Acts: Church Gathered and Church Scattered

End of the beginning!

November 7, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 28

Rome at last! After several years – three trials – assassination attempts – shipwreck – snakebite – Paul finally reaches the city of Rome. This last chapter of Acts is our final story of Paul but the beginning of the accounts of the Church. The Gospel was handed to the early Apostles at the beginning of Acts and then the baton is passed to Paul after meeting Jesus on the Road toward Damascus. Three Missionary Journeys later Paul is taken to Rome under bonds and placed in house arrest. While there and sensing the end of his ministry Paul pens his final books to Churches and Pastors. What we will note most significantly is that the book has no clear ending – no finale – no swan song – not even a final soliloquy by our star. The saga is unfinished because the task is not finished by any single generation. We must shoulder our portion and carry it with passion while training the next wave of servants to continue the ministries we have received until the King returns! Acts 28 is an open and unfinished account because much of the World has not heard the Good News! A favorite pastor of my reading times is Oswald J Smith and Sunday I will pair a few of his thoughts with the power of Paul’s final chapter. Join us! See you Sunday – Pastor Mike

Don't look down!

October 31, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 27

“Tough times never last but tough people do!” Robert Schuller What often happens when someone advises us ‘don’t look down!’ – we look. Paul could have been disappointed that his appeal to Caesar did not deliver him to freedom but rather to Prison. Paul’s appeal to Herod Agrippa launched him on a trek to Rome – to meet the Caesar! Paul heard the promise of God to get him to Rome – just had no way of guessing how God would do it. This same promise sustains him during a perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea. Through a deadly storm and ending with a shipwreck that God used to display His loving care and providence. Sunday we will talk about trusting God when we see danger and trusting God when we do not see any solutions. In the storm He is there – in the midst of enemies He is there – even in the shipwrecks of life He is there! My favorite quote here is the John Flavel quote below – a little heady but so true! See you Sunday – come dressed as a worshipper who is really a student! Pastor Mike “The providence of God is like a Hebrew word – it can only be read backwards.” John Flavel

Almost Persuaded

October 24, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 26

“It is not the pain but the purpose that makes a martyr.” Augustine The testimony of Paul is questioned yet again! From his persecutions by the Sanhedrin and then to Felix and then to Festus his trials end with an examination by Agrippa II. Paul follows the same format we heard a few weeks ago about how to share our testimony – who I was – who Jesus is – what I am now in Christ! Paul is clear about his past and how God saved him! Festus declares him ‘mad’ and Agrippa complains that he is trying to convert him so quickly. Sunday we will see the anger of the Jews, the curiosity of the Romans, the peace of the believers and the love of our Lord – all in one story! Don’t miss it – Paul is preparing for his one way trip to Rome. We must finish this journey together – see you Sunday. Pastor Mike “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” Tertullian

Don’t Wait!

October 17, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 24

I have heard it said that the words ‘wait’ and ‘weight’ are often related in outcomes. If we delay the time between becomes such a burden that it keeps us from becoming what God would desire of us. Paul is faced with spurious accusations from Tertullus and Ananias about the Gospel – these charges are brought before Felix the successor of Pontius Pilate. Sunday we will talk about Life – the easy stuff, the challenging stuff and the stuff we put off. Paul wastes no time in sharing the resurrection of Jesus and the need to make a decision for Christ without delay! Preparing for this week I had so many rushing thoughts from Screwtape Letters I will share some of my favorite quotes that speak to following Christ without delay – make plans now (LOL) to join us Sunday! Pastor Mike From Wormwood to Screwtape – “If you can once get him to the point of thinking that ‘religion is all very well up to a point,’ you can feel quite happy about his soul. A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all- and more amusing.” C.S. Lewis – The Screwtape Letters

Courage in Life

October 10, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 23

From Paul’s conversion and earliest training he was warned of the opposition he would face as he served the Lord. Jews would despise and the World would hate the messages he shared and the works he did. So it is not surprise that we find Paul on trial and in jail. As crowds assembled to demand his death he faced them with grace. As plots were hatched to assassinate him by ambush he trusted in the Lord for protection. We will compare this story to an Old Testament account in Esther – God protected then as well! Our job of trust is not helping God figure out what to do – it is trusting that God already has the plan – we need to rest and trust and obey when called upon. Sunday I will challenge us to live well, listen well and look toward Heaven. I was reinspired by a book from Billy Graham written near the end of his life - Nearing Home: Life, Faith and Finishing Well. We should do so well! See you Sunday! Pastor Mike

Giving a Testimony

October 3, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 22

Telling our life stories seems to be basic to most human relationships – it is how friendships are founded and forged. Not all of us can write poetry, solve mathematical equations or even build a house. Everyone can tell their story – as a journey of faith we call this a ‘testimony’. In fact, except for God, no one is more an expert on that testimony than you are. This is why, for the believer, there is no more powerful way to share the Gospel than to simply tell your Christ-story—the story of how you came to know Christ and how He has transformed you. As we read the Book of Acts, Paul on at least two occasions took the simple approach of giving his testimony of salvation - he told his Christ-story. In Acts 22 he was speaking to an unruly crowd of people in Jerusalem who accused Paul of disrespecting God’s law and dishonoring the temple. His testimony fell neatly into three parts. Who he was, who Jesus is and what he will do – each explaining Paul’s past, present and future. Sunday I will walk us through Paul’s testimony – share some of my testimony and challenge you to confirm and then share your testimony with someone. See you Sunday! Pastor Mike “The God whom we worship is not a weak and incompetent God. He is able to beat back gigantic waves of opposition and to bring low prodigious mountains of evil. The ringing testimony of the Christian faith is that God is able.” Martin Luther

What will you part with?

September 26, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 21

In Acts 21 Paul is finishing the 3rd Missions Trip and returning home. Luke is showing that Paul feels like he has to go to Jerusalem. We must remember that the believers there were suffering greatly and Paul and the others were to arrive with much needed aid that they had collected through the generosity of the churches. God is often way less concerned with our comfort than we think He should be. He is not interested in comfort as much as He is with our maturity and His glory. God is focused on what we become and much less on what we have accomplished. Sunday join us as we head home with Paul and realize what we must ‘part with’ to make this journey. God asks much of us but no where near what He has done for us! See you Sunday, Pastor Mike

Saying Goodbye

September 19, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 20

“Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.” Charles Spurgeon The book of Acts is a narrative to show God’s vision for worldwide gospel expansion through the building of the Church. It’s an explanation by examples of the Spiritual reality we often cannot see occurring on top of the visible reality we can see. Most of the book is written to explain how the gospel got to unbelievers. But this passage in Acts 20 is given to an entirely Christian audience. It’s Paul’s handoff of ministry responsibility to the Ephesian elders before he departs for Jerusalem. And though he speaks to leaders here, I think it speaks to all of us because we’re all to be involved in ministry at some level. It shows us that God gave Paul a message and a mission that created a ministry for believers equipped by the Church. Sunday we will follow Paul out of Ephesus and listen to his Goodbye as he begins the end of his journey of faithful Missions. See you Sunday! Pastor Mike “The test of a sermon is not what we heard but what we do!”

Why are we here?

September 12, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 19:21–41

“Persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.” John Stott Paul was at the center of a riot! What had Paul done that was so egregious to warrant this violent outburst? Evangelism. This response was not one of his own making – he was merely sharing his faith and preaching the Gospel but the outcomes were devastating. Paul was not at odds with the Roman Government – he had broken no laws nor had he undermined any duly appointed authorities. Yet the people rose up and demanded that he be silenced. Luke's purpose here was to show Paul's witness and the violent reaction of Ephesus. Luke’s second purpose for including this incident was to show that spiritually, the only thing that unbelievers can do against Paul and the Christian faith “is to shout itself hoarse”. Unbelievers will often oppose the gospel because they are blind to their need and oblivious to God's love and gift of grace. Sunday we will ask some personal quesitons like: What are we concerned for in our world? What have we conceded to the demands of the World? Whose counsel to we listen to when challenged? Good stuff in the last half of Acts 19 – join us Sunday! Pastor Mike “God examines with trials, the devil examines with temptations, the world examines with persecutions.” Henry Smith

Gaining and Growing

September 5, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 19:1–20

The purpose of the Church was challenged by two groups in Acts 19 – the first were the Jews who wanted nothing to do with this sect of the Way. The second were the Jews who practiced exorcism and they wanted to harness the power for their occupation. Neither of these sets wanted to receive the grace and mercy offered by forgiveness of sin and redemption. Paul could abide neither! Sunday I want to take us back to Ephesus and follow Paul around as he shares the Word. I also want to explain why early faith was referred to by the title ‘Way’ and use this to challenge us to live beyond sitting in Church and be Gaining and Growing followers of Christ! Hope to see you this Labor Day weekend! Pastor Mike “Discipleship entails a life of total self-denial, a humble disposition towards others, a whole-hearted devotion to the Lord alone.” John McArthur

Strengthening the Disciples

August 29, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 18:18–28

Paul had given so much! 18 months in Corinth faithful in his teaching and mentoring while enduring the opposition of some Jews and the oppression of so much sin! (Corinth was well known). Paul is now a little homesick and he desired to return to Jerusalem and celebrate the feasts that foretold of the Messiah. Travelling through Ephesus he hurries on toward his sending churches of Antioch and Jerusalem. Though in haste he never neglected to ‘strengthen’ the disciples. The fruit of mentoring is seen when others are trained to do what we were doing – so Aquilla and Pricilla took on the discipleship of Apollos since Paul was headed home. So many great examples – models of discipleship and mentoring – all this Sunday as we gather. See you Sunday! Pastor Mike “You teach what you know but you reproduce what you are.” Howard Hendricks

Life’s Work

August 22, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 18:1–17

How can we be faithful when times are tough and efforts are opposed? Keep in mind the balance of love and truth! Our life’s work is God’s mission for us – we will see this in Corinth with Paul. “Our love grows soft if it is not strengthened by truth, and our truth grows hard if it is not softened by love.” John Stott Paul was a witness wherever he went! To make ends meet he took on a job that may have been a previous job or hobby. As he worked with tents Paul led them to Christ while he was at work. Work can be a place getting to know people, getting to understand their needs, and as a normal place for evangelism -- but not on company time. Work is an excellent place to make contacts with people who are searching for answers in life. Paul also continued his custom of reaching out in the Synagogues – here in Corinth but without much success. Opposed, Paul seeks new opportunities and finds them next door – we should look there too! Lots to see this week in Acts 18 – hope you will join us on our journey into Corinth. Pastor Mike

The Unknown God – RAISED!

August 15, 2021 • Mike Burt • Acts 17:16–34

Last week we talked about the Bereans and how they studied the scriptures to make sure that what Paul and Silas were telling them was actually true. One of my personal favorites! If you were not able to join us online – please go check out the service from our website or app! Now as Paul gets to Athens, the center of Greek culture, we have an opportunity consider a sermon to pagan philosophers who were polytheists – believing in many gods. Some of these from Greek mythology you may know about like Zeus, Hera, Hades, Ares, Poseidon, and the list goes on and on. The chapter begins with “While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.” Acts 17:16-17 So the Athenians ask to know more about what Paul is preaching, and Paul is all about talking about Jesus. So he launches into his sermon all about the ‘proof’ from God – the Ressurcection! Sunday will be a celebration of the Son of God overcoming death and the reality of God’s love to us. Just like in Paul’s day – some will mock while other will consider and by God’s grace some will choose to surrender in faith to the work of Christ. Pastor Mike

Students of Berea

August 8, 2021 • Mike Burt

Paul introduces to us someone very important this week in his travels – the Bereans. Believers today should be more like the Bereans as we read in Acts 17. We should not be fooled by emotional singing followed by sermons that are based on shoddy exegesis. True Berean believers as in Acts 17 need to see a truth taught in Scripture. Illustrations won’t prove a truth for them – show us the Text! Sadly, too many church people today, including many believers, do not critically evaluate what they hear. If they are moved by a great worship service or a very emotional preacher, they may well be swept along by what the preacher is saying without even engaging their minds as to whether what he is saying is Biblical or not. Berean believers will not be persuaded by stories and feelings. They must be convinced by the Word of God. The opposite is also true. Berean believers would let their tradition stand in the way of being open to clear teaching from the Word of God. Sunday all I ask is what I pray for each Sunday – let us gather and listen and seek the heart of God from the Word of God!

What must I do?

August 1, 2021 • Mike Burt

“So, if we only lead one soul to Christ, we may set a stream in motion that will flow on when we are dead and gone …” D.L. Moody, The Overcoming Life A jailhouse drama is set up by a most unusual source – a witness of the Gospel. Satan will use any source to discredit the Lord and those who serve the Gospel – even if they tell the truth. This girl is a lucrative small-business of ‘divining’ for the men who own her. Like so many young girls, she is used by others, but her strange public announcements about Paul and his little band of missionaries, we suspect, do not bring much income to her owners. “These men,” she cries out, “are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation.” Paul put a stop to the demons that possessed her and the men lost their spectacle. Those men raised a stink and had Paul and Silas imprisoned. While they were in prison they sang and prayed. They didn’t complain or whine or withdraw. Instead they witnessed to their faith. They were not ashamed of their beliefs and they were not afraid to make their faith visible. They used their confinement as an opportunity to worship. As it turns out at least one of their captors was listening. Freed by a miracle they were held in place by love! The faith of Paul and Silas was one of courage, love and passion for others. They challenged the status quo and were imprisoned unjustly. God, however intervened and Paul and Silas were set free. They were liberated, free again to continue their ministry in Philippi and in other places. Sunday we will join the missionaries on the trek of truth and prison – sing with them – pray with them – rejoice with them! Hope you can be there! Pastor Mike “Faith makes all things possible … love makes all things easy.” D.L. Moody

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