Recent Sermons

The resurrection is the key doctrine around which all of the truths of Christianity depend. It was a focal point of every other truth that Jesus taught. The resurrection was the central theme of Peter's first two sermons beginning at Pentecost. The empty tomb is the foundation of the hope and joy that Christians anticipate in an assured life to come. Because He lives, we too shall live!

The Christian life is filled with mountain top experiences,lows in the valleys, and just day to day living as we continue to walk through life with Christ. Look at the experience of Peter and John: Healing the lame man – sermon at Solomon’s Portico – many salvation decisions – their arrest and trial – ordered and threatened not to speak of the resurrection of Jesus – bold stand – release. How should we handle life as we go through these types of ups and downs? What kind of example do we see in the early church?

The lame man has been healed. An excited crowd of people have gathered together around Peter and John in amazement. Peter begins teaching at Solomon’s Portico sharing the gospel. But all is not well. Opposition from the authorities who are opposed to the gospel’s message is on its way.

This text culminates in v. 57. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is so full of awe at the goodness of God to sinners, he breaks out in exuberant praise. It is a sublime final stroke on the glorious landscape of the resurrection in this fifteenth chapter, followed only by the doctrine’s practical rallying cry in v. 58. So why is Paul giving thanks to God? For this we turn to the preceding verses. God’s Word is calling you this morning to return with Paul thanks to God for your salvation.

Peter's hearers were guilty of disowning, denying and executing their Messiah. However, Peter is about to give them hope if they will only repent and turn back to God. Without the repentance and turning, they would remain hopeless and judged. Through repentance and turning back, they would be the recipients of tremendous blessings.

When opposition from without and opposition from within failed to stop the work, the enemy resorted to another tactic to hinder the work, a direct attack on Nehemiah himself.

Although just having performed a great miracle in the healing of the lame man, Peter does not turn the attention on himself, but magnifies Jesus Christ. He glorifies Jesus as he explains once again who Jesus is by using five descriptive titles. Because of who Jesus is, as opposed to how the Jews treated him, Peter issues a call for repentance.

When the enemy fails in his attacks from the outside, he often attacks us from within. One of his favorite weapons is selfishness. If he can cause us to be consumed by thinking about ourselves and what we want, he can win a victory in our lives before we even realize that he is at work.