Ken

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! - Acts 28:30-31 How could Luke say that Paul taught about Jesus with all boldness and without hindrance? I can understand describing Paul as bold - that's obvious. But how can he say he did so without hindrance? He’s under house arrest. He's not free to travel. In fact, it sounds like he’s in … quarantine! I can think of a few small things that could have hindered Paul and early church. Persecution Opposition Luke is not unaware of the challenges, so what does he mean by this? For one thing, Paul used his time under house arrest wisely. Could you imagine if Paul had Netflix in prison? He might…

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. - Acts 28:30 While under house arrest in Rome, Paul welcomed all who came to see him. How do you understand this statement? We'd be wrong to simply see it as a matter of hospitality. We'd also be wrong if we quickly reduced it to a church growth strategy. Luke's description of Paul is much deeper than simple hospitality or church growth tactics. What does it mean to welcome all? This is what you do if you follow Jesus. Jesus welcomed saints and sinners, young children and elderly folks. He welcomed religious leaders and prostitutes. Jesus touched lepers and was known as a friend of “tax collectors and sinners.” In the final paragraph in the book of Acts, Luke is reminding us that the early church was simply following…

God’s intent for the church is for it to be a place for all people. Although it began among Jewish believers in Jerusalem, God designed the church to be for all people. Jesus tells his disciples that they will be his witnesses at home and around the world. This also includes places (and people) they would normally avoid – like Samaritans. Revelation 7:9-10 captures the heart of God when it describes “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” The modern, 21st century church must continue to pursue God’s desire to bring together all people.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better…

The first church was characterized by a strong sense of community. Whether they were learning together, worshiping together, serving together, or eating together … they did it together. This strong sense of community was practical – they didn’t have anyone else who shared their faith in Jesus, so they had to rely on each other. It also reflects how God designed the church to operate as a family and a body of believers (with different parts working together to comprise the whole). This sense of community was a key part of making the gospel attractive to their neighbors. Matted fur is one of the toughest to trim. On a positive note though, don’t we all love dogs with thick fur coats? It seems, therefore, that to keep your pet looking awesome, you need to invest some time in grooming them and some money for the best dog clippers for matted…

A short clip about the message that Jesus has entrusted to his followers.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here. Professor at Warner University church planter with Stadia former former president, Church Planters of the Rockies helped start 2 for-profit tech companies Need a Speaker or Presenter? Interested in having me speak for your church, conference, or organization? Follow this link to learn more.