Church unity is require for a vibrant church

TODAY IN THE WORD
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Read: Acts 11:19-30; 12:25-13:3

The church at Antioch is a wonderful picture of church unity.

The church in Antioch can teach us a lot about a vibrant church. we see a church willing to release its most prominent leaders for mission work. Finally, we see an amazing unity of purpose despite great diversity. For instance, Barnabas also saw the need for more teachers, so he traveled 100 miles north to track down Saul in Tarsus, who had ministered there for about ten years after he escaped from Jerusalem

The irony of answered prayers

TODAY IN THE WORD
Read: Acts 12:1-25

Notice the irony that, despite their fervent prayers, the believers in Mary's house couldn't believe their prayers to deliver Peter had been answered!

powerful advances for the gospel are often initiated at the grass-roots level

TODAY IN THE WORD
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Read: Acts 8:5-25

TODAY ALONG THE WAY It's interesting to notice that Peter and John follow Philip's lead by continuing to evangelize Samaritan cities on their return to Jerusalem (v. 25). This should encourage us that powerful advances for the gospel are not always initiated by church leaders. In fact, many racial reconciliation efforts are at the grass-roots level

You cannot stop God's plan

Moody Today in the Word for
Friday, September 7, 2007
Read: Acts 5:12-42

34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35Then he addressed them: "... 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

(cf. John 3:6 -Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.)

physical power is never effective against the power of the soul