Acts 2:16-18,39-47

What kind of concept is this for a church? Phil Ware shares how his church suddenly saw their call from God to be a front porch to the people of their community and how it changed them and helped them find their roots right back in the early story of Jesus' followers.

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to..."

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to..."

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to..."

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to..."

Do we need to go back and re-think the modern conversion experience? Let's see conversion more wholistically -- an experience of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection in baptism that involves repentance, and confession of Jesus as Lord, and acceptance of him as Lord and Christ.

Beginning with Pentecost, God's Spirit was making a new humanity. Phil Ware continues his series on the Bible's view of women and their importance to God and his people, focusing this week on the new community created at Pentecost.

"Dear Believer, Have you ever asked yourself questions like the following:Why is the Bible important?Is it really necessary?Do I have to read it?Do I...."

One thing church must supply! Church must be more than a gathering of strangers, there must be genuine and real community and fellowship.

"[Peter's sermon on Pentecost led the people to ask what they should do.] Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be...."

Are we willing to make fellowship more than coffee and donuts? Phil Ware continues to talk about the greater things the early church experienced in the opening days of the believers following Jesus and in this case, genuine fellowship, sharing and having life in common, is key.

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to..."

"[The believers] worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity —...."

"[Peter spoke to the crowds,] "No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit....."

"Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter replied, "Each of you must...."

"Dear Disciple, A new era began after My resurrection. On the day of Pentecost, I poured out the Holy Spirit first on My closest disciples. Then I..."

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. ... With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this..."

What do we see when we look at how the early church met? Phil Ware talks about the public and house-to-house size gatherings that the early church used to grow and take care of itself.

"Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters, So many of My followers struggle in their lives of discipleship because each is trying to do everything by his or..."

"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will....."

"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

"[Peter, on Pentecost, quoting God's promise from Joel 2:] "In [the last] days, I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants — men and women alike —..."

"[Quoting the prophet Joel, Peter said to the crowd on Pentecost,] 'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your..."

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to..."

"[Peter, on Pentecost, quoting from Joel 2:] "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your..."

Inspirational illustration of Acts 2:17 -- In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Inspirational illustration of Acts 2:41 -- Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Inspirational illustration of Acts 2:17 -- your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams.

When can a conviction lead to an acquittal? A murder trial ends up in a conviction and acquittal because of a conversion!

"[Quoting the prophet Joel, Peter said to the crowd on Pentecost,]'In the last days,' God says,'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.Your sons and..."

What is your line in the sand in your faith walk with Jesus? Phil Ware continues his series called Last Words, First Priority and emphasizes the line in the sand moment we call baptism.

It's not a Sunday morning deal we make with God! Brian McCutchen talks about worship and how it must be a daily part of our lives or it is not real worship like the early Christians shared and lived.

Aren't you tired of the same ol' things? Phil Ware begins a series of messages from Acts 2 and 3 on greater things that Jesus does through his followers.

"And Peter said to [the crowd on Pentecost], "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will...."

"Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the..."

They all abandoned Jesus except for this one group! Phil Ware continues his series of reflections on the importance of women in the Bible, to Jesus, to Paul, and to the early church.

So who are we going to exclude? Phil Ware reminds us that from the very beginning of the Christian movement, Jesus and His followers recognized that the Gospel and the church are for all people.

Is there something more to The Supper than just remembering? Phil Ware talks about the importance of taking time to remember Jesus and restore Jesus in the Lord's Supper.

When Luke summarized the heart of the early church, he chose to highlight one particular word — Phil Ware continues his series on prayer this week, focused on the early church's devotion to prayer that they learned from Jesus.

If we listen carefully to God’s unfolding story, there are many strong women of faith who played key roles in the life of God's people! Phil Ware continues his series on the role of women and their importance in the story of God's unfolding grace.

Have you begun to dream of what lies ahead? If you don't take the time to dream it, it probably won't happen.

"Dear Disciple, Pentecost came, and My church was born! The presence, power, and work of the Holy Spirit in every true disciple had finally arrived......"

What kind of dreams do you dream? Russ Lawson challenges us to think about the dreams we dream and then go to work to make them happen.

What do we need to get us to stretch out a bit? Rick Brown talks about a famous photograph and the message to pray and have hope in the darkest of times, and to remember that fervent and earnest prayer is the kind of prayer the early church, the committed church prayed.

How can we move from contingent joy through courageous joy to contagious joy? Max Lucado reminds us that contagious joy is rooted in courageous joy and not contingent joy, and our courageous joy is rooted in Jesus and faith in what God did through Jesus.

Can we trust Jesus' words are as true today as they were when he said them? Phil Ware continues his 'I doubt it!' series and looks at Jesus' promise that the fields are ready for harvest.

"Dear Faithful Follower, I spoke the words you will read in the verses below before I went to the cross. I planted them like seeds into the hearts of...."

"Dear Beloved, The fellowship of My disciples as they gather around a table for a meal is a precious and holy time. This meal can be a common meal or...."

Why worry about this smaller thing? Phil Ware talks about our need to go deeper into the will of Jesus by getting with a group with whom we can grow and follow Jesus.

How could we have this completely wrong? Phil Ware concludes his end of the year series called Beginning in Endings by talking about Anna and Simeon from Luke 2 and what they should teach us about aging and what to expect as we grow older.

This trek of discovery was our great joy in a year of deep sorrow. In the process, each of us discovered treasures old and new. Phil Ware continues his series on how the Bible and how God values women and their role in ministry.

Where do you best connect with God? Phil Ware continues his series on experiencing God and focuses on experiencing God through Jesus in community with all of its challenges and opportunities.

For us to be 'cruciformed' means that we offer our hearts to be reshaped to be like Jesus' heart. It means we offer ourselves to be used by God to bless and serve others. Phil Ware begins a series on the central section of the Gospel of Mark that focuses on being "cruciformed" as the first step of being a disciple of Jesus.

Can I actually be better? Phil Ware reminds us that God can make us better after we have been broken and use us to do his work in the Kingdom because of two things: forgiveness we receive in Jesus through baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit.

"[In response to the coming of the Holy Spirit on Jesus' followers, the crowd responded:] "And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages....."

It was with fear and trembling that she made her unsteady way down the steps and stood, shaking like a leaf! Phillip Morrison shares some beautiful insight on unity, baptism, and how the water can be our friend if we let it!

Has God's wind blown through you this season? Phil Ware talks about the Holy Spirit and the importance of the Spirit in Jesus' conception, birth, and all that is tied to it.

What do you do with your shattered dreams? Phil Ware talks about the recurring phrase in Matthew 1 and 2, in a dream, and how God fills the empty spaces left behind by our broken dreams.

"Dear Beloved, John wrote the truth powerfully and simply in his short little letter you call 1 John:You are my little children, so I am writing these..."

What will the weather be this Christmas? Phil Ware reminds us of the weather when Jesus came, filled with the fresh wind and heavenly breezes of heaven brought by the Holy Spirit.

That passion to pursue Jesus must never die! Phil Ware continues his series tied to Thanksgiving called "...and thankful" and this week he is thankful for the longing to move toward Jesus and pursue the things of God.

Can you think of a more noble vision or a more compelling mission for us, the Lord's people, than to be Jesus' bodily presence to our fractured and fragmented world? James Nored and Phil Ware challenge us through words and video to embrace God's mission for us as the bodily presence of Jesus in the world.

Can you think of a more noble vision or a more compelling mission for us, the Lord’s people, than to be Jesus’ bodily presence to our fractured and fragmented world James Nored and Phil Ware challenge us through words and video to embrace God's mission for us as the bodily presence of Jesus in the world.

The divine goodness of our Creator has been ripped apart by human selfishness and suspicion, leaving behind its insidious and poisonous residues. Phil Ware continues his series on the biblical view of women and God's plan to use Jesus' people to live out his purposes in his kingdom.

Many of us have experienced the goodness of God through the life of a woman of faith who helped shape us and mold us in our personal walk with Jesus. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to give thanks for the godly women of faith in our lives.

This seemingly innocuous transitional passage in the gospel of Luke is one of those hidden gems we often overlook! Phil Ware continues his reflections on his daily reading in the gospels, this time focused on Luke 8:1-3 and how this forgotten gem opens our eyes to the importance that women played in Jesus' ministry.

When we gather in Jesus' name, something transcendent happens: the Lord is present with us! Phil Ware talks about what is core to our faith and then ties it to everyday meals as well as our celebration of the Lord's Supper and the things of first importance in 1 Corinthians 15:1-7.

What will your weather be this Christmas? Phil Ware recalls a refreshing winter morning that reminds him of the weather when Jesus came.

"Dear Precious Follower, I know that waiting is hard for you. Regardless of your reason for having to wait, I know that waiting is hard. However,..."

Is there really a Christmas gift worth regifting? Tom Norvell reminds us that this is really a gift worth regifting -- Jesus -- because he is our hope, joy, love, and peace and others need to hear us speak of him when they need him most.

Instead of spending all of our time focused on re-gathering, we need to ask ourselves how we are have been doing the essential things that go with being Jesus' church Phil Ware acknowledges the burnout and frustration in our church leaders from having to do church online and virtually, but at the same time challenges us to go back to the book of Acts and see how using our technologies to share Jesus is essential.

Why do we often emphasize one, but forget the other? Phil Ware writes about the grace of God to save us from sin and for holy living.

I can actually get better? Phil Ware continues his series on Better Broken reminding us that God can make us better after we have been broken and use us to do his work in the Kingdom because of two things: forgiveness we receive in Jesus through baptism and the power of the Holy Sp

With the Holy Spirit, there never has to be a spiritual drought! Phil Ware reminds us of Jesus' promise to send us living water in the Holy Spirit, water that would never run dry and would well up in us to eternal life.

If Nicodemus needed grace despite all his religious accomplishments and his genuinely God-seeking heart, then we desperately need grace, too. Phil Ware continues his series on 'I Doubt It' by talking about Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus and his need to be born of God, from above, born again.

Through the years and all the changes, one thing remains true about the heart of God. Phillip Morrison reminds us in the shadow of Independence Day about the many inconsistencies when principles are first applied, yet he also urges us to be patient and gracious and open to the needs of all people.

"Dear Precious Believer, You became a child of the Father when you turned your heart and life to follow Me, called on Me in faith to be your Savior,....."

What are you building your life upon? Phil Ware continues his series on The Story by looking at Peter's confession of Jesus and how Jesus takes flawed, broken, messed-up people and builds his church that is unstoppable.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Phil Ware challenges us to look beyond the cosmetic image we see in the mirror and view ourselves as God does.

We must not forget to punch that little red button and make sure the current of heaven's grace and power flow to us and flow through us to the world. Phil Ware continues his series called 8GHT, focusing on eight principles out of Acts 1:1-10, today his focus is on the Holy Spirit being the power behind the early church.

What can we expect the Spirit to do for us? Phil Ware continues a short series on the Holy Spirit focusing on John 14 and what it means for Jesus to not leave us as orphans, but to come to us and show himself to us and be in us and make his home with us.

How do we know what passages of Scripture are most essential? Phil Ware stops at the mid-point in his series on What is CORE to review and look forward to what is ahead.

"Dear Friend, To understand your verses today from the book of Acts, you need to be aware of two challenges facing My early followers in Ephesus. The..."