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Weekly podcasts exploring the life of a Christ-follower in the context of community...
Episodes
Monday Oct 10, 2011
Monday Oct 10, 2011
Acts 20 tells of Paul's final interactions with the leaders/overseers of the church at Ephesus - He was off to Jerusalem & then Rome, not knowing for sure what was waiting for him other than it was where the Holy Spirit was leading him. Before he left the area, he gathered the Ephesian leaders to share his final encouragements and instructions with them... One of the themes that emerges in Paul's discourse is that if/since we are Christ-followers, our lives do not belong to us anymore. Instead, we belong to Christ, and our lives are subject to him, able & willing to be poured out, as He deems appropriate, for His glory and for reconciling people to Himself.
Monday Oct 03, 2011
Monday Oct 03, 2011
The Apostle Paul spent about 3 years of his life in Ephesus; several of his letters (Ephesians, 1 & 2 Timothy among them) deal directly with the church in that influential city. Our text today, Acts 19, tells the story of the significant working of the Holy Spirit in the 'birth' & development of the Ephesian church as God worked in & through men & women just like us.
Sunday Sep 25, 2011
Sunday Sep 25, 2011
Paul was used to the transiency and the constant threat of danger his life's work carried with it. He & his team would enter a city, share the Good News, & then do what they could to build up & encourage the fledgling church. Then, inevitably, within a few weeks or months, he'd have to run for his life, with an angry, determined mob hot on his trail. Corinth was different - Paul was able to invest 18 months there. It wasn't that he didn't get persecuted; its just that it didn't escalate to physical violence. Because of this, a strategic & influential work was started. The congregations that resulted from his time there are the focus of the 1st & 2nd letters to the Corinthians, & are a source of great insight, inspiration, & instruction to us. The text for today's message can be found in Acts 18
Wednesday Sep 21, 2011
Sunday Sep 04, 2011
Sunday Sep 04, 2011
The text for today is Acts 16 - in it, Paul, Silas, & Timothy journey to the Roman colony of Philippi - a church is started, a riot ensues; there are beatings, imprisonment, an earthquake, and deliverance... It's beautiful.
Monday Aug 29, 2011
Monday Aug 29, 2011
Acts 15 recounts one of the most important decisions the early church ever made: what is the heart of the Good News/gospel message? And what is it that brings salvation? The Jerusalem Council's decision not to require conversion to Judaism, (circumcision, & keeping the law of Moses) in order to become a Christian established once & for all that salvation comes only through the grace of God, by faith.
Sunday Aug 21, 2011
Sunday Aug 21, 2011
Acts 13 & 14 tell the story of Paul (formerly Saul) & Barnabas' missionary journey - they were commissioned by the Holy Spirit from the church at Antioch, & were given the mission of carrying the message of the gospel through Asia. Today, we're looking at Acts 14 & the accounts of Paul & Barnabas' sharing the gospel: There are signs, wonders, & miracles. Many people coming to know Christ. A swell of opposition, manifesting in persecution, violence, & a stoning. Perseverance, faithfulness, & determination. Good stuff.
Wednesday Aug 17, 2011
Wednesday Aug 17, 2011
This Sunday morning message continues our series in the book of Acts; Ben Locke addresses Acts 13 & talks about the grace that God gives to each of us that enables us to stand & persevere through the most challenging life circumstances.
Wednesday Aug 17, 2011
Wednesday Aug 17, 2011
This Sunday morning message continues our series in the book of Acts; Ben Locke addresses Acts 13 & talks about the grace that God gives to each of us that enables us to stand & persevere through the most challenging life circumstances.
Monday Aug 08, 2011
Monday Aug 08, 2011
Acts 12 gives accounts of 2 of the 3 disciples that were in Jesus' "circle of three:" James & Peter. James is martyred for his faith by Herod; Peter is delivered from the very same prison by the angel of the LORD. Two very different outcomes, both testifying to promise Jesus gave in Matthew 28:20 - "I will be with you always, even to the very end of the age."