This week Pastor Shaq Hager and Pastor Dennis Allan talked through Acts 9:13b-31. Together, they worked through the story of Saul’s ministry and the threats on his life in both Damascus and Jerusalem, and how Barnabas risked his reputation in advocating for Saul with the… Read More »Risk and Sacrifice
Pastor Shaq Hager continues our study of the book of Acts by talking through the story of Saul’s conversion along the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-10 NIV). Just one chapter earlier the author of Acts introduces Saul into the story of the early church, reporting that… Read More »Zealous for What?
This week Pastor Dennis walks through Acts 8:26-40 (NIV), the story of Philip being sent by an angel of God to an Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch represents a new ethnic and racial group that God wants to reach with the Gospel. And, culturally, the eunuch… Read More »An Inclusive Kingdom
This week Pastor Dennis Allan walked through the story of Stephen being stoned by the Sanhedrin (Acts 7:54-60 NIV). Throughout chapter seven we’ve traced Stephen’s trial before the Sanhedrin. And while the the trial is a sham, Stephen has poked at the Sanhedrin’s idols: the… Read More »Slow Anger
This week, Pastor Shaq focused on Stephen’s trial before the Sanhedrin, recorded in Luke 7:1-53 (NIV). Stephen, who has been charged with blasphemy for speaking against the temple and the law of Moses, speaks with conviction and courage to the Sanhedrin. He identifies three idols:… Read More »American Idolatry
Julia Allan walks through Acts 6:8-15 (NIV), the story of Stephen on trial before the Sanhedrin. The Jewish religious leaders enlist people in bearing false witness against Stephen who, in his conversation with the Sanhedrin pokes at some of the people’s religious idols: the temple… Read More »To Look Like Jesus
This week, Pastor Shaq Hager walks through Acts 5:17-42. It’s a story about the apostles being brought before the Sanhedrin. This is becoming a regular occurrence for the apostles – trials before the Sanhedrin, questioning, veiled threats, and now a physical beating. All because they… Read More »Rejoicing in Persecution
This week Pastor Shaq Hager discusses Acts 5:12-16. It’s a brief and descriptive passage in which Luke describes the ways the Spirit is at work through the apostles to bring physical healing and restoration to people’s lives and bodies. And not just for people within… Read More »Agents of Shalom
Pastor Dennis Allan continued our Acts study by walking through the story of Ananias and Sapphira recorded in Acts 5:1-11 (NIV). Ananias and Sapphira want to be leaders and hold positions of honor in the early church, and so they devise a plan to deceive… Read More »Righteousness and Witness
This week Pastor Dennis continued our study on the book of Acts by leading a conversation on Acts 4:32-37. It’s a summary passage in which Luke describes the way the early church met the needs of vulnerable people until, according to Luke, “there were no… Read More »Generosity as Gospel Proclamation