Acts 14
In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas continue to preach the gospel, heal people, and encourage the church, despite nearly being stoned to death in Lystra. Looking at Paul and Barnabas’ example, Chris Waugh encourages Christians to persevere in the faith. Perseverance is one of the greatest character traits a Christian must develop, and is necessary in the face of spiritual attack and in faith-filled work.
Acts 13
In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas begin their missionary journey through the mediterranean region. When they preach the gospel, Jews and Gentiles respond to the claims about Jesus with either belief or jealousy. The journey that Paul and Barnabas take gives a snapshot of the joy and the messiness that comes with obeying the Holy Spirit. Pastor Scott encourages believers to continue bringing the gospel into godless places. It is worth the cost, for believers partner with the Holy Spirit to reconcile people to God.
Leviticus 24:1-4
Our guest speaker of this message is Percy Ballah who pastors at Impact Center Providence. Percy preaches on the need to keep burning brightly as a Church, using the symbolism of fire. In Leviticus 24:1-4, God commands the people of Israel to prepare “pure oil” for a lamp in front of the tabernacle in order to keep the lamp burning continuously. Just as the Israelites needed to make fresh oil, we too as the people of God, the Church, need fresh fire from God to keep burning brightly and bring light into a dark world.
Acts 12
In Acts 12, the church prays for Peter’s release from prison, of which God sends an angel to break him free. Just as the early church was bold enough in their faith to pray earnestly, John Michaelson challenges us to pray big, audacious prayers in our day and time.
John 6:1-14
Tim Zulker is a founder and director of the network New England Urban Church Planting that resides in Providence. Tim unpacks John 6, the story of Jesus feeding a crowd of over five thousand with five barley loaves and two fish. This message reiterates that Jesus came not only to preach good news to the poor and feed the hungry, but to become good news for the poor, become the bread of life. The good news is not only for the materially poor but for the spiritually poor, which is everyone.
Mark 5
Dr. Mike Caparelli is an author, public speaker, and a leader of a nonprofit, Unmuted, that helps trauma victims recover on a path toward healing. While much psychological activity is biological, there is a facet of mental health that involves a battle of the soul. Mike’s message looks at the story of a man with a demon that was healed by Jesus (Mark 5) and discusses the interplay of mental health with demonic forces.
1 Kings 18:16-39
This message comes from Greg Johnson, a local ministry leader who is launching a church training initiative called Revive New England. Greg discusses the need for God’s fire, the manifestation of God’s presence, to see revival in New England today, looking at the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18 as an illustration.
Acts 9
Acts 9 tells of the conversion of Saul who, on his way to persecute more Christians in Damascus, encounters Jesus on the path and goes blind from the Christ’s heavenly light. After this supernatural encounter, Saul begins to preach the very gospel he once persecuted others for believing in. Pastor Scott points out that just as it took a move of God’s power to change Saul’s heart, so we need today a move of God’s power to change the hearts of those around us. It takes more than “being nice”—we need to ask God for him to move powerfully.
Our youth director Nicole Waugh preaches on Acts 8 about the turn of events in the early Church when various evangelists disperse into different regions and share the good news of Jesus, receiving different heart responses to the news. While Simon the Sorcerer used God to make himself look good, the Ethiopian eunuch responds with joy. How do we respond when we hear about Jesus—with selfish gain, or with repentant joy? Nicole concludes by asking the listeners how we can respond to God with joy, and if we don’t, what is holding us back?
Acts 7
In Acts 7, when Stephen prophecies to the religious Jews in his day, calling out their hard-heartedness against the Holy Spirit, the Jewish leaders stone Stephen in response. Our youth director Chris Waugh delivers a relevant message to us about the parallels between the religious people in Stephen’s day to the self-righteous religious of our time and culture, where mob violence on social media runs rampant and modern-day prophets are shut out. How often do we neglect Cross-centered community in favor of “being right?” This message leaves the listener to face hard questions about our role and response in today’s hostile culture and how we might miss the voice of God.