Faith Bible Fellowship Church of York

Paul sees the idolatry in Athens and being provoked, he begins to evangelize. He preaches that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead to a culture that had rejected the notion of resurrections. Paul's day is not unlike our own, how do we handle a culture that has rejected the notion of a sovereign God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

Paul and Silas enter Thessalonica and preach the Word in the synagogues. God's Word is rejected. Paul and Silas go to Berea, they preach the same gospel and God's Word is accepted. What makes the difference? It's not the heart of man, but the power of God.

With Paul and Silas unjustly imprisoned, God sends an earthquake which frees their chains and opens the prison doors. But when Paul and Silas do not leave the jail, the jailer sees and receives salvation by believing in the Lord Jesus. Salvation is found in Christ along and God can use our circumstances of hardship and suffering to bring people to saving faith.

Paul is prevented from preaching the gospel in Bithynia but then receives the Macedonian call. In Philippi, Lydia is saved but when Paul casts out a demon, Paul and Silas are thrown in jail. What does this show us about the plan and purposes of God in our lives? How are we called today?

What do we do when we have a falling out with other Christians? Why does God want to pursue peace with one another? How do we do that? How should we respond to unbelievers in order to pursue peace? In this sermon from Acts we look at Paul and Barnabas' division and separation and then how Paul adds Timothy but prepares him for ministry with Jewish non-believers.

At the Jerusalem council the church affirms that because Jesus is resurrected the Gentiles are coming to saving faith. It had always been God's plan for the Gentiles to come to salvation. Thus, the church determines not to burden Gentiles with the ceremonies of Old Testament Law but may several clear ethical requirements.

In Acts 15 some were falsely claiming unless a person is circumcised in keeping the Law of Moses they cannot be saved. The church rejected this. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. Gentiles were getting saved and receiving the Holy Spirit simply by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Today the same is true: salvation is by faith alone apart from any acts of works of the Law.

Paul and Barnabas return to the churches they have planted and strengthen the souls of the disciples, encourage them to stand firm in the faith, and appoint elders to lead the church. Today, churches and disciples need to be built up and strengthened.

When Paul and Barnabas heal someone in Lystra the crowds seek to exalt them as gods. Paul and Barnabas immediately reject such praises, tearing their clothes. Then the preach the gospel calling the people to abandon the vanities of idolatry. We, too, need humility and to abandon selfish idolatry and self-exaltation.

When Paul preached God's Word in Antioch Pisidian we see the response that people gave. There was a hunger for God's Word as some wanted to hear more but there was also rejection and jealousy. Nevertheless, the light of the gospel went forth, especially to the Gentiles. Those appointed to eternal life believed.

Paul preaches the gospel and shows that the resurrection of Jesus is God's fulfillment of his Old Testament promises. Jesus Christ is the climax of God's redemptive history to save a people to Himself and glorify His name.

God calls Barnabas and Paul to go on their first missionary journey. When God calls us, He equips us. We also may encounter opposition to the Word of God.

The Apostle James is put to death by Herod. Herod seizes Peter and plans to put him to death. The church gathers to pray and Peter is delivered by an angel. Herod's pride becomes his downfall. This is teaches us about the plans of God and the way God uses prayer.

Peter is criticized for eating with unclean Gentiles and for sharing the gospel with them. He tells them what God has done and how it is clear that salvation is being granted to the Gentiles by God. Later as more Gentiles get saved Barnabas is glad and encourages the new believers. We need to recognize the miracle at work when God saves people and rejoice with them. We should encourage new believe...

Christ's resurrection is the firstfruits of the resurrection of dead which guarantees that believers in Christ will be raised from the dead. It also assures to us that Jesus Christ reigns as Lord over all creation and is bringing all things into submission under His feet. His great mission of to accomplish the reign of God and hand it over to God where "The kingdom of this world becomes the kingdo...

Paul breaks down the false belief that some Corinthians held in denying the resurrection. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ did not rise from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus assures us of the forgiveness of sins, it is the ground of our hope. It assures us Jesus is mighty to save.

The Bible teaches us that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a matter of "first importance". We must be grounded on the gospel and hold fast to it. The message of the gospel is that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and rose again on the third day, all in accordance with the Old Testament Scriptures.

Peter speaks to the Gentiles at Cornelius' house and preaches the gospel to them. He understands that God does not show partiality and since Jesus is Lord of all, all are invited to believe. The Holy Spirit sovereignly comes upon those listening and new believers are baptized. We learn that the gospel is freely offered to all.

Cornelius is a Gentile seeking the Lord but needs to learn about the fulfillment of Jesus. Peter needs to learn that the ceremonial law no longer applies. God directs both of them. It is the grace of God in action to show us that all are inviting in the gospel to come to the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Saul is brought to saving faith, he experiences the grace of God who opens his eyes to see the truth. God is the one who sovereignly initiates Saul's conversion. It shows us our salvation is by grace alone.

Philip is called by God to go down and meet an Ethiopian Eunuch. He is lead by the Holy Spirit to evangelize and the Ethiopian gets saved. We too need to be ready evangelists. God wants us to take the gospel into the world.

While preaching the gospel in Samaria, Phillip encounters a pagan magician Simon who professes faith in Christ and is baptized. But then, Simon asks Peter and John to buy from the ability to give the Holy Spirit to people. While Simon seems like a believer for a time, he shows that despite early indications he did not know the Lord. We, too, should test to see if we are in the faith.

Stephen sees the glory of God and Jesus Christ at God's right hand. Jesus in the presence of God shows us His glory and deity. What does that mean for us and our worship life?

How does the Old Testament related to the New Testament and why does it matter for my life? When Stephen is accused of blaspheming God and God's Word, he shows that God's people regularly sinned and the only solution to sin is Jesus Christ.

When a need arises in the early church, the apostles appoint the first deacons to take care of widows. The church is supposed to minister both the Word and to the needy.