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Cut to the Heart

Pocket Sermon from Peter
Peter gives us what I refer to as a “pocket sermon” (something to keep closely with us for reuse at any given moment) and summarizes the Gospels in Acts 2:22-24.

²²“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— ²³this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. ²⁴God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

The Gospel summary:

God endorses Jesus through his ability to perform miracles
Jesus is crucified
Jesus conquers death, thus proving his deity

These are the kind of verses that succinctly tell the story of Jesus as the messiah from his earthly miracles through death, burial, and resurrection. Memorizing verses like this are a great way to be ready to share Biblical truth with those who do not yet believe, as well as a great reminder as to why we follow this man Jesus, God in the flesh.

After Peter’s sermon, we’re told that those who heard it were “cut to the heart” and they asked “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Why were they cut to the heart? Because that’s what God’s word does:

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

When we hear the word of God through the Bible something supernatural occurs and God is literally speaking to us. How great it is that our creator cares enough to communicate with us today!

As for Peter’s audience and me as well, sin deems us “guilty” for crucifying Jesus. What shall we do then?

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

Would you consider praying for an opportunity to share the Gospel story with someone today so that they too may be forgiven, and their souls saved for an eternity?

Connected With God

I cannot believe that it is already here. Today, is the first day of a new year and the first day for this fun project. Thank you, for joining us!

Today’s reading link:

Family: Genesis 1; Matthew 1. Secret: Ezra 1; Acts 1.

CONNECTED WITH GOD

God created this world with an amazing amount of intentionality. When I simply consider the broad strokes that God painted in Genesis 1, I naturally gloss over it. But, taking a closer look, it becomes clearer. What did he do? He created the scene and established the boundaries for us to live our lives. Then, he simply says, “be fruitful and multiply.” He intends to let us do it. There is no step-by-step plan, but an incredibly complex venue for us to live our lives. He has provided all of the raw materials. What we do with them and how we do it, is left up to us. Some might call it “free will.”

For me, perhaps the most striking part of this conversation comes in verse 28. You see, as humans, we are “blessed.” For whatever reason, God created us differently than the plants, birds and animals. When I consider that we God’s blessing on us, I realize that he intended more for us simple survival. According to Merriam-Webster, to be blessed means that we “have a sacred nature,” and are “connected with God.” This reminder is one reason that I appreciate the creation story so much. It is so easy to get bogged down in all the details and rules of religion. Today, remember that we have been given everything that we need. We have a divine blessing. We choose to embrace it, or not. Furthermore, the way we use it is a direct reflection of our own relationship with God.

About

A Testimony from our founder:

Several years ago, I found myself wanting more from God and more for God. While I could not pinpoint what this looked like, I fearlessly committed to taking a first step toward living my life more fully for Him. In short, I determined that I needed to know him personally and intimately. For too long, I had relied on the wisdom and words of others to tell me about His greatness and I realized the need to personalize His word. Sadly, for a period of time, I resisted the urges and longings that the Holy Spirit had placed in my heart. These were nudges toward a deeper commitment that would require my devotion of time and energy toward knowing him. Occasionally, I would find myself submitting to the Holy Spirit. However, as I often do with physical exercise, my time was characterized by “fits and starts.” This random and careless approach contributed to my mediocrity and left me luke-warm, always knowing that I was missing something.

Thankfully, the Lord is persistent. Rather than give up on me, He provided me with additional tools in which to pursue his word. Most notably was a one-year Bible reading program. The premise is simple. Read a little bit everyday and, over time, you will have read the entire Bible. Of course, my commitment did not come without a fight. I resisted, utilizing the usual excuses about not having time and followed with other, more complicated justifications, ranging from intelligence to worthiness. Despite my defiance, I committed to reading everyday, for one year. I would read the entire Bible.

Needless to day, that year was filled days of extreme difficulty and days of extreme joy. This is true of any worthwhile endeavor. I was not, however, prepared for the life changes that would unfold. While I could go into these details, I think far more important are the implications a similar commitment might have on your own life. I do know that God has big plans for your life, as he does mine. I also know that this American life prevents us from fully discovering the life worth living that he promises. If you are feeling the pull of the Holy Spirit, inviting you to discover the freedom and abundance of a Christ-following life, join me on a one-year journey. Choose today, to set aside excuses and ask Him if this is the right choice for you.

~ BJ Armstrong, Elder at Eastview Christian Church.

Mission

To present everyone mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28)

Vision

6,000 Christ-followers who interact with and experience God, daily, through his living and active word

Values

God’s word is infallible
God’s word is living, active and transformative (Romans 12:2, Heb 4:12)
God provided us his word (2 Timothy 3:16)
The Word reveals who God is and his character
God’s word is worthy (Phil 4:8)
The Heart’s joy and delight (Jer 15:16)
Essential for salvation (1 Peter 1:23)