There are many ways to display power and sometimes power can be used for good. In a fallen world, though, many displays of power results in great harm to others. As we continue in Acts 16, we will see all kinds of power on display. Most importantly, we will see the superior, saving power of Jesus on display. The God who saves us is both merciful and mighty, strong and kind. The great Lord calls Himself gentle and lowly. God's power used to bring about salvation brings about great rejoicing!

Iowa Falls Evangelical Free Church Sermon Podcast

Power on Display-Acts 16:16-40 (audio)

Unity in the church is good and pleasant. But the church is made up of sinners so disagreements and conflicts are sure to come. When they do, will the church keep on going and keep on growing? Today, we finish up Acts 15 and look at the first 15 verses of Acts 16 where we will see that, even when there is conflict, believers keep going as God leads them in church-strengthening, lost-saving mission.

Keep Going-Acts 15:36-16:15 (audio)

Do debates and the tension that they cause leave you feeling a little unsettled? The important debate we looked at last week in the first verses of Acts 15 left the church in Antioch feeling unsettled. Their leaders were sent out to engage in this debate and the council came to a gospel-centered verdict. In today’s passage, we will see this verdict clearly communicated to the church in Antioch and take note of how it affects them. Along the way, we’ll consider some timely application for our church and end by rejoicing in the sufficiency of Jesus’ work by taking communion together.

Settled-Acts 15:22-35 (audio)

Do you like a good debate? Or are you the type that flees from all potential conflict? While there are many debates we would be wise to avoid, some debates are important and we would be wise to engage. In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas take a break from their missionary journeys to engage with some other church leaders in an important debate. The principles that flow from this passage help us to see who can be saved, and how the saved are called to live differently still today.

An Important Debate-Acts 15:1-21 (audio)

Making disciples. That is what Jesus told His disciples to do. In Acts 14, we see Paul and Barnabas doing it through their own missionary work and through the establishment of local churches. Today we will journey with Paul and Barnabas as they finish their first missionary journey. We will see how God does (and continues to do) a work through believers committed to the long, hard work of making disciples in the local church.

Making Disciples in the Local Church-Acts 14:19-28 (audio)

Perhaps you've learned to talk about Jesus and delight in the gospel when you're together with other Christians but if you're like most people, you find it much more challenging to proclaim the gospel to people with vastly different worldviews. In today's passage, we continue in Acts where we see Paul and Barnabas begin proclaiming the gospel in a familiar setting but then move to a very different kind of place. Despite various challenges, God provides a way for them to meet people where they are and keep on preaching. We have a lot to learn from them.

Meet Them Where They Are and Keep on Preaching-Acts 14:1-18 (audio)

What do people need to hear when we're gathered together? That's a question preachers need to answer each week. We believe people need to hear the message of the Bible which points us to Jesus. In today's passage, Paul's first missionary journey continues as Paul preaches the message of the Bible, pointing them to Jesus. The application of the Bible's message for his audience is just as applicable to us today.

Forgiveness of Sins and Freedom in Christ-Acts 13:13-52 (audio)

In early 2020, we worked our way through the first 7 chapters of Acts and saw Jesus’ work continue as Holy Spirit-empowered believers proclaimed the gospel in Jerusalem. After some time in other books of the Bible, we came back to Acts in early 2021, covering Acts 8-12 where we saw the gospel spread to Judea and Samaria. Having spent our summer being challenged and encouraged through the book of Philippians, today we start the final section of Acts by looking at Acts 13:1-12.

Sent or Senders-Acts 13:1-12 (audio)

Are you content? How do we learn to be content? Today we finish our series in the book of Philippians by looking at the final verses of this relevant letter. We can rejoice in knowing that God provides for our every need and strengthens us to be content for our good and His glory.

The Provision of God for Our Good and His Glory-Philippians 4:10-23 (audio)

"I thought we were done with this." That's a phrase we've heard from many people lately in reference to the pandemic. While increasing numbers of us have been infected, every one of us has been affected. The pandemic has reminded us that our world is broken. It has also caused conflict and anxiety. Today, we near the end of our series in Philippians with 8 verses that seem especially relevant.

The Peace of God in the Midst of Conflict and Anxiety Philippians 4:2-9 (audio)

Are we there yet? Most kids love family vacations but, for the kids, it’s more about the destination than the journey. They know the destination will be good but the journey can seem long and kids quickly grow weary. Maybe that’s not just a kid thing. Christians long to be with Jesus, to experience the resurrection of the dead and know Him more fully. That is our destination and it will be glorious but we’re not there yet. In today’s passage, Paul encourages the Christians in Philippi to press on.

Are We There Yet? Philippians 3:12-4:1 (audio)

It is easy to put our confidence and hope in our own strength. Where does our righteousness come from?

The Pursuit-Philippians 3:1-11 (audio)

Anxiety, stress, and fear come pretty easily. We may try all kinds of things to cope with them or learn to live with them. In Luke 12:22-34, Jesus calls His followers to combat these things by commanding us to consider and seek, by reminding us of what we've received and commanding us to give.

Anxious? Consider and Seek- Luke 12:22-34 (audio)

We were thankful that Matt Soderstrum was able to join us this past Sunday to preach. He joined us on short notice as Pastor Jeremy was away on a pastor's retreat and Pastor Nick was sick. Matt preached from Jonah 1, which is what our Pathways Bible Study classes are currently studying!

Jonah 1 (audio)

Isn't it a joy to see how God provides for His church? He provides the right people at the right time to accomplish His gospel mission. He did it in Philippi and he has done it here. Today as we commission and pray for Pastor Nick, this passage seems especially fitting. It is so good to be adopted into a family with a Father who knows and meets our needs.

God Provides for His Church-Philippians 2:19-30 (audio)

A podcast of the sermons preached each Sunday at Iowa Falls Evangelical Free Church

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Iowa Falls Evangelical Free Church Sermon Podcast

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