Author Archive: Cornerstone Church
August 4: “The Church Council at Jerusalem” (Acts 15:1-21)
As more Gentiles were becoming Christians, the church faced a crisis from within. Some Jewish Christians insisted that Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses. The Antioch church sent Barnabas and Paul to Jerusalem to settle the matter. The council agreed that Gentiles don’t have to be circumcised and don’t […]
Continue readingJuly 28: “Paul’s First Missionary Journey” (Acts 13:1-5, 13-48)
In his first missionary journey, Paul goes to Pisidian Antioch and preaches the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. His message has three parts: 1) Jesus is the Messiah who fulfilled the prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures. 2) Jesus’ resurrection proves that Jesus is God’s Son. 3) Jesus’ resurrection means forgiveness and justification for those […]
Continue readingJuly 21: “Anointed Ones” (Acts 11:19-30)
GUEST SPEAKER: Pastor Neal Presa In the midst of being scattered due to persecution and geographic/ethnic diaspora, the Spirit of the Lord deployed followers of Jesus Christ to follow God’s mission in word and in witness. The descriptor of believers in Antioch is literally, “Anointed Ones.” I will share a word about what it means […]
Continue readingJuly 14: “The Gentile Pentecost” (Acts 10:22-48)
Gentile mission is initiated by the Holy Spirit. For the first time, Gentiles receive the gift of the Holy Spirit when they believe the gospel message. God doesn’t show favoritism, but accepts people from every nation who have faith in Jesus Christ. The Jews were surprised by God’s grace because their prejudice limited their view […]
Continue readingJuly 7: “The Three Advocates for Saul” (Acts 9:1-31)
Saul had a dramatic conversion. He eventually became an apostle to the Gentiles, planting many churches and writing many books of the New Testament. But even Paul needed advocates in his early days as a Christian. In Damascus, it was Ananias. In Jerusalem, it was Barnabas. But the key advocate is the Paraclete, who empowered […]
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