Strengthened by Grace
Pastor Hamilton
Instead of being weakened by corrupting influences around it, the local church should be “strengthened by grace.”
Portrait of a Martyr, part 1
Pastor Hamilton
Great men are not those who receive honor by dignitaries or who accomplish historical feats in life. Truly great people are humble servants who do not count their lives dear unto themselves.
Eliminating Distractions
Pastor Hamilton
A church moves forward as each member sees their opportunity to serve Christ and does so with a humble faithfulness. Taking care of the widows was not unimportant, but it could be used by the enemy to pull the apostles away from what they were told to do— “be my witnesses in all Judea and […]
Answered Prayer
Pastor Hamilton
After the first sign of persecution, the believers met to pray as one to the one true Ruler (4:24). The thing they prayed for was not God’s vengeance, but for the opportunity to “continue to speak.” God delivers and protects not so that we can go silent, but so that we can proclaim widely (5:30–32).
Faith Proclaimed in All the World
Pastor Hamilton
What God provides must be received by faith. What is received by faith must be announced in faithfulness. Only as this gospel is proclaimed and the Lord opens the eyes of the lost are people converted. The power is not in our presentation, but in our Savior.
The Real Deal
Pastor Hamilton
Satan not only tried to attack with threats from outside the church, but from corruption from within. Persecution could scatter a community of believers, but wrong teaching or values could fracture an assembly. The purity of the church is important to God.
Right Response to Wrong Treatment
Pastor Hamilton
When persecuted, the church gathers with the company of saints (v. 23) and gives thanks to the God who is working through it all (vv. 24–31).
The Ugly Side of Religious Unbelief
Pastor Hamilton
The greatest opposition you will face in giving the gospel may not be from secular sources, but from those who are devoted to a dead religion. This chapter tells Christ’s body what they can expect and how they are to respond.
The Exuberant Witness
Pastor Hamilton
The same Jesus the Jews delivered to die was raised by the Almighty and must be believed by every sinner.
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