The Trails Church

Today’s passage serves as a powerful reminder that (1) although Paul desired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known; he was equally committed to the pastoral care of these young congregations. That (2) discipleship, even by “unschooled,” ordinary men and women, empowered by the Holy Spirit is necessary for believers to grow in their understanding of the Christian faith. And finally, (3) t...

Acts 18:1–17 recounts the Apostle Paul’s journey to Corinth, a city that proved to be one of his most challenging mission fields. Yet, it was in this very place that Paul experienced God’s unfailing faithfulness to sustain him in the work he was called to do. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that God calls His people to gospel ministry—even in the face of opposition—and assures them of H...

In Acts 17:16-34, the Apostle Paul is deeply provoked by the idolatry in Athens and boldly proclaims the truth of the risen Christ to a skeptical audience at Mars Hill. His message declares that the one true God has made Himself known in Jesus, calling all people to repent and believe. I’d like to use our headings this morning as prayers that we would pray for ourselves, those in our families, the...

Acts 17:1–15 paints two powerful scenes that beautifully illustrate the centrality of Scripture in the life of every believer. The first shows Paul modeling how to engage others with God’s Word—reasoning, explaining, proving, and persuading. The second shows the response of people examining, receiving, and believing the Word of God. Together, these scenes teach us that delighting in God and in his...

With Christmas in the rear view mirror, we have a New Year and 2025 on the horizon; the disciples were similarly heading into a season of life where they had no clue what was in store for them. All they had were the words and promises of Jesus to cling to, to prepare their hearts for what lies ahead. The same is true for us. But with that in mind I want to ask you a question to help shape our time...

John 1:14 summarizes the message of Christmas in one sentence like this: God became flesh and dwelt among us. Here we are met with the truth that invites us to a lifetime of thoughtful meditation and worship. My prayer this morning is that we would take up that invitation—to behold the wonder of Christ’s first coming and to live with a steadfast hope in His promised return.

John 1:6-8: God Deploys Messengers to Share the Light of the Gospel to Those in Darkness

John 1:1–5 welcomes us to behold the eternal glory of Jesus Christ, the Word who was with God and is God, through whom all things were made. It invites us to look to the Light that shines into the darkness of this broken world, bringing life, hope, and salvation. This morning, I invite you to look with wide-eyed wonder at “The Light of Life” by exploring three profound truths from this passage tha...

Acts 16:16–34 teaches us that “Gospel Thanksgiving” is not dependent on life’s circumstances but arises from the profound truth of Christ’s work in our lives. Whether in freedom or suffering, in worship or witnessing, the gospel empowers us to live with grateful hearts, reflecting the transforming grace of Jesus to the world. This passage highlights the power of the gospel in three profound ways:...

In Acts 16:6–15, we find the Lord sovereignly directing, working through, and adding to His people. Paul and his missionary team are guided by God to a new mission field, while simultaneously preparing hearts to receive the good news of the gospel. The passage presents “A Call to the Unconverted,” unfolding in two key moments which we will look at under their headings given in the English Standard...

Acts 15:36–16:5 unfolds in two scenes of parting and meeting, moving and changing, each advancing God’s kingdom. Here, we see God sovereignly guiding His people through disagreements, new partnerships, and the Spirit’s leading—all to accomplish His purposes of spreading the gospel and strengthening His church. We will explore each scene under the headings: 1. A Parting of Ways, and 2. A Providenti...

What does it take to inherit eternal life? We are going to examine that question this morning as we walk through Acts 15. And we will do so under two headings: The Victory of Grace and the Victory of Love.

(1) Sowing the Seed (2) Strengthening the Saints

Acts 13 records the inaugural sermon preached by the Apostle Paul. Our sermon will focus on Acts 13:13-52, which presents the Apostle Paul's inaugural sermon. This passage provides a word of encouragement as it emphasizes God’s grace throughout the Old Testament, highlights Israel's rejection of the promised Messiah, declares forgiveness of sins, and illustrates the inevitable division the gospel...

The thimble-sized passage of Acts 13:38–39 holds an ocean of gospel truth. This passage announces what the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus have made possible, while also promising salvation to all who believe upon Christ. Our brief sermon will be organized under two main headings, examining each verse individually: 1. A Glorious Proclamation, 2. A Gospel Invitation.

Acts 13 marks the beginning of Paul's first missionary journey and details the commissioning service of the first planned missionaries sent out overseas from a local church. The church in Antioch appoints Barnabas and Paul, who are sent to spread the gospel. During their mission, they face opposition but also witness a powerful conversion. Our sermon is entitled “A Missionary Journey” and will be...

The scenes of Acts 12:1–24 depict a roller coaster of critical events in the life of the early church: heartbreaking loss in the death of the Apostle James, wonder at the supernatural deliverance of the Apostle Peter, and the chilling end of King Herod. The chapter opens with the church experiencing subtraction but ends with multiplication; it begins with sorrow but concludes with joy. Through it...

Acts 11 contains three different “Reports of Gospel Growth.” Each report presents pictures of the early church as they grew in understanding the mission of God in the world, and their role in it. As the gospel of Jesus Christ reoriented the lives of these early believers, remarkable things took place. We will organize these “Reports of Gospel Growth” under three headings showing how the church bot...

Acts 10 is a pivotal chapter not only in the book of Acts but also in the storyline of Scripture. Here for the first time, we see the gospel spread to the Gentiles. Through a series of events the gospel is proclaimed, and a group of Gentiles gladly receive the good news and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord. This chapter truly is, “A Vision from and of Heaven.” It not only includes visions from God...

Acts 9:32-43 describes two scenes and details two remarkable miracles performed by Jesus through the Apostle Peter. These miracles serve as powerful testimonies to the presence and power of God leading many to believe in the Lord. This passage teaches us that both in the book of Acts, and even today that Jesus is working through his people to accomplish his mission. We will see “The Life-Giving Mi...

Acts 9:19–31 continues to tell the story of how the gospel of Jesus Christ transformed every part of Saul’s life. Over the course of one chapter, he goes from being a violent persecutor of Christians to a passionate preacher of Jesus Christ. In the early days of his new life in Christ, we find multiple accounts that help frame the rest of the apostle’s days: a passion to proclaim the good news of...

Acts 9:1–19 contains one of the most significant moments in the history of the Christian faith: the conversion of the Apostle Paul. Here the man who had been utterly committed to the persecution of Jesus’ disciples becomes a disciple of Jesus himself. This is the story of “A Glorious Conversion” marked by the matchless grace of Jesus from first to last. This was true not only for the Apostle Paul,...