Growing Pains
The Blessing of Opposition
May 5, 2024 • Pastor Christian Gracia • Acts 7
Pastor Christian Gracia reflects on the growth of the church and how it relates to the Church of https://dashboard.subsplash.com/-d/ the story of Stephen in Acts 7, who delivered a sermon in the face of opposition. Christian encourages the church to build bridges with those who hold different viewpoints, using the example of Joseph and Moses, who faced opposition but were used by God for His purposes. He emphasizes that God's presence and activity are not limited to a specific time or place and that we are the temple collectively and individually. Christian also discusses how the persecution of Stephen led to the spread of Christianity to new regions and encourages the congregation to learn from Stephen's message, emphasizing the importance of building bridges, persevering through hardships, and relying on God's grace.
Painful Progress
April 28, 2024 • Pastor Christian Newsome • Acts 6
In the "Painful Progress" Pastor Christian shares personal experiences and biblical stories to emphasize the importance of addressing problems within the church and staying engaged in spiritual growth. He encourages the congregation to remember that setbacks and challenges are a natural part of life and can lead to growth if we don't quit. Pastor Christian references the early https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=utf8&tag=summarizetech-20&index=aps&keywords=christian%20church in Acts, sharing stories of how problems were addressed and solved, leading to the growth and organization of the movement. He also emphasizes the importance of prayer, service, and understanding one's role in the church. The sermon focuses on a problem that arose in a local church and how it was solved, teaching valuable lessons about handling spiritual tension during growth.
Characters
April 21, 2024 • Marcellus Casey • Acts 5:29–42
Marcellus Casey, one of our teaching pastors and Kansas City Chief's Chaplin continues in our Growing Pains Series. He shares personal stories and biblical references to encourage the audience to remain open to God's work during periods of waiting, anger, and persecution. He discusses the importance of understanding historical contexts and the power of God's grace and compassion. Marcellus uses examples from the Bible to illustrate the consequences of waiting and acting in one's own way. He also shares his own experiences of football and financial struggles to emphasize the rewards of perseverance and faithfulness. Throughout the message, Marcellus encourages the audience to share their faith, trust in God's power, and find joy in the challenges they face for His name.
This New Life!
April 14, 2024 • Pastor Christian Newsome • Acts 5:17–32
Using examples from the Bible, such as Daniel and the apostles, Pastor Christian emphasizes the importance of faith and obedience to God. The speaker also touches on the spiritual implications of Jesus being the Messiah for various groups in ancient Israel and the reliability of the Christian faith's scripture, particularly in the areas of science and history. He encourages humility, faith, and a focus on the transformative nature of the Christian life, which can be offensive to some. Pastor Christian invites the audience to reflect on their faith and develop a growing faith through the midst of growing pains.
Ananias & Sapphira
April 7, 2024 • Pastor Christian Newsome • Acts 5:1–16
Pastor Christian explores the story of Ananias and Sapphira from Acts chapter 5 as an example of the challenges and negative aspects of spiritual growth. He introduces a new sermon series called "Growing Pains," which will delve into the importance of having a deep spiritual commitment and being aware of the spiritual battles taking place in one's life. Ananias and Sapphira, members of the early Christian church, are presented as individuals motivated by their reputation and self-interest, who lied about the sale of their property and donated only a portion of the proceeds to the apostles. Their deceit led to their sudden deaths, serving as a reminder of the seriousness of living in accordance with God's will and the consequences of