Acts Part 4
God Is Not Far From Us
December 10, 2023 • Shad Baker • Acts 17:22–34
God is not far from each one of us! God wants us to 1. Seek, 2. Reach, 3. And Find him. Like a father playing hide and seek with his daughter, God wants us seek Him and find Him. This passage urges us to Reason with our minds, Repent with our hearts, and Respond to the good news of Jesus! Visit us at http://cefc.church
The Best Response
December 3, 2023 • Shad Baker • Acts 17:1–21
Acts 17:1-21 compares the way two different communities (the Thessalonians and the Bereans) responded to the message about Jesus. The response of the second community teaches us to receive the message of Christ with eagerness, while also checking to make sure that the message we hear matches with the message we read in the Bible. What is our attitude and our response toward the message of Jesus? Pray that God gives us the grace to have the same noble response as the Bereans! Visit us at http://cefc.church
When Commerce Hates Christianity
November 12, 2023 • Shad Baker • Acts 16:16–24
Sometimes commerce hates Christianity! Christ is a threat to every rival power, whether the power of money or the power of demons. In Acts 16 a young woman is set free from demonic oppression but many men choose to remain in bondage to financial gain. The Bible teaches that we cannot serve God and money. We must choose to either accept or reject the power and truth of Christ. What will we choose? Visit us at http://cefc.church
Evidence Of Conversion
November 5, 2023 • Shad Baker • Acts 16:11–15
What does conversion to Christ look like? In Acts 16:11-15 a business woman named Lydia gives us a compelling portrait of conversion. 1. Lydia’s heart was open to the God’s word, 2. Lydia got baptized, and 3. Lydia connected with other Christians. In short, the evidence of conversion to Christ is Bible, Baptism, Believers! Join us as http://cefc.church
Blocked By The Spirit
October 29, 2023 • Shad Baker • Acts 16:1–10
How do we discern God’s will for our lives and ministries? In Acts 16:1-10, Paul and company determined that it was God’s will to accommodate others. Then the Holy Spirit blocked Paul’s plans twice. Finally, Acts 16:1-10 describes a vision God gave Paul to show him where he must go next. How does God lead and guide us today? Visit us at http://cefc.church
When Personalities Conflict
October 22, 2023 • Shad Baker • Acts 15:36–41
Paul and Barnabas were great partners in ministry and then they split. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them on their next journey, but Paul did not want him to join them because John Mark had abandoned them on their last trip. The disagreement was sharp and Paul and Barnabas went separate ways. Acts 15:36-41 teaches us how to respond to personality conflicts in a godly manner. Visit us at http://cefc.church
How Christians Make Decisions
October 15, 2023 • Jeff Lee • Acts 15:22–35
Acts 15:22-35 gives us helpful teaching about how Christian leaders and Christians should make thoughtful decisions. We shouldn't make hard decisions http://alone.seek Christ and the community of Christ to help us by praying, seeking wise counsel, and reading the Bible with every matter of life and theology. Visit us as http://cefc.church
How Christians Should Argue
October 8, 2023 • Shad Baker • Acts 15:1–21
Acts 15:1-21 gives us helpful teaching about what Christians should argue about, what they should not argue about, and how arguments should be resolved. Christians can turn to the Bible as the ultimate authority in every matter of life and theology. We apply the Bible with the love and compassion of Christ. Visit us at http://cefc.church
Through Many Tribulations
October 1, 2023 • Shad Baker • Acts 14:8–28
Why does the Bible say that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God”? Acts 14 shows God rescuing one man from tribulation, but allowing another man to experience great tribulation. Jesus tells Christians to expect tribulation (John 16:33). This message will explore the subject of tribulation and encourage us to keep going!
Signs, Wonders, & Attempted Murder
September 24, 2023 • Shad Baker • Acts 14:1–7
Acts 14:1-7 prepares us for the ups and downs of the Christian life, for successes and setbacks. Christians may experience the mountaintop of God’s signs and wonders one moment, and then a murderous attempt on our lives the next moment. How do we respond to such wild swings of highs and lows? The example of Paul and Barnabas teaches us to keep going, not to give up, and to continue in the grace of God. Visit us at http://cefc.church
Preaching, Predestination, & Persecution
September 17, 2023 • Shad Baker • Acts 13:44–52
Acts 13:44-52 tackles two complicated questions: First, why should we speak the good news about Jesus if people are predestined? Second, why does good news get great opposition? And yet, God does call us to speak boldly and lovingly about Jesus, and even in the midst of intense persecution, we can be filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit!
Finding Forgiveness & Freedom
September 10, 2023 • Shad Baker • Acts 13:1–45
Acts 13:1-45 describes how the Holy Spirit took hold of two ordinary men (Paul and Barnabas) and sent them across the known world to share this word of encouragement: Forgiveness and freedom are found in the promised good news of the resurrected Christ. Everyone who believes in Christ is freed from every hurt, habit and entanglement.