The Ragtown Pulpit

Magic and modern Simony

Abandon pagan models of "leadership" in favor of the way of Christ, and we just might make some real progress around here.

In the punishment phase of Stephen's trial, we see a contest between two claimants to the job of representing God on earth. Who has sanctioning authority?

As the show-trial ends, Stephen issues the real verdict, the real condemnation, on the Council of little tyrants.

Stephen begins to put a point on his argument. Christ is not opposed to Moses. Israel was. Toward the end of the sermon, the pastor's voice begins to obviously start failing. He asks God for help in a very quick prayer, and you can hear his voice get stronger from that moment. Just a little, tangible token of the grace of Christ.

Stephen's defense shifts to the charge that he's been blasphemous toward Moses. As he retells the old story, he's inviting the listener to start connecting some dots. Dots which he will pointedly connect himself in a short time.

Stephen's defense begins to develop an edge that is sneaky-sharp, as he tells a familiar story about the patriarchs. Toward the end of the message we received a text from an addict that looks like Jesus may have converted him while we prayed for him moments ago. Please say a little prayer for this young man.

Stephen uses the life of Abraham to seek to break his judges from their excessive devotion to geography.

God's witness/martyr gets noticed, opposed, and vindicated. What did it mean to be "full of grace"? More enemy tactics are exposed.

The Lord grants the church the grace to overcome an internal squabble. He calls us to an uncomfortable maturity.

The apostles are kidnapped again; intimidated; humiliated; subjected to a sham trial; nearly murdered, and finally beaten. And God's kingdom kept right on rolling. Learn the perennial tactics tyrants consistently use in the protection of their own power

Gospel transformation of the human heart as the solution to scarcity and lack.

Every threat you receive has a unique power to reveal the truth about your secret faith. We mark the characteristics of the early church's response.

The missing note in much of our preaching: Defiance of powers

The Sanhedrin assembles to address the Gospel problem at the temple.

Peter says that the ignorance of his hearers is a mitigating factor in God's willingness to forgive their sin. We take a moment to chase that down in the Scripture a bit.

Sometimes you just gotta preach good news

Let's devote ourselves to the right things

More time than I wanted to spend on the misuse of Acts 2:38, but many found it convicting.

Peter's explanation of the phenomenon of Acts 2 covers some interesting ground and ends with a stinging indictment. Miracles, sovereignty, and Scripture as the bedrock of truth.

Peter brings forth older prophecy to explain present events, in ways that might surprise us, but ought to inform our own attempts at the same thing.

Seeking to move beyond the common Pentecostal emphasis on personal experience, and think in terms of larger Biblical themes.

The 4: 2nd Coming Spirit presence Dominion Security

On the Dumb Question that Wasn't

It's a minor detail, but why wait in Jerusalem? Because God doesn't leave loose ends, and this whole thing is headed somewhere.

So how'd this concise study of New Testament salvation make it into the Psalter? LOL Sorry about the irritating noise interference.