The Holy Spirit Working Through James & Peter 9AM

Grace of Christ

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The Holy Spirit Working Through James & Peter 9AM

June 9, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Acts 12:1–19

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Life is fragile … I was twenty, on my way from Spokane (Whitworth) to San Francisco (home). On I-5 north of Redding Ca. I closed my eyes and drifted off. A second later at 60+ mph, I was scrapping against a rock wall. My eyes snapped open. I jerked the steering wheel to the left and back onto the freeway. If there had been a disabled car on the shoulder, a sharp turn in the road, a tree instead of the wall, a major drop-off. You’ve had those moments too … life is fragile.

A chance accident … the whim of an evil person … the suddenness of a diagnosis … eyes closed for a few seconds, and our life changes (or ends) in an instant.

Our health, finances, relationships, at times even our faith, is fragile.

James, and then Peter, two close friends and followers of Jesus knew this. One was killed quickly. The other waited for his executioner.

This morning we see the fragileness of life, and the goodness of God.

The Holy Spirit Working Through Barnabas & Saul pt,2 11AM

June 23, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Acts 14

I grew up inundated with TV commercials, radio pitches, slick magazine promotions. As a kid I selected toys based on incredible claims of endless fun … promises broken. I’m bombarded with ads for restaurants, detergent, sodas, clothes that look great on a perfect body, bottled water ($3 for 16oz of water, what?). Kathaleen and I once got hoodwinked into test driving a car because of the dealership’s marketing campaign. They offered two roundtrip tickets to Las Vegas if we took a test drive … they were bus tickets. In our passage this morning Paul and Barnabas continue their first missionary journey. As they visit cities and towns they talk about Jesus. What they don’t do is try to “sell” or “market” Jesus. Quite the opposite, they talk about how difficult it will be to follow Jesus. No sugar added, no celebrity endorsement, no promise of ease and comfort. They were honest, no bait and switch. How refreshing!

The Holy Spirit Working Through Barnabas & Saul pt.2 9AM

June 23, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Acts 14

The Holy Spirit Working Through Barnabas & Saul pt. 1, 11AM

June 16, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Acts 13

This morning, not only in our church but across the country, father’s, grandfather’s, uncles, men of all shapes and sizes, are celebrated. I am thankful for those who stepped into my life and helped me understand what it meant to be a man; particularly a Christian man, husband and father (now grandfather). Many of those who influenced and guided me were not related by blood, but by a shared faith. In our long passage today (even though only a portion is included below, please read the entire passage) the Holy Spirit is present, the church listens, obeys, and sends. Three men set out. Their message of Jesus infects and inspires as it crosses national borders, religious prejudices and persecutions and reshapes human history, our history.