Sermons

Acts 15:1-35: “The First General Assembly Meeting”

Meditation: Romans 3:20-21: “   no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.  21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.”

Summary: Will Gentiles have to become Jews before becoming Christians?  The Jerusalem Council or General Assembly of the early church must make a decision about this issue.  Their decision will determine whether Christianity will be seen as a Jewish sect for centuries to come or a gospel that truly is for all people of different races, cultures, genders and classes. 

 Acts 12:1-25: “The Unstoppable Gospel”

Meditation: Isaiah 55:10-11: “10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Summary: Herod Agrippa started to persecute Christians.  He wanted to please the Jews.  He killed the Apostle James and put Peter in jail.  Will the mission to spread the gospel be thwarted by King Herod?  No one can stop the spread of the gospel because no one can stop God who is responsible for its message.  Peter is released by an angel and King Herod dies.  In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas begin their missionary journeys.  God’s Word will not return void. 

Acts 12:1-25: “The Unstoppable Gospel”

Meditation: Isaiah 55:10-11: “10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Summary: Herod Agrippa started to persecute Christians.  He wanted to please the Jews.  He killed the Apostle James and put Peter in jail.  Will the mission to spread the gospel be thwarted by King Herod?  No one can stop the spread of the gospel because no one can stop God who is responsible for its message.  Peter is released by an angel and King Herod dies.  In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas begin their missionary journeys.  God’s Word will not return void. 

Acts 11:1-18: “Responding To Criticism”

Meditation: Romans 1:16: “16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”

Summary: Peter is criticized by the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem for associating with Gentiles.  He ate with them and fellowshipped with them.  He explains that God showed him in a vision that he could eat what the Gentiles eat because all food comes from Him.  Peter further explains how Gentile believers received the Holy Spirit.  God accepts them as equals into Jesus’ kingdom.  How Peter handles criticism in this passage is an example for us all.  He showed his fellow believers that their argument is not with him but with God. 

Acts 10:36-48: “The Same Holy Spirit For All”
Meditation: 1 Corinthians 12:13: “13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
Summary: Now the Holy Spirit has reached even the Gentiles. We are all baptized into the body of Christ by the same Holy Spirit. After the book of Acts you no longer see a time separation between belief in Jesus and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:1-35: “No Partiality”
Meditation: Revelation 7:9-10: “9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"”
Summary: God has a people for himself and these people are from every nation, tribe, language and culture. God shows no partiality between Jews and Gentiles. Though it is debated whether or not Cornelius is the first Gentile in Acts to respond to the gospel (the Ethiopian eunuch?), the point is made clearly by Cornelius’ conversion that many Gentiles will be coming into Christ’s kingdom.

Acts 9:32-43: “The Whole Gospel”
Meditation: 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
Summary: Most of the first 12 chapters of Acts are about Peter. From chapters 9-12 you have a mixture of events in the lives of Peter and Paul and then Acts 13-28 is mostly about Paul. Why does Luke give us a mix of what God is doing in Peter and Paul’s life? The Lord wants to show us that these two missionaries, one to the Jews and the other to the Gentiles, were preaching the same gospel. They preached a whole gospel that ministered both to people’s physical and spiritual needs. God performs some miracles through Peter to show He is interested in healing the whole person.

Acts 9:20-31: “Paul, The Preacher”
Meditation: 2 Corinthians 4:7 “7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
Summary: Like most new Christians, Paul had to tell anyone who would listen what Jesus did for him. He was able to prove from Scripture that Jesus is God The Son. But as every preacher knows, when you preach the truth get ready for some satanic attack, some persecution. The Jews plotted to kill Paul because they could not refute him, and his conversion was a great embarrassment for Judaism. Paul would escape and go away to prepare himself for his full mission, to be an apostle to the Gentiles.

Ephesians 2:1-10: “Saved By Grace Alone”
Meditation: Jeremiah 31:31,33,34 “31 ‘The time is coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah… ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’”
Summary: We have been saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.  This truth, explained by Paul in Ephesians, should make us, who have received such grace, long to look deeper into such wonderful things.  In this classic passage on salvation by grace, Paul helps us understand our fallen condition without Christ, our exalted position with Christ, and how we are a new creation in Christ.  May our God be praised! 

Acts 9:1-19: “Saul Sees the Light”
Meditation: Philippians 3:7-8: “7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”
Summary: There is no one beyond God’s reach.  Saul or Paul once persecuted the church, but after meeting the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus, starts preaching the gospel and is ready to die for Jesus.  What an encouragement for those who have family members or friends who seem beyond the reach of the gospel.  We are called to be persistent in sharing the gospel in word and deed and leave the results to God.  He alone can bring those who are in darkness into the light of His presence. 

Acts 8:26-40: Philip’s Ministry
Meditation: Psalm 92:12-15: “12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13 planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, 15 proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."”
Summary: Philip’s ministry keeps growing.  He humbly meets the needs of widows in Jerusalem, and does miracles and preaches the gospel among the people of Samaria. Then, God sends him to the Ethiopian Eunuch in the desert, and then the Spirit takes Philip to speak to the people of Caesarea.  When we yield to the Spirit’s control, there is no limit to what we can do for the Lord! 

Acts 8:1-25: “God’s Good Purpose”
Meditation:Romans 8:28: “28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Summary: We say God works all things for our good, but history proves it. Even when the Christians are persecuted, God uses it to spread the gospel throughout the world. No one likes trials, but knowing God uses them for our good sure helps us get through them.

Ephesians 1:15-23 “To Know God Better”
Meditation: Proverbs 2:3-5: “3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.”
Summary: Paul prays for the church to know God better. Our God is infinitely good and glorious. He has blessed us with “every spiritual blessing.” Paul says we must increase our knowledge of the hope of his calling, the riches of his inheritance, and the power of his mighty strength. Knowing these things in a greater way leads to a better understanding of, and a fuller relationship with, the God who loves us and gives us so much.

Acts 6:8-7:60: “Dying Well”
Meditation: 1 Corinthians 2:1-3 1 Corinthians 2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
Summary: Christianity spread like a wildfire in the first few centuries for a number of reasons. One of these reasons was how well Christians died. Stephen was the church’s first martyr. His testimony even while he was being stoned to death was and is a great example for us in the church. God drew many to his Son through Stephen’s testimony of his love for Jesus, a love so great he was willing to die for him. Many more received a love for Jesus due to God’s grace and Stephen’s testimony.

Acts 6:1-7: “The Ministry of Mercy”
Meditation: 1 Peter 4:10-11: 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Summary: We often speak more about the office of elder than we do the office of deacon. Both offices are crucial to the proper functioning of the church. The need for men and women who are called to the ministry of mercy cannot be overestimated. Of the two offices usually there is a greater need for more deacons than elders since the mercy needs in and outside the church are so great. Those called to the ministry of mercy must reach across all barriers to minister the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. May the Lord graciously provide with many people called to this ministry.

Acts 5:17-42: “Defeating The Forces of Darkness”
Meditation: 1 John 1:1-2 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
Summary: When we are faithful in bringing the gospel to people who live in darkness, the forces of darkness will seek to stop us. But greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. The liberty that Jesus has given us to speak the truth, the forces of darkness, no matter how hard they try, cannot take away or stop.

Acts 5:1-16: “Cleaning House”
Meditation: Hebrews 2:2-4: 2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Summary: When God says he has called his people to be a holy nation and a royal priesthood, he means it. In Acts 5, we see God also means it when he says judgment begins with house of God. You may say we have the first disciplinary case in the church where God intervenes directly with disciplining in love his people. His discipline of taking the life of Ananias and Sapphira brings fear in the church, but it actually reminds us of God’s grace and patience. He is patiently conforming us to the image of his Son, rather than enacting immediate judgment.

Ephesians 1:11-14 “Our Guaranteed Glorification”
Meditation: Psalm 125:1,2 “…Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
Summary: God has guaranteed our glorification in Christ. Our future eternity with Christ is secure in Christ. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are God’s possession, we depend on his will and we live for his glory. We have been sealed as God’s by the deposit of his Holy Spirit when we believed. This was all by grace; accomplished by God’s will and for his glory. Or, as verse 6 says “to the praise of his glorious grace”.

John 1:10-14 “The Word became flesh”
Meditation: Psalm 33:6 “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”
Summary: “Who is the Word? What has He done? How has He accomplished this?

Ephesians 1:1-10: “Every Spiritual Blessing In Christ”
Meditation: Psalm 103:2-5: “ 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
Summary: We must give God all glory, honor and praise because he has given us “every spiritual blessing in Christ.” We have been chosen, redeemed, unified, and we are being glorified in Christ. All of these blessings in Christ are ours through the Holy Spirit. They help us to see the great and abundant grace of our God. And they assure us of our final eternity with our God.

Matthew 6:19-34 "What Is The Point?"

Daniel 12:1-13 “How Long O’ Lord?”
Meditation: Matthew 24:30,31: “30 ‘At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.’”
Summary: Because all things are in God’s hands, we must wait and hope in him, no matter how long it takes. Daniel shows us we must patiently trust God for our glorious resurrection, our greatest suffering, and our “going” duty. There will be sufferings and trials in our lives. But we must remember that there will also be a deliverance and a great awakening when we “will shine like the brightness of the heavens” and like the “stars for ever and ever.” So, like Daniel, we must wait and hope as we “go our way” until that time. If we do, we will receive purification and be enabled to endure to the end.

Galatians 6:1-5 "Spirit of Restoration"
Mediation: Galatians 5:22-23  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Summary:  As we sojourn in our walk here on earth, we will sin and fall short of Gods Glory.  When we repent and ask for forgiveness, God gently restores us by his Spirit.  When our brethren are caught in a sin and it is known then we should restore them as God restores us.  We who are Spiritual Minded should restore our brethren in the Spirit of meekness.

Daniel 11:2-45 “God: Our Champion In Battle”
Meditation: Revelation 19:11-13,16 “11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God… 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Summary: Because God is omnipotent over all things, we must glorify him as our Champion over evil. We must glorify him as our Champion over the nations, our Champion over their wars, and as our Champion in the final war to come. Daniel shows us that God is supreme over the nations; he is sovereign over their final end; and he is victorious in the final battle between good and evil. What an awesome Champion is our God!

Daniel 10:1 – 11:1 “The Great War”
Meditation: Ephesians 6:10-12: “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Summary: Because God is our Divine Warrior, we must join him in spiritual warfare. We must join him by being a prayer warrior, by being in relationship with our Divine Warrior, and by being prepared by him for spiritual warfare. Daniel shows us that God will help us as we focus on him, love his people, seek him, listen to him and receive his peace and strength.

Daniel 9:20-27 “God’s Perfect Answer”
Meditation: Philippians :6,7: “6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Summary: We need to know that God answers our prayers perfectly. The angel Gabriel shows Daniel, and us, that God hears and he acts on the prayers of his covenant people. Daniel asked God to end the desolation of Jerusalem just as he had predicted in Jeremiah. God’s perfect answer is that he will put an end to sin and desolation. First, he will end the immediate desolations and restore Jerusalem. Next, he will defeat sin, once for all, by sending the Messiah to be an atonement for our sin. But the desolations will continue until the final “ruler”, the anti-Christ, is finally defeated. God answers our prayers perfectly.

Daniel 9:1-19 “Daniel’s Model Prayer”
Meditation: Philippians 4:6,7: “6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Summary: We need to pray as Daniel prayed because our God is Lord of all. We need to pray with the right attitude, with praise and confession, and with supplications. Our attitude must be based on truth with a contrite heart. We must praise God by declaring his surpassing character and great promises. And we must give him our requests for the purpose of his covenantal glory and for the reason of his covenantal grace. As Daniel says in v.18, “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.” May we all learn to pray as Daniel prayed.

Daniel 8:1-27 “Only God Is Eternal”
Meditation: Revelation 1:17,18: “17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
Summary: We must trust God for the future because he alone lives forever. We need to know that only God is forever and the end of all things is in his hands. All other things come to an end. And we see this in Daniel. Daniel has a vision which leaves him ill and exhausted for several days partly because of the devastation that he sees for his people. Praise God that he lives forever and is in control of the end of all things. We see this in the end of the nations including the Persian Kingdom, the Greek Empire and even the final Anti-Christ. Daniel’s prophecy teaches us: 1) We don’t have to know everything in order to know enough; 2) Predictive prophecy proves that the God of the Bible is the true God; 3) Predictive prophecy proves that the Bible is a “true and trustworthy revelation” of the one true God; 4) Satan consistently attacks the Lord’s people.

Acts 4:23-37: “One in Heart and Mind”
Meditation: Matthew 19:21: 21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Summary: We sing, “We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord….” But how do we live that truth out? We need to go back to the early Christians and see how they cared for one another. The book of Acts tells us, “there were no needy persons among them!” How are we doing? Is there any room for improvement?

Acts 4:13-22: “God Comes First!”
Meditation: Amos 3:8: 8 The lion has roared-- who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken-- who can but prophesy?
Summary: There are limits to civil authority and for that matter any authority. God must come first and when His Spirit says to testify about Him we can do nothing else, even if it means death. May the Holy Spirit control us so we will boldly witness for Jesus Christ before the world.

WY PLUMMER PREACHES, MISSION TO NORTH AMERICA’S AFRICAN AMERICAN MINISTRY COORDINATOR. PRAISE GOD FOR OUR 15TH CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

Acts 4:1-12: “Only One Way!”
Meditation: John 14:6: 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Summary: The Scriptures tell us that Jesus is a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. Most unbelievers stumble over the truth that Jesus is the only way to heaven. When Christians repeat this truth, they are viewed as intolerant. As usual nothing changes with man. When people tell me they have a problem with this teaching of Christianity, I tell them their argument is not with me, it is with Jesus, because he said he was the only way to heaven.

PASTOR SANTO GAROFALO, NEW CITY IN ATLANTIC CITY, NJ.

Daniel 7:1-28 “The Glorious Purpose of God”
Meditation: Isaiah 46:9-11: 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. 11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
Summary: If we are to trust in God, no matter what comes our way, we must be aware of his sovereign purposes in our lives and in our world. In Daniel 7, God shows us that his eternal purposes throughout history include, the continual empty strivings of mankind against God, the immeasurable glory of God in comparison to man, and the ultimate victory of God according to his wonderful plan. The Ancient of Days, in all his glory, will tolerate the striving of man for only so long. One day, everything will be made whole and perfect and new and all evil will be destroyed. This is our hope, our confidence, our faith. This is the glorious purpose of God.

Acts 3:1-26: “The Miracles Continue”
Meditation: Isaiah 35:6: 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
Summary: Anytime the message of the gospel comes, miracles happen.  Sometimes the miracle starts with the physical and then goes to spiritual, to the greatest miracle of a person’s heart being changed so they surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

No church service due to inclement weather

Meditation: Galatians 3:6-8 6Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 7Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you.

Guest Speaker:  Pastor Jerome Brandon
Meditation: (Revelation 5:9) 9And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
 because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Proverbs 3:13-18; 31-35
"Reward In This Life And The Next; Who Gets What When?" Meditation: 1 Timothy 4:8 8 "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."
Summary: Proverbs teaches us that there is reward for the righteous and judgment for the wicked in this life and the next. And there are principles that God has given us by grace to live by and to please him. We are to be content with our portion and to trust in his goodness and grace both in this life and for all eternity.

Proverbs 26:17-28
“The Wrong Use of the Tongue”

Romans 15:14-22 
“The Church Planter”

Revelation 1:9-20
“Who Is Christ In The Book of Revelation”

Romans 11:11-32
“Israel's Future Repentance ”

Romans 11:1-10
“The Remnant of Israel”

Proverbs 31
“A Godly Marriage: The Key to a Happy Home, Part II”

Proverbs 31
“A Godly Marriage: The Key to a Happy Home, Part I”

Romans 10:16-21
“Israel’s Rejection of the Gospel”

Romans 10:14-15
“The Necessity for Evangelism”

Jeremiah 29:1-7
“The Church In An Urban World”