In this passage Luke records how the church gets scattered by persecution (vv. 1 – 3), how Philip proclaims the gospel in Samaria (vv. 4 – 8), how Simon the magician tries to buy the Spirit’s power (vv. 9 – 24), and how the apostles continue preaching the gospel throughout Samaria (v. 25).
Continue readingAuthor: joemarino (Page 5 of 47)
Before we dive into the story of the church’s first martyr, Stephen, I want to take a few moments to address last week’s text and sermon from Acts 6:1 – 7. Most preachers struggle with wondering if their sermons are faithful, effective, and helpful. I am not immune to those feelings or questions at all. I do not typically walk away from preaching a sermon feeling like Jesus is fist bumping me on the way out of the pulpit, but I do typically find some joy in preaching and some assurance that the Lord helps me to be faithful to his Word and his people.
Continue readingUnresolved conflict is often at the center of broken relationships. This is why the legal term “unreconcilable differences” is typically used in divorce court to describe the nature of the dissolution of a marriage.
Continue readingOne of the things you begin to pick up on as you study the Bible, is that Satan will stop at nothing to derail the church from her God given gospel responsibility. Church history is full of story after story of so – called religious leaders being used as instruments of Satan rather than being used as instruments of truth and grace. There are more than enough modern-day examples of church leaders absolutely failing in their God – given responsibility to not only proclaim the gospel but to adorn the gospel with their lives and their ministries.
Continue readingAt first glance, this passage seems a little harsh. A husband and wife sell some stuff and give some of the proceeds to the church while secretly keeping the rest of those proceeds for themselves.
Continue readingIt is Easter Sunday! It is the day that the church all over the world celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. The horror of the brutal death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary on Good Friday gives way to celebration and joy in the truth that Satan, Sin, and Death have been defeated once and for all in the resurrection and empty tomb of Jesus.
Continue readingI often wonder what Jesus would say if he rolled into town today. I wonder what he would say if he rolled into our church gatherings, our communities, or our homes.
Continue readingHow would you describe a healthy church? We typically evaluate the effectiveness, the viability, or the health of a church based upon its buildings, its programs, its preaching, its worship music, or the friendliness of its people.
Continue readingHow is your prayer life? A lot of ink has been spilled over the importance, the practice, the form, and the blessings of prayer. But in my experience, the discipline of praying is still one of the most difficult things for believers to engage in. Most of us find it hard to strike a regular rhythm of praying, it can be difficult to see prayer as a conversation with our Heavenly Father who is invisible to us, and oftentimes it is hard to know what to say.
Continue readingOpposition to the name of Jesus is nothing new. History is absolutely littered with the stories of saints who have faced the horror of hell’s fury as they sought to live in obedience to God while proclaiming his name on hell’s doorstep.
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