This week, in preparation for communion John Patterson shares from the gospel that Jesus is the Messiah. He needed to die and be raised from the dead so that we could have eternal life.
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Tag: gospel
The varying responses of the Ephesians to the gospel speaks to the different valuations they ascribed to it. Paul’s valuation was clear…”I consider my life worth nothing to me” compared to the gospel.
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How’s The Fishin’
Paul’s experience in Corinth should challenge us to see evangelism in a different way. Although its seems our western culture has moved on from the gospel, we need not think that our efforts to spread the gospel are in vain. We need to remember that God is still at work in people’s lives. Our calling is to be faithful and give those thirsty for the Truth what they need to become children of God
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So Simple It’s Genius
As Paul did some sightseeing in Athens he was distressed to see how lost in religions, superstitions, and philosophies the residents were. He couldn’t help but speak the simple truth of the gospel into this complex mosaic of ideas. His presentation to the philosophers is an excellent template for us as we seek to present truth within our own lost, pluralistic culture.
Luke records the reactions of the recipients of Paul’s persuasive presentation of the gospel in Pisidian Antioch. Their responses to the gospel are instructive for today’s church as it continues the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ.
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Hollow Threats
The measure of a threat is the perceived ability of the one threatening to deliver on their threat. As the disciples gathered together to process the threats of the religious leaders who demanded that they refrain from spreading the gospel, they were consoled by thoughts of the sovereignty of God. Instead of retreating or changing the message, they were emboldened to carry on under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. The threats of the Sadducees held no terror for them! What can today’s, marginalized church learn from the first church?
Peter and John used the healing of the lame beggar to validate the gospel message. In so doing, Peter referenced Old Testament scripture that employed the concept of a cornerstone as a metaphor. He accused the Jewish leaders as builders who had rejected Christ as their cornerstone. Peter contrasts the builders, the buildings and the cornerstones used by the Sadducees and by God
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The Awkward Gospel
2017-05-07
Peter and John had every opportunity to emphasize the positive as folks gathered around to celebrate the miraculous healing of the lame beggar in Acts 3. Instead, they used the opportunity to confront the people for their complicity in crucifying the man’s true healer, Jesus Christ. The gospel requires such a confrontation. The good news is that, as Paul writes in Corinthians, Godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation.
Awkward…you bet! Necessary…absolutely!
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A Call To Activism
2017-03-13 Peter’s explanation of the extraordinary experiences of Pentecost, found in Acts 2:14-21, centers on the ancient and somewhat puzzling prophecy of Joel. Part of God’s message through Joel is the foretelling of a coming “Day of the Lord”. Joel indicates that in preparation for this final reckoning, God will distribute His Holy Spirit indiscriminately on all believers for the purpose of spreading the gospel. This gifting of the Holy Spirit was a call to activism…a call to spread the good news. This remains the call for each possessor of the Holy Spirit
