The Acts 13 Network

What does following Jesus look like in the places that matter most—our marriages, families, and work? In this episode, we walk through one of the most challenging and often misunderstood passages in the New Testament: Colossians 3:18–4:1. Paul takes the big, beautiful theology of Colossians and applies it to everyday life—wives and husbands, children and parents, workers and those with power. Rath...

In this episode, we dive deep into a short but potent passage from Colossians 3:15-17, exploring the radical demands it places on followers of Jesus. This text challenges us to measure our lives against three core mandates—and reveals that true Christian living encompasses  all  aspects of our existence, from our inner hearts to our daily actions. Key Takeaways You'll Explore: The Peacemaker M...

In this episode, we unpack Colossians 3:5–14 — a powerful and challenging passage that calls Christians to put to death their old nature and to “clothe themselves” in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience — and above all, love. With thoughtful reflection and practical application, we explore what it really means to be renewed in Christ, to forgive as we have been forgiven, to bear w...

You are not just a sinner striving to be better; you are a saint who has been raised with Christ. But do you live like it? This week, we explore Colossians 3:1-4 and the call to set our hearts and minds on "things above." We discuss the difference between earthly strategies and Kingdom living, and why the Fruit of the Spirit is the ultimate counter-cultural move. If you feel defined by t...

Are you truly following Jesus, or just following a set of self-imposed rules? For many, the answer to "How do I know I'm saved?" is a rigid checklist of do's and don'ts—behaviors that give us an "appearance of wisdom." In this powerful episode, we dive into Colossians 2:20-23 , where the Apostle Paul dismantles this rules-based approach to faith. He argues that in C...

In an age of relentless digital misinformation, how can we possibly tell the difference between what is real and what is cleverly crafted "baloney"? Dan dives into the current reality crisis, from AI-generated fake news and deceptively heartwarming social media stories to the subtle spiritual deceptions Paul warned about in the early church. Drawing from Colossians 2:16-19 , we explore P...

Do you ever feel weighed down by past failures, or caught in the trap of trying to earn your salvation? This week, we dive into Colossians 2:13-15 to understand the staggering reality of Christ’s work. Paul states plainly: we were "dead in your sins." If we were spiritually dead, what could we do to save ourselves? Absolutely nothing. This episode explores the transformative truth that w...

What truly fills the void in your life? For many of us, life is an exhausting pursuit of satisfaction —we're convinced that one more victory, one more purchase, or one more accomplishment will finally make us whole. But this constant running to fill an inner void is what philosopher Blaise Pascal called the "God-shaped vacuum" —a space only God can occupy. In this powerful message, w...

In this powerful episode, we dive into Colossians 2:6-8 to explore what it means to move beyond the world's "basic principles" and "human traditions." Pastor Dan argues that following Jesus requires an upside-down view of life, rooted in a radical sense of grace. Learn Paul's three metaphors— rooted, built up, and strengthened —for a faith that is so anchored in gratitu...

Are you tired of feeling swayed by every new, "cool" idea that pops up on your feed? In this powerful episode, we dig into Colossians 2:1-5 , where the Apostle Paul—in a rare moment of crystal clarity—lays out the single, most important goal of the Christian life. He gives us the ultimate defense against the "fine-sounding arguments" that constantly threaten to deceive us. Disc...

"I rejoice in my suffering... and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions." The Apostle Paul's words in Colossians 1 are some of the most challenging and misunderstood in all of Scripture. What could possibly be "lacking" in the suffering of Jesus? And why would anyone find joy in hardship? In this message, we dive deep into Colossians...

Once alienated, now reconciled—Colossians 1:21–23 shows how Christ makes us holy, blameless, and free. Discover how this truth frees us to love even those we once called enemies.

In this episode, we explore one of the most powerful passages in Scripture: Colossians 1:15–20. The Apostle Paul gives us a stunning portrait of Christ—the image of the invisible God, Creator of all things, head of the church, and the one who holds everything together. We’ll look at how this passage challenged the Roman Empire’s claims about Caesar, what it means for us that Christ is supreme over...

What do baseball fundamentals and spiritual growth have in common? In this episode, we explore Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9–14 and discover the rhythm of “include and transcend.” Just like athletes never move beyond the basics but keep returning to them, followers of Jesus are called to hold onto the fundamentals of faith—prayer, Scripture, worship, service—while also growing deeper and moving...

In this episode of  Lives Hidden with Christ , we explore Colossians 1:3–8, where Paul highlights the triad of  faith, love, and hope . But for Paul, hope isn’t wishful thinking—it’s a certainty rooted in the grace of God through Christ. This sure hope produces faith that endures hardship and love that drives out fear. Together, we reflect on what it means to truly understand the gospel and live a...

In this episode, we begin a new series walking through the letter of Colossians. Though short—just four chapters—this book is overflowing with Christ at every turn. Before diving into the heart of Paul’s message, we take time to set the stage: Who were the Colossians? Why did Paul write to them? And what challenges were they facing? We explore the historical context of Colossae, a once-thriving co...

In the final week of our series  Whispers of Grace: 15 New Testament Words of Life,  we arrive at the book of Revelation and the word  “witness.”  Revelation reminds us that to be a witness of Jesus is to testify with our lives—sometimes at great cost—to the love, grace, and mercy of God. Pastor Daniel unpacks the meaning of  martis  (the Greek word for witness and root of “martyr”), explores the...

Love is central to the message of Jesus—but is it central to the way Christians are known in the world today? In this episode of  Whispers of Grace , we explore 1 John 4 and reflect on what it really means to live like Jesus: to love first, even when it’s hard, even when it costs us something. We unpack the difference between love and fear, why the church should be the world’s "school of love...

What does it really mean to be  holy ? Is it just about being "set apart"—or is there something deeper, more awe-inspiring at play? In this episode, we explore the word  holy  through the lens of 1 Peter, a football pilgrimage to Notre Dame, and a burning bush in Exodus. We’ll unpack how holiness isn’t about rule-following or religious performance, but about the transformative presence o...

What does it mean for Christianity to be a religion—and why has that word gotten such a bad rap? In this week's reflection, we dive deep into the book of James and discover how true religion reconnects us to God, each other, and those on the margins. This is not about checking boxes; it's about living Gospel truth with integrity and love.

What if peace isn’t just quiet—but confidence before God? In this episode, we reflect on Hebrews 10 and discover a soul-deep peace rooted in Christ’s work. If you’re carrying guilt or longing for rest, this message invites you to draw near, fully known and fully loved.

In this week's message, Noah Grimm, calls us to consider what it means for us to live into our salvation from Paul's letter to Timothy.

You might think you know what "hope" means, but this episode challenges that notion! We kick things off with a look at Star Wars and its iconic themes of hope, then pivot to reveal how our modern understanding often falls short. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians and Romans, we uncover the profound, resolute hope of the New Testament – a hope that isn't a wish, but a certainty built on the...

In a world saturated with the buzzword "community," do we truly understand what it means to connect deeply as followers of Jesus? This episode challenges our modern notions of church "community" and dives into the rich, ancient concept of  koinonia —a New Testament word often translated as "fellowship" or "sharing." Drawing insights from Paul's profound...

This week we explore the idea of grace from the letter to the Ephesians. It's not just the name of a girl, but an idea that changes the world.