Friends In Fellowship Podcast

Our series takes a detour to consider how we can have joy this Christmas in the wake of tragedy and suffering. From the shepherds' point of view, we can learn that God is attentive to the hurting, and that Christ is the source of eternal joy.

Mary and Joseph were not impressive by the world's standards, so why did God choose them to raise His Son? The reason can be found in humility and faithfulness. (Quotes from the film the Christmas Experience).

The Christmas story didn't begin with Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem, but before the beginning of time. Throughout history, God was orchestrating all the details so that Jesus would be born at just the right time. (Quotations from the film "The Christmas Experience")

Will Jesus save somebody because of YOUR faith? At face value, it seems like the answer is "no". But a study of several passages in the gospel of Mark clearly shows that Jesus heals people others BRING them to Jesus. (Quotations from Perry Noble).

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable contrasting those whose faith leads them to manage the Master's resources, and one who was not faithful. We discover that faith puts God's resources to work.

We typically define faith as belief or trust, but there is also a tangible aspect to faith. Faith is something to be shared and handed down to others and future generations. Just as our freedoms have been preserved by our veterans, so the gospel must be defended and shared.

Acts 20:22-24. Sometimes you just want to know the cold, hard truth. And as Christ-followers, that means doing the right thing, even when you don't want to; knowing some things, but not know everything; and sharing the good news no matter what!

Acts 13:41-52. Potential energy becomes kinetic energy when a force is exerted to make it move. The church is kinetic, as the Holy Spirit unleashed the potential in us. (Quotations from Francis Chan).

Acts 10. The Holy Spirit led the early church to tear down every barrier that separated God from people of every nation, including the Gentiles. Diversity is still God's desire for his church today, dealing with our prejudices and global vision. (Thanks to Daryl Reed for several insights).

Acts 6:1-7. Faced with a complaint that threatened the unity of the church, the apostles mobilized servants to address the need. We learn that Christian service is Spirit-led, organized, and mission-focused.

Acts 5:17-42. Faced with persecution, the apostles spread the gospel throughout Jerusalem with boldness. In the face of many cultural and global issues today, Christians need to speak with bold truth and bold grace. (Multiple quotations from Bob Russell's blog "Preach the Word In Season and Out of Season").

Acts 4:32-5:11. Unity and Generosity went together in the early church. Imagine if we became more generous in love, service, and giving today!

Acts 4:8-22. The difference between spiritual boredom and spiritual passion comes down to following Jesus and the promptings of His Spirit. Passion is available to any Christian, and will motivate us to live a new life.

Acts 2:41-47 The early church was a church of devotion. And because Devotion Determines Direction, we model our lives after them in order to experience unity, joy and growth.

The book of Acts is really the story of of the Holy Spirit. But often we don't see the same power at work in the church today. Every believer should wait on, be empowered by, and bear witness to the Holy Spirit in their lives. Acts 1:1-8

The book of Revelation saves the best for last, as it describes heaven. John focuses on what won't be there, and what will be there. Chapters 21-22; based on the book by Mark E. Moore.

God will bring every evil thing to justice. That's comforting to those who are following the Lord, but a serious call to holiness. Hell is too serious to ignore. Chapters 17-20. Based on the book by Mark E. Moore.

The last cycle of "seven" are bowls of God's wrath. But God's love and his judgment are not incompatible - they come from the same part of his nature. Chapters 15, 16. Based on the book by Mark E. Moore.

One of the most important teachings of Revelation is that behind our physical world are spiritual forces. Satan is at work against Christians and the church. But those on God's side have already overcome through Jesus. Chapters 11-13. Based on the book by Mark E. Moore

Chapters 8, 9 give us another look at the trouble leading up to the end of time. The perspective here is what it's like to suffer as a non-Christian. And the truth is there is nothing to fear in Christ, but everything to fear without Him. Based on the book by Mark E. Moore.