Browse our Sermon Series:
Truth Seekers and Jesus
Acts 17:1-15 | Sharing the gospel will elicit different responses from different people. There is the "This is Awkward, Change the Subject Guy" who will just quickly look to talk about anything except spiritual things. There is the "I Just Want to Pick a Fight Guy" who, by just your mentioning of Jesus, will want to get into an intellectual wrestling match of name calling. But then there are the refreshing reactions of "I Just Want to Know the Truth" people. These people listen to understand. They ask questions to clarify. You see the wheels turning in their brain and the Spirit pulling on their heart. In this passage, we come across "I Just Want to Know the Truth" people as we make our way with Paul and Silas to a new city. Through our study of these people, we are going to learn three things truth seekers do when confronted with the message of Christ. Got any people in your life who are wrestling with whether to follow Christ? Anyone who is doubting their faith? Want to know how to witness to those people who seem to keep asking hard questions that you don't always know how to answer? Let's wrestle through these things together.
Acts 17:1-15 | Sharing the gospel will elicit different responses from different people.
There is the "This is Awkward, Change the Subject Guy" who will just quickly look to talk about anything except spiritual things.
There is the "I Just Want to Pick a Fight Guy" who, by just your mentioning of Jesus, will want to get into an intellectual wrestling match of name calling.
But then there are the refreshing reactions of "I Just Want to Know the Truth" people. These people listen to understand. They ask questions to clarify. You see the wheels turning in their brain and the Spirit pulling on their heart.
In this passage, we come across "I Just Want to Know the Truth" people as we make our way with Paul and Silas to a new city. Through our study of these people, we are going to learn three things truth seekers do when confronted with the message of Christ.
Got any people in your life who are wrestling with whether to follow Christ? Anyone who is doubting their faith? Want to know how to witness to those people who seem to keep asking hard questions that you don't always know how to answer? Let's wrestle through these things together.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
Rejoicing in Suffering
Acts 16:16-40 | "But why? Why mom? Why dad? Why? Why? Why?" Have you ever experienced this question asked over and over and over again? While this can start as endearing, it can eventually become tiring. However, with God’s Word, we should constantly be asking the question “why”. It can lead us to know more about our awesome God. It can help us understand more about how He has created us and the world around us. This Sunday, we’re going to study an amazing story together in the book of Acts and ask a big "why" question. We’re going to wrestle with why we suffer for following Jesus, and how that suffering should actually cause us to rejoice!
Acts 16:16-40 | "But why? Why mom? Why dad? Why? Why? Why?"
Have you ever experienced this question asked over and over and over again? While this can start as endearing, it can eventually become tiring. However, with God’s Word, we should constantly be asking the question “why”. It can lead us to know more about our awesome God. It can help us understand more about how He has created us and the world around us.
This Sunday, we’re going to study an amazing story together in the book of Acts and ask a big "why" question. We’re going to wrestle with why we suffer for following Jesus, and how that suffering should actually cause us to rejoice!
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
How to Live a Missional Life
Acts 16:6-15 | Have you ever been traveling on the road and suddenly find yourself staring at a construction sign that reads “Road Closed Ahead”? This seems to happen a lot for those of us living in Greenwood, IN. It’s in moments like this, that we can truly learn a lot about ourselves. Do you ignore the sign and keep on driving hoping to not get caught? Do you turn around and head back in the direction you came from and lose precious time? Or does your creative ingenuity kick in and you try to figure out the quickest route around the construction? Either way, we can learn much about our hearts when something or someone frustrates our plans. In this week’s passage, we get the opportunity to see how Paul reacts when God is the One frustrating his plans. From this experience, we are able to discover how to live a missional life when God’s plans don’t seem to make sense.
Acts 16:6-15 | Have you ever been traveling on the road and suddenly find yourself staring at a construction sign that reads “Road Closed Ahead”?
This seems to happen a lot for those of us living in Greenwood, IN. It’s in moments like this, that we can truly learn a lot about ourselves. Do you ignore the sign and keep on driving hoping to not get caught? Do you turn around and head back in the direction you came from and lose precious time? Or does your creative ingenuity kick in and you try to figure out the quickest route around the construction? Either way, we can learn much about our hearts when something or someone frustrates our plans.
In this week’s passage, we get the opportunity to see how Paul reacts when God is the One frustrating his plans. From this experience, we are able to discover how to live a missional life when God’s plans don’t seem to make sense.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
Disagreeing, Yet Unified
Acts 15:36–16:5 | We often, rightly, talk about agreeing in the Lord. It is important that we stay lock-step, unified on the mission Christ has left us with and the core doctrines God has left us with in His Word. But what about disagreement in the Lord? Is there room for us to disagree on some things and remain a unified family? We believe the answer to that question is yes! This week we are going to see where we can disagree on methods, but (here's the important part) remain in missional and relational unity. This week's passage leads us to the most famous ministry partnership breakup in history, but let's be careful we don't quickly assume this to be a completely sad or bad thing. What do we mean by that? Let's find out.
Acts 15:36–16:5 | We often, rightly, talk about agreeing in the Lord. It is important that we stay lock-step, unified on the mission Christ has left us with and the core doctrines God has left us with in His Word.
But what about disagreement in the Lord? Is there room for us to disagree on some things and remain a unified family? We believe the answer to that question is yes!
This week we are going to see where we can disagree on methods, but (here's the important part) remain in missional and relational unity. This week's passage leads us to the most famous ministry partnership breakup in history, but let's be careful we don't quickly assume this to be a completely sad or bad thing.
What do we mean by that? Let's find out.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
How We Stay United
Acts 15:1-35 | This week we study a church meeting. Sounds riveting right? Except this is probably the most important meeting in the history of the church. There were two types of Christians in the early church, those Christians that came from a Jewish background and those that came from a Gentile background. These were groups of people from very different walks of life. As more and more Gentiles became Christians, a big topic of conversation was how they fit into the family of God. Could they become Christians without becoming Jews? Could they truly be saved without taking part in circumcision and adhering to the Law? These types of questions led to a really important meeting called the Jerusalem Council, in which the church walks out with a clear plan, a unified body, and no distinction between Jew and Gentile. What were the convictions and commitments that were made between Jew and Gentile? And how can we continue these convictions and commitments to forever stay unified as a church?
Acts 15:1-35 | This week we study a church meeting. Sounds riveting right? Except this is probably the most important meeting in the history of the church.
There were two types of Christians in the early church, those Christians that came from a Jewish background and those that came from a Gentile background. These were groups of people from very different walks of life. As more and more Gentiles became Christians, a big topic of conversation was how they fit into the family of God. Could they become Christians without becoming Jews? Could they truly be saved without taking part in circumcision and adhering to the Law?
These types of questions led to a really important meeting called the Jerusalem Council, in which the church walks out with a clear plan, a unified body, and no distinction between Jew and Gentile.
What were the convictions and commitments that were made between Jew and Gentile? And how can we continue these convictions and commitments to forever stay unified as a church?
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
Through Many Tribulations
Acts 14:1-28 | Did you know that the Bible talks about suffering, hardship, persecution, trials, and tribulations as normal for the Christian life? And it talks about these things a lot. As you read what scripture has to say about tribulation as normal for those who follow Christ, it seems so different from the many titles you see as you stroll the "Christian Living" section of the bookstore. This week, we come across this statement, "...through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." This week we seek to unpack this idea. Why do we enter the Kingdom through many tribulations? Why is this worth it? Why should I expect this as more of the norm in my life of following hard after Christ?
Acts 14:1-28 | Did you know that the Bible talks about suffering, hardship, persecution, trials, and tribulations as normal for the Christian life? And it talks about these things a lot.
As you read what scripture has to say about tribulation as normal for those who follow Christ, it seems so different from the many titles you see as you stroll the "Christian Living" section of the bookstore.
This week, we come across this statement, "...through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." This week we seek to unpack this idea. Why do we enter the Kingdom through many tribulations? Why is this worth it? Why should I expect this as more of the norm in my life of following hard after Christ?
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
The Amazing Grace of God
Acts 14:1-28 | "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now am found T'was blind but now I see" Grace is amazing...but sometimes as we begin to walk with Christ for awhile, we can lose the awe and forget how amazing grace really is. As Paul makes his way to Pisidian, Antioch this week, he is going to preach a message laced in grace. And this message is a message we need. The Spirit of God is going to renew the awe and amaze us again with the greatness of the grace of God.
Acts 13:13-52 | "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
T'was blind but now I see"
Grace is amazing...but sometimes as we begin to walk with Christ for awhile, we can lose the awe and forget how amazing grace really is. As Paul makes his way to Pisidian, Antioch this week, he is going to preach a message laced in grace.
And this message is a message we need. The Spirit of God is going to renew the awe and amaze us again with the greatness of the grace of God.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
God on the Move
Acts 13:1-12 | Last we heard about Saul and Barnabas, they were down in Jerusalem serving the church. This week, we’re going to see them back with the church in Antioch worshipping, praying, and fasting. We see in this church an insatiable desire to be with God. To pursue Him. They're hungry for the presence and power of God in their lives and in their church. And this hunger to be with God sets off a series of events that will change not just an island and the people on it, but literally the course of human history.
Acts 13:1-12 | Last we heard about Saul and Barnabas, they were down in Jerusalem serving the church. This week, we’re going to see them back with the church in Antioch worshipping, praying, and fasting. We see in this church an insatiable desire to be with God. To pursue Him. They're hungry for the presence and power of God in their lives and in their church.
And this hunger to be with God sets off a series of events that will change not just an island and the people on it, but literally the course of human history.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
Attempted Glory Robbery
Acts 12:20-25 | We were made for glory. We were made to give glory. Our lives exist for the purpose of God getting more glory. Sometimes, though, we want glory for ourselves, but God tells us He will share His glory with no one. This week's passage reveals to us an attempted glory robbery. Herod wants glory due only to God, and God deals with Herod in a startling way. In this message we will learn more of God's glory and receive a powerful reminder of the dangers of attempting to rob God of glory that is due only to Him.
Acts 12:20-25 | We were made for glory. We were made to give glory. Our lives exist for the purpose of God getting more glory. Sometimes, though, we want glory for ourselves, but God tells us He will share His glory with no one.
This week's passage reveals to us an attempted glory robbery. Herod wants glory due only to God, and God deals with Herod in a startling way.
In this message we will learn more of God's glory and receive a powerful reminder of the dangers of attempting to rob God of glory that is due only to Him.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
When God Flips the Script
Acts 12:1-19 | In every great movie, there is always an unexpected plot twist. In fact, would you agree, that the more inconspicuous the twist is, the better the movie? Isn't it interesting that we think completely different when it comes to real life? Most of us would rather things be smooth, calm, and even slightly predictable. Perhaps we might prefer an occasional lapse of judgment just for fun, but nothing too "out of control".
But what do you do when everything goes awry? When your plans go up in smoke and you find yourself in a genuine crisis? An unexpected trial that renders you completely confused?
That’s what we find happening in this passage in Acts. But, what God does in the middle of a crisis is sure to leave you amazed, breathless, and filled with faith.
Acts 12:1-19 | In every great movie, there is always an unexpected plot twist. In fact, would you agree, that the more inconspicuous the twist is, the better the movie? Isn't it interesting that we think completely different when it comes to real life? Most of us would rather things be smooth, calm, and even slightly predictable. Perhaps we might prefer an occasional lapse of judgment just for fun, but nothing too "out of control".
But what do you do when everything goes awry? When your plans go up in smoke and you find yourself in a genuine crisis? An unexpected trial that renders you completely confused?
That’s what we find happening in this passage in Acts. But, what God does in the middle of a crisis is sure to leave you amazed, breathless, and filled with faith.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
How God Builds a Sending Base
Acts 11:1-30 | This past Fall Amazon announced it would be building a second headquarters somewhere in North America. They outlined the criteria they would use in making this decision. With the release of this criteria, cities were immediately unleashed into a fierce competition to land this HQ2 of one of the world's most influential companies. In Acts 11, we will see God establish an HQ2 of His own. This HQ2 that is established will be the sending base hub of the missional advance of the gospel to the Gentile world. What can get lost in this, though, is God's simple plan for the building blocks of this HQ2 missionary hub: People. But what kind of people? As we seek to be a sending base church, we will see this week "How God Builds a Sending Base". As we study this, we will know the key building blocks God uses to build a church that will be greatly used to build The Church.
Acts 11:1-30 | This past Fall Amazon announced it would be building a second headquarters somewhere in North America. They outlined the criteria they would use in making this decision. With the release of this criteria, cities were immediately unleashed into a fierce competition to land this HQ2 of one of the world's most influential companies.
In Acts 11, we will see God establish an HQ2 of His own. This HQ2 that is established will be the sending base hub of the missional advance of the gospel to the Gentile world. What can get lost in this, though, is God's simple plan for the building blocks of this HQ2 missionary hub: People.
But what kind of people?
As we seek to be a sending base church, we will see this week "How God Builds a Sending Base". As we study this, we will know the key building blocks God uses to build a church that will be greatly used to build The Church.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
The Gospel to Everyone, Everywhere
Acts 10:1-48 | One thing that cannot be denied is that the early church lived with a consuming passion to see the message of the gospel of Christ spread across the world. This mission defined everything about how they lived. The moment a heart had embraced the gospel for themselves, they were launched on a missional life of taking the gospel to others. This week we will see that no matter what sacrifice God may call us, taking the gospel message to the lost will always be worth it. What would it look like for us to re-arrange the priorities of life around living as a missionary in our everyday life? How do we grow in an all-consuming desire to see the gospel go to everyone, everywhere? We believe that Acts 10 will be an instrument in God's hands to ignite a passion to live a missional life for the spread of the gospel and the glory of God.
Acts 10:1-48 | One thing that cannot be denied is that the early church lived with a consuming passion to see the message of the gospel of Christ spread across the world. This mission defined everything about how they lived. The moment a heart had embraced the gospel for themselves, they were launched on a missional life of taking the gospel to others.
This week we will see that no matter what sacrifice God may call us, taking the gospel message to the lost will always be worth it.
What would it look like for us to re-arrange the priorities of life around living as a missionary in our everyday life? How do we grow in an all-consuming desire to see the gospel go to everyone, everywhere?
We believe that Acts 10 will be an instrument in God's hands to ignite a passion to live a missional life for the spread of the gospel and the glory of God.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
(Still) A God of Miracles
Acts 9:32-43 | "I know God has done miracles. I read about them in my Bible. But do I really believe God still can? Yeah, I guess I do, but do I really believe He will?" We can often have a right doctrine of the omnipotence of God (God is all powerful and able to do anything), but does our doctrine translate to street-theology? Meaning, do we really believe practically, in how we live our life, that God can still do anything? This week we study two miracle stories. These two miracle stories come back to back in the book of Acts and share the same story structure. It seems in their shared structure, God wants to teach us something about the fact that He was, is, and always will be a God of miraculous power. It also seems these stories can shed some light on God's purposes in why He does the supernatural miracles He does.
Acts 9:32-43 | "I know God has done miracles. I read about them in my Bible. But do I really believe God still can? Yeah, I guess I do, but do I really believe He will?"
We can often have a right doctrine of the omnipotence of God (God is all powerful and able to do anything), but does our doctrine translate to street-theology? Meaning, do we really believe practically, in how we live our life, that God can still do anything?
This week we study two miracle stories. These two miracle stories come back to back in the book of Acts and share the same story structure. It seems in their shared structure, God wants to teach us something about the fact that He was, is, and always will be a God of miraculous power. It also seems these stories can shed some light on God's purposes in why He does the supernatural miracles He does.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
The Brand New Life
Acts 9:19-31 | Jesus makes dead people come to life. To know Christ is to have a complete resurrection and transformation from dead in sin to a made new in Him... But now what? This is what we’re going to see in the story of Saul. In part 2 of Saul’s radical conversion, we’ll witness the effects of this transformation overflowing out of his life.
Acts 9:19-31 | Jesus makes dead people come to life. To know Christ is to have a complete resurrection and transformation from dead in sin to a made new in Him... But now what?
This is what we’re going to see in the story of Saul. In part 2 of Saul’s radical conversion, we’ll witness the effects of this transformation overflowing out of his life.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
Brand New
Acts 9:1-19 | Jesus doesn't just make bad people good, dirty people clean, or average people better; Jesus makes dead people come to life. To know Christ is to have a complete resurrection and transformation from an old life dead in sin to a brand new life in Him. This is seen powerfully in the story of a radical conversion we see in this passage in Acts.
Acts 9:1-19 | Jesus doesn't just make bad people good, dirty people clean, or average people better; Jesus makes dead people come to life. To know Christ is to have a complete resurrection and transformation from an old life dead in sin to a brand new life in Him.
This is seen powerfully in the story of a radical conversion we see in this passage in Acts.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
Obey
Acts 8:26–40 | There is a family that teaches their kids what it means to obey by saying this, "Obedience means right away, all the way, with a happy heart." But this isn't just a statement for kids, this is a statement for every Christ follower. When God says "go", do we obey right away, all the way, with a happy heart? When God says "do", do we obey right away, all the way, with a happy heart? This week we see a picture of immediate obedience, and in studying this passage, we will be better equipped to obey God--right away, all the way, with a happy heart--in everything He calls us to obey Him in!
Acts 8:26–40 | There is a family that teaches their kids what it means to obey by saying this, "Obedience means right away, all the way, with a happy heart."
But this isn't just a statement for kids, this is a statement for every Christ follower.
When God says "go", do we obey right away, all the way, with a happy heart? When God says "do", do we obey right away, all the way, with a happy heart?
This week we see a picture of immediate obedience, and in studying this passage, we will be better equipped to obey God--right away, all the way, with a happy heart--in everything He calls us to obey Him in!
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
Why Am I Following Jesus?
Acts 8:9–25 | "Why?" is an important question. "Why?" is a heart searching question. We do a lot of things in life, we make a lot of decisions in life, but there is something that stops us and makes us think when we ask the question "Why?" We know we should follow Jesus, but have you ever asked why you are following Jesus? "Why?" gets at the motives for your following of Christ. What if our motives in following Jesus may not be as pure as we may have thought? Confused yet? In this sermon, we are introduced to a man who 'believed' in Jesus but whose heart in following Jesus was exposed. This man displayed a heart more interested in the perks of Jesus than the person of Jesus. We will let God's Word expose our hearts and show us the motives that lie within for why we are following Jesus.
Acts 8:9–25 | "Why?" is an important question. "Why?" is a heart searching question. We do a lot of things in life, we make a lot of decisions in life, but there is something that stops us and makes us think when we ask the question "Why?"
We know we should follow Jesus, but have you ever asked why you are following Jesus? "Why?" gets at the motives for your following of Christ. What if our motives in following Jesus may not be as pure as we may have thought?
Confused yet?
In this sermon, we are introduced to a man who 'believed' in Jesus but whose heart in following Jesus was exposed. This man displayed a heart more interested in the perks of Jesus than the person of Jesus.
We will let God's Word expose our hearts and show us the motives that lie within for why we are following Jesus.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
I Could Never Do That...
Acts 8:1-8 | “I could never do that!"
Has this thought ever crossed your mind? Maybe it was watching someone walk up to a complete stranger and share the gospel. Maybe it was seeing a friend walk through a difficult season of life and still love Jesus and love others. Maybe it was someone who has moved to a place you would never go and lived on mission for the Lord. We’ve all had times we’ve looked at others and thought “I could never do that.” But what if God is inviting you into some “I could never do that” situations for the spread of His gospel? That’s exactly what happens in Acts 8 as the story of the early church continues.
Acts 8:1-8 | “I could never do that!"
Has this thought ever crossed your mind? Maybe it was watching someone walk up to a complete stranger and share the gospel. Maybe it was seeing a friend walk through a difficult season of life and still love Jesus and love others. Maybe it was someone who has moved to a place you would never go and lived on mission for the Lord. We’ve all had times we’ve looked at others and thought “I could never do that.”
But what if God is inviting you into some “I could never do that” situations for the spread of His gospel? That’s exactly what happens in Acts 8 as the story of the early church continues.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
First Degree Murder
Acts 6:8–7:60 | This week in our study of the Book of Acts, a Jesus follower will be murdered. That is harsh and direct, but it's true. It is what happened. Why was he murdered? For his faith. We turn our attention to the first martyr of the church. Literally, this man pays the greatest earthly cost he could possibly pay because of his allegiance to Christ. He is willing to die for the one who died for him. There are three questions we need answers to this week as we look at someone who suffered the ultimate suffering because of their faith in Christ:1) Where was God in this? 2) What is God doing through this? 3) How does Stephen remain tender-hearted toward God and others in spite of this? The answer to these three questions may be answers we need for times of hardship and tragedy in our own life one day. Don't miss the important lessons to be learned from the church's first martyr.
Acts 6:8–7:60 | This week in our study of the Book of Acts, a Jesus follower will be murdered. That is harsh and direct, but it's true. It is what happened.
Why was he murdered? For his faith.
We turn our attention to the first martyr of the church. Literally, this man pays the greatest earthly cost he could possibly pay because of his allegiance to Christ. He is willing to die for the one who died for him.
There are three questions we need answers to this week as we look at someone who suffered the ultimate suffering because of their faith in Christ:
1) Where was God in this?
2) What is God doing through this?
3) How does Stephen remain tender-hearted toward God and others in spite of this?
The answer to these three questions may be answers we need for times of hardship and tragedy in our own life one day. Don't miss the important lessons to be learned from the church's first martyr.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series:
Prioritizing Prayer & The Word
Acts 6:1-7 | If we miss the lesson the apostles are teaching in these 7 verses in Acts, it could set the course of our body of Jesus followers on a very dangerous trajectory. We have to understand what happens in these 7 verses and why this is one of the most pivotal leadership decisions the apostles made in the early days of the Church.
Acts 6:1-7 | If we miss the lesson the apostles are teaching in these 7 verses in Acts, it could set the course of our body of Jesus followers on a very dangerous trajectory. We have to understand what happens in these 7 verses and why this is one of the most pivotal leadership decisions the apostles made in the early days of the Church.
APPLICATION GUIDE | SERMON SLIDES | SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES
More from this series: