Acts 20
Pastor Scott highlights pieces of wisdom found in Acts 20, a chapter that gives Paul's final exhortation to the elders of Ephesus about endurance in sharing the gospel, caring for believers and being aware of false teachers that may lead Christ-followers astray.
Acts 19
In Acts 19, Paul travels to Ephesus, where many episodes unfold. When a crowd of Ephesians are baptized in the name of Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit, they begin to speak in tongues and prophesy. Later a demonic attack against casual exorcists brings the fear of God on many Ephesians, and they respond to Jesus with repentance. Such a movement of revival in Ephesus stirs up a riot amongst Artemis-following Ephesians against Christian Ephesians. Speaker Chris Waugh reminds us that the book of Acts shows us what revival looks like and highlights the roles of repentance , exorcism, and disruption in a move of revival.
Acts 18
Acts 18 walks through Paul’s ministry adventures in Corinth and other cities throughout the Mediterranean, meeting church partners like Priscilla and Aquila and preaching the gospel while enduring opposition. These stories of early church ministry can help us ponder today: who are the people God has called you to reach? How do you encounter both the dramatic and mundane seasons of ministry work?
Pastor Scott walks us through the details of what to expect with the upcoming neighborhood gatherings on 2nd + 4th Sundays.
How do we raise children in the church to be prepared for what they face in the culture? To be confident in the gospel and remain faithful to Jesus for the rest of their lives? This message is all about discipling the next generation. Various members of Ren Church, such as Josi DeHaven, Max DeHaven, Grace M., and John Michaelson bring in theology, statistics, and personal stories to express why the entire church must invest in the kids and adolescents of our community. Lastly, RenKids Director Alli Leson shares a sneak peek of the intergenerational curriculum called Pebbles + Stones that Ren will apply in our Sunday neighborhood gatherings on the 2nd and 4th Sundays.
Pastor Scott shares about the new season ahead in the Ren community. Beginning in May on the 2nd + 4th Sundays we’ll be meeting in various neighborhood gatherings amongst the greater Rhode Island area instead of one big Sunday service. Listen in for more details and why we are shifting the way we do church life.
1 Corinthians 15: 3 - 8
Walk through 1 Corinthians 15: 3 - 8 to hear the credible witness accounts for Jesus to rise from the dead and why Christ’s resurrection makes all the difference for the world.
1 Samuel 1: 1 - 20
How do we pray when we come against impossible situations in life? We can cry out for God to intervene, and we don’t stop asking until we see him respond to our trials. This message from Pastor Scott looks at the prayer life of Hannah in 1 Samuel, a woman in a dysfunctional household and struggling with barrenness, who did not cease to pray through her “anguish and grief” until God answered her prayers.
Psalm 69
How do we respond well to the suffering we experience in life? Psalm 69 exemplifies the way we can cry out to God in the middle of distress. Like David, we can tell God all about it, be as honest as we want, work through our anger in prayer, and praise God in the midst of affliction. Pastor Scott encourages Christ believers to persevere in our faith, as when we cling to Jesus, He who suffered and endured to the end will carry us through to the end.
Isaiah 6
What happens when we have a genuine encounter with a holy God? We become aware of our unholiness. Yet this response makes room for God to purify us, like the seraphim placing a hot coal on Isaiah’s lips (Isaiah 6). How do we prepare for these types of encounters with God? In this message Pastor Scott offers wisdom for how to cultivate and sustain a deep prayer life that will prepare our hearts for life-altering encounters with God.