Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he was traveling, it happened … Read more
In 1893, the poet, Francis Thompson, published a lengthy poem called the Hound of Heaven. I have read part of it for you before, but it fit so well with the subject today that I just had bring it to you again. The first part of the poem reads: I fled Him down the nights … Read more
The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the church. Jerome A Timeless Story of Good Vs. Evil In the beloved classic Trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, JR Tolkien paints one of the most vivid and enduring scenes ever written in the finale of those books. Against all odds, Frodo Baggins and Sam-wise … Read more
How do we measure our boldness for Christ? How do we know when we are coming on too strong perhaps? There are some answers in the passage today. When I worked as a nurse in the late 80’s at the Texas Medical Center at St. Luke’s Hospital, I met Dr. Denton Cooley, a man who … Read more
Out of all of the good news that we have told you this morning, if you are a believer in Christ today, that has to be the sweetest news of all. We no longer bear the penalty for our sin.
How to Win a Case – Use Indisputable Evidence One of our modern day leaders of the faith is the man Jay Sekulow. Jay is a trial attorney who takes on the cases of Christian groups who have been wronged in some fashion. He has argued cases all the way up to the supreme court. Mr. … Read more
What Makes a Saint? Did you know that a person has to meet five criteria before being declared a saint? It would seem that the hardest of these criteria to qualify for would be that of performing miracles. At least two verifiable miracles, either in life or death, must be attributable to you. If you pass that … Read more
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they (the church) devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:41-42 A Healthy Church Needs a Skilled Builder This is a picture of my father-in-law, … Read more
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the … Read more
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The … Read more
Continued from ‘Death Could Not Hold Him…’‘ Preaching Jesus – God’s Chosen Method for Sharing the Gospel This kerygma, delivered by Peter under the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit, had its intended effect. It reached its intended audience. And while we shouldn’t be surprised at all, there is something very eye opening and … Read more
Continued from ‘Proclaiming the Gospel Message’… The Resurrection of Christ Look with me at verse 24 of Acts Chapter 2, God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, “I saw the Lord always before me, for he … Read more
The Kerygma What is the essence of preaching? Is it clever words and rhetoric? Is it a keen sense of humor and a winsome delivery? Does it involve how we look while we are doing it? Is it possible that no preaching actually occurs in some churches these days? If that is true, is it … Read more
Continued from Part 1: The Birth of a Preacher. After Peter stands up and begins to deliver this powerful sermon, we are able to kind of dissect it and see what the characteristics of the sermon are, in fact.There are a few things that are worth noticing about this sermon that Peter delivers, and honestly, … Read more
The Transforming Power of the Holy Spirit We are sort of in a calm in the middle of the storm today in this part of the passage. While there are some significant things that happen, they are not the earth shattering events that occur on either side of this part of the passage. But there … Read more