Austin Life Church

The love of Christ should compel us to continue the work of Christ. Acts 8:1-25

We are all looking to make the most out of life. We believe that life is found in knowing, trusting, and following Jesus in obedience. Stephen lived this life to the very end and lacked nothing in doing so. But rather, he gained everything! Acts 6, 7

We see in Acts 4 what it looks like to be bold and obedient and then in Acts 5 what it looks like to be dishonest and disobedient. At the end of the day, it’s not about our works or outward appearance of obedience, but rather, it’s about our relationship with God and if we are growing in our love for God. Loving God produces obedience. Acts 4:13-21, Acts 5:1-11

God restores us from the inside-out through the transforming power of the Gospel. Acts 3, 4:11-12

Because God is our Father, we are freed to live as a family, encouraging & supporting one another. Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-37

As promised, Jesus sends His Holy Spirit to fill His followers so that they would be empowered as He was to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. They, and we, have all we need by the Spirit of Christ in us. Acts 2:1-41

The book of Acts details how Jesus continues to work through the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of His followers. Jesus commands His followers to be His witnesses of the kingdom of God to all people in all places. And on top of that, He empowers them with His Spirit to live it out as well. Acts 1:1-11

As a result of surrendering to Him, we are made new creations. The old is gone. The new has come. Therefore, now we walk according to the newness of life that is in us through Christ.

The call to follow Jesus is the call to come and die. It is a total surrender of self in place of taking up His way. I cannot hold to myself and Him at the same time. Which will I take up?

Peace is longed for by all. But where does it come from in a world of unrest? God speaks through the prophet Isaiah to look ahead to a coming King, the Prince of Peace, who will bring real and lasting peace to a broken world.

Through our Lord’s death, God has poured out His boundless love for humankind. Christ is the ultimate expression of God’s character: that He is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. His death showed the world's great worth, and how highly we should value not just ourselves, but also others.

We learn in Jonah 3 that God is patient, not willing for anyone to perish, but for all people to come to repentance. We see that take place as he addresses Jonah’s heart and as God uses Jonah to proclaim His Word.

Jonah is sinking down, to the bottom of despair, when he calls out to the Lord. And you know what?! The Lord heard and answered. The Lord delivered Jonah. But the deliverance was not safety - it was the removal of sin, the obstacle in between his relationship with God.

We are all like Jonah at times - running and hiding from God. But we cannot hide from God. Instead, God sees, knows, and pursues us, and all people, in compassionate, steadfast love. And it is only when we stop running & hiding that we will find the mercy, forgiveness, and abundant life God has for us with Him.

Whether we as Christians are to be humble is not really a question according to the Bible. It is a command. We are to put on humility. Among other Christ-like characteristics. But how? Doesn’t it sometimes seem impossible? Well, it is impossible on our own. But we're not on our own. We have Christ in us who enables and empowers us to walk in Him.

Empathy goes a long way in reducing marital, occupational, parental, and relational conflicts. While it’s so powerful for followers of Jesus to give empathy towards others, this type of love requires vulnerability and an effort that truly is selfless motivated. For the glory of God, and for the good of others.

Humility is only truly humility when the chief object is the glory of God. His increase; my decrease. John the Baptist lived this posture of humility perhaps better than everyone. But why? Why did John live with such humility when others around him didn’t? Because his focus was fixed on God rather than anything else.

Humility is the disappearing of self that God may be all in you and through you to others. Humility is the only path to God’s glory and our good. Yet we are utterly hopeless to walk in true humility on our own. Praise be to God that Jesus came to live perfect humility in our place and stands ready to fill us with His humility today.

Humility is the disappearing of self so that God may be all in you and through you to others. And this, humility, is the only path to life. Yet so often, pride leads the way. So often pride leads us to brokenness, to hurt, to separation from God and from others. May we truly be a people that say, “Less of me, more of You”, for the glory of God and our good.

If we are going to lead people to life in Jesus, then we have to build one another up in Christ, to love and follow Him in obedience. Healthy things grow. If we are not growing up, being built up, we will not be healthy and we certainly won’t lead others to life in Jesus.

If we are going to be a church who leads people to life in Jesus, then we must be a people who invite others into our lives, and share the Gospel with those God has entrusted to us. This is what Jesus has done for us, and it is what we are called to do for others.

If we want to lead people to life in Jesus, then we must abide in Him. We cannot thrive spiritually, or lead others to thrive if we are not abiding in Jesus. As a branch must be connected to the vine to produce fruit, so we must be connected to Jesus to produce spiritual fruit.

We all are looking to make the most out of life. But so often we look in the wrong places. So what’s the answer? We believe everything we are looking for is found in knowing, loving, and trusting Jesus, and then in giving our lives away for the glory of God and good of others. Everything we are looking for is found in Jesus. Which is why we are all about leading people to life in Jesus.

We are a busy culture. So busy, that we often times crowd out the time and ability to see and know God. This is why the Sabbath is so important. A regular gift from God to stop working and instead turn our attention to seeing and knowing Him.

The LORD is not a passive or distant God, but is actively engaged in our lives and world. And not only that, He is righteous in all his ways, and kind in all his works. This is comforting news, especially in light of Jesus who is the perfect blend of the LORD’s righteousness and kindness towards you and me.