Growing Gracefully: Obedience
Awake Us Now
Growing gracefully in obedience is a response to the salvation God has worked in our lives through Christ Jesus. We are called to walk in obedience as a response to our faith in Jesus. Obedience is not necessary for salvation, but obedience is necessary! Join us as we explore Growing Gracefully in our relationship with Jesus Christ through obedience to Him and His Word. Obedience does not save, but neither is it optional. God desires not simply outward actions, but inner obedience to His Word. Pastor focuses on two important Biblical truths: 1. Obedience does not save - Jesus saves --Grace of...
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GOD ACTS! (Chapter 12) - He Proceeded to Seize Peter
Awake Us Now
God’s word brings light into our lives, gives us direction and points us to Jesus showing us where our hope and strength are found. Today’s story demonstrates this truth. Join us! Chapter 12 is about some of the persecution Peter experienced and we will look at Peter’s writings in 1 Peter in conjunction with this story in Acts chapter 12 for additional insights. THEN + NOW Persecution - Acts 12:1-4; 1 Peter 4:12-13 Herod Agrippa the First, encouraged by approval after arresting believers and putting the Apostle James to death, decides to arrest and imprison Peter. He has...
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Armor of God #10 - Keep on Praying!
Awake Us Now
"Prayer in the Spirit" is about taking time in the presence of the living God and allowing Him to nurture, nourish, transform, and renew our souls. It is not about "give me, give me, give me," but about "mold me, shape me, use me."
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Growing Gracefully: Training
Awake Us Now
Despite the most rigorous physical exercise and training regimen, our bodies will age and, eventually, die. But there is a training - training in godliness - that lasts into eternity. The spiritual diet we eat, the spiritual exercise we do and the spiritual training we choose affects our ability to grow graceful as Jesus’ disciples. Training ourselves for godliness has benefits for today, tomorrow and for eternity. Spiritual training is timeless. Train to be godly - Christianity is not a spectator sport. We can’t be a couch potato. We must be in training to be godly. This is training with...
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Growing Gracefully: Contentment
Awake Us Now
Even in the most difficult of times, believers such as the apostle Paul have known contentment, an inner peace, a certainty that God is in control. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we know that, through faith in Him, we will live forever. That certainty brings true contentment!
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Growing Gracefully: Humility
Awake Us Now
The humility modeled for us by Jesus is not only refreshing, it is life-changing and God-pleasing! Pride, on the other hand, makes us nauseating not only to others, but to God as well.
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Dig Deeper - Acts Chapter 11: The Origin of "Christian"
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In Acts 11:26 we read that the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. “Disciple” is the most used word in the New Testament to describe followers of Jesus. It is used 261 times. The word “Christian” is used only 3 times in the New Testament. Brothers and sisters, believers, followers are also used but “disciples” is Jesus’ favorite word to describe His followers. Matthew 29:19-20 - the Great Commission - Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching...
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Growing Gracefully: Freedom
Awake Us Now
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Growing Gracefully: Thankfulness
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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.
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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_outlineGod’s word brings light into our lives, gives us direction and points us to Jesus showing us where our hope and strength are found. Today’s story demonstrates this truth. Join us!
Chapter 12 is about some of the persecution Peter experienced and we will look at Peter’s writings in 1 Peter in conjunction with this story in Acts chapter 12 for additional insights.
THEN + NOW
- Persecution - Acts 12:1-4; 1 Peter 4:12-13
Herod Agrippa the First, encouraged by approval after arresting believers and putting the Apostle James to death, decides to arrest and imprison Peter. He has Peter under guard by four squads of four soldiers each. He is planning a public trial of Peter after the Passover.
1 Peter 4:12-13 - Peter tells us not to be surprised at persecution and to instead rejoice that we can participate in the sufferings of Christ.
There is a cost to following Jesus. The enemy desires to stifle our witness and to destroy the plans and purposes of God.
- Prayer - Acts 12:5; 1 Peter 3:12 (Psalm 34:15)
While Peter is imprisoned the believers are praying for him.
1 Peter 3:12 Peter quotes Psalm 34:15 sharing that prayer is answered by God.
We are called to be faithful in prayer.
- Peace - Acts 12:6; 1 Peter 3:14, 1 Peter 5:7
The night before his trial we see Peter peacefully sleeping while under heavy guard.
1 Peter 3:14 Peter tells us not to fear threats because God is in control.
1 Peter 5::7 Peter tells us to cast all our anxiety on Jesus because He cares for us.
- Provision - Acts 12:7; 1 Peter 3:21b-22
An angel appears in the jail and the chains fall off of Peter.
1 Peter 3:21b-22 Peter tells us that Christ who is at God’s right hand, has everything in submission to Him.
God is in charge and even when an evil ruler seeks to destroy God’s people, God knows and it is His plans that will succeed.
- Praise - Acts 12:8-11; 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 5:10-11
Peter gets dressed and follows the angel out of the prison. Peter thinks he is seeing a vision. He and the angel walk past the guards, out the gate and the angel leaves him. Then he realizes that it was all real and that the Lord rescued him from Herod’s clutches! We learn that our response to God’s deliverance is to be one of praise.
1 Peter 1:3 Peter tells us to praise the Lord for our new birth in the resurrected Christ. This gift is our motivation to praise Him.
1 Peter 5:10-11 tells us we are to praise God for His provision.
We are to praise Him in all circumstances.
- Prepared - Acts 12:12—19; 1 Peter 3:15
Peter goes to the house where the believers are praying for him. He tells them how the Lord brought him out of the prison and then he leaves for another place.
The next morning there is chaos at the prison as they try to figure out what happened to Peter. Herod holds a thorough search, cross-examines the guards and orders them executed.
But what can we trust Peter shared with these guards as he was imprisoned? What do we know about Peter’s heart for sharing the Gospel message of Christ’s love for all including the soldiers holding him prisoner. Peter was prepared to answer all their questions and to give them the Good News of Christ.
1 Peter 3:15 Peter tells us to always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have.
These guards died not through their own fault but simply because they were connected to Peter.
How did what Peter would have taught them about Jesus affect their last moments here on this earth?
How did what Peter would have shared about Jesus affect where they spend eternity?
Am I prepared with answers about who Jesus is?
Am I prepared to be used by God to affect where those I meet spend eternity?
In this life we will have persecution. How will we respond?
-With prayer, knowing God hears and answers.
-With peace, because God cares for us.
-With the assurance of His provision because He is in control of all.
-With praise, because He is our Deliverer.
-And we will be prepared to be used by God to share the Gospel message even to our persecutors.
This week’s READING ASSIGNMENT:
Acts chapter 12-13.
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