It can be very difficult to have joy sometimes – Advent Joy, Part 1

The year is circa 55CE, approximately 20 years after Jesus resurrected and ascended to heaven.  A man named Paul is driving the outward expansion of the Christian church into the Roman Empire.  In Acts 16, we read that he arrives in the city of Philippi, which is an archaeological site in modern-day Greece.  In Paul’sContinue reading “It can be very difficult to have joy sometimes – Advent Joy, Part 1”

Are you a confident and complete Christian? – Acts 28, Part 4

Editor’s Note: This week we welcome Paul Mannino to the blog, and he will be discussing Acts 28. If you want to watch the sermon, it’s posted on Paul’s YouTube Channel here. My wife, Michelle, and I met Paul and his wife, Mary Kate, at the Evangelical Congregational Church’s Pastoral Assessment Center this past January.Continue reading “Are you a confident and complete Christian? – Acts 28, Part 4”

God loves you anyway – Acts 28, Part 3

Editor’s Note: This week we welcome Paul Mannino to the blog, and he will be discussing Acts 28. If you want to watch the sermon, it’s posted on Paul’s YouTube Channel here. My wife, Michelle, and I met Paul and his wife, Mary Kate, at the Evangelical Congregational Church’s Pastoral Assessment Center this past January.Continue reading “God loves you anyway – Acts 28, Part 3”

Are you focusing on the wrong things? (If so, here’s how to refocus!) – Acts 28, Part 2

Editor’s Note: This week we welcome Paul Mannino to the blog, and he will be discussing Acts 28. If you want to watch the sermon, it’s posted on Paul’s YouTube Channel here. My wife, Michelle, and I met Paul and his wife, Mary Kate, at the Evangelical Congregational Church’s Pastoral Assessment Center this past January.Continue reading “Are you focusing on the wrong things? (If so, here’s how to refocus!) – Acts 28, Part 2”

Paul…on trial again – Acts 24-26, Part 2

Have you ever been on trial in a courtroom? I was once. I was 17, scared, nervous, and very guilty. I wrote about that story here. This week we’re learning from the Apostle Paul how to talk about God, and in Acts 24-26 he’s back on trial, but this time Paul testifies before the bigwigsContinue reading “Paul…on trial again – Acts 24-26, Part 2”