The Church was being persecuted & the believers had been scattered out of Jerusalem and into the surrounding areas. Which partially fulfills (Acts 1:8) as the church becomes witnesses of Jesus. Today, our study adds a new character to God’s unfolding plan for the spread of the Gospel. Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of the Church was headed to Damascus to arrest scattered Christians. However, in spite of all the persecution from Saul, Jesus said he was “a chosen vessel” (Acts 9:15). God chose Saul to expand the Gospel message around the known world. To this day, every believer is still playing a part in this mission. Acts 9 is know as the Damascus Road Conversion!
Instant Change
Acts 9:1-16
September 10, 2023 • Pastor Jeff Cramer • Acts 9:1–16
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God of the Impossible
Decisions
May 26, 2024 • Pastor Jeff Cramer • Acts 16:1–15
In these verses the Holy Spirit was forbidding Paul and the team to preach the word. This is an important topic to discuss with growing believers because we need to recognize the value of open & closed doors. Think about your life and discover where God is leading you. Look around and see where God is forbidding you. When we try to push through a closed door, it results in frustration, irritation, & unexplained problems. The ministry team was staying flexible between the open and closed doors! This is a great example of directed service here where God was leading the way and showing them where to go & what to do.
Don't Stop The Momentum
May 19, 2024 • Pastor Jeff Cramer • Acts 15
As we come in Acts 15 Paul & Barnabas had returned to Antioch of Syria from their first missionary trip with excitement & celebration of what God had done. The Church was onboard and things were looking good, but then a crack in the unity erupted. A group of people, some pharisees, wanted to manage the work of God by placing rules around the moving of God’s Spirit. While there’s much to learn in the book of Acts, 85% of this chapter is spent on dealing with the cracks of unity and then another 10% on division between Paul & Barnabas. We read about two major arguments in this chapter; first about God’s grace & second about God’s goals.
Who Wants To Be A Christian?
May 12, 2024 • Pastor Jeff Cramer • Acts 14
As we come to (Acts 14) Paul & Barnabas continue to take the Gospel into remote areas where both Jew & Gentiles lived. But, they kept getting run out of town. Literally each town they visited had some people come to faith, but many others rejected them & stirred up riots which forced Paul & Barnabas out of town. They were forced out of Antioch of Pisidia. Then down to Iconium, and further south and preached at Lystra and into Derbe. There are some who accept the message, but others were skeptical, rejected, and even mocked the message, making ministry very difficult!