Live Free with Josh Howerton

Have you ever noticed how generosity can change not only others' lives but your own? Today, we dive into the story of Barnabas, known as “the Son of Encouragement,” who demonstrated the power of a generous and other-centered life. In Acts, we see Barnabas journey to Antioch, where he witnesses God’s transformative work and encourages new believers. His faith and generosity show us that a truly ful...

There are a number of things that can kill our joy including resentment, regret, fear. If we struggle with any of these things, we can take them to the cross and lay them at the feet of Jesus. Because He is Lord and always on the throne, we can trust that He has a plan and is in control. Let go of the things robbing your joy and cling to Jesus, the only source of true and perfect joy.   For more i...

James, Jesus’ brother, encourages us to consider it joy when we face trials and struggles. Even in the midst of our crisis, God is working on our character and making us more like Christ. The joy that comes out of our sufferings is rooted in the fact that the one who loves us and will ultimately overcome the brokenness in the world is with us through every hardship we face.   For more information,...

Does God want you to be happy? Think about this: God is the happiest being in the universe. He invented laughter. He calls us to rejoice and delight in Him. God gave us His Word, and there are over 2,000 verses that include words like joy, happiness, rejoice, feasting, and pleasure. Pray and ask God to help you find lasting joy and happiness in Him alone and not seek out lesser things.    For more...

There is no news in all of history as impactful as the announcement of Jesus’ birth. The message of Jesus is not primarily just good advice, it is good news that changed the world. As opposed to all the other religions around the world, we don’t have to work our way to God. In fact, the good news of Jesus is that God came to us! He came to shed His own blood in order to make a way for us to be wit...

When you think about God, do you imagine a list of to-dos, or do you see Him as someone you get to enjoy? God never wants us to try and earn His love. He already loves us more than we can even know, and He wants to give us good gifts. Just as the angels proclaimed to the shepherds in Luke 2, God has good news for us about the most amazing gift that will bring us great joy.   For more information,...

Have you ever felt questioned for breaking the status quo? Today, we follow Peter’s return to Jerusalem after sharing the Gospel with Gentiles in Caesarea, only to face skepticism from fellow believers. Peter explains the vision he received from God and the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit among the Gentiles, revealing that God’s love and salvation are for everyone. This encounter is a powerful...

Have you ever wondered if God’s love truly embraces all people? Today, we witness a pivotal moment as Peter fully embraces his mission to share Jesus with people outside his own culture and tradition. Entering the home of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, Peter delivers the message of Jesus’s love and resurrection to Gentiles, a step that breaks centuries-old boundaries. The Holy Spirit’s powerful pre...

In today’s episode, we continue with the powerful story of Peter entering Cornelius’s home—a moment that reveals the true inclusivity of God’s kingdom. As Peter shares the good news of Jesus with Cornelius and his household, the Holy Spirit moves in an undeniable way, confirming that God’s love and salvation are for everyone, regardless of background or identity. This encounter brings two conversi...

What does it mean to truly embrace everyone as our neighbor? Today, we explore a turning point in the early church as Peter receives a vision that challenges centuries of exclusivity and prejudice. God shows Peter that His love and salvation are for everyone, not just a select group. This revelation leads Peter to welcome non-Jewish visitors into his home and ultimately to the house of Cornelius,...

Have you ever felt challenged to step out of your comfort zone to love others? Today, we follow Peter as God begins a deep work in his heart, challenging him to break down the walls of prejudice he’s carried his entire life. Through a vision, God shows Peter that His love extends far beyond cultural and religious boundaries. Though hesitant, Peter starts to understand that following Jesus means em...

What does it mean to take a public step of faith? Today, we revisit the powerful encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian official as he chooses to be baptized. Philip’s willingness to follow God’s lead opens the door for a life-changing decision, one that mirrors the journey many of us take toward surrender. Baptism, as we see in this story, is an outward sign of an inward faith—a moment to mar...

Have you ever experienced a life-changing encounter with a stranger? In today’s episode, we witness Philip’s journey into the wilderness where he encounters an Ethiopian official searching for truth. God orchestrates this meeting, and Philip seizes the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus. Their time together culminates in the official’s decision to be baptized, a beautiful step of faith i...

In today’s episode, we witness Philip’s journey into Samaria, a place filled with cultural tensions and deep-seated divisions. Yet, led by the Holy Spirit, Philip steps boldly into this unfamiliar territory, bringing the message of Jesus to people who were often overlooked. His story shows us that God sometimes calls us beyond what’s comfortable to reach those who need His love most. By following...

What happens when God moves us out of our comfort zones? Today, we see how the early church was propelled from familiar surroundings in Jerusalem into challenging territories due to persecution. Though scattered, believers found new ways to spread the message of Jesus, showing us that God often uses our discomfort for greater purposes. Just as He called them out, He calls us to impact lives around...

Join us as we look at the life of Stephen, a man full of grace and strength, chosen to serve in the early church during a time of rapid growth. Despite facing fierce opposition, Stephen stood firm in his faith, pointing others to Jesus with unwavering courage. In a moving moment, he looked to heaven and saw Jesus standing in honor, affirming his faithfulness. Stephen's story reminds us that God’s...

As the early church continued to grow, the apostles realized they needed help caring for the people. Instead of trying to do everything themselves, they wisely chose other qualified people to serve those in need. God gifts different people for different areas of service because He loves seeing everyone in the church working together. How can you use the gifts God has given you for the benefit of t...

Ananias and Sapphira saw how Barnabas was praised for his generosity, and they wanted the recognition, too. They tried to lie to Peter and the church, but the Spirit cannot be deceived. By faking their generosity, they revealed that they did not have a proper fear of the Lord. Their deception cost them their lives. What about you? Do you live in awe of the God of the universe who loves you, or do...

The early church in Jerusalem was led by the Holy Spirit and shared what they had with each other. Luke, the author of Acts, singled out one generous individual named Joseph, aka Barnabas, who sold a field and brought it to the church to help those in need. This is not the only place Barnabas shows up in Acts. He also plays a key role in the life of a certain apostle named Saul, aka Paul.   For mo...

In Acts 4, Peter and John were taken to the Sanhedrin after they preached about Jesus to the crowds. The religious leaders were angry and demanded that they stop telling others about Jesus. However, the two disciples responded courageously that they would always choose to listen to God, not man. Because of their courage, we can continue to share the good news with others today!   For more informat...

There was nothing special about Jesus’ disciples, but He still chose them to play a critical role in the most amazing story in history. After Jesus returned to heaven, two of the disciples, Peter and John, healed a paralytic and shared the good news of Jesus with the crowd. Even though the Pharisees were upset at the disciples, they couldn’t deny what they had seen. They recognized Peter and John...

Today, we wrap up our week by looking at the birth of the church in Acts 2. These early believers lived dependently on the Lord. They knew that all they had was Him and their lives were centered around their Savior. What might someone else say is the center of your life? Is it on something temporary that will one day pass away, or is it the Creator of the universe who gave Himself up for you becau...

The last few verses of Acts 2 give us a glimpse of the early church. These new believers devoted themselves to fellowship with each other. They lived vulnerable lives in rich relationships with one another. Living like Christ in the power of the Spirit enables us to live sacrificially, humbly, and generously. May we live counterculturally like the early church so others are drawn to the God who sa...

After Peter’s very first sermon in Acts 2, over 3,000 people believed! At the very beginning of the church, all the believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and caring for each other. Every day, God added to their number and these new believers wanted to hear more about Jesus. Do you have a teachable heart like theirs that is hungry for more of Jesus?    For more information, visit la...

As Jesus prepared to leave His disciples, He promised they would not be alone. He would send them a gift. In Acts 2, we can read the amazing story of when the gift of the Holy Spirit came to live inside all the believers. Empowered by the Spirit, those men and women shared the Good News of Jesus to everyone around them, and the church was born.   For more information, visit lakepointe.church/daily...