LIFE IN THE SPIRIT: Acts—Week 10 (Posterity) Acts 20:17-38; 2 Tim. 1:3-14 We are wrapping up our study of the book of Acts, focusing on the Person of the Holy Spirit—a co-equal Member of the Godhead with the Father and the Son—and how He empowered, inspired, led, and molded ordinary men and women into a movement that turned the world upside down, and how He continues to do so today.  As we wrap up our study, our focus will shift a bit this week.  Rather than focusing on the work and giftings of the Holy Spirit, our focus will shift to our responsibility to faithfully steward our rel ..read more

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT: Acts—Week 9 (Provision) Acts 19 We are in a study of the book of Acts, focusing on the Person of the Holy Spirit—a co-equal Member of the Godhead with the Father and the Son—and how He empowered, inspired, led, and molded ordinary men and women into a movement that turned the world upside down, and how He continues to do so today.  This week we will look at the Holy Spirit’s provision. Throughout our study of the book of Acts, the gracious provision of the Holy Spirit has been evident.  From that first moment when we read of the Holy Spirit descending upon the di ..read more

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT: Acts—Week 8 (Prevailing) Acts 16:16-34; 17:22-34; 18:5-11; 19:11-20 We are in a study of the book of Acts, focusing on the Person of the Holy Spirit—a co-equal Member of the Godhead with the Father and the Son—and how He empowered, inspired, led, and molded ordinary men and women into a movement that turned the world upside down, and how He continues to do so today.  In the last two blogs, we examined the Holy Spirit’s work in the midst of persecution and how He guides us in the resolution of conflict.  This week we will be expanding upon those themes and will lo ..read more

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT: Acts—Week 7 (Problem People) Acts 6:1-7; 8:9-25; 15:1-41 We are in a study of the book of Acts, focusing on the Person of the Holy Spirit—a co-equal Member of the Godhead with the Father and the Son—and how He empowered, inspired, led, and molded ordinary men and women into a movement that turned the world upside down, and how He continues to do so today.  Any time you get a large number of people together with varying backgrounds, preferences, motivations, and opinions, conflict is sure to follow.  It is just a part of the fallen human condition.  This week ..read more

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT: Acts—Week 6 (Persecution) Acts 6:8-15; 7:54-8:3; 12:1-5  We are in a study of the book of Acts, focusing on the Person of the Holy Spirit—a co-equal Member of the Godhead with the Father and the Son—and how He empowered, inspired, led, and molded ordinary men and women into a movement that turned the world upside down, and how He continues to do so today.  This week we will be examining a topic about which we typically do not like to think—persecution. For most of us in America, persecution for our faith is something that is difficult for us to even conceptualize ..read more

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT: Acts—Week 5 (Paradigms and Prejudices) Acts 8:26-40; 10:1-11:18 We are in a study of the book of Acts, focusing on the Person of the Holy Spirit—a co-equal Member of the Godhead with the Father and the Son—and how He empowered, inspired, led, and molded ordinary men and women into a movement that turned the world upside down, and how He continues to do so today.  Last week we examined how the Holy Spirit works to transform us from the inside out, bringing lasting change that impacts not only us, but also influences our community for Christ.  This week we will exa ..read more

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT: Acts—Week 4 (Practices and Perceptions) Acts 4:32-5:16 We are in a study of the book of Acts, focusing on the Person of the Holy Spirit—a co-equal Member of the Godhead with the Father and the Son—and how He empowered, inspired, led, and molded ordinary men and women into a movement that turned the world upside down, and how He continues to do so today.  Last week we examined the work of the Holy Spirit in planting God’s truth in our hearts. The planting of that truth empowered the disciples to share the gospel with boldness and conviction, even in the face of opposit ..read more

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT: Acts—Week 3 (Planting) Acts 4:1-31 We are in a study of the book of Acts, focusing on the Person of the Holy Spirit—a co-equal Member of the Godhead with the Father and the Son—and how He empowered, inspired, led, and molded ordinary men and women into a movement that turned the world upside down, and how He continues to do so today.  Throughout Scripture, God and His work is described in agricultural terms.  In Genesis 2, we see God purposefully plant a garden in Eden in which Adam and Eve are intended to dwell.  In 2 Samuel 7:10, God describes how He will ..read more

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT: Acts—Week 2 (Power) Acts 2 Last week we began a study of the book of Acts, focusing on the Person of the Holy Spirit—a co-equal Member of the Godhead with the Father and the Son—and how He empowered, inspired, led, and molded ordinary men and women into a movement that turned the world upside down, and how He continues to do so today.  Last week we looked at how the Holy Spirit is both the fulfillment of many promises and the promise Himself.  This week, the theme is power. The concept of associating the Holy Spirit with power is not introduced in the book of Act ..read more

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT: Acts—Week 1 (Promise) Acts 1:1-11 Last spring, we did a series walking in the footsteps of Jesus as outlined in the Gospel of Luke.  We examined both Jesus’ teachings and his pattern of living to really understand what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Christ.  This spring, we will be examining Luke’s second book, Acts.  While the Gospel of Luke covered the life of Jesus and his incarnational ministry here on earth, Acts shows us how Jesus’ incarnational ministry here on earth continues through a Church empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Through ou ..read more