In this message, Noel explores the story of Philip bringing the gospel to Samaria, specifically the "icky" city of Samaria, an area considered irredeemable by Jews. He highlights how the power of God transformed the city, converting many—including Simon the sorcerer—and bringing "great joy." The speaker uses this account to stress the unifying work of the Holy Spirit and to remind listeners that no one is irredeemable in the eyes of God.
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In this message, Noel talks with Steve Sommerlot who recounts the faith and risk involved in launching Riverview Church in 1977, a venture that led to dozens of subsequent church plants. Drawing from the story of Stephen in the Book of Acts, Noel then argues that God is always inviting his people to join his mission, often in uncomfortable or unexpected ways.
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In this message, Noel draws a parallel between the excruciating recovery from sinus surgery and the difficult, often messy work of ministry, describing it as "picking out dried gunk." Focusing on Acts 6, he shows how the rapid growth of the early church led to a crisis: complaints that Hellenistic widows were being neglected in the daily aid distribution, creating cultural tension. To resolve the issue, the apostles chose to delegate the responsibility to seven capable men, freeing themselves to prioritize prayer and teaching the Word. This established a system where servants (deacons) manage practical needs while pastors (elders) focus on equipping the church, ensuring healthy growth without sacrificing core mission.
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In this message, Pastor James finishes Acts 5, detailing the rising conflict between the relentless apostles and the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin. The narrative highlights the miraculous release of the apostles from jail by an angel, leading them to immediately return to public teaching with the declaration, "We must obey God rather than people."
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In this message, Hezekiah challenges the modern aversion to being a "follower," arguing that biblical obedience is not about weakness, but about covenantal trust flowing from a relationship with God. He analyzes Acts 5, where the apostles are miraculously freed from jail by an angel and commanded to immediately return to the Temple, illustrating that obedience is bold, Christ-centered, and honest.
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In this message, Jordan uses a personal anecdote about pet jealousy to frame the conflict in Acts 5, where the Sadducees arrest the apostles out of envy. After an angel frees them, the apostles' immediate return to the Temple illustrates their commitment to "obey God rather than people."
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In this message, Pastor Tony explores the intense persecution the early apostles faced from the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, as the Christian movement gained momentum. He highlights the dramatic account from Acts chapter 5 where an angel miraculously frees the apostles from jail, only for them to immediately return to the Temple to continue preaching.
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In this message, Pastor Noel discusses the early church's radical generosity and shared possessions from Acts 4:32-5:11, using the church's own giving experiment with "red buckets" we use to collect the tithe, as a relatable modern parallel. He emphasizes that the passage is not simply about money, but about the transformative power of God's grace making the world's possessions grow "strangely dim" to believers.
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In this message, Noel uses the early church's response to persecution in Acts 4 to challenge listeners on how they face opposition. Noel shares about the very real dangers faced by Christians globally, contrasting it with the relative safety in the US. The sermon emphasizes that because God is the Creator and Jesus's resurrection was part of his predetermined plan, any plot against His church is ultimately futile.
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In this message, the speaker Noel explores the human tendency to draw personal "lines" based on our beliefs, contrasting personal examples (like opinions on pineapple pizza) with the historical and religious lines drawn by the Sadducees in the Bible. The Sadducees' disbelief in the resurrection of the dead put them in direct conflict with Peter and John after a miraculous healing. Noel uses this tension in Acts 4 to emphasize the exclusive and central claim of salvation through Jesus Christ, urging listeners to examine whether their own self-imposed "lines" are hindering their willingness to embrace Jesus, the one who crossed the line of death for them.
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In this message, the speaker uses everyday travel stories to illustrate how faith intersects with ordinary places. He points out that just as his “places” are airplanes and hotel bars, each of us has familiar spaces where we regularly cross paths with others. The sermon highlights Acts 3, where Peter and John meet a man at the temple gate and extend both dignity and healing, showing that the church is meant to be a river flowing outward, not a lake that stagnates. The challenge is clear: recognize your places, notice the people there, and be ready to point them to Jesus.
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In this message, Pastor Tony poses a question to the congregation: "What does a healthy church look like?" By examining a passage from Acts chapter 2, he describes how the early Christian community was devoted to the apostles' teachings, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Tony shares that because of this commitment, God worked through them to produce a community that was joyful, generous, and growing.
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In this message, Pastor Justin uses the metaphor of an essential oil diffuser to illustrate a spiritual truth: what we are filled with is what we will diffuse into the world. He examines the four-fold devotion of the early church—to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer—and challenges believers to adopt a similar commitment.
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In this message, Pastor James uses the metaphor of mountain climbing to explore the concept of "proskartereo," a Greek word for persistent dedication. He explains how the early church demonstrated this steadfastness through their commitment to a set of specific practices, including teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
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Jordan connects his own journey of overcoming a fear of public speaking to the Apostle Peter's first sermon in Acts 2. He explains that Peter's message was not about his own skills, but a bold proclamation of the gospel truths—that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah.
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In this message, Hezekiah explores what happened after the great revival in Acts 2, when 3,000 people were baptized. He focuses on the four key devotions of the early church: studying the apostles' teachings, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Hezekiah explains that these are not just religious activities but essential building blocks for spiritual growth and a healthy community.
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In this message, Tony celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the church venue and connects the founding of the church to the powerful sermon delivered by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2. He breaks down Peter’s message, emphasizing how a once-denying disciple boldly proclaimed the core truths of the gospel: Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
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In this message, Pastor James explores the historical significance of the Southern Stairs in Jerusalem and connects it to the sermon delivered by the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost. He highlights the core truths of Peter's message about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, emphasizing how they are as relevant today as they were then.
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In this message, Pastor Noel Heikkinen explores the biblical meaning of the word "Pentecostal" and challenges common stereotypes. He explains that the event described in Acts 2 was the start of the church's mission to harvest new followers. The sermon presents a "truly Pentecostal" community as one unified by prayer and empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the message of the gospel.
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In this message, Pastor Noel Heikkinen delves into Acts chapter 1, focusing on the time between Jesus' ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit. He highlights the apostles' incredible credibility, shown by their obedience to return to a hostile Jerusalem and their constant, unified prayer. The sermon also covers their decision to replace Judas with Matthias, a process guided by prayer and God's word.
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