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-Acts-How To Live The Christian Life
Contributed by Peter Loughman on May 19, 2009 (message contributor)
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1. Are We There Yet?
Contributed on May 19, 2009
Sometimes, waiting isn’t such a bad thing. Sometimes, waiting is a gift from God.
Wait a moment. (Pause for a time) Waiting. It seems sometimes that all we do in life is wait. We wait in line at the market; We wait at the traffic light; We wait for the Advil to take effect; We wait for the commercial to be over; We wait for the shower to get warm; We wait for financing to ...read more
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2. All Things New
Contributed on Jun 16, 2009
Repentance is the first word of salvation. Without repentance, there is no salvation.
This man is running around screaming with joy. You couldn’t stop but notice it. He was making such a hoopla you would have thought that he won a million dollars. People stopped what they were doing, you could see the smiles on their faces when they heard the man shout for joy - then, you could see ...read more
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3. Loss For Words
Contributed on Jun 24, 2009
Peter and John stand before the highest religious court in the land, THIS is the perfect opportunity for the Sanhedrin to once and for all disprove the Apostle’s claim that Jesus Christ has resurrected.
Peter and John stand before the highest religious court in the land because the evening before they claimed a man was healed by the power and name of the resurrected Jesus Christ of Nazareth. THIS is the perfect opportunity for the Sanhedrin to once and for all disprove the Apostle’s claim that ...read more
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4. Shaken Not Stirred
Contributed on Jul 1, 2009
Don’t ask God to change the situation, ask God to give you the courage to make it through the situation AND ask for the Holy Spirit to work through you.
I have a friend who started this church in the lower 48 that was so successful that they had a difficult time finding a place to meet for Sunday services. They had so many people showing up on Sunday they were literally standing in the parking lot waiting for a seat in the next service. The ...read more
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5. Even Stephen
Contributed on Jul 23, 2009
Is it Jesus and something else, or is it Jesus alone? Stephen realizes that we do not need the Temple Sacrifice and Jesus, we need Jesus alone.
Stephen is a distinguished member of the community, a man who lives like righteous Jewish men have lived over millennium: Stephen knows his Scripture, Stephen worships God alone, and Stephen attends Synagogue and Stephen obeys the law of Moses. Stephen is just like many righteous Jewish men who ...read more
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6. Temple Without Walls
Contributed on Jul 28, 2009
The holy place of Jesus Christ resides not in any building, cathedral, or historical site, the holy place of Jesus Christ resides in your heart.
Stephen stands before the highest religious court in the land to answer charges of blasphemy against Moses and against God. This is the same court that Peter and John recently stood before and the same court Jesus recently stood before. All the same men are there who were at Jesus’ trial, all the ...read more
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7. All About Me
Contributed on Aug 3, 2009
When I give my life over to Jesus, it is not about me anymore, it is about Jesus Christ. Every event, every problem, every victory are about Jesus Christ. Simon is the personification of the person who does not understand this concept.
When NASA first started sending up astronauts into space, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and 12 billion dollars to develop a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any ...read more
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8. Out Of Africa
Contributed on Aug 10, 2009
Without the involvement of the ancient Africans, we would not have Christianity with us today, much less the nation of Israel. Without Africa - you and I, we would be toast.
Note to reader: I have hot-links to various subjects in this sermon. The document with the active links can be found in PDF form at this web address: http://www.firstpresanchorage.org/Sermons.htm (The sermon is retitled "The Road Less Traveled" on this page.) May our Lord Jesus empower you as you ...read more
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9. Driving Blind
Contributed on Aug 15, 2009
Waiting with God isn’t wasting time. Waiting with God it isn’t time taken away. Waiting with God is never a waste of time.
Note to reader: I have hot-links to various subjects in this sermon. The document with the active links can be found in PDF form at this web address: http://www.firstpresanchorage.org/Sermons.htm (The sermon is titled the same "Driving Blind"). May our Lord Jesus empower you as you write your ...read more
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10. Role Reversal
Contributed on Sep 1, 2009
You are who you are, very, very, specifically, so God can use you in His particular circumstance. Don’t be ashamed of your background, or where you come from.
Note to reader: I have hot-links to various subjects in this sermon. The document with the active links can be found in PDF form at this web address: http://www.firstpresanchorage.org/Sermons.htm (The sermon is titled the same, "Role Reversal"), the links are not active in this document. May our ...read more
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11. Spiritual Discernment
Contributed on Sep 22, 2009
Peter is called upon to make a judgment: Is this man, the Centurion for real, or not? To accurately make the decision that is before him, Peter must set aside the ways he has discerned before, and he must step out in faith.
In our Scripture this morning, we see that Peter has a vision where a blanket full of different kinds of food and a voice announces, Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replies. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” Peter is very careful about what he eats, and ...read more
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12. Spiritual Discernment: Turning The Key
Contributed on Sep 29, 2009
SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT Having a key in your hand is useless, unless you know how to use that key.
At a former church, the day I started my job as an associate pastor I was given a set of keys to the church by one of the Trustees, Bill. Bill told me, “Peter, these are not all the keys to the church, we are only giving you four keys: One key to the church building, one key to your office, one key ...read more
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13. The Antioch Affect
Contributed on Oct 5, 2009
The Antioch Affect - Obedience to the Holy Spirit in small things, leads to far reaching blessings.
Note to reader: I have hot-links to various subjects in this sermon. The document with the active links can be found in PDF form at this web address: http://www.firstpresanchorage.org/Sermons.htm (The sermon is titled the same "The Antioch Affect") The links are not active in this document on ...read more
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14. King Herod's Early Release Program
Contributed on Oct 11, 2009
No one, not a single person in this story expects Peter to be released. Not Herod, not the guards, not the people of the church, not even Peter himself. Still, God answers the prayer.
Note to reader: I have hot-links to various subjects in this sermon. The document with the active links can be found in PDF form at this web address: http://www.firstpresanchorage.org/Sermons.htm (The sermon is titled the same: "King Herod’s Early Release Program") The links are not active in this ...read more
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15. The Reality Of Evil Against Us: Blind Bar Jesus
Contributed on Oct 19, 2009
Scripture informs us that this evil is not a blind force, or human calculation, but that it is personified in the person of Satan.
Note to reader: I have hot -links to background details that may be helpful on various subjects in this sermon. The document with the active links can be found in PDF form at this web address: http://www.firstpresanchorage.org/Sermons.htm (The sermon is titled the same: "Blind Bar-Jesus") The links ...read more
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16. Endurance: Who Told You To Stop?
Contributed on Oct 26, 2009
Faith is not based upon success or failure. Success and failure have one thing in common, they allow us to become closer to Jesus Christ.
I ran track in High School and my thing was running the sprints, 100, 200, hurdles, relays and such. In my Junior year the School hired a new track coach. At every practice this coach would give a short talk on strategy and tactics for our next track meet. At first, we were all bored to tears with ...read more
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17. True Lies
Contributed on Nov 9, 2009
The people of Lystra are held captive by not only false belief, but also by the spirit of darkness that they serve.
Common Lies that plague our lives: The check is in the mail. (Well, internet banking has made that one less popular) I’ll start my diet tomorrow. (No comment) We service what we sell. (I won’t mention any of the places you are thinking about right now) Give me your number and the ...read more
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18. Culture Clash - Psychic Network
Contributed on Jan 3, 2010
When everything is theoretical,everyone loves to coexist, everyone celebrates diversity. Interfere with their lifestyle and you become part of the problem, not part of the solution.
To say that there is one God hinders social harmony. To claim that there is only one way to salvation is an affront to our diversity. To allege that a belief is wrong is the ultimate bigotry. Christians are the problem - Christians not part of the solution. Paul and his ...read more
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19. 180 At The Big House
Contributed on Jan 13, 2010
Christians are not immune to pain and disappointment and attempting to look on the bright side of life is not going to make the pain go away.
Olympic bronze medalists are happier then Olympic silver medalists….so says Dr. Vicki Medvec from the Kellogg School of Management, at Northwestern University. Medvec studied Olympic medalists and she discovered that bronze medalists were indeed happier than silver medalists. Here's ...read more
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20. Discouragement - Talk To The Hand
Contributed on Jan 16, 2010
Our discouragement over our apparent lack of success reveals our lack of faith.
Our discouragement over our apparent lack of success in telling others about Jesus Christ, or in living our Christian life reveals our lack of faith. We must remain obedient to Jesus and continue to share who Jesus is, even in the face of no success. In our Scripture this morning, Paul, Silas ...read more
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21. Employment - Making Your Job A Ministry
Contributed on Feb 9, 2010
Everyone is called into the ministry - your ministry is right where God has placed you now.
When we hire a new pastor we, regard the pastor’s new position as a call, not just a job. When we brought on Pastor Karlin a few months ago we said that he was answering a call from the Lord to this position here in Anchorage Alaska. We were very intentional when we preformed our search - this is a ...read more
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22. Name Above All Names - Jesus Is Stronger Than The Occult
Contributed on Feb 16, 2010
Many desire spiritual power, so they fall into the occult. This passage is about the conflict of spiritual powers. Includes discussion of neo-pagans which many church members having unknowingly dabbled.
What if you came upon something that was so powerful, it could alter your own personal destiny or alter the destiny of others at your will? Would you desire that power? What if this power could make you the most important person in the state, perhaps the nation? How much would something ...read more
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23. Upscale Tchotchkes - Jesus Overcomes Evil Powers
Contributed on Mar 3, 2010
The church of Ephesus overcomes the occult by focusing on Jesus. We overcome in the same way.
Here in America when we are dissatisfied, we express our dissatisfaction in a variety of ways. If we feel that receive poor service at a restaurant, we might not leave a tip; If we feel the city is not clearing the streets fast enough, some folks write a letter to the editor; If politics is driving ...read more
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24. The Finish Line - Running The Race Of Life
Contributed on Mar 3, 2010
We are to neither run wild without direction, like a man running with poor eyesight, nor are we to look back at a past we cannot change, instead we are to live our life forward.
When I was a high school kid, one of the sports I competed in was Track and Field. We had a great track team and usually won our track meets by a large margin. One of the great assets we had was in the 100 yard dash, we had the kid that was the fastest kid in the whole league. His name was Andy. As ...read more
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25. Keeping Up Appearances
Contributed on Mar 9, 2010
Do we equate the things we love about our Churches with the authority of Scripture? You bet we do.
What is the most authoritative part of the Bible? Is the New Testament the most authoritative part of the Bible? The New Testament is the New Covenant that Jesus Christ gave to us, that sure is a powerful thing. Could the Gospels be the most authoritative part of the Bible, because they are ...read more
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26. Resurrection And The Afterlife
Contributed on Mar 18, 2010
The Resurrection proves that there is an Life After Death.
Katie and I had arrived in Oklahoma and were getting about the task of settling in. We were living in a cramped two room apartment and desperately looking for a house to buy, we were looking to purchase our first house ever. As we looked at houses around town, there always seemed to be some ...read more
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27. Yes, I Believe In The Resurrection
Contributed on Mar 23, 2010
It is NOT intellectually dishonest to believe in the resurrection of the dead. Life is not about how much good we ultimately do, instead it is about a relationship with Jesus.
If any of you have ever owned an electric lawn mower, you know that electric lawn mowers tend to not be very powerful. Electric lawn mowers, as a whole, are underpowered garden tools. I have an electric lawn mower now and it isn’t very powerful, all I can say is that the price seemed right at ...read more