Reformation Family Podcast

We see the conversion of Saul, the church’s persecutor, as a magnificent display of the sovereign grace of God. The Lord sought Saul from before time, through election, and sovereignly intervened in Saul’s life, though he was totally depraved and spiritually dead, raised him up from death to life through the new birth, and caused Saul to see Christ and turn to Him by faith. So too is each of Chris...

We see the miraculous conversion of Saul, the great persecutor of the Church. When Christ revealed Himself to Saul, he understood the truth of Christ and the Gospel, surrendered His rebellion, and turned to Christ in faith and repentance, evidenced through the fact that he ceased to pursue capturing Christians, and in turn obeyed Jesus’ commands to wait in Damascus for further instruction. Ultimat...

“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way” Pt. 10 (Congregational Singing) of our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself. Speaker: Samuel Wente

“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way” Pt. 9 (The Benediction) of our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself. Speaker: Samuel Wente

As the Ethiopian Eunuch is baptized, though we see not his explicit confession of faith, we see the marks of genuine faith in what follows. We see that true saving faith that God grants, through which He sovereignly saves, trusts in Christ for righteousness, it follows Christ in obedience, it experiences transcendent joy, and is sent out going to tell of the mercy it is found in Christ, to others....

“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way” Pt. 8 (The Lord’s Supper) of our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself. Speaker: Samuel Wente

Philip is sent from Samaria to a southern road from Jerusalem to Gaza, where he encounters an Ethiopian official, who cannot make out the sense of Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering servant. Philip helps the eunuch to understand the Scriptures in light of Christ, as he preaches the good news of salvation in Christ, even through the prophet Isaiah. We see that Christ is the ultimate purpose, centra...

“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way” Pt. 7 (Public Prayer) of our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself. Speaker: Samuel Wente

In seeking to pay for the power of the Holy Spirit, Simon revealed his true motives in following Philip, and evidenced he knew not the Gospel at all. As Peter calls him to repentance, we see the marks and nature of true Spirit wrought repentance, which mourns sin, sees its guiltiness, and trusts in Christ. Simon, seeking only to flee consequence, shows the disingenuous nature of his repentance. Ac...

Having been converted to Christ, the Samaritans are now filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, with the oversight of the Apostles, signaling a great unification between the believers in Jerusalem and Samaria Acts 8:14-17 "Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive...

Simon the magician gains a following of his own in Samaria, through his false and demonic power. However, with the power of Christ displayed through the Gospel preached by Philip, the supremacy and superiority of Christ is made known to the Samaritans who believe on Christ and are baptized. We see that though many false converts follow Christ externally without submitting to Him as Lord, true shee...

“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way” Pt. 5 (Confession and Assurance) of our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself. Speaker: Samuel Wente

The Kingdom of Christ advances outside of Jerusalem, as Philip preaches Christ to Samaria. We see that the Gospel transcends earthly distinctions and destroys hostility, as Jew and Samaritan are made one in Christ. We also see the liberation from darkness to light that comes through Christ, and experience of freedom and joy through our assurance in Christ’s own righteousness. Acts 8:5-8 "Philip we...

“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way” Pt. 4 (Reading of Scripture) of our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself. Speaker: Samuel Wente

After Stephen’s death, Saul launches a large scale persecution against the Church in Jerusalem. Some Christians are imprisoned, others flee to Samaria and other Judean regions. We see that God is so sovereign, that efforts to silence the Gospel have worked to fuel its advance, and that the Church is built by means of the persecution brought against it. Acts 8:1-4 "And Saul approved of his executio...

As Stephen is put to death by stoning under the watch of the Jewish leaders, we see a magnificent display of the grace of God. Saul’s participation and approval shows the depth of his depravity, amplifying the lavishness of God’s grace in bringing him to repentance soon after. We also see the transformative power of God’s grace, to conform Saints to the image of Christ, as Stephen longs for the ve...

“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way” Pt. 3 (Confession of Faith) of our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself. Speaker: Samuel Wente

Having preached Christ before the Sanhedrin, the Lord shows Stephen a vision of the glory of God in heaven. We see that it is Stephen’s view of the glory of the exalted Christ that enables him to willingly suffer for the Christ, because He sees that Christ is worthy of it. As Stephen sees Christ standing at the right hand of the Father, he sees the tremendous honor of suffering for Christ, as it g...

“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way” Pt. 2 (Call to Worship) of our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself. Speaker: Samuel Wente

“Gospel Renewal: God’s Worship, God’s Way” An introduction to our Sunday School teaching series on ‘Gospel Renewal Worship,’ exploring the elements of the church’s corporate worship prescribed through Scripture itself. Speaker: Samuel Wente

As Stephen finishes his sermon, we see him present the final accusation, evidence, verdict, and covenant sentence against the Priests, as they are rebellious against God, unregenerate of heart, and resistant to the Holy Spirit. Therefore, they are considered guilty, and lawless before God, and will receive the covenant curse of God for their unbelief and idolatry. However, for all those in the Lor...

Stephen shows that the tabernacle in the wilderness, and the temple of Jerusalem were always given as a shadowy figure of the transcendent, infinitely high and glorious God being yet made immanent to His people. Stephen shows how this miraculous reality is ultimately fulfilled through the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 7:44-50 ““Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke...

Stephen continues to indict the Priests on account of their rejection of Christ, showing Moses as a historical example of Israel’s turning in their hearts away from God’s given deliver, and turning to other idols, continuing in the outward forms of worship God gave them, though denying them in their hearts. We see that external appearance alone does not make for right worship, but the importance o...

Stephen continues to preach showing the Priests' rejection of Christ through Israel's rejection of Moses. We see the God who condescends to dwell with His people, as His presence is made manifest amongst His people by the Spirit through Christ, and we see our God as the faithful covenant promise keeping God who has sent Christ as both our judge and redeemer. Acts 7:30-35 “Now when forty years had...

As Stephen preaches, he uses Moses, and Israel’s initial rejection of him as their deliverer, to show the Sanhedrin that they are condemned on account of Israel’s historic rejection of God’s sent delivers, which they no continue through their rejection of Christ Himself. We see that the only rescue and deliverance to be had, is that which comes through God’s chosen means of granting it; the Lord C...