Throughout history, God has grown and moved his church as his people scattered to diverse locations geographically. This pattern has not changed and believers are still called to grow and expand as a church today, whether we move across national boundaries, ethnic and cultural boundaries, or do church planting in our immediate communities. Beginning with the first generation of believers in the book of Acts, we hear of Phillip, who was emboldened and changed by the power of God as he moved out in obedience to spread the Gospel. Despite severe persecution, great joy descended on those who received the truth that came with power. In this present age, we have the account of the phenomenal growth of the church in China. In 1949 all Christian missionaries were evicted leaving less than one million indigenous believers behind. They faced relentless bloodbaths and eradication. Yet the church grew in the midst of that persecution when determined believers scattered and went underground. The challenge to believers today remains the same—to be willing to be moved out of our personal comfort zones, to walk in faith, to make personal sacrifices, and most importantly, to trust God for our personal well-being and needs.
Text: Acts 8:4-8“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against […]
Text: 1 Peter 2:11-12(This particular sermon was a “tag team” effort where I preached the first part, and Pastor Bob Boerman preached the […]
Text: VariousOn April 5, 1943, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was arrested and imprisoned by the Gestapo for his resistance to the Nazi regime […]
Text: 1 Peter 1:6-7If you know a bit about church history, you know that before Martin Luther became the father of the Protestant […]
Text: Psalm 130:3-4This is one of the most remarkable statements in the Apostles’ Creed and it is also one of the most […]
Text: VariousWhen this prayer is answered, others will know it before you will.
Text: Exodus 33:18“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, […]
Text: Psalm 37:23-24Almost five years ago we started sending free copies of my books to prisoners across America. Through a partnership with […]
Text: II Timothy 2:14-26I remember a church picnic we had when I was pastoring in Rockford. Everything was great except that it was […]
Text: Titus 1:15; 1 Timothy 4:2