Rice Memorial Baptist Church

Pastor John Ols continues in the story of Peter & Cornelius on how the Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles. (1) The Freedom of the Holy Spirit (2) The Reaction to the Holy Spirit (3) The Evidence of the Holy Spirit (4) The Unity in the Holy Spirit

Pastor John Ols shares the Gospel Message the Peter preached to the Roman Centurion. 1) The Gospel’s Call for new ways of thinking (breaking down cultural barriers) 2) The Gospel’s Core message of peace through Jesus Christ, the Lord of All (the Good News is about Peace with God and the Lordship of Jesus Christ) 3) The Gospel's Connection to Historical reality (It is rooted in the life, death and physical resurrection) 4) The Gospel's Capability to address eternal needs (final judgement and forgiveness of sins)

When the Angel at the tomb spoke to the women he used 3 imperatives, 3 commands: (1) Do not be afraid, (2) Come & See and (3) Go Tell. We will think about how these applied to the women at that time and speak to us today.

The most important person that ever lived was Jesus Christ and the most important week in his life started with a triumphant entry into Jerusalem where he confronted the people there to either Crown Him or Crucify Him

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus. We'll look at who we was prior to meeting Jesus. Then the encounter with Jesus. Then we'll see what a change it made in his life. And isn't this the same process the Lord takes with us (though different circumstances)?

Simon the Magician. See what happens when the gospel (the Lord) comes to a city! Verses 9-11 is what it was like prior to Philip bringing the gospel. 12-17 is when the gospel came. 18-24 is how things changed as a result of the gospel coming to town.

The stoning of Stephen was the Big Bang of the church of Jesus Christ. The pressure was building between the new believers and the religious powers in Jerusalem. Something had to give. The pressure resulted in 1) Persecution, which led to 2) Propelling the gospel outward, and 3) to see that God is purposeful in all that He does or allows.

Stephen's speech. He showed the Council that they were doing the very things he was being charged with. And he had historical evidence.

Stephen, a man full of grace, the Holy Spirit, power, faith and wisdom. He's a fascinating man. And his accusers. First they dispute him and escalate their attacks until he's before the Sanhedrin.

The major theme of the Bible: Man wrestling with God. In this passage in Acts, we'll see the unrelenting resistance, the unstoppable gospel and the unbreakable men as the Church is established and grows.