Chapter 20 of the book of Acts records the conclusion of Paul’s 3rd missionary journey. As we mentioned last week, Paul is making his way back to Jerusalem, hoping to arrive before Pentecost. On his way, he stops in Macedonia and Greece to encourage the brethren there.Oleh Wayne Griffith

Today, we find Paul making the decision to leave Ephesus as he has had great success here. Everyone in the area had heard the message. He decides to move through Macedonia and Achaia, preaching along the way, on his way back to Jerusalem. However, before he goes, the Way causes a riot in the streets.…

When Paul left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, he promised to "return. . . if God wills." After he had gone up to Jerusalem, he spent some time in Antioch before embarking on his third missionary journey. He revisits the churches in Asia Minor (modern-day central Turkey), strengthening the believers. We now find him back in Ephesus, where he meets…

Paul leaves Corinth to head back to Syria so he can report to the church in Jerusalem and head back to his home base at the church in Antioch. Along the way, he temporarily stops in Ephesus, leaving it in good hands with Priscilla and Aquila.Oleh Wayne Griffith

After having limited success in Athens, Paul makes his way to Corinth. Where Athens was a center of culture and learning, Corinth was a city of commerce and debauchery. However, Paul has great success and finds himself nurturing the young church there for a year and a half.Oleh Wayne Griffith

After Paul's enemies follow his team to Berea, he escapes to Athens and waits for Silas and Timothy to come. While there, "his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols." As usual, he reasons with his fellow Jews and devout persons in the synagogue, but he also ventures out into the marketplace every day and speaks to…

Paul and Silas make their way into Thessalonica and then Berea having some success but also stirring up trouble. They are known as those who are turning the world upside down!Oleh Wayne Griffith

Paul and Silas had just been thrown in prison, but they react much different than you might expect. Instead of complaining, they pray and sing. And once again, God shows up in a big way.Oleh Wayne Griffith

Paul and Silas embark on the second missionary journey, bringing the letter from Jerusalem to the churches at Lystra, Derbe, and Iconium, among others. When they attempt to evangelize Asia, the Holy Spirit prevents their plans. Instead, Paul receives a vision of a Macedonian man requesting help. So the Lord opens the way into the Roman empire in th…

After a decision was made at the counsel in Jerusalem regarding the requirement of Gentiles becoming Jews before being saved, the apostles and elders send Judas and Silas, alongside Paul and Barnabas, to the gentiles to give them the good news. Then, Paul and Barnabas embark on their second missionary journeys.…

While Paul and Barnabas are spending time in Antioch, a group of men come from Judea and begin telling the gentiles they must be circumcised in order to be saved. This causes a large debate, and the Antioch Church sends Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to consult the Apostles and the Elders there.Oleh Wayne Griffith

Having been chased out of Antioch and Iconium, Paul and Barnabas were found by their enemies in Lystra, where a notable miracle had taken place. Now public opinion changed and Paul was stoned. However, God had other plans, so Paul survived the attack, and the next day they went to Derbe. After they made many disciples there, they retraced their ste…

Paul and Barnabas find themselves in Iconium where they preach with boldness in spite of opposition. Many Jews and Greeks are saved, but Paul and Barnabas are forced to flee to Lystra due to an attempt to stone them. While in Lystra, we see a man who was crippled from birth get healed and the miracle was so great that they people think Paul and Bar…

After Paul preaches the gospel message, they want him to come back on the next Sabbath. However, the Jews are jealous that Paul and Barnabas draw such a large crowd. So, they decide from now on to take their message to the gentiles and the gentiles rejoice at this news.Oleh Wayne Griffith

After evangelizing Cyprus, Paul and his team sail to Perga on the southern coast of modern-day Turkey. There, John Mark leaves them and goes back to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas make their way to the other Antioch in Pisidia in central Turkey. While visiting the synagogue, they're invited to speak "words of exhortation to the people." So, Paul expl…

The gentile church in Antioch has been growing quickly and has a solid team of prophets and teachers. The Holy Spirit sets apart Barnabas and Saul to begin their missionary journeys to the gentiles.Oleh Wayne Griffith

Herod Agrippa I wants to gain favor with the Jews. He sees that killing James pleased them, so he arrests Peter to gain even more favor. However, God has other plans and supernaturally rescues Peter from the hands of his captors.Oleh Wayne Griffith

This last half of chapter 11 records "the young church in action." From the revival, which began in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and the eventual spread of the Gospel resulting from Saul's persecution, we now witness a series of "firsts." Gentiles were added to the Church. Barnabas was sent out as the first "missionary" from the Church in Jeru…

As a result of going to meet with Cornelius, a gentile, Peter experiences a large negative reaction from the Jewish believers. So today Peter gives an account of why he went, and the result is the Jewish believers rejoicing that salvation had been granted to the gentiles.Oleh Wayne Griffith

Peter understands that God shows no partiality as to those who can receive the gospel and begins to preach. As he does, the Holy Spirit falls on Cornelius, his household, and his friends and they begin speaking in other tongues and extolling God. As this demonstrated that God has accepted them, Peter commands them to be baptized.…

The disciples had proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, reaching all the way to Damascus, where Saul of Tarsus was converted. Now it was time to begin expanding "to the uttermost parts of the earth." So, a series of supernatural events began to unfold as the "Way" was going to be received by the Gentiles. Both Corne…

Luke continues following Paul after his radical conversion. After ministering the gospel in Jerusalem, the Jews seek to kill him, so he leaves back to Tarsus. Following this, the church sees peace for a time, and we follow Peter as he travels through the area preaching and performing miracles. As a result, the church grows.…

It is important to understand the culture and identity of who we are as a church. At Living Hope Family Church in Marana, we understand that we have all have a plan and purpose provided by God. We want to enable and empower people to step out into that purpose.Oleh Wayne Griffith

Join us as Pastor Jaron from Rock Solid Church in Hudson, NY, shares with us a timely message titled Now. The time is fulfilled, and we are to walk in such a way that we build bridges. Bridges that the Holy Ghost shows us. It is His desire for the lost to walk out of the natural (darkness) and into the supernatural (light).…

It is important to understand the culture and identity of who we are as a church. At Living Hope Family Church in Marana, our mission statement is to evangelize the lost, equip the saints, and empower them to step out into what God has called them to do. As believers and followers of Jesus it's assuring to know that we've been given the resources o…

It is important to understand the culture and identity of who we are as a church. At Living Hope Family Church in Marana, our mission statement is to evangelize the lost, equip the saints, and empower them to step out into what God has called them to do. The first step is to evangelize. There is a world full of people who are living their life with…

It is important to understand the culture and identity of who we are as a church. At Living Hope Family Church in Marana, we are generous. And this is not just with our finances. We are also generous with our love, time, and forgiveness.Oleh Wayne Griffith

The Kingdom of Heaven is a family. One must be born into it in the same way we've been birthed into an earthly family. Marriage is God's "institution" for humanity. As a family we're to care for one another. Love, therefore, should be what motivates said sustains us for the journey of life.Oleh Joseph Kobel

It is important to understand the culture and identity of who we are as a church. At Living Hope Family Church in Marana, we are a people who pray. You cannot have a relationship without communication. If we want to be successful, we are going to have to make prayer a focus in our own life, but we are also going to have to make prayer a priority as…

It is important to understand the culture and identity of who we are as a church. At Living Hope Family Church in Marana, we believe the gifts of the Spirit are still for today. The filling or baptism of the Spirit is subsequent to salvation, is available to every believer, and the gifts should be used in an orderly manner.…

It is important to understand the culture and identity of who we are as a church. Having been brought into the kingdom of God, our hearts' response to the grace of our Lord should be worship. We give praise to our Lord as His majesty deserves. God desires our worship and seeks "true worshippers, " so let's do our part. He is worthy!…

Just like physical exercise helps with our health, exercising faith in God causes us to experience God's presence in greater ways. Sometimes, simply trusting in God's promises is all we can do while we wait. Other times, we need to press in, wrestling in our hearts to trust in God. He is trustworthy, therefore our hope is based on Him.…

It is important to understand the culture and identity of who we are as a church. At Living Hope Family Church in Marana, we understand that salvation isn't earned. We are a people who are saved by grace through faith.Oleh Wayne Griffith

Jesus' death was necessary for our salvation. Through it, we have our sins forgiven. But it was His resurrection that provided the solution to mankind's problems. We aren't just forgiven but still broken people. We have been made new in Him!Oleh Wayne Griffith

While Saul had a plan in mind, there was a divine plan that changed the course of his life. Thinking that he was doing the work of God, his life was redirected by an encounter with the resurrected Lord Jesus. He immediately joins "the Way" which he had been violently opposed to. What an amazing example of how radically life changing Jesus is. This …

We continue to follow Philip as he is commanded by God to head towards Gaza to continue preaching the gospel, where we see the well-known story of him and the Ethiopian eunuch and leads him to the Lord! I hope this story encourages all of us to share the Gospel with others.Oleh Wayne Griffith

Today we briefly follow Phillip, one of the men was helping to serve the Hellenist widows and then went to Samaria preaching the gospel. While there, he was performing signs and wonders amongst them. And after Samaria receives the word of God, the apostles hear and sent Peter and John to minister to them and pray that they might receive the Holy Sp…

Stephen's speech infuriates the stubborn Sanhedrin, which results in the first Christian martyr. The persecution which then erupts causes the Church to begin fulfilling the Great Commission. Philip, one of the seven chosen "servers" goes to a city in Samaria and sees great success evidenced by miracles. There is much joy as a result, and the advent…

Stephen is accused of speaking against "this holy place and the law" as well as saying that Jesus will destroy the temple and change the customs Moses gave to the Israelites. Today we look at how Stephen finishes his response when asked if these things were so.Oleh Wayne Griffith

Stephen is accused of speaking against "this holy place and the law" as well as saying that Jesus will destroy the temple and change the customs Moses gave to the Israelites. Stephen begins his response when asked if these things were so.Oleh Wayne Griffith

Since the failed attempt to discredit the Church through Ananias and his wife didn't work, now a legitimate complaint arises over neglect of the Hellenistic widows. The Apostles understand their role is to pray and minister the Word of God, so they ask the congregation to choose reputable men from among themselves to oversee the daily distributions…

The early church is off to an amazing start. Multitudes of people getting saved every day, and God was moving powerfully with signs and wonders. And this was even with all the opposition that Peter and John were facing. However, in spite of this opposition, they continued preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus, inciting the religious leaders t…

Amazing signs and wonders are being performed through the Apostle's hands and the church is growing. But today, we deal with one of the more difficult stories in the New Testament, Ananias and Sapphira.Oleh Wayne Griffith

After being threatened by the authorities not to mention Jesus Peter and John return to their friends and give a report. This prompts a prayer meeting with the result that they all receive another infilling of the Holy Spirit. This not only gave them a renewed boldness but melted down selfishness and united them in a genuine Christian community. Th…

An amazing miracle has just taken place as the man who had been lame since birth for 40 years has now been healed. The crowds gathered around wanting to know what has happened, and you’ll remember from last week, Peter begins to preach. But wherever the gospel is preached, the church is growing, and Jesus’ name is lifted up and He is making an impa…

The New Testament Church is established through the power of the Holy Spirit moving among the believers. They spent time with one another, caring and sharing with gladness and generosity. They continued with instruction from the apostles, fellowship and prayer and worship. Signs and wonders displayed God's stamp of approval. Chapter 3 highlights on…

Some say we only celebrate Christmas because Christians of old tried to appropriate pagan holidays. But do we find evidence of celebrating Jesus' birth in the bible?Oleh Wayne Griffith

The Holy Spirit had just come upon the house where the disciples were as a mighty, rushing wind. A crowd showed up to see what was going on and began to hear the disciples speaking in their own languages. Peter stands to tell them what was going on.Oleh Wayne Griffith

The fulfillment of Jesus's promised "enduement with power" began on the Jewish Festival of Weeks, known as "Pentecost", which is simply the Greek for fiftieth. This eyewitness account makes special note that there were devout men from all over the known world who were astonished at the event. They heard what was spoken in their own languages. What …