Acts

Following on from last weeks prayer, here is another prayer, flowing from our passage for this morning (Acts 7:17-53). God of history We praise you for the way in which you have led your people all through history. This morning, we thank you for Moses. Prophet, leader, rescuer. We are amazed at the way you called him, at 80 years old and used him to bring your people out of slavery in Egypt to the land of promise. A land flowing with milk and honey. Your gift to them.

This morning we meet Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He in turn introduced us to Abraham and Joseph, two of the 'patriarchs' who lived a life of pilgrimage. We discovered that to live a life of pilgrimage and to die the death of a martyr you need to know the God of glory and covenant. As we seek to life a life off pilgrimage this week, here is a simple prayer. Why not pray it every morning this week? Lord of all creation, In all I do and experience today, show me yo

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7 Our passage this morning, ends with this huge encouragement. The number of disciples increased - rapidly! Why? Was it because... A new effective structure was put in place? The apostles facing up to the problem of injustice in the church? All the believers where cared for? All the believers where serving one another? Fresh l

This morning we saw in the apostles an example of what it means to follow Jesus. They demonstrated true discipleship, as they obeyed God, no matter the cost. Having seen their example. We now must follow their example. That means, as the quote from Bonhoeffer put it, this week, we must 'come and die' for that is the life Jesus calls us to. We must die a thousand little deaths to self - in the small choices we face this week. We choose to spend time with our neighbour,

Over the last few weeks in Acts we have been discovering a number of ways we can care for the church. Pray In Acts 4:23f, we discovered it was the natural reaction of the believers to pray to God. They do so in good times to say thank you. They do so after being persecuted for their faith, and ask for boldness. As they pray, thing happen - the ground shakes, they are filled with the spirit and speak the word of God boldly. The church grew through prayer. More people beli

There is nothing more encouraging that knowing that God is at work. It is exciting to know that he is alive and active in the world. How do you long for him to work? In our passage today, we saw God at work. He was at work with 'great power and great grace.' The humbling thing was, that his great power and grace was at work in US. If we're honest, when we want God to work, we want him to do it over there. Sure, we want him to work in our church and our community, but t

This morning we listened to the early church in prayer, after the release of Peter and John. The story comes in Acts 4:23-31. After they pray an earthquake shakes the room they where meeting in. They are filled with the Spirit. They all speak the word of God boldly. I have never been in a prayer meeting when the earth has shock in response to our prayers. Yet God has still heard; and he still answers. If we believe that, then we must live it. When we pray for boldness

I have always been challenged and encouraged by Acts 4:13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." This morning, we seen the need to spend time with Jesus. Here are some practical suggestions about how to do this. Read an advent book We recommended two this morning. Love came down at Christmas by Sinclair Ferguson or Come, let us adore him

This morning we seen the UNIQUE claim that Peter makes about Jesus, recorded in Acts 4:12. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. As we head out into another week, there are many ways in which this claim will be challenged. So here are a couple of things to remember. It's not about 'my faith', but 'the Saviour' Faith is personal. It is something which I have. But it is not really about me, it i

The book of Acts, continues at an exciting pace as in Chapter 3 we see a lame beggar being healed. His life is transformed. He was an outsider, now he is a worshipper. We long to see that same transformation take place in many lives today. We long to see the church grow. So how is it possible? By faith in the name of Jesus, this man who you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him. Acts 3:16 The

Often when we sing, we both declare a truth and express a longing. Take the song Jesus, be the centre, as an example. Jesus, be the centre Be my source, be my light Jesus Jesus, be the centre Be my hope, be my song Jesus Be the fire in my heart Be the wind in these sails Be the reason that I live Jesus, Jesus Jesus, be my vision Be my path, be my guide Jesus This clearly expresses a longing for Jesus to be the centre of our lives. That he is the one who directs and drives u

I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Acts 2:25 This morning we looked at Jesus - his life, death and resurrection. We saw how God was at work - in Jesus life, death and ressurection. And we discovered the wonderful hope that God gives to us through Jesus life, death and resurrection. Because Jesus is alive - our bodies also will rest in hope. Because Jesus is alive - we shall not be abandoned to the realm of the dead Beca

It's the question people asked on the first Pentecost - and it is a great question to ask every time we open the bible! What does this mean? Do I understand the main point of what is being said? What does it mean for me, here and now? What does it mean for me tomorrow - in school or work? What does it mean for my relationship with... What does it mean for the life of our church family? So what does living in the age of the Spirit mean? How does it make you feel, knowing that