Knowing God With Heart and Mind

Acts: The First Christians

Here's a new word for your vocabulary: syncretism. It describes what happens when beliefs and customs from a variety of sources merge and become a kind of secular religion. There were Jewish Christians in Antioch who only shared the good news with other Hebrew-speaking people. But, when persons who spoke the common language of the world shared Jesus with others like them, they were the first to be called Christians. What does it mean to be a Christian? How can Christian Believers separate themselves from the syncretized Church?

Acts: God Shows No Partiality

Presuppositions usually prevent authentic expressions of the Lord’s purpose. Do your assumptions prevent you from sharing your faith with others? Why?

Acts: Chosen for Service

The fellowship of the believers inspired awe as its behavior to the Lord and each other was radically different from the norm. Yet, conflict arose, even in the young Jerusalem Church. It proves that every movement is destined to beget an organization and every organization is destined to beget corruption, even the apostle-led Church of Jesus Christ. With the Lord's help, we can manage the corruption (think "decay") and remain Kingdom-oriented.

Acts: The Fellowship of the Believers

When was the last time you were truly awestruck? It could have been a beautiful, inspiring event or an overwhelming, dreadful thing. Now, consider the fellowship of the believers as you’ve experienced it in your life’s times. When was the last time church worship, Sunday school classes, small groups, or mission activities left you awestruck?

In this week’s message from The Acts of the Apostles, we will take a close look at the Church in Jerusalem and see how they went about fulfilling Christ’s command to tell the world about Him, starting in their place of origin.

Acts: The Fellowship of the Believers

When was the last time you were truly awestruck? It could have been a beautiful, inspiring event or an overwhelming, dreadful thing. Now, consider the fellowship of the believers as you’ve experienced it in your life’s times. When was the last time church worship, Sunday school classes, small groups, or mission activities left you awestruck?

In this week’s message from The Acts of the Apostles, we will take a close look at the Church in Jerusalem and see how they went about fulfilling Christ’s command to tell the world about Him, starting in their place of origin.

ThePromise and the Spirit

In the latest series, "Acts," we will look at the Church as it is defined in the Book of Acts of the Apostles. While we allow for the cultural and technological differences between our times and theirs, we will nevertheless strive to understand the kind of people of God we are called to be and what we can do to establish Christ’s Kingdom in our midst.

More Than a Building

On Sunday we enjoyed our first onsite visit to the Lord’s Table since last winter. Even as we do so, there will be fewer of us present and we will be observing safe distancing. Holy communion is indented to be a very intimate expression of faith and unity so the Eucharistic liturgy may seem strange. The message from Hebrews 12:1-3 reminds us that we are among a great throng of Christ-followers, even when we can't see them.

Wandering in the Wilderness: Lukewarm

Read Revelation 3:14-22 - See that there is nothing particularly outstanding about Laodicea. The Church there, like the city’s water supply, was compromised. They adjusted their temperament according to the perceived climate; Laodicean Christians did not passionately stand for anything. They attended worship services and other functions out of habit and expected nothing out of the ordinary of their Church or themselves. Is this your church's story too?

Wandering in the Wilderness: Love One Another

The people of God often gave up their faith in God as they wandered in the wilderness. Sadly, the unfaithful pressured others to adopt their faithless self-determination. Sometimes, they even pressured their leaders to conform. The most glaring example of this situation is the familiar story of the Israelites who melted their jewelry and formed a golden calf while Moses met with God on the mountain. Do Christians make false gods that satisfy the flesh? Do they ever call these idols the God who saved them?

Wandering in the Wilderness: Alive Inside

Sardis was built on a mountain and had a citadel (fortification) that was considered unconquerable. Nevertheless, it was conquered at least five times, twice due to carelessness. The Christians in Sardis seem to have been as apathetic as the city’s defenders. When Jesus said, “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead” it is like the impressive citadel atop the mountain in which the guards are sleeping. Do you know Christians who are apathetic about their devotion to the Lord?