Sunday December 9, 2007

PEACE

Last week we heard about Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, not being liked by certain Jewish people and how they hurt him. This week, in Acts 8:1-8, we read about Saul “Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.” (Acts 8:3) Saul did not want anyone speaking about Jesus Christ. A lot of Christians ran away from Jerusalem so they would not be put in prison or killed. Even though it looked like the church was falling apart…GOD WAS AT WORK!!! "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” (Acts 8:4) Just because the Christians had to leave their homes in Jerusalem, they did not stop believing in Jesus Christ and performing miracles in His name. They began to spread the good news to all the people they met in other cities. Even though it was very sad that Stephen and other Christians were killed or put in jail, God used the disaster to spread the message that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world. Nothing, not even someone’s death can stop the love of Jesus being spread around the world.

THIS WEEKS MEMORY VERSE

“For he … is our peace…” (Eph. 2:14)

Sunday December 2, 2007

WHERE CAN WE WORSHIP GOD?

Is church a good place to God? Definitely! It is nice to go to a special building to be with others who love God, want to learn more about Him, want to sing praises to Him, want to worship Him, want to pray to Him, and want to share His love with others. Is church the only place where you can worship God? Definitely NOT! No man-made building can hold God. In Acts 6:8-8:1, we read about the Jews who did not like a man named Stephen saying that the Jewish Temple was not where God lived and was not only place to worship God. They did not understand that true faith not need a special building. “The God who made this world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands” (Acts 17:24). God is not in a building. People can meet God anywhere. Jesus, God’s son, died for our sins and those people who believe this will receive God’s Holy Spirit and God will live in them. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and Spirit of God dwells in you”( 1 Cor 3:16). This is very exciting news but the Jews in Acts 6:8-8:1 did not believe what Stephen told them so they threw stones at him.

THIS WEEKS MEMORY VERSE:
“Put your hope in God…” (Psalm 42:5)