Message Us!

What if most of what we call church would keep running even if the Holy Spirit left the building? Acts 19 hits that nerve. We unpack Paul’s return to Ephesus, the twelve “disciples” shaped by John the Baptist, and the moment they step into the fullness of the gospel—baptized into Christ, born again by the Spirit, and empowered for mission.

We walk through the difference between the Spirit’s indwelling and the Spirit’s empowering, showing why regeneration is a one-time new birth while power for witness is a recurring grace. The text opens into big questions many avoid: Are tongues just hype or part of a larger biblical pattern? Do all believers speak in tongues? Are the gifts still active today? With Scripture as our guide, we trace Luke’s purpose across Acts—from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth—where Spirit-given languages signal a global family and dismantle second-class Christianity. We name the misuse without abandoning the gifts, and we center the aim: bold proclamation of Jesus that builds the church and reaches the world.

Along the way, we share a personal journey from skepticism to hunger, offer practical clarity on spiritual gifts, and highlight the core evidence of Spirit power: courage to witness. If you’ve treated the Holy Spirit like the family “weird uncle,” this conversation opens the door to biblical balance—eager, discerning, and mission-focused. Lean in for a clear look at regeneration, empowerment, and how ordinary believers can carry the gospel with confidence.

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Message Us!

God desires to use every believer to accomplish His work in the world. In Acts 18:18–28, we see that being used by Him isn’t about talent or position but about the posture of our hearts. God uses the heedful like Paul who follow His will, the humble like Apollos who receive correction, and the honest like Priscilla and Aquila who speak truth with courage. When every member of the church plays their part, the song of the Gospel becomes powerful and beautiful.

In this sermon, we talk about heedfulness first: the courage to follow God’s call when it costs time, sleep, or applause. Paul’s weary yes challenges our preference for comfort and invites us to serve wherever needed, even in quiet roles that keep the body healthy.

Then we lean into humility—Apollos receiving correction from Priscilla and Aquila. It’s a vivid picture of teachability: intellect bowing to truth, platform yielding to Scripture. Communities thrive when feedback is welcome and growth outpaces ego.

Speaking truth and honesty is the last featured virtue. Speaking truth in love is never easy. Jonah shows the price of silence, while Paul shows the cost of clarity. But a church that refuses hard words soon loses its voice. We frame honesty as courageous compassion: naming sin to restore, preaching Jesus as the way with tenderness, and trusting God with the outcomes.

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Message Us!

Fear isn’t supposed to haunt a giant of the faith—and yet Paul trembles in Corinth until a midnight word steadies him: “Do not be afraid… for I am with you.” We open Acts 18 and watch a weary apostle discover that courage grows where grace meets personal limits.

When we feel like giving up, we can find courage in the same truth: God is still with us, He still provides, and He still has a purpose for our lives.

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