Advertise on podcast: Living Waters Church • Langley, BC

Barnabas is sent on a special assignment to Antioch. This passage marks a key moment in Acts where, geographically speaking, the whole narrative shifts. Could Antioch really be described as a frontier if there was no longer a centre? Up until now, Jerusalem had still acted as a kind of hub for the early believers, but the very presence of the growing group in Antioch would change that. The Jerusalem believers would have to start thinking differently if Jesus himself was the centre and his Spirit was being poured out on all who trusted him.

In Acts, we discover that the primary strategist and power behind the growth of the church is the Holy Spirit. Nowhere is this more evident than in Acts 1011, where we see the Spirit speaking through visions and moving in power to show Peter that both Jew and Gentile are welcome in the family of God. As God moves among them all, everyone is sorting out who belongs to God, and what behaviour accompanies those who belong to God. After hearing Peters account of what God had done, the circumcised Jews glorified God and shared the gospel of repentance that leads to life for Jews and Gentiles.

In Acts, we discover that the primary strategist and power behind the growth of the church is the Holy Spirit. Nowhere is this more evident than in Acts 10, where we see the Spirit speaking through visions and moving in power to show Peter that both Jew and Gentile are welcome in the family of God. This story marks a seismic shift in the early church, as they discover Jesus expansive welcome to the nations.

Acts tells us story after story about God caring more about the sharing of his good news of great joy for all people than he does about the comfort or convenience of those already in the kingdom. If it were a competition between peoples comfort zones and Gods welcome, Gods welcome always won out. Notice in this story the wide-sweeping narrative of Acts, the growth and movement of the gospel, and the activity of the Spirit. Notice, with that same expanse and range, the intimacy at work between God and someone like Cornelius picked out, drawn in. Gods drawing of any and all people is not beyond his ability, nor his interest.

Today, we continue our study in the book of Acts after taking a break for the summer. This morning, Rikk Watts shares a review of Acts 19, with a reintroduction to the book, its themes, and what we've seen so far and what to expect next.

Following Jesus isn't about escaping the ordinary but the discovery that, with Jesus, every ordinary day holds the potential for the extraordinary. This fall, don't settle for anything less. Accept his invitation into the adventure and trust him with the next step.

The point of this story is not the problem with Peters faith. The point is that Peter and the disciples eventually saw Jesus rightly. Following that, the point was for them to remember that they could expect Jesus to bring the power and the care, should they bring the trust. Both of those points go for us too. See Jesus rightly: the Lord over creation, maker of heaven and earth, came to seek and save the sinking. Let him fill up the foreground of your vision, your trust in him growing closer to his true scale. And find yourself not swallowed up, but walking in his capacity, under his care. "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come." "Come", said Jesus.

Following Jesus isn't about escaping the ordinary but the discovery that, with Jesus, every ordinary day holds the potential for the extraordinary. This fall, don't settle for anything less. Accept his invitation into the adventure and trust him with the next step.

Water baptism is a significant step in our faith journey. It's a public demonstration of our faith that Jesus models in the New Testament, and is symbolic of cleansing, death and resurrection. This Sunday, Luke Knight teaches on water baptism, and well hear stories from those in our community being baptized!

Jesus seven statements about himself (as recorded in Johns gospel) creatively and clearly reveal his true identity, character and purpose. When we see Jesus more clearly, we can also expect to receive more clarity on our own identity, character and purpose. Rooted in Jesus own self-descriptions, we humans then find ourselves defined. This summer, weve explored these famous and transformative images from Jesus, hearing from seven different voices in our church. Today, we conclude by hearing from Mike Vaters and a discussion with two members of our community, sharing how our knowing about Jesus (knowledge) moves toward knowing Jesus and the fullness of his Spirit (experience).

In these summer months, weve been talking about the seven I Am statements that Jesus makes about himself, found in the book of John. In each of these statements, Jesus is making an assertion about who he uniquely is each of them reveals both Jesus divine identity and our absolute need for Him. We have talked about how Jesus is the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Gate for the Sheep, the Resurrection and the Life, the Good Shepherd, the Way and the Truth and the Life, and today, were going to look at how Jesus is the True Vine. Our passage today is all about the fruit that comes from our lives.

During this summer series, we are learning of Jesus' defence and explanation of Himself, as recorded in the Book of John. As recorded, it seems that Jesus was seemingly on trial all of His 3+ years of public ministry. And, of course, just like any trial, we read in the book of John some of the questions, accusations, false claims, and multiple interviews. Today, in our sixth week, we are looking at another of Jesus statements: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

"I am the good shepherd." For many of us, those are familiar words. We've seen them on paintings, read them in children's Bibles, and heard them countless times in church. They're comforting. But to the people listening to Jesus that day, they weren't merely comforting they were astonishing. He contrasts himself with Israel's failed shepherds and makes a bold claim about who he is.So, what did Jesus mean when he said, "I am the good shepherd"? As we look at this passage together, Jesus reveals four incredible truths about himself as the Good Shepherd.

The sheer power we find in Jesus' statement, "I am the resurrection and the life," is hard for us to fully grasp. We live in a world where that resurrection and life are still being worked out, and sometimes it seems hard to see it in its fullness. We give ourselves over to the truth that the grave has no claim on us, because Jesus is the victory both now and in the future when He makes all things right.We trust Jesus despite our circumstances and believe that even when we cant see it, He's working those things out in us for His ultimate glory, and for the glory of the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray that this week, "mark us anew as belonging to you, that we may walk in the resurrection and the life youve promised us."

Rikk Watts shares on John 10:79, where Jesus declares, I am the door of the sheep. It might not seem like a big deal, but it might just be that this one small step of trying to embody our total devotion to Jesus statement could be the beginning of that one true life some of us feel were missing. Jesus emphatically declares, as shocking as it might sound, that He is the only way in; there is no other.