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ACTS

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ACTS

One of the major problems in our culture is that we often think that what we need is some new knowledge, some piece of information we don’t yet have. What we’re going to see throughout ACTS is that what we need most is not some new secret knowledge to breathe life into something ancient, but something ancient and transcendent to inform how we navigate the new challenges we face. There are roughly 44 stories that make up the book of Acts and we’re going to preach one story on Sunday and then Sunday afternoon we’re releasing a video for the following story. We’re doing this as a way to encourage the entire church body to open your Bibles and get into the scriptures to glean a deeper understanding of what God might want to do with us as we receive power to be His witnesses in Middle Tennessee, the Southeastern US, and to the ends of the earth.

ACTS // Story 41 (Carry The Torch)

Pastor Rob Rogers | March 20, 2022

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In the final week of our ACTS series, Pastor Rob spoke on how the book of Acts is an invitation to live on mission, carry the Gospel, exemplify Jesus, and make disciple-makers, as we receive power from the Holy Spirit to make an impact in Middle Tennessee, the Southeastern US, and to the ends of the earth.

ACTS // Story 40 (Lessons From The Storm)

Pastor Chris Whitney | March 13, 2022

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For ACTS // Story 40, we have the honor of having Pastor Chris Whitney from One Generation Away speak to us out of Acts 27:13-44. He gives us five lessons out of this passage for going through the storms in life: baggage, hearing, lives tied to our obedience, honor, and favor. Ultimately, circumstances do not change who God is and the plan He has for you.

ACTS // Story 39

Pastor Rob Rogers | March 6, 2022

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This week Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss Paul sailing for Rome in Acts 27:1-12.

ACTS // Story 38 (Patience, Poise, & Perseverance)

Pastor Rob Rogers | March 6, 2022

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In ACTS // Story 38, Pastor Rob preaches out of Acts 26:15-32 where after being accused of multiple crimes, Paul gives a defense to King Agrippa II. While Paul was speaking, Governor Festus interrupts to tell him that he is out of his mind, and King Agrippa asks if Paul is trying to convert him. Paul doesn’t respond to them by throwing a tantrum or becoming arrogant. He remains poised by answering them kindly and respectfully. Nothing proves the sincerity of your beliefs like your willingness to patiently suffer for them. Paul endured suffering for years through many interrogations, beatings, being unjustly imprisoned–and yet instead of defending himself before these powerful men, he seizes the opportunity to preach the gospel and point them to Jesus.

ACTS // Story 37

Pastor Rob Rogers | February 27, 2022

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This week Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss Appeals to Caesar in Acts 25:1-12.

ACTS // Story 36 (Pastor Don Finto)

Pastor Don Finto | February 27, 2022

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We’re honored to have Pastor Don Finto with us for ACTS // Story 36 and he shares on finding peace, joy, and optimism amidst difficult circumstances – a posture the Apostle Paul was well-acquainted with throughout his ministry as recorded in Acts. Pastor Don says the pathway to these things is to obey Jesus’ commands, embrace His promises, pay attention to Holy Spirit promptings, and be aggressively and Godly persistent to lay hold of the promises of God in scripture.

ACTS // Story 35

Pastor Rob Rogers | February 20, 2022

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This week Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss Paul before the Roman Tribunal in Acts 22:22-23:11.

ACTS // Story 33 & 34 (Courage)

Pastor Rob Rogers | February 20, 2022

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In story 33 and 34 of our ACTS series, Pastor Rob speaks on Acts 21:37-22:22 where a riot has just broken out in Jerusalem because of the word that Paul was teaching. In the midst of being beaten, placed in chains, and his life threatened, Paul courageously shares the Gospel regardless of the consequences. What we do in moments where courage is required, even in the smallest, seemingly most insignificant moments, matters. We may never know the impact we leave on someone’s life. It’s a beautiful picture of the reality that our words and our actions matter, and can make an impact that we may never know this side of heaven.

ACTS // Story 32

Pastor Rob Rogers | February 13, 2022

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This week Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss Paul in Jerusalem in Acts 21:1-26.

ACTS // Story 31 (Gospel-Centered Church)

Pastor Rob Rogers | February 13, 2022

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In ACTS // Story 31, Pastor Rob preaches out of Acts 20:17-37 where Paul is about to give his farewell address to the Ephesian elders and overseers and depart for Jerusalem. This speech is the only place in the entire book of Acts where a public address is specifically targeted toward Christians and leaders of the church. What we see is that the Apostle Paul teaches on what it means to be a Gospel-centered church, which means that everything we are and everything we do is based on, informed by, and permeated by everything that King Jesus has accomplished, modeled, commanded, and empowered us to do. Paul sets some healthy benchmarks on what it means to be a Gospel-centered church: Preaching & Teaching, Persistent & Profitable, Public & Private, Insiders & Outsiders, and Repentance & Faith.

ACTS // Story 30

Pastor Rob Rogers | February 6, 2022

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This week Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss Acts 19:21-41.

ACTS // Story 29 (Kingdom Authority)

Pastor Rob Rogers | February 6, 2022

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ACTS // Story 29 is out of Acts 19:11-20 where the sons of Sceva were trying to mimic the power of God that operated through Paul by trying to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits. These guys witness the miracles that God is doing through Paul and they tried replicating what Paul did without the authenticating power of God! One of the core lessons in this story for us as followers of Jesus is to know who we are in Christ and the spiritual authority given to us by and through Jesus. We are not to walk in spiritual timidity, or spiritual vanity, but the spiritual authority that has been given to us by the grace of God. This same grace has allowed us to have a brand new identity as a son or as a daughter of the King. Spiritual authority is not about what you can do, it’s about who you are in Christ.

ACTS // Story 28

Pastor Rob Rogers | January 30, 2022

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This week Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss Paul in Ephesus in Acts 19:1-10.

ACTS // Story 27 (Apollos Speaks)

Pastor Rob Rogers | January 30, 2022

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In ACTS // Story 27, Pastor Rob preaches out of Acts 18:24-28 where Apollos is found teaching in the synagogue with boldness and fervency of spirit. Both Priscilla and Aquila heard him, took him aside, and explained to him the way of God more accurately because he knew of the baptism of repentance, but not the full baptism in the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, Apollos was deficient not only in His understanding, but he was far less effective in his IMPACT. Rob details some implications for the church today and specifically, speaks on two ditches that the church can fall into, especially as it relates to the baptism and the continual filling of the Holy Spirit. At Grace Chapel, we want everything the Spirit wants to give us, and we want to remain 100% in alignment with the Word, the Will, and the Ways of God.

ACTS // Story 25 - Part 2 (A Church On Mission)

Pastor Rob Rogers | January 23, 2022

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Last week, Pastor Jimmy spoke on the message of Acts 17:16-34, and this week, Pastor Rob preaches out of the same passage but focuses on the method Paul used to communicate the truths found in this scripture. How did the Gospel make its way out in a very public discussion and debate with a variety of people that were either ambivalent or antagonistic toward the Gospel? How did Paul conduct himself? Pastor Rob outlines his message in three sections that describe how Paul delivered this message: connection not criticism, commonality without compromise, and correction not condemnation. As it pertains to Grace Chapel, God is faithful to His bride, He is faithful to complete the work He has begun, and we will remain faithful to Him by fulfilling the mission He’s given us.

ACTS // Story 26

Pastor Rob Rogers | January 16, 2022

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This week Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss Paul in Corinth in Acts 18:1-23.

ACTS // Story 25 (Paul in Athens)

Pastor Jimmy Harris | January 16, 2022

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In this online-only service, Pastor Jimmy preaches out of Acts 17:16-34 where Paul addresses the Areopagus regarding the idols they worshipped in their culture – they had so many idols they even had a catch-all idol of an “unknown god.” If we’re not careful, it’s easy to read a text like this and fail to make the connection to our present-day. An idol is always marked by the will to use God for our purposes. It is on one level a strategy and on another level, it is a rebellion eventually becoming a stronghold. Four questions we can ask ourselves as we seek to find the idolatry of our own heart: 1. Am I willing to compromise my beliefs for it? 2. Will I get angry if I can’t do it/don’t get it? 3. Do I value it over people? 4. Does it push me closer to God or pull me farther away?

ACTS // Story 24

Pastor Rob Rogers | January 9, 2022

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Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss Paul’s journey through Thessalonica and Berea in Acts 17:1-15.

ACTS // Story 23 (Jailer's Conversion)

Pastor Rob Rogers | January 9, 2022

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After a brief pause from ACTS during the Christmas season, we’re now continuing our journey through the book with Pastor Rob bringing a word on the jailer’s conversion in Acts 16:25-40. While this is a popular story, Pastor Rob gives some historical context as to who the jailer was and how his conversion story parallels the work that God is still doing today. The outflow and the evidence of the Gospel in and around our lives is joy. Even in the darkest dungeon, there is reason to rejoice because the joy of the Lord is our strength.

ACTS // Story 22

Pastor Rob Rogers | December 5, 2021

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Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss the Macedonia Call in Acts 16:1-24.

ACTS // Story 21 (The Complete Gospel)

Pastor Rob Rogers | December 5, 2021

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In ACTS // Story 21 (The Complete Gospel), Pastor Rob speaks on Acts 15 where we see one of the first major theological debates arise in the early church. Just as there were different gospels then, there are various gospels even in the church today. Interestingly, this passage that details the contentious debate clarifies for us what the true Gospel is. After talking through the complete Gospel, Pastor Rob contrasts it with some of the other versions that are permeating the church today: the Transactional Gospel, the Informational Gospel, the Social Gospel, and the Religious Gospel.

ACTS // Story 20

Pastor Rob Rogers | November 28, 2021

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Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss Iconium & Syria in Acts 14.

ACTS // Story 19 (Called & Sent)

Pastor Rob Rogers | November 28, 2021

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In Story 19 of ACTS, Pastor Rob speaks on Paul’s first missionary journey where the church in Antioch essentially becomes the base of operations for mission work and ministry. Breaking his message into three parts – called in, set apart, sent out – Pastor Rob says that we are all called in (i.e., a calling into the fold of God’s family where you’re no longer looking from the outside in), set apart to be used by God, and, in this very moment, being sent out on the mission field for Jesus.

ACTS // Story 18

Pastor Rob Rogers | November 21, 2021

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Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss Barnabas & Saul being sent in Acts 13:1-3.

ACTS // Story 17 (A Church That Prays)

Pastor Rob Rogers | November 21, 2021

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In the seventeenth story of ACTS, we find ourselves in Acts 12 where Pastor Rob encourages us to pray big, bold, specific, faith-filled, passionate, powerful prayers that are in line with the very heart of God. Then, watch expectantly for God to do incredible things in your life and the Church collectively.

ACTS // Story 16

Pastor Rob Rogers | November 14, 2021

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Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss the Peter Reports in Acts 11.

ACTS // Story 15 (Two Visions & A Visitation)

Pastor Dave Buehring | November 14, 2021

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In Story 15 of ACTS, Pastor Dave returns to the pulpit to speak to us about the visions of Cornelius and Peter out of Acts 10. Following these two visions, Peter begins to speak to a God-fearing audience and the brothers from Joppa were stunned watching the Holy Spirit transform Gentiles. With this backdrop, Pastor Dave provides some practical application for us: the leading of the Holy Spirit in prayer, responding to the Holy Spirit in obedience, and the positioning of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Dave ends with talking about the difference between grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit.

ACTS // Story 14

Pastor Rob Rogers | November 7, 2021

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Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss Saul’s Stories in Acts 9:20-43.

ACTS // Story 13 (Saul's Conversion)

Pastor Rob Rogers | November 7, 2021

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Today we cover one of the most famous conversion stories in the Bible – Saul’s conversion as recorded in Acts 9. Pastor Rob breaks down his sermon into three sections: A Radical Confrontation, A Radical Courage, and A Radical Conversion. What is interesting about Saul’s story is that Saul thought he knew what God was like and how God should operate. This is what many people in our culture today are looking for, and this is in large part a reason for the rise of progressive Christianity. It’s the idea that God needs to fit into our view, our perspective, our outlook, our politics, and our agenda rather than us fitting into His. So the question for us is the same question that Saul had to face…are we going to change God to fit what we want (in which case, He is no longer God) or are we going to submit to who God has revealed Himself to be through His Holy Scriptures?

ACTS // Story 12

Pastor Rob Rogers | October 31, 2021

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Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss Philip & the Ethiopian in Acts 8:26-40.

ACTS // Story 11 (Simon the Sorcerer)

Pastor Rob Rogers | October 31, 2021

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In story 11 of ACTS, Pastor Rob walks us through the first half of chapter 8 which is about Simon the Sorcerer. The crux of this passage speaks to the deceptive nature of power, the revealing nature of power, and the Spirit’s subversion of power. It’s fascinating when you compare the character of Simon with the Spirit: Simon affirms himself, the Spirit affirms others; Simon is self-exalting, the Spirit is Christ-exalting; Simon is self-serving, the Spirit serves others; Simon draws to himself, the Spirit points to Christ; Simon wants the spotlight, the Spirit redirects the spotlight; Simon takes power, the Spirit gives power. Pastor Rob leaves us with a few questions – where are we trying to use God? Where are we trying to add the Holy Spirit as a tool in our toolbox that we can utilize whenever we want? Are we demanding that God be in submission to us, or are we actually in submission to God?

ACTS // Story 10

Pastor Rob Rogers | October 24, 2021

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Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss the tenth story in Acts (Acts 7:54-60).

ACTS // Story 9 (Stephen's Speech)

Pastor Rob Rogers | October 24, 2021

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In story 9, Pastor Rob speaks on Stephen’s speech before the Sanhedrin that occurs prior to his martyrdom in the latter part of Acts 7. There are many practical applications for the Church today, not the least of which would be for God to grant us the same boldness and courage if or when the moment demands it – that even at great personal cost, we would not shy away from the truth of the Gospel. With this backdrop, Pastor Rob shares a number of things that we will summarize here that he is willing to lay down his life for as the pastor of Grace Chapel: 1) Without apology, regardless of consequence, he will not preach the ideas and ideologies of man, but privately and publicly proclaim the full counsel of the Word of God, 2) he will be faithful to do the work of a pastor, as it is his deep conviction that pastors are called by God to be servants, 3) in the midst of a world full of churches giving in to the demands of a pagan culture, adopting all kinds of beliefs that are antithetical to the teachings of scripture, Grace Chapel will hold firm to biblical orthodox Christianity and the doctrine that has been held to and taught by the Church, 4) he will continue to fulfill the calling of God on his life to make disciples that make disciples.

ACTS // Story 8

Pastor Rob Rogers | October 17, 2021

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Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss the eighth story in Acts (Acts 6:1-15).

ACTS // Story 7 (The Fear of the Lord)

Pastor Dave Buehring | October 17, 2021

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In ACTS // Story 7, Pastor Dave Buehring teaches on the fear of the Lord out of Acts 5:12-42. The fear of the Lord is reverencing and referencing God in all that we do. To reverence Him is to take Him seriously and to hate evil. To reference Him means to seek God in everything. The opposite of the fear of the Lord is the fear of man, which leads to people-pleasing and will hinder our obedience to Jesus.

ACTS // Story 6

Pastor Rob Rogers | October 10, 2021

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Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss the sixth story in Acts (Acts 5:1-11).

ACTS // Story 5 (Shaken But Not Forsaken)

Pastor Rob Rogers | October 10, 2021

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Story five in the book of Acts has us in Acts 4:23-31 and Pastor Rob speaks on the prayer Peter, John, and others offer up to God amidst incredible threats made to them by the Sanhedrin. What’s interesting is that in light of these threats, the early church doesn’t pray for anything except boldness! They didn’t ask God to stop the threats, to stop the shaking, or to solve the problems. The lesson for us is to not get caught up in all the cares, fears, worries, and concerns in our circumstances and only ever pray for our bad circumstances to go away (not that this is wrong to ask for). But in our praying for better circumstances, we need to remember that the circumstances we face are not the main problem. The problem is actually how shaken we are by our circumstances. Jesus Christ was shaken so that you could be made unshakable. And because of what Jesus has done, the circumstances that used to shake you don’t have to take you into utter despair, but instead, can bring you closer to the ruler of the eternal unshakeable kingdom that is from everlasting to everlasting.

ACTS // Story 4

Pastor Rob Rogers | October 3, 2021

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Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss the fourth story in Acts (Acts 4:1-22).

ACTS // Story 3 (The Final Prophet)

Pastor Rob Rogers | October 3, 2021

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We’re in story three of ACTS and Pastor Rob speaks on Peter’s address in Solomon’s Portico in Acts 3:11-26. Throughout the entirety of Scripture, we’re continually pointed to three specific offices, or functions, that Jesus fulfills and holds: Prophet, Priest, and King. It is the first (Prophet) that Peter hones in on in his message in Acts 3. A prophet is someone who brings the very words of God to the world. They reveal the will and nature of God, not as an interpreter but as a revealer, a proclaimer of something absolute and non-negotiable. We don’t like this in modern western culture because we live in a time where your truth is your truth, and someone else’s truth is theirs, and you’ve got to live your truth. But what scripture, and Peter, is teaching us is that if your “truth” differs from God’s truth, it’s not Truth.

ACTS // Story 2

Pastor Rob Rogers | September 26, 2021

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Pastor Rob and Pastor Jimmy discuss the second story in Acts (Acts 3:1-10).

ACTS // Story 1 (A New Community)

Pastor Rob Rogers | September 26, 2021

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In the first story of our ACTS series, Pastor Rob speaks on the early church and the practices that marked the early believers. We often make the mistake of thinking we can claim to be followers of Jesus without actually following in the ways of Jesus. Those who claim to follow Jesus in Acts 2 were devoted to the scriptures (doctrine), the gathering of themselves with other believers, breaking of bread together (communion, fellowship), and prayer. The outflow of us being committed to the same practices of the early church is a church that is marked by sacrificial generosity and compassion, not only to those in need but even those we would seek to silence us or take our lives.

ACTS // Introduction

Pastor Rob Rogers | September 19, 2021

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Pastor Rob kicks off our new series with an introduction using Acts 1:1-8. One of the major problems in our culture is that we often think that what we need is some new knowledge, some piece of information we don’t yet have. And yet what we need most is not some new secret knowledge to breathe life into something ancient, but something ancient and transcendent to inform how we navigate the new challenges we face as a culture. Our hope as we go throughout the series is that we will all be encouraged to open our Bibles and get into the scriptures to glean a deeper understanding of what God might want to do with us as we receive power to be His witnesses in Middle Tennessee, the Southeastern US, and to the ends of the earth.

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