Wilmington Reformed

In Acts 17:15–34 Paul stands on the Areopagus in Athens and challenges Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, using the city's altar to the “unknown god” to proclaim the one true Creator who does not dwell in man-made temples.He calls all people to repent and points to the resurrection of Jesus as the decisive event that reveals God's judgment and salvation. Some mock, others ask to hear more, and a few—including Dionysius the Areopagite and Damaris—believe.The episode contrasts Greek philosophy with the gospel and emphasizes that the risen Christ reorients history, calling every nation to turn to God.

This episode studies Acts 17:1–15 with a focus on verse 11, contrasting the persecuted church in Thessalonica with the Bereans who received the message with eagerness and daily Scripture study. It explores how love for God’s Word—reading, memorizing, and examining the Bible—shapes congregational peace, personal devotion, and the church’s mission.The sermon also connects the Berean example to the Protestant emphasis on Scripture (including figures like William Tyndale) and urges listeners to seek Jesus in the Bible, cultivate Bible habits, and let Christ’s lordship transform their homes and communities.

Acts 16:16–40 recounts how Paul and Silas confront a demon-possessed slave girl, are seized by her owners, beaten, and jailed. While praying and singing at midnight they experience an earthquake that opens the prison and unfastens their bonds.The terrified jailer asks how to be saved; Paul and Silas proclaim faith in the Lord Jesus, leading to the jailer and his household being baptized. The episode highlights the resurrection’s power, the lordship of Christ, and the idea of salvation reaching whole households.

Acts 15:30–41 records a sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark that leads to their separation and the launch of two missionary teams. Though painful, the split underscores the churchs human frailty and Gods providence.The episode highlights that the church remains Gods chosen instrument despite internal conflict, pointing believers back to Christ, whose strength is perfected in our weakness.

This episode studies Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council, and the apostolic decree calling Gentile believers to abstain from food polluted by idols, blood, what’s strangled, and sexual immorality. The sermon explains how these rules aimed to separate new Christians from pagan temple worship and how the Lord’s Supper unites believers in Christ rather than cultural or religious rites.

Acts 15 recounts the Council of Jerusalem where the early church confronts whether Gentile believers must follow Jewish law. Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James reveal that God has opened the covenant to Gentiles through Christ, fulfilling prophecy from Amos and restoring the promise of David’s kingdom. The decision emphasizes salvation by grace, the replacement of circumcision with baptism, and the church’s unity across Jew and Gentile.

This episode reads Acts 15 and examines the Council of Jerusalem, where the early church debated whether Gentile believers must be circumcised to be saved. Paul, Barnabas, Peter, and James address the controversy and affirm salvation by grace through faith rather than by the law.The sermon also draws out the church’s authority and structure, showing how the gathered people of God, under King Jesus, pronounce liberty from legal burdens and call believers into a communal, apostolic faith.

This episode walks through Acts 14, recounting Paul and Barnabas’s missionary work: the healing of a man who had been crippled from birth, the crowd’s mistaken worship, and the violent opposition that led to Paul being stoned and assumed dead.The sermon emphasizes the paradox of the Christian life—suffering and persecution paired with resurrection hope—how the apostles planted and strengthened churches, and how believers are called to bear the marks of Christ while trusting in the risen Lord.

This episode walks through Acts 13:13–52, where Paul recounts Israel’s story, proclaims Jesus as the promised Savior, and explains how forgiveness and resurrection fulfill God’s promises.When Jewish leaders reject the message, Paul turns to the Gentiles, declaring the church the new light to the nations. The sermon emphasizes the metaphor of light—Jesus and his church as lampstands called to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Paul stands in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch and traces Israel's story from the Exodus through David to show that the Old Testament promises find their fulfillment in Jesus. He proclaims that through Jesus forgiveness of sins and justification are now offered to all who believe.The sermon calls for faith and warns scoffers, sparks both eager response and opposition, and marks the turning of the gospel outward to the Gentiles as the message begins to spread across the region.