Welcome to Sunday Online!
Today we're continuing a series on the book of Acts called LIMITLESS.
In the book of Acts, we’re going to see the gospel spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, just as Jesus said it would, and despite a number of obstacles and trials that come along nothing can stop it. We’re going to see the gospel spread to all different kinds of people, inviting them all into God’s kingdom. We’re going to see the power of the Holy Spirit, who enables people to see the glory of Jesus.
We’re going to see that the gospel is limitless — It’s for everyone!
The spread of the gospel is limitless — Nothing can stop it and nowhere is too far for it to go.
The Holy Spirit is limitless — Bringing power, healing and faith to everyone who believes the good news.
The power of the gospel is limitless — Bringing new life to the ends of the earth.
We’re hoping this series will give us greater confidence to know that God is at work in us and at work in our city and region. There is no one beyond the reach of the gospel, so we can have confidence to bear witness to Jesus and his resurrection.
There is also a call to consider the resurrection for ourselves. The main characters in each chapter stake their lives on the truth of the resurrection. Rather than a comfortable existence, this book should shake us and provoke us to consider our own walk with Jesus. Are we prepared to stake our lives on it, to the point of expecting and rejoicing in suffering for the name of Jesus?
It is our hope that we’ll press on to grow as disciples who sacrifice, serve and speak for the sake of others, to grow the renown of the gospel and to grow the church, all for the glory of Jesus. We can only do this, under God, in the power of His Spirit, so will you join us in praying that God’s Spirit would be powerfully at work in us.
Prayer Points
Here are some prayer points that you might like to use with your family or on the phone with others:
- Praise Jesus because He has not only provided rain and food and life, but also because He has revealed God as Saviour and Redeemer, so that we can turn to him.
- Ask for God’s help to stop going our own way, in selfishness and superstition, and instead to follow Jesus every day. Ask him to grow our thankfulness for all the good things He has provided, so that we acknowledge him in every area of our lives.
- Keep praying that God would give 8000 new people to Jesus in our generation in Rockhampton & Gracemere for a start, because Jesus is worthy of praise and because he offers his salvation to everyone. Pray for opportunities every day, every where we go, to speak to every one about Jesus.
- Pray for our mission partner, Cam, that people in his country would turn to the living God and praise Jesus alone.
The Bible reading for today is Acts 14v1-20.
Acts 14v1-20 — New International Version (NIV) from biblegateway.com
1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. 4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. 5 There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. 6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country,7 where they continued to preach the gospel.
8 In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked.9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!”At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.
11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
Family Bible Time
You'll just need the videos and other files below for this week's kidschurch.
Acts 14 Family Bible Time - check out this pdf after the videos!
SONGS FOR REFLECTION DURING OUR ACTS SERIES
Here are some songs to encourage you during the day. If you go to youtube you can shuffle the music and subscribe to rockypc MUSIC PLAYLISTS
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