In Acts 5 we encounter a married couple named Ananias and Sapphira. They identified themselves as part of the church, but they were only playing a part. They were “religious” but were not “righteous” followers of Jesus Christ. Today we’ll consider their story and its lessons for us.

Religious . . . But Not Righteous

The book of Acts records the adventure of the early church, which includes great success but also great danger as persecution arises against the followers of Jesus. Today, we’ll consider the episodes of persecution recorded in chapters 4-8 and find that while persecution presents peril, the Holy Spirit’s power is also manifest to lift up the name of Jesus Christ.

The Peril And Power Of Persecution

Acts 9 descries the dramatic conversion of Saul, better known as the Apostle Paul. His encounter with Jesus and subsequent transformation from a persecutor to a preacher reminds us that grace is powerful in its working even in the most unlikely candidate—for God sees the heart that is willing to surrender to him.

An Unlikely Candidate

In their pursuit of the American Dream, many have accomplished success and afterward have asked,“Is this all there is?” In Acts 10, Cornelius shows the tired and dissatisfied Americans of today what true success really is. God’s appraisal of the man shows us the essentials of a truly successful life. And God’s gift to Cornelius enabled him to complete the final challenge to experience more than just a significant life.

How To Find True Success

Maybe you’ve heard the saying: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!” Well, today in Acts 16, Leaders Paul and Silas find the going gets tough. In fact, so though that they are thrown in jail. Their adventure teaches us that when the going gets tough, God's children find power and peace in praise.

New Hope Canton

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