The Epic Life - Bob Hallman

In our last study in Acts 16:1-10, you will remember that Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia asking him to come over and help. Paul responded immediately and after being redirected by the Holy Spirit, they are now on their way to Europe. In our text, Luke has woven together three separate, but related incidents: The first is the conversion of Lydia. The second is the encounter with the demo...

In our study last week, Paul and Barnabas had returned from Jerusalem with a letter from the apostles and the elders defining and defending Sola Fide -- salvation by faith alone, which the brothers proceeded to read to the churches in Antioch. In today's passage, Paul and Barnabas have a sharp disagreement. Barnabas did not seem to be willing to go without Mark; Paul seemed unwilling to go with hi...

The same danger that threatened to pervert the gospel in the 1st century church and is still alive and well today. It may assume slightly different forms, and it may change the vocabulary, but in the end, it insists that salvation and sanctification are the result of faith plus works.  We must be vigilant in our own lives and in the church to preserve the incredible message -- the Good News -- of...

The Book of Acts is the record of the expansion of the early church from Jerusalem to Rome. Acts 13 represents a turning point -- a critical transition in the ongoing ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ in several ways: A transition from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) A transition from the ministry of Peter to the ministry of Paul A transition from ministry to the...

In our text today we have the Apostle Paul’s first sermon.  Actually, he had preached many messages before, but this is the first recorded for us in the text of the Bible.  It was a very powerful message preached in the synagogue at Psidian Antioch on a Sabbath morning.  It was a clear, historically detailed and persuasive presentation of salvation by faith in the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. B...

Acts 13 represents a turning point -- a critical transition in the ongoing ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ in several ways: A transition from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) A transition from the ministry of Peter to the ministry of Paul A transition from ministry to the Jews to ministry to the Gentiles A transition from the ministry in Jerusalem to the ministr...

In Acts 12, we studied the account of Satan’s effort to destroy the fledgling church of God through a dictatorial king by the name of Herod.  As you will Herod sought to bring harm to the work of God by arresting a number of church leaders including James and Peter. He killed James and intended to do the same to Peter. These were the actions of a cruel dictator!   Given by Bob Hallman (1/21/2007)

In the last two messages, we have covered one of the most significant transitions in the early church. It began in Acts 10 and today we finish it as we study the first half of Acts 11.  It is the remarkable story of how two men, Peter and Cornelius, experienced a divine appointment and found themselves at the epicenter of a seismic theological shift in Christianity that would change the world fore...

This is Part 2 of Introduction to Acts. Message given by Bob Hallman at on Kauai (8/14/2005).

This message is actually the first one in the series--an introduction to the Book of Acts.

Instead of embracing God’s call to reach all nations with the Good News of God’s love and His promised Messiah, the Jews became proud, arrogant and ethnocentric. The Jews had turned what God had meant to be a blessing into a wall of hostility! And God’s message through Acts 10 is loud and clear: “Tear Down This Wall!”   To facilitate that plan, God orchestrated a divine appointment between two of...

God’s plan: To reach ONE man: Abraham To reach ONE nation: Israel To reach the world: Every tribe, nation and tongue To fill heaven with worshippers and prepare for Himself a Bride But instead of embracing God’s call to reach all nations with the Good News of God’s love and His promised Messiah, the Jews became proud, arrogant and ethnocentric. Jews considered Gentiles to be spiritually unclean. T...

The Bible’s prescription for spiritual health is clear, but too often Christians would rather die (or have others die) than change.  In contrast, we have Saul’s conversion in Acts 9:1-18.  It is one of the most dramatic examples of transformation in the New Testament.  And it wasn't a temporary, superficial change; it was deep, it was total, and it was permanent! One moment Saul was persecuting th...

Over the years I have come to believe that there is no such thing as “coincidence” for the man or woman who is surrendered and yielded to God.  Every conversation, every “chance” meeting, every opportunity to serve is divinely orchestrated by God. I call them “Divine Appointments.”  Divine appointments: “Being supernaturally guided to the right place at the right time in order to say or do the rig...

Simon discovered magic tricks but not the power of the Holy Spirit! Noteworthy things that this passage teaches us: God’s sovereignty trumps even the most powerful forces of evil. It is possible to believe and still not be saved. We have to make a decision regarding who and what we allow to influence us. We must be on guard against false teachers and cults (some that may even spring up with the ch...

Chapter 7 contains the longest sermon in the book of Acts. It is Stephen's brilliant defense that focuses on the two charges brought against him by the Sanhedrin.   Pastor Bob Hallman gave this message in 2006.

The New Testament contains numerous examples of courageous Christians who faced persecution and martyrdom with courage and grace.  One such example in the early church was Stephen. Pastor Bob Hallman taught the series of Acts at Crossroads Christian Fellowship Kauai in 2005-2006

The church was only a few months old but its numbers had already grown (by some estimates) to over 20,000 people. That kind of growth is beyond incredible – it is supernatural! That kind of growth had to have been thrilling and exhilarating.  But it also brought logistical and administrative challenges that the apostles never could have imagined just a few months earlier when they sat stunned and...

“A Line in The Sand”:  No one is sure of the origins of this phrase, but the most recent use of this saber-rattling phrase was by President George Bush, Sr. during the Gulf War. Despite the phrases’ uncertain origins, we understand its various meanings: It can refer to “a point of decision” It can refer to taking a stand It can serve as a threat: “Cross over at your own peril” In our text today, w...

The biggest criticism you hear about the church is that it is full of hypocrites.  That, by the way, is not  a new concern.  There were few characteristics that Jesus condemned more severely than hypocrisy (Matthew 23: “Hypocrites” 7 times) The truth is, we are all prone to hypocrisy because we aspire to be better than we are: Aspiring to be Christ-like is not sinful -- in fact it is good! However...

Do you want to be a cold Christian or a bold Christian?  Cold or bold?    We need more “lion-like” believers with a passion for God and the courage to stand!   Pastor Bob Hallman taught the series of Acts at Crossroads Christian Fellowship Kauai in 2005.

Pastor Bob Hallman teaches on the book of Acts. This series of audio messages were given at Crossroads Christian Fellowship Kauai in 2005.

Pastor Bob Hallman teaches on the book of Acts. This series of audio messages were given at Crossroads Christian Fellowship Kauai in 2005.

Pastor Bob Hallman teaches on the book of Acts. This series of audio messages were given at Crossroads Christian Fellowship Kauai in 2005.