Earthly Powers & God’s Sovereignty
Earthly powers will always be subject to the sovereign judgment of God, our job is to humbly serve the King of Kings and promote his greatness throughout the earth.
Acts
Victories & Vindication
Our prayer lives ought to be an exercise in bolstering our confidence in God’s plan, power and purposes amid this seeming chaotic world.
Suffering & Solidarity
We must never forget that the church is destined for violent opposition from earthly authorities, but we can gain the necessary strength and patient endurance through a fervent prayer life.
Shared Struggles & Mutual Aid
We ought to always be attuned to the practical needs of God’s people, ready to do what we can to demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways.
Cornelius: The Life Changing Message
God is at work preparing people for their engagement with his gospel message which we should always be ready to deliver with conviction, hope, and expectation.
Cornelius: Family & Friends
Our conversion to Christ and our subsequent work of sharing the gospel ought to impact and involve a network of friends and family members.
Cornelius: Reluctant Evangelists
As with those God used to bring us to repentance and faith in Christ, we cannot let any barriers – theological or practical – get in the way of us sharing the gospel.
Cornelius: Drawn to Seek God
We must value and celebrate the pre-Christian grace of God, which he clearly demonstrates in drawing people to a receptive hearing of the gospel of Christ.
City of Joppa: Prepared by a Godly Example
We must appreciate and pursue the evangelistic power of a selfless, sacrificial, and generous Christian life.
City of Lydda: Amazed by God’s Power
Repentance requires a discernment of and submission to God’s incomparable power.
Courage to Be Identified with Christ
Christians should boldly and enthusiastically seek to be identified with Christ in water baptism and in our ongoing and unabashed work of evangelism.
Knowing How the Scriptures Use Us
We must intently study the Bible so we are competent to guide others in God’s truth which can lead them to forgiveness and new life in Christ.
Showing Up for Divine Appointments
We ought to always be ready and willing to obediently respond to God’s sovereign direction when he leads us and prompts us to engage non-Christians with the gospel.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
We should rely on and revel in the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, who works to empower and embolden us as God’s redeemed children to effectively represent him in this world.
Unashamed of God’s One Way
God has promised and we should expect his Spirit’s strong support in our efforts to promote his Son as the indispensable and exclusive means of the forgiveness of our sins.
Expecting Opposition
We must keep the prize of Christ’s growing and victorious church in view as we courageously incur any of the adverse consequences of engaging in the good fight of promoting the gospel in our generation.
Declaring the Blessings of Obedience
As messengers of the gospel we must fully appreciate and clearly communicate, not only the eternal benefits of salvation, but also the present benefits of being a follower of Christ.
Calling for Repentance
We, like Peter, must proclaim the offer of forgiveness in Christ by calling people to repentance and the hope of a promised future inheritance in God’s coming kingdom.
The Invincible Lord of His Church
The Church should always and forever be about Christ – devoted to his teachings, confident in his sovereignty, hoping to share in his resurrection, and striving to be obedient to his commands.
Unfazed by Sovereign Challenges
In the work of reaching people with the gospel we should expect painful betrayals and apostasies, but we should never lose heart, knowing God is working through us to advance his kingdom just as he planned.
