Growing Gracefully: Thankfulness
Awake Us Now
Some Biblical virtues mirror God's character, but this one -- thankfulness -- exalts God's character. Thankfulness promotes humility in us and strengthens our faith. ThankLESSness, by contrast, is an exceptionally dangerous sin.
info_outline
GOD ACTS! (Chapter 11) - The Disciples Were Called Christians
Awake Us Now
God’s Gospel Goes Global After Peter told the story of his vision and going to Joppa to the home of Cornelius, we read in Acts 11:18 that “… the believers in Jerusalem had no further objections and praised God saying, ‘So even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’” And now the barriers that had existed between the Jewish world and the non-Jewish world are down in a single moment. The believers in Jerusalem that had grown up as devout Jewish people had their eyes opened to understand the new age that God promised had arrived. AND God’s Gospel Goes...
info_outline
Armor of God #11 - Full Armor
Awake Us Now
We are to be strong in the Lord (with His strength), and to put on the full armor of God (His equipment), so that we are both prepared and equipped for spiritual warfare!
info_outline
Growing Gracefully: Kindness
Awake Us Now
Kindness is not weakness. Kindness reflects the character and strength of God, and is seen throughout the ministry of Jesus Christ. Followers of Jesus should show that same character in their lives!
info_outline
Growing Gracefully: Forgiveness
Awake Us Now
Jesus not only taught the importance of forgiveness, He practiced it, even from the cross (Luke 23:43). The example of Jesus and the magnitude of His love changes people and gives them the power to forgive even the most bitter of enemies!
info_outline
Growing Gracefully: The Ultimate Indicator
Awake Us Now
Our devotion to the Living God is demonstrated in the way we love other people - including even our enemies. Genuine love is the truest expression of right doctrine (teaching) - and without love, the doctrine collapses.
info_outline
Dig Deeper - Acts Chapter 10: All the Centurions
Awake Us Now
Using the Bible and Roman sources, Pastor teaches us about Centurions. In Sunday’s message we met the Centurion, Cornelius. (See teaching here ) Acts 10:1-2 Cornelius was a centurion in the Italian Regiment. What we know about Centurions Backbone of the Roman Army Tested and dependable leaders Commanded 80-100 soldiers - 6 Centurions to a Cohort (600) and 10 Cohorts to a Legion (6000) Mentioned more that 20 times in the New Testament - Luke 7:1-10, Matthew 8:5-13, Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39, Luke 23:47, Acts 10:1-7, Acts 21:32, Acts 22:25-29, Acts 23:17, Acts 23:23, Acts...
info_outline
Growing Gracefully: In Joy
Awake Us Now
Unlike happiness, joy is not an emotion, dependent on particular circumstances. Joy is anchored in God, and through Jesus it is triumphant even over the sufferings of this world! Growing Gracefully In Joy - We are living in a time of chaos and uncertainty, a time of unbridled anger on all ends of the spectrum and if ever there was at time that the people of God needed to remember and reflect the joy of the Lord, THIS IS THE TIME! This is a great time to be growing in joy as we rely on the Holy Spirit to empower and strengthen us every day and in every circumstance and situation. The Bible is...
info_outline
Growing Gracefully: Renewed Minds
Awake Us Now
True faith is not simply a matter of knowing certain truths. It is a matter of knowing Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and allowing the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out!
info_outline
GOD ACTS! (Chapter 10) - Impure or Unclean
Awake Us Now
Day 1 of our story Today’s story takes place in Caesarea - Acts 10:1-8. Cornelius, a Roman soldier, a Centurion, lives there. (Pastor shares pictures of this city, still visible today!) Cornelius was one who worshiped the God of Israel but was not a full convert. He and his family were devout and God-fearing. Then he receives a vision of an angel. The angel tells him to bring a man from Joppa named Simon known as Peter. We see Cornelius respond immediately to what the angel told him to do. Day 2 Story moves location to Joppa where Cornelius’ servant and one of his...
info_outlineWe dig into Acts 9:15-16: “But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
This isn’t about Saul being punished for who he used to be, but rather there is a cost to following Christ, but we see Saul understanding it is worth every penny of the cost. We see persecution taking place right after his conversion.
As Saul went from synagogue to synagogue preaching of Jesus, people didn’t trust him and wanted to kill him because they felt he was guilty of blasphemy against God by claiming Jesus to be God’s son. They saw him as a religious traitor.
Acts 9:23-30
⁃ Conspiracy to kill him in Damascus
⁃ Shunned in Jerusalem
⁃ Befriended by Barnabas
⁃ Received by the Apostles
⁃ Conspiracy to kill him by the Hellenistic Jews
⁃ Returned to hometown of Tarsus
In 2 Corinthians 11:23b-27 we read of his imprisonments, exposure to death, beatings, stonings, whippings, shipwrecks, and being in constant danger, facing daily his concern for the body of believers.
This news of Saul’s persecution causes us to:
1. Admire him for his courage in sharing the Good News of Jesus.
2. Recognize that he was saved from hell by direct intervention of Jesus. Jesus' intervention resulted in Saul knowing everything he has is a gift from God. We too have sinned and are saved by Jesus resulting in the free gift of salvation - and so we live for Him. We may suffer like Saul/Paul - under the enemy’s attack. But our courage is found in God and in Saul’s encouraging last written words. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord will award on that day!”
God is good, and He brings His people through each and every day, including the darkest ones.
Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.
View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class
For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper
For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now
Join us Sundays
https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos
Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.