Pastor Ray teaches how the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch reminds us that salvation is solely the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit initiated in God's unconditional grace. Philip is a wonderful example of the part that we play in salavation as co-workers together with God, but it doesn't depend on our ability. Jesus said, "No one comes to me unless the Father draws him." 38:42 minutes (6.65 MB)
Pastor Ray teaches in today's text as we continue the story of Saul of Tarsus who was captured by the amazing grace of God on the road to Damascus. The grace of God now compels him to proclaim the message that Jesus is the Son of God. That same grace compels us today. 35:53 minutes (6.16 MB)
Pastor Ray teaches from Acts 10, where the text confronts us with Christ's deeper mission to which the healing miracles point: the healing of mind and soul and attitudes that break down the walls of suspicion, fear, prejudice and hatred that separate people from each other. This is the message of reconciliation that defines Christ's mission, and ours. 26:06 minutes (4.48 MB)
Pastor Ray teaches that one of the greatest threats to the wholeness, effectiveness and authenticity of the church doesn't come from the outside--from skeptics, critics or secular culture--but from within--from the burden of "religious legalism" we impose on ourselves and others. We are called to be people of grace. 36:22 minutes (6.25 MB)
Pastor Ray teaches how prayer in its many forms is a wonderful gift from a loving Heavenly Father. Sometimes our prayers are "why prayers"; like the psalmist, we give voice to our "Why?" questions in prayer. 29:25 minutes (5.06 MB)
God's overarching purpose in history is to reconcile "the world to himself in Christ." And that's the message and ministry of every Christian. 30:07 minutes (5.17 MB)
Pastor Ray teaches how our faith deals with the emotionally painful experience of rejection. We need to come to the cross and affirm who we are in Christ. Our worth is found in God alone through Christ alone. 30:34 minutes (5.25 MB)
In the prologue of John's Gospel, John gives us the theological explanation of the historial accounts of Jesus' brith recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. He introduces us to a God who is both "big enough" and near enough, a God who "speaks our language," One that we can relate to at a personal level. This is the heart of the Christian faith: "The [eternal] Word became flesh and lived among us. We have seen his glory...full of grace and truth...Jesus Christ. 32:49 minutes (5.64 MB)
In Acts 18:18-28 we
see an aspect of God's providence over and over again as God "opens"
and "closes" doors to get the good news of Jesus out from Jerusalem to
"the ends of the earth." Don't underestimate the "doors" that God can
open in your spiritual journey.
Acts 21:17-26. The Apostle Paul experiences a terrible misunderstanding in the church at Jerusalem that threatened to destroy the unity of the Church and undermine his ministry and leadership. Because of Paul's passion for his people and for the unity of the Church he bent over backwards to maintain the Spirit of unity. We can learn much from his example.
Acts 24
The apostle Paul confronted the Roman governor, Felix, with a message about "righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come" (v. 25). It brought fear into Felix's soul. And it reminds us that the gospel also includes some hard-hitting truth we don't like to talk about--a message that calls for courage, humility and respect in our presentation.
Acts 27:1-8
Life is a "journey" that has a "destination"--both in an earthly and eternal sense. For the Christian, Jesus Christ is the center--the source, guide and goal of the journey. And in serving Him, our life's vocation/destination will become clear.
Hospitality, humility and "healing" are among the hallmark virtues of the Christian faith. Often our fervent prayers for healing aren't anwered in the way we had hoped. By God's sufficient grace we persevere in faith, find comfort in his hope, come alongside those who are suffering and continue to "pray without ceasing."
In Part I of Pastor Ray's message on our relationship with the Holy Spirit he summarizes seven vital teachings given by our Lord Jesus and emphasizes that a right understanding and experience of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to carrying on the life and mission of Christ.
Ephesians 5:15-21
Pastor Ray continues his exhortation on the Holy Spirit, exhorting the church to grow deeper in relationship with God by yielding ourselves to the control of the Spirit. It is God's will for us to "keep on being filled with the Spirit" that we might glorify Him in all things. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (for a deeper relationship with God), they will be filled."
The psalmist assures us that God is an "ever-present help in troubhle." In light of the horrific suffering in Haiti, Pastor Ray helps us to reflect on some difficult questions around the "mystery of suffering," God's presence and the Church's (our) practical and personal response through Christ's ministry of compassion.
Pastor Ray presents ten principles that form the framework of a biblical foundation for marriage as "designed" by God. Marriage is a life-long covenant relationship in the context of the gospel of grace. It requires the willingness and desire of wife and husband to submit to each other and to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the One who binds them into the unity of "one flesh" and empowers them to sustain the relationship.
