Ada Presbyterian Church Pulpit Podcast

Acts 15 - Bought and Sold

Acts Chapter 8 introduces us to one of the more interesting characters in the New Testament - Simon the Magician.  Legends and myths have grown around the man, and in today's message we'll see how his wrong-headed desire to purchase the Holy Spirit still pops up today.  We'll also examine one of the more over-looked aspects of this passage--the Holy Spirit's delay in coming to Samaria.

Acts 14 - From Sorrow to Joy

We return to our series on Acts today after the Advent and Christmas break, and we find ourselves in a transitional chapter (8) in the book.  A great persecution breaks out against the church, scattering them to the surrounding regions.  It's a great shock to the early believers, but at the same time, they are scattered to the very places Jesus said they would be his witnesses: to Judea and Samaria (1:8).  Join us this week as we see the resilience of the early church in a trying time.

Acts 13 - Stephen's Last Stand

Stephen is the first Christian martyr, and he's killed for what he says in his wide-ranging speech in Acts 7.  His speech tells the story of God's saving work throughout different chapters of human history:  Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, and Solomon. The story culminates in the coming of Jesus Christ.  Join us for today's message to see how this story informs on our experiences as Christians living in this present age.

Acts 12 - The Daily Distribution

The early church practiced radical generosity-- people gave not just out of their weekly income, but they even sold hard assets like homes and land in order to support the needy.  But with all this giving comes new problems:  how is the money to be managed?  Who should be on the receiving end of all this giving?  What kind of people ought to be put in charge of it?  How do we handle complaints about giving when they arise?  All of these questions and more are before us in today's message.

Acts 11 - Of God Or Men?

It's not always easy to either become a Christian or to remain a Christian.  That's true today, and it was especially true in the days of Acts, when the faith was brand new--you'd want to know if it has credibility; you'd want assurances it has staying power; you'd want to know God was really behind it.  In Acts 5, we are reminded that this new Christian movement isn't just the product of man's imagination; it is truly the work of God.  Join us for today's message.

Acts 10 - Signs and Wonders

The Book of Acts is notable for many things, not the least of which is its account of the miraculous.  Many signs and wonders are done at the hands of the apostles.  In today's message we'll answer some questions that we have about the miraculous--can miracles really take place?  Why do they take place?  And should we expect them today, and if so, how--through a faith healer or some other means?  Join us for today's message. 

Acts 9 - Take Your Faith Seriously

In Acts chapter 5, the church experiences a wake up call.  "Great fear" takes hold of everyone.  Why?  Because a married couple is struck dead for deceiving the church, the apostles, and God himself.  Join us today for a wake up call:  God wants us to take our integrity seriously, God himself seriously, and the church seriously.

Acts 8 - The Apostles' Pray

When life throws us hard times, it's normal to pray.  In our sermon today, we learn how to enhance our praying in such times, as we take a look at the apostles' prayer upon their release from a brief imprisonment.  They not only ask God for help, but they reflect on his character and use scripture to guide them.  Join us today as we learn how to go deeper in prayer.

Acts 7 - Facing Opposition

The early chapters of Acts show the church advancing with very little in the way of opposition--until now.  In chapter 4, the apostles are arrested by the same crowd that had Jesus arrested and crucified.  How will they respond to this new challenge?  How do we respond in hard times?  Join us for today's message.

Acts 6 - The Brand Name God

There are some instances where generics are a good alternative to the brand name, but that doesn't work when it comes to questions of religious faith.  As Christians we don't believe in a generic "god;" we believe that our God reveals himself in the name of Jesus.  Join us today for our on-going series from Acts where we see Peter arguing this very point to his countrymen in Acts 3.