This Good Friday service we look at the beautiful thing that happened on that ugly day. We will also celebrate communion together as we reflect on the power of the cross.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. We are going to look at Matthew’s remembrance of that fateful week when the promises of God came alive. The people of Israel had been waiting for centuries for the mysterious “Man of Sorrows" whom Isaiah had written about. Their Messiah had finally arrived, but those in power, both the Religious leaders in the temple and Rome itself, did not like the Kingdom Jesus was promising to usher in. Kingdom politics has a servant leader, a cross for a throne, and thorns for a crown. Much different than those who were running the show the day Jesus descended into His city for the last time.

This week we look at Paul and his farewell conversation with his elders from the church in Ephesus. We see there, instructions for how they are to care for the church as well as the painful goodbye to a group of people he has pastored for the past three years. The joy of serving at times is met with the pain of goodbye, but Paul and his pastor’s heart shines here in so many ways. 

As Paul makes the transition into new things away from Ephesus, he focuses on the important things; his ministry and the responsibility of the elders. Before we get there, however, we should look at who this man was and why he was so focused on the gospel of God’s grace.

As we continue in our series in Acts, looking at how the early church grew forward, we come to Acts 15 and conflict which, if not handled correctly, would have forever divided the church. In one of the best places in Scripture to see healthy conflict resolution, we find that God is glorified, people are edified and the Church grew once again. 

Good morning folks. Have you ever wondered what happens when you grow so fast that you begin to get too big for your britches? Every new adventure eventually gets to this point, and the early church community found themselves dealing with such an issue. The community had gotten very large, and they weren’t all from the same background. As usual, when you have more than one person in a room, you have the potential for problems. This week, we see how wonderfully and clearly the leaders dealt with an issue that potentially could have destroyed the church. Instead, it served to launch them forward into success.