Word & Spirit (Acts Pt. 1)

In the second chapter of Acts we find the Apostles gathered together at the feast of Pentecost, receiving the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. But what did the Spirit enable them to do? What was the result of this supernatural outpouring? The result was a sermon. Peter, a man who had recently denied even […]

Many Christians today are preoccupied with the extraordinary over the ordinary. They see God at work only in the big events such as revival meetings, or stadium sized worship events. But in the second chapter of Acts we find the Apostles engaged in the proclamation of the word and the administration of the sacraments. Is […]

What was the basic message of the world’s earliest Christian missionaries? Did they focus on psychological or emotional wellness, having your best life now, or moral or political agendas? Is the essence of Christianity living life Jesus’ way? On this program the hosts are continuing to unpack the radical message of the Great Commission as […]

In Acts chapter 5 we read that the apostles were arrested and imprisoned for speaking about Jesus, and that an angel set them free and spoke to them about their mission. So what was it that the angel said? Did he mention anything about working for social justice? Was there anything about “being the gospel.” […]

Continuing their series through the book of Acts, the hosts arrive at chapter 8 where they find Philip talking with an Ethiopian about the meaning of Isaiah 53 which says in part, “All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity […]

On this edition of the White Horse Inn, the hosts take a look at the conversion of St. Paul and the numerous sermons that he and others preached from Acts 9 through 17. In all of these sermons, the message appears to be the same. The focus is Christ-centered, and the emphasis in particular is […]

As part of their year-long study of the Great Commission, the hosts have been focusing on key events in the book of Acts where Christ’s mandate to preach the gospel, to baptize, and to make disciples of all nations is being worked out on the ground. In this program they’ll walk through Acts 18 and […]

We often hear Christian leaders say things like, “I’m not inviting you to join a church, but to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus.” So in this approach, everything that is formal, official, planned, and public is seen as mere church-ianity, while genuine Christian experience is informal unofficial, spontaneous and private. But is […]

The religions of the world teach doctrines that are believed to be timeless eternal truths. They contain moral and ethical instructions, which if applied, will place adherents on the path to the good life here and now, and possibly nirvana in the next. But according to the Apostle Paul in his numerous speeches in defense […]

Even though John Calvin has been dubbed the “theologian of the Holy Spirit,” his theological heirs, Reformed Presbyterians, are sometimes maligned as giving the Holy Spirit the short shrift. I remember visiting a friend’s charismatic church during college and being told that I “didn’t have much of the Spirit” because I did not speak in tongues …

What do you say to the Maker of the Universe when you’re exhausted beyond words, burdened to your bones by your own sins, heavy-laden with sickness or sorrow, or simply feeling far away? How do you draw near to God in prayer when praying is hard?

Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure by telling them about the Holy Spirit, who would take up residence in each one of his people. By his Spirit, he would stay near to his people. And by his Spirit, he would bless his church throughout the world in all generations.

The Holy Spirit is active. God still works powerfully. But Scripture also helps us see how, when, and why he chooses to act—so that our confidence rests where it belongs: on Christ, on his Word, and on the Spirit who applies that Word to our lives.