the local businessmen revolt. While Paul escapes and the church in Ephesus grows, just a few years later Paul has to write to them reminding them to continue following the way of Jesus intentionally rather than being formed by the idols of Ephesus unintentionally. Today, our temptation is much the same. To avoid being formed and shaped by the idols of our city and culture, we must intentionally allow ourselves to be formed into the image of Jesus by examining the stories we hear, the habits we practice, and the relationships we surround ourselves with.

There's a Holy Spirit?

October 27, 2024 • Caleb Martinez • Acts 19

There are two major encounters with the power of God in Acts 19. The first involves some of John the Baptist’s disciples who have heard about Jesus but haven’t experienced the fullness of His presence. Paul meets them, prays over them, and they get saved. The second involves some Jewish sorcerers who hear about Paul performing miracles and attempt to wield the power of God for their own gain. Their attempts fail, the real power of God prevails, and revival sweeps across Ephesus. Although we don’t live in a city as obsessed with magic and spirituality as Ephesus, we still need power today. And like the disciples of John and the Jewish sorcerers, most of us are missing something. We either neglect the presence of God altogether, or we try to manipulate the power of God for our own gain. But by naming the fears, distractions, and sins that separate us from God, we can experience His real presence and power in our lives today.

The Cross in Corinth

October 20, 2024 • Trey Van Camp • Acts 18:1–17

As bold, committed, and seemingly successful as the apostle Paul was, he wasn’t immune to discouragement. After his time in Athens, Paul goes to Corinth where he continues preaching the gospel to a city with mixed responses. However, after years of both fruitfulness and rejection, Paul has grown weary. God meets him in a dream to offer encouragement and a promise that he’s still doing what he’s called to do. Many of us can find ourselves in a similar place of discouragement. We can face the same vices, hit the same roadblocks, and struggle with the same sins our entire lives. But just like Paul, we too must remember that in order to experience God’s resurrection power, we must endure God’s cruciform pain. We endure the afflictions of the cross by setting our affections on Christ.

Passion Creek Church

Acts 18-28