— LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON —

As Paul talks to his beloved friends and fellow workers, the elders of Ephesus, he shares the truth about their importance of their heart in ministry to people. More important than a Fathers work, a mother’s schooling, a students study, a believers ministry and a preachers sermon is THE CONDITION OF YOUR HEART. this week acts 20

Paul’s third missionary journey took him to Corinth, where he meets Aquila and Priscilla. Too often, we think that God needs special people to accomplish great things. The reality is that God is looking for faithfulness. Some of the most amazing works of God are the result of ordinary people being faithful to the Lord. This Sunday, you are going to find encouragement to serve God each day, even when you don’t know what’s coming next.

Get ready to gain new courage to PERSEVERE in the single most important task that believers have in this short life: PREACHING CHRIST to a world that does not know Him! We’ll follow the Apostle Paul as his Gospel proclamation meets a variety of responses, from the mob in Thessalonica to the faithful Bible-studiers in Berea and then to the pondering agnostics on Mars Hill in Athens! Gospel ministry is no walk in the park, but like the Apostle Paul, we have a sovereign God who fuels us with the power we need to faithfully persevere in preaching Christ!

As we dive into Acts 16, we will look at the stories of 3 very unique individuals—a God-fearing business woman, a demon possessed slave girl, and a Roman prison guard. While they are different in almost every way—one is seeking God, one is controlled by Satan, and one is minding his own business—their stories are woven together in the perfect plan of God.

How do you deal with controversy in the church? There is massive controversy in Acts 15 over the issue of circumcision. “Should the church require the Gentiles to be circumcised in addition to their new faith?” The apostles and elders wrestle together to settle this controversy 2000 yrs ago. Today, there are not a lot of churches struggling with circumcision, but there are other controversies in the church (i.e. social justice, social distancing, etc.). How should the church deal with such controversies?

Our passage this Sunday mirrors our own experience. Acts 13 describes the church in Antioch sending out some of their best for the sake of the Gospel, so that Christ would be more broadly known. This Sunday, we follow in their steps. We experience the cost and the reward.

We will be learning from the testimony of Cornelius, a converted Gentile, who broke the Jewish racial barriers. He showed the apostle Peter that “God is not one to show partiality.”