What is this I see? Peter was given a strange vision to prepare him for what was next in God’s plan. It presented a strong message that we cannot correct God’s word.
Faith in God, Love for People
'Sermon' Tagged Posts (Page 8)
How big is your church? That’s one of the most common questions I get asked as a pastor. Western minds seem naturally drawn to think in terms of bigness. We encounter bigness as we go through the book of Acts, but there is also smallness. We find many common, ordinary people in this book and…
Now what? Saul’s life had been radically changed on that road to Damascus. Not only had Jesus saved him, he also called him to preach his Gospel to Jews and Gentiles. This passage shows how Saul got started on that right away.
How could two enemies become friends? Saul of Tarsus was the last man Christians in Damascus wanted to see. He was persecuting Christians with exceptional zeal and had now gone outside Jerusalem. He was converted just outside Damascus, but Ananias’ reluctance was understandable. Saul showed the fruit of a completely changed life and became a…
What about this Ethiopian? The Gospel had spread to the Samaritans with important implications for the salvation of non-Jews. So what about this Ethiopian eunuch? Does anything prevent him from salvation and baptism?
What happened in Samaria? At one time, James and John wanted fire to fall from heaven and burn up a village of the Samaritans. That didn’t happen and Jesus rebuked them. Many years later Philip came to Samaria with the Gospel and many of them believed. Something did fall on the Samaritans when Peter and…
Didn’t the Samaritans and Jews hate each other? Yes they did. The Jews and the Samaritans had no dealings with one another and the animosity between them was long standing and deep seated. So, did the Samaritans have to become Jews in order to be saved? No they did not. Philip came from Jerusalem and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ freely…
How shall we respond? Stephen’s execution by stoning led to a sharp increase in persecution against the church in Jerusalem. How will the church respond and what will they do in light of the persecution against them? Acts 8 begins to answer that question as it recounts events in the aftermath of Stephen’s death.
Did Stephen blaspheme the temple? God had tabernacled among men in the person of Jesus Christ and they rejected the true temple for a great building of stones in Jerusalem. Stephen comes to the climax of his response and speaks directly to the council that put Jesus to death.
What do you have to say for yourself? Stephen was arrested and charged with blasphemy. His experience was paralleling Jesus’ experience before this same council. As Stephen begins to answer the charges, it becomes clear he is not interested in pleading his own defense. He has a message to deliver to the council.