Acts 7 tells the story of Stephen, who when confronted by opponents, refused to recant his beliefs. The result? The cancellation of his life. While our lives may not be similarly threatened, confessing the truth of God’s Word may risk he cancellation of our reputations, jobs or social influence. In the face of such brash reactions and verdicts against what people believe these days, can we have any confidence or security? Yes. In the unchanging verdict of Jesus Christ through His death on a cross. This was the confidence Stephen had even as stones were being hurled at him. Listen to the sermon to learn about the strength of Jesus’ verdict over you even in the midst of today’s cancel culture.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

DEACONS - SERVANTS FOR GOD’S GLORY

Acts 6:1-7 describes a scenario that might even come off as your average, everyday messy scenario of a local church trying to mercifully meet tangible needs, but running into issues along the way. These are the kinds of things, though, that can derail a church - not to say that administration, mercy ministry and the like are unimportant. However, when pastors, who have been called by God to teach and shepherd the church make these everyday issues a priority over leading and teaching the church, problems can arise. So, how can a church ensure that these important needs are met? Through deacons. Literally translated, “one who serves” a deacon is a servant’ hearted individual who is called and qualified according to 1 Tim. 3:8-13 to serve the church and act as a shock absorber to the church and in particular, its pastors. Want to know more about deacons and what our plans are as a church to install our very first deacons?

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

GOD’S RIGHT AND POWER TO DO HIS WILL

In Acts 5:17-42, Peter and the Apostles are arrested for preaching the name of Jesus for the second time in two chapters. Yet, this time, before they can stand trial before the council, God miraculously intervenes through an angel and busts them out of prison. Yet, the next day, after being found in the Temple preaching once again, they are indeed brought before the council and consequently severely beaten to ensure they stay quiet. As they limp away from the Temple grounds, Luke records that they “rejoice that they were counted worthy to suffer …” Might they have been tempted to be confused at what God was up to in releasing them from prison only to be beaten? Yes. What, then, gave them such a strong confidence and joy no matter what befell them? The same thing that stands as Church’s timeless confidence and your own unshakeable confidence - God’s sovereignty.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

THE DAY GOD KILLED PEOPLE AT CHURCH

The account of the death of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is an uncomfortable one to say the least. However, it’s a discomfort that both God and the author of Acts intended us to feel. Why? Because we were intended to understand through it how great of a threat hypocrisy is to the advance of the Gospel and the health of the Church. Listen to this week’s sermon to learn more about the threat of hypocrisy and how you, as a Christian can be confident in Christ despite the existence of your own hypocrisy.

Listen to last Sunday’s sermon here.

WHILE THE WORLD RAGES, GOD REIGNS

In Acts 4, after encountering the first opposition to the New Testament Church as Peter and John are arrested, the members of that church set an example for us when the world similarly rages around us. What do they do? They pray.

“I AM IMMORTAL UNTIL GOD’S WORK FOR ME TO DO IS DONE”

They pray to the One whose plan and hand “had predestined to take place” (Acts 4:28). These first century Christians had a vision for God reigning over and above the raging of the world, so much so that He had ordained the raging and was doing His redemptive work through it. In the midst of a raging 2020, this is a sermon that your soul needs to hear.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

YOU CAN ARREST ME, BUT YOU CAN’T ARREST MY GOSPEL

How should a Christian respond when he or she encounters opposition from those in government or authority? When their American rights are threatened? When our ability to gather is limited? When it looks like persecution could be down the road? In Acts 4:1-22, Peter and John provide us with a stalwart example which helps us to answer this questions; an example which leads us to the conclusion that because we have everything else firmly secured in Christ, the one thing we should never allow to be wrested from our hands - or mouths - is the message of Jesus Christ.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

IN A CITY WITH SO MUCH NEED, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO GIVE?

In Acts 3, Peter and John encounter a 40+ year-old man who had been crippled from birth. He was asking those passing by for money. When the two Apostles saw him, they told him that they had no silver or gold to give, but instead had something so much better.

THE GOSPEL IS THE GREATEST TREASURE

What Peter and John had and so willingly gave is the same treasure that we have. While it’s our joy to be merciful to our neighbors with our material resources, the Gospel is in fact the very best we have to give. Listen to last week’s sermon to see the value of the Gospel and to learn how to give the Gospel.

Listen to the sermon here.

After Peter preached the sermon at Pentecost, 3,000 people were saved. These 3,000 people were the first converts of the New Testament church. Luke, the author of Acts, immediately transitions to answer the question, “what were the characteristics and priorities of this first New Testament Church?”. In Acts 2:42-47, we find the essential rhythms of this early church. And because these rhythms are formed and shaped by the timeless Gospel, they reflect the timeless rhythms of the church and stand as a model for the rhythms that should be reflected in the local church of today. Take a listen to the sermon to learn more.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

On the day of Pentecost after Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit fell on the Apostles fulfilling a prophecy from Joel 2 from hundreds of years before. Right after that, Peter preached the first sermon in the history of the Church - to a crowd of thousands upon thousands. This sermon gives us a glimpse into what God sent the Spirit, in part to do - which was to illuminate and guard the truth of the Gospel. This ministry of the Spirit has been passed down to us, giving us assurance the the message we know and hear and preach is the True message of the Gospel. Listen to this past week’s sermon from Acts 2:1-41.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

YOUR ROLE AND BELONGING IN THE CHURCH IS THE BIG STORY ABOUT YOU

During a sweltering outdoor Sunday service, Kyle Houlton preached from Acts 1:12-26 concerning the choosing of Matthias to replace Judas. This story seems random and insignificant at first blush - much like we often view our Christian lives. However, when properly understood, this brief event serves as a major link in the chain of God’s historic and unstoppable vision for His people. It further demonstrates that if you’re a Christian, your role and belonging in the Church is not one random fact about you, but rather the big story about you.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.