Sermons

The Holy Spirit living in us—as close as can be, but never forcing Himself on us or coming where He is not wanted. No, He would never do a thing like that! He behaves like Jesus, full of grace and love

“I didn’t know how I was going to make it, but I trusted Jesus to get me through. He laid down His life for us, and I know He loves us. And so I turn to Him when I’m in trouble.”

The first thing Paul does is go find somebody to tell about Jesus! He’s not thinking about his own comfort. He’s concerned about these people, and he’s going to make a start on bringing them the Good News

God wants us to pray, but the prophet Isaiah warned of a dividing wall: “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear”

His parents and grandparents had passed the faith on to him, teaching him the Bible and the songs of the church and how to live honorably as a follower of Jesus Christ. But now most of the churches had been forced to close, and their pastors imprisoned.

They would see their dear Lord betrayed, arrested, and put to death on a cross. How terrifying that would be! Jesus knew they were not ready, though He had tried to prepare them. And so, out of deep love, He reassured them again.

Now the cross, a sign of triumph, goes before us through life, through the unknown valley of death, and into the promised land of life in God’s presence forever.

And that day, they proved it through their actions. The church stayed united in love, and one of the new leaders—a man named Stephen—eventually had the honor of being the first to lay down his life for Jesus.

The breath of Jesus departed and His body was returned to the earth, buried in a tomb, yet the plans of our Heavenly Prince could never perish. Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Man, rose from the dead and, because He lives, He promises that we too will rise from death.