Acts 2:37-41

"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...."

"[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...."

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

"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..."

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.

"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..."

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.

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.

"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..."

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

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 2:38 -- 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 Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children a

"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..."

Jesus must be more than just a Savior! Mike Barres rejoices in the birth of Jesus as our Savior, but also reminds us that He must also be our Lord!

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.

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

"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,..."

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.

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.

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...."

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.

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.

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

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

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.

"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......"

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.

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.

Who do you believe is Rubel Shelly writes about the serious subject of unity and division and the way we view and deal with those who are not one of us.

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.

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 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..."

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.

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.

"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 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.

Have you seen someone pass from death to life? Brian McCutchen talks about Connie, her cancer, and her coming to Jesus in faith and baptism and leading many of her family to join her.

If Jesus was baptized and if Jesus wants you to be baptized, what's holding you back? Phillip Morrison reminds us of the most simple and basic reason of all to be baptized: Jesus wants us to be!

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.

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.

How can we be shaped by both our Father's nature and his nurture? Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead through worship in song, the Lord's Supper, a powerful message from God's word, and a blessing to enable us to worship from home or with family and friends in a meaningful way.

Is there any other kind of Christian? All Christians have the Holy Spirit and are spirit-filled so their lives must demonstrate this reality.

God has given us a way to experience the saving work Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. Phil Ware continues his series on "What is CORE" by talking about baptism and why it is important.

Without the Holy Spirit, how can there be new life? Phil Ware continues his series on the Holy Spirit with a focus on being born of the Spirit and its ties to faith, baptism, and repentance.

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.