Week 32: Unstoppable Kingdom - A Journey Through Acts
September 5, 2021 - Acts 18:24-19:8
Toward the end of the Apostle Paul’s ministry, he went to a large pagan city in Asia called Ephesus. Breaking ground here would be difficult. This city was decadent, idolatrous, and would likely be resistant to the gospel. Many church-planters today would likely opt to launch somewhere else. Not Paul. Soon, he found a dozen disciples of John the Baptist. Remember, John was Jesus’ cousin and he told everyone that Jesus was the Messiah, the king of Israel and redeemer of all humanity. But these guys hadn’t heard of Jesus! They were still following the old way. So Paul took these 12 people and taught them — among many others — for the next two years (Imagine the Apostle Paul discipling you for two years!). And this is what the scriptures say happened as a result of their training: “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” Do you think God can do this again in our city? Do you think that God can break the hard ground of our community and society so that people can hear the gospel? Do you think that God can renew lives and transform our city? We think so.
The Ephesian 12
09/05/2021
September 5, 2021 • Acts 18:24—19:8
Righteousness, Self-control & Judgment, Part 3
November 14, 2021 • Acts 28
Week 37: Unstoppable Kingdom - A Journey Through Acts November 14 - Acts 28 Over the last couple of weeks in our series on the Book of Acts, we’ve slowed down a bit to sharpen our focus on transformation. Specifically, we acknowledge that God loves us, and out of that love, calls us to repent (aka a change of mind/heart ultimately leading to a change in our behavior). He does this because he doesn’t want to leave us where we are – in our sin, our addiction, our selfishness, our paranoia, and our pain. But there’s another reason he calls us to repent. He desires to use us – in our gradually transforming state – to bring healing to those around us… because he loves them, too! So there’s a lot at stake. The million-dollar question, of course, is how to engage this transformation. And that’s what we’re talking about this Sunday in our final session on the Book of Acts.
Righteousness, Self-control & Judgment, Part 2
November 7, 2021 • Galatians 5:19–25
Week 36: Unstoppable Kingdom - A Journey Through Acts Nov 7, 2021 - Galatians 5:19-25 As we’ve studied the Book of Acts this year, many of us have noticed a contrast between the early church and our own. This has led to a longing for God to do among us what he did so many centuries ago — the manifestation of his power, his deliverance, the transformation of our world, and a church singularly devoted to the glory of Jesus and the good of all people. Curiously, these primitive believers didn’t have all the advantages we have today: countless bible studies and curricula, conferences, worship music, and the like. What they did have was a sincere faith and simple (not shallow) practices that guided their lives. What if we who have been rescued by Jesus adopted those same practices?