Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2: 14-47

The crowd grew and gathered in the area outside the upper room after the Holy Spirit fell on the 120, and the loud noise of a strong wind drew those in the city to find out what was happening. When they arrived, they found the 120 preaching boldly about Jesus Christ. That in itself would be impressive, but these believers were also sharing about Jesus Christ in the listeners' native languages!

Those who had come to see and then heard about Jesus in their own language wanted to know what this was all about. Peter comes front and center and tells them.

As Peter explains how this man Jesus is the one promised by King David, they ask Peter, now that they know the truth, what they should do. Peter goes on to tell them.

Peter’s directions are as valid today as they were 2000 years ago. When Peter first spoke these directions, over 3000 did what he directed that day and were added to the Kingdom. If you were in that crowd that day, what would you have done? If you had been one who held back, why?

Did God mean this only for the initial believers and not for this generation? I believe God intends all of us to follow what Peter stated as nowhere in the New Testament is there anything written that Peter was wrong or went too far.

As you read these words of Peter, humble your heart and mind and let the Holy Spirit lead.

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Today, we will examine the two well-known and earliest actions in which the Apostles and Christ’s followers were involved. As we read these scriptures, do they line up and support what you may have been taught or told in the past?

Today’s Scriptures:

· Acts 1: 12-26 – the choosing of Mathias

o Was he the 12th apostle or was it Paul?

o John 15:19 – Jesus chose the apostles personally

o Revelations 21:14 – there are to be only 12

o So the question is, who did Jesus choose?

2 Corinthians 1:1, 12:12, Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, Colossians 1:1, 1 Timothy 1:1

· Acts 2: 1-13 – And the Holy Spirit fell

o What miraculous event occurred? Verse 11

o How long after Jesus' resurrection did this occur?

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Thoughts from Pastor John:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).

Revival meetings were being held in a certain town, and as is often the case, opposition made itself felt. But one day one of the town's most prominent men rose to his feet and said: "I want it to be known that I am a disciple of Christ Jesus; and if there is any odium to be cast on this cause, I am prepared to take my share of it."

His testimony went through the meeting like an electric current, and God's blessing at once attended the meetings as never before.

Under somewhat different circumstances, but with just as telling effect, a young street preacher rebuked some of his critics. He could not preach very well, but he was doing the best he could when someone interrupted him and said, "Young man, you cannot preach; you ought to be ashamed of yourself."

Said the young man, "So I am, but I am not ashamed of my Lord."

And that is certainly an excellent defense. We need never to be ashamed of the One who purchased us with His own blood upon Calvary's Cross. Yet how often, because of the weakness of the flesh, we are prone to permit the sneers and jeers of the unbelieving world to silence our tongues, render us into fearful rather than faithful witnesses of our Lord Jesus.

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Thoughts from the Paster regarding Today’s Message

Christianity blended with man’s ideas of religion has caused many problems over the centuries. Religious leaders have even sentenced other believers to death simply because of a different interpretation of a scripture. It got so bad that for many years, the Christian religious leaders banned some of the words that Jesus spoke, under penalty of death or prison, because the words did not fit the particular doctrine they were promoting. I thank God Christianity today has left those days behind!

Unfortunately, today there are over 200 different denominations of Christianity in the U.S. (according to Wikipedia). Can you imagine a lost soul looking for answers and wondering, “Who do I go to that has the correct truth?”

This is bad enough, but denominations (non-denominations included) can easily cause disunity in the Christian Body of Christ that we are called to be. We find ourselves asking the question of those attending other denominations and churches, “Are they my brothers and sisters?” and “How do I know who my brother or sister really is?”

Today, I will give some foundational scriptures that can begin to help you answer these questions.

Today’s Scriptures: Matthew 12:22-30, 48-50, Mark 9:38-41, John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 1:10-14, 5:11, Romans 12:5, Galatians 3:28, 1 Peter 3:8, 1John 3:14, 4:7,12,20, 2 John 1:5-10

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com