Good Times & Bad Times

It's interesting to me as I study the Book of Acts how in chapters 1-4, basically it was all about the Holy Spirit being given, a lot of preaching done by the apostles (sure, they were occasionally thrown in jail, but it's all good), and a lot of people responding to their Gospel message.

Then BOOM...in Chapter 5 - Ananias and Sapphira, but God quickly took care of that situation...

This Sunday in our Contemporary Service @ 8:30am, we will walk through Acts 6 together. This is the first sign of disunity since the Great outpouring...some complaining. But I love the way it was handled by this early Church. They discovered there was a problem, they had a meeting, they decided what should be done about it, and they did it (which was the coolest part so far), and then the result...(this really is the coolest part)...

Acts 6:7,

"So the Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith (now that's what I call, R-E-V-I-V-A-L!!!)

But hang on to your seat...next week: Acts 7!

Power to {Courageously) Obey the Holy Spirit

This Sunday in our 8:30am Contemporary Service, we will continue through our study in the book of Acts. We've come to that story that can be misunderstood...especially in today's culture. Acts 5 tells the story of Ananias and Sapphira, who were basically both struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit.

I love what William Barclay says about this Bible story..."This is one of those stories which demonstrate the almost stubborn honesty of the Bible. It might well have been left out because it shows that even in the early church there were very imperfect Christians; but the Bible refuses to present an idealized picture of anything. But there is a certain encouragement in this story, for it shows that even in its greatest days the Church was a mixture of good and bad."

Just as in the perfect paradise of Eden, came the serpent, slithering and causing man to look away from God toward what man wanted, so enters Ananias and Sapphira during the days of, what one might call the honeymoon period of the early Church...following the serpent's example.

Peter made it clear, what people still don't understand about who we really sin against...

Acts 5:4, "...you have not lied to men but to God."

Democracy?

de·moc·ra·cy –noun, - government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

In a 4-3 decision, the Supreme Court of California today overturned Proposition 22. In striking down Proposition 22, the initiative passed in 2000 - by 61.4% of voters - to define marriage in California as only between a man and a woman, the Court declared a right to "same-sex marriage" under the California Constitution.

It's time to wake up! Our votes have been rendered worthless by the Supreme Court's disregard for our democratic system!

PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!!!
2 Chronicles 7:14, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Happy Mother's Day!

Well, Sunday is the big day when we celebrate mom! In our Contemporary Service this Sunday at 8:30am, my message title is something all moms can relate to, I'm sure... The title is, "We want you to do for us whatever we ask!" I'm speaking out of Mark 10:35-34. It isn't your traditional, Mother's Day message, generally about a mom in the Bible that we can all model our mothering after...

No, this is about Jesus and His disciples. Often whenever Jesus spoke to His disciples, or whenever I read of things that they would occasionally say to Him, I think of motherhood. Because I think they often responded to Jesus in a child-ish way...rarely understanding Jesus, or the Kingdom. The title's quote is taken from verse 35, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." Sound familiar? I believe this sentence represents the heart of all of all of us, when you think about it. It's the heart of every crying baby, and it's also the heart of everybody on the freeway with road rage...I want this, and I want it now....

But Jesus taught His disciples a different mindset. And all of us moms must teach our little ones {and ourselves} the same one...

Mark 10:43, "...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44-and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45-For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Power to be Bold

This Sunday in our 8:30am Contemporary Service, I'm going to be speaking from Acts 4. The message title is, Power to be BOLD.

There are some Christians who are so bold they're weird. Some Christians aren't nearly bold enough...how do we find the balance? Especially considering that we're living in the politically correct culture that we do, and all of the added pressure that brings into our lives of being witnesses.

There's a scripture in Acts 4:12 that is so bold, and so non-politically correct, that I would guess if any of the candidates for president dared quote this scripture, they would be run out of their party...

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Sadly, I am sure we will never hear any of them quote it...

How did the same disciple who denied knowing Christ find such boldness? He plugged into the power of the Holy Spirit...and so must we if we want to do something to impact this world.