Category: Resurrection

  • Bible Study – The Book of Acts, Part I

    The Unstoppable Journey: Lessons from the Jerusalem Church and Its Early Transitions

    Today, we’re embarking on a journey through the early chapters of the Book of Acts, exploring the foundational Jerusalem Church and the remarkable transitions that propelled the Gospel beyond its initial boundaries. Acts isn’t just a historical record; it’s a handbook for the church, revealing how the early believers operated and how the glorified Christ continues to work through His people.

    Part 1: The Jerusalem Church – A Foundation of Faith (Acts 1-7)

    The church began as a sect within the Jewish community in Jerusalem. What made “The Way” so distinctive?

    • Jewish in Character, Yet Unique: The early believers were Jewish, worshipping in the temple, observing customs and the Law. However, their distinguishing belief was that Jesus was the Messiah, and they practiced baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
    • Apostolic Leadership and Instruction: Initially led by Peter and John, and later by James, Jesus’ brother (who was not one of the original twelve disciples). The apostles provided essential teaching, which was placed first on the list of needs for the new believers. This instruction helped them understand that the Messiah was a suffering savior, a new perspective on the Old Testament scriptures they already knew.
    • The Upper Room and the Twelve: The gathering in the Upper Room (Acts 1:13-26) was crucial for the replacement of Judas. The choice emphasized the necessity of having twelve apostles to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. The successor had to have been with Jesus from His baptism until His ascension, witnessing His entire ministry.
    • Quality of Fellowship: The Jerusalem Church was marked by a profound sense of unity and joy. They met house-to-house to break bread and pray. A notable feature was the sharing of property (Acts 2:44-45), primarily to support a large influx of foreign Jews who had come for feasts and lacked means of support. This giving was not compulsory but demonstrated their deeply touched hearts.
    • The Ananias and Sapphira Incident (Acts 4:34-5:11): This severe judgment highlights the high quality of fellowship God expected. Their deceit was seen as a “little leaven” that could corrupt the “whole lump” of the new church, emphasizing the danger of dishonesty and hypocrisy within the community. Peter clarified that giving was a privilege and a free choice, not an obligation.

    Part 2: The Unstoppable March – Transitioning Beyond Jerusalem (Acts 8 onwards)

    Acts chapter 1, verse 8, serves as the key verse and structural outline for the entire book: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. This outlines the geographical expansion of the Gospel, guided by the Holy Spirit.

    The transition from a Jewish sect to a universal faith was a gentle process, orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. He “weaned them away from temple worship and pruned them of attitudes towards Gentiles”, rather than imposing a whole new system at once.

    Here are the key steps in this remarkable transition:

    1. Stephen’s Sermon and Martyrdom (Acts 6:8-7:60): Stephen, chosen as one of the helpers, realized that Jesus fulfilled what the temple foreshadowed, hinting at the redundancy of the temple and Jewish worship. His powerful sermon and subsequent stoning led to intense persecution, causing believers to scatter from Jerusalem. This persecution, though harsh, served as a “Divine kick” that propelled the Gospel outward, planting churches wherever believers went. Saul (Paul) was present and approved of Stephen’s death.
    2. Philip’s Preaching in Samaria (Acts 8): Philip’s decision to preach in Samaria was a surprising action for a Jew, given the historical animosity between Jews and Samaritans. His ministry was endorsed by the apostles in Jerusalem, signaling early acceptance of outreach to non-Jews. This step helped overcome racial backgrounds and prejudices.
    3. The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40): This encounter highlights several principles: ministry to an individual is as important as to the masses, racial prejudices can be overcome (eunuchs were often excluded from full proselytization), and the method of preaching Jesus from the Old Testament was demonstrated.
    4. The Conversion of Saul (Acts 9, 22, 26): Saul’s conversion was one of the greatest events in church history, described three times in Acts. Jesus identified fully with His church when He confronted Saul, saying, “Why do you persecute me?”. The Lord commissioned Saul (who became Paul) as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Paul later affirmed that Jesus’ appearance to him was the last of the post-resurrection appearances.
    5. Peter’s Preaching to Cornelius (Acts 10, 11, 15:7): This was the final and crucial transition step, orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. Peter, staying with Simon the tanner (a ceremonially unclean trade), received a vision preparing him to accept Gentiles. Cornelius, a God-fearer, also received a vision. When Peter preached to Cornelius’s household, the Holy Spirit fell on them, proving that God admits Gentiles into the church without requiring them to become Jewish first. This event led to great rejoicing in Jerusalem, as they acknowledged that God had granted “even to the Gentiles repentance unto life”.

    This move introduced a note of universality into the kerygma (the gospel proclamation), meaning Jesus’ message and salvation were for everyone. This also raised the significant question of law vs. grace, which the church had to resolve. The emphasis shifted from a “Kingdom perspective” to the “forgiveness of sins and a right relationship with God”.

    Part 3: What Can We Learn from Acts Today?

    The Book of Acts is ultimately “about the activities of the glorified Christ”. It’s a story of ordinary men and women empowered by a wonderful God, demonstrating that they faced similar challenges as we do today.

    • God is in Control: Despite persecutions, troubles, and leadership changes, God has guided His church for two thousand years. The message of the Gospel is unstoppable.
    • The Holy Spirit’s Guidance is Key: The early church didn’t just stumble into these transitions; they were led by the Holy Spirit, who gently guided them in the right direction.
    • Persecution Can Lead to Growth: When persecution broke out in Jerusalem, believers scattered, inadvertently spreading the Gospel far and wide. God can use hardship for the advance of His kingdom.
    • The Power of the Word: The preaching of the Word always caused a stir, sometimes leading to controversy, but the message remained unstoppable.

    Let us, as Southside Church, be encouraged by the unstoppable march of the early church. May we embrace the continuous work of the glorified Christ through us, be open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and remain bold witnesses in our community and to the ends of the earth!

    Discussion Questions:

    1. What aspect of the Jerusalem Church’s fellowship resonates most with you, and how can we apply it today?
    2. How did the Holy Spirit’s “gentle guidance” in the transition period prevent overwhelming the early believers? What does this teach us about embracing change in the church?
    3. Which of the “transition steps” (Stephen, Philip, Eunuch, Saul, Peter) do you find most impactful, and why?
    4. The sources emphasize that Acts is about the “activities of the glorified Christ.” How does this perspective change how you view the Book of Acts and the mission of the church today?

    Here is an overview:

  • The Redemptive Pathways of Pain

    The Redemptive Pathways of Pain

    The Jesus we claim to follow was made perfect through suffering, yet we often prefer to be made perfect through success.

    Birthdays mark our entry into life, but the very act of childbirth offers a profound metaphor for our journey through pain: a sacred collision of agony and promise. It’s a process that stretches us to our limits, bringing fear, loss, and discomfort, yet it also carries the weight of hope, joy, and the dawn of new beginnings. Childbirth is an illustration of death and resurrection, symbolizing how, in Christ, there are redemptive pathways in our pain. Loss and suffering are not the end, but often the very process by which we enter into something new.

    Christian psychologist and author Dr. Henry Cloud puts it, “Endings are not only a part of life; they are a requirement for living and thriving, professionally and personally. Being alive requires that we sometimes kill off things in which we were once invested, uproot what we previously nurtured, and tear down what we built for an earlier time.” We constantly wrestle with the pain of endings as we move toward new beginnings. These are often seasons of intense suffering, but they were never meant to be a life sentence.

    How many new beginnings may lie on the other side of the painful season you’re experiencing, far beyond what you can currently see.

    Let’s look at two remarkable individuals from the pages of Scripture, both of whom wrestled with God in their pain: Jesus and Jacob. Jesus bore the scars of crucifixion, and Jacob walked with a limp after a night of wrestling in the darkness.

    Jesus: Scars of Victory

    Our Lord, Jesus, entered a season of intense wrestling as he faced the profound pain he was about to endure, alongside the contrasting joy set before him beyond his suffering. After sharing the Last Supper and predicting his betrayal, just hours before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26:39 (NLT) tells us, “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’”

    Jesus’ prayer shows we can hold divine purpose and human pain in tension—not as enemies, but as companions on the journey of transformation. We don’t have to reject God simply because we wrestle with Him in our pain. Instead, we can trust Him through the wrestling, knowing that in the process, He can still guide our lives into purpose and meaning.

    After Jesus had wrestled through the crucifixion, we witness his triumphant interactions with others in the victory of resurrection. He appeared to some of his disciples, who were amazed at his rising from the dead. However, not all were present, including Thomas, who declared he wouldn’t believe it unless he saw the evidence for himself – a “sign-based believer.” A week later, Jesus appeared again, and this time Thomas was there. Knowing Thomas had doubted, Jesus didn’t rebuke him or judge his feeble faith. Instead, He lovingly invited Thomas to touch His hands and side, to see for himself the scars from His crucifixion. Overwhelmed, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”

    The very process of pain and the wounds that were meant to kill Jesus on the cross were repurposed. They became evidence of His resurrection for someone in doubt. Consider Thomas’s encounter with Jesus in light of 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT): “By his wounds you are healed.” The scars on Jesus’ hands brought healing to Thomas’s heart. In the profound mystery of God, Thomas’s heart was healed as Christ’s scars testified to His past suffering. In the same way, your stories of hope for others may very well be read from the scars of the suffering you had to endure.

    Hebrews 2:10 (NLT) : “God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.” The Jesus we claim to follow was made perfect through suffering, yet we often prefer to be made perfect through success. May these words find an anchor in your hearts: if you’re suffering, don’t reject God; rather, wrestle with Him in trust.

    Jacob: A Limp of Blessing

    Just as Jesus had scarred hands from suffering, Jacob had to walk with a limp. In the Old Testament, Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, had a twin brother named Esau. Jacob, known for his manipulation and deceit, had used these tactics to control and steal from his brother, leading to a bitter estrangement between them. Eventually, Jacob felt compelled to return and reconcile with Esau. As he journeyed with his family and possessions, nearing Esau’s land, he was uncertain how he would be met. He separated his family, sending them ahead, and Genesis 32:24-32 (NLT) recounts what happened next:

    “This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break.”

    Author Ronald Dunn, in his book “When Heaven is Silent,” describes this moment: “Suddenly, without warning, a ‘man’ leaps out of the darkness and wrestles Jacob to the ground… He didn’t think that it was God, because he had asked God to save him.”

    The passage continues: “When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ ‘What is your name?’ the man asked. He replied, ‘Jacob.’ ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob,’ the man told him. ‘From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.’ ‘Please tell me your name,’ Jacob said. ‘Why do you want to know my name?’ the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. Jacob named the place Peniel (which means ‘face of God’), for he said, ‘I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.’ The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip.”

    Jacob was known for his deception, striving, and fear, but the pain of wrestling with God became the crucible in which his identity was reshaped. Somehow, by wrestling with God in his pain and darkness instead of rejecting Him, Jacob experienced a profound transformation of his identity. In the ancient Near Eastern world, a name was believed to reflect a person’s inner nature, so changing a name symbolized a profound transformation. The name Jacob means “deceiver,” but through his wrestling with God, his name was changed to Israel, meaning “one who wrestles with God.” His identity shifted from a self-reliant deceiver to someone transformed through struggle and now surrendered to God.

    This illustrates a powerful truth: the secret of victory is losing the right battle. Wrestling with God through pain, instead of rejecting Him for not removing it from your life, has the potential to reshape who we are in a redemptive way. Jacobs become Israels; servants become saviors.

    Jesus didn’t mope in defeat because of the scars telling his story of unfair suffering. Instead, those scars were used for the redemptive purpose of building faith in others. After wrestling with God, Jacob not only received a new name and a blessing, but he also had a limp. Just as Jesus carried scars in his hands as a sign of victory, Jacob walked with a limp in his leg as a sign of blessing. Both experienced new beginnings out of painful seasons of suffering, all while wrestling with God in the process.

    So, if you’re in a season like that right now, don’t reject God; wrestle with Him in trust through seasons of suffering. And if you carry scars or a limp from some painful past suffering, don’t resent the scars you carry or the limp with which you walk.

    As Ronald Dunn concludes, speaking of Jacob emerging from his night of wrestling with God:

    “When Jacob limped away the next morning, he named the place of his dark encounter Peniel—‘It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.’ He could have named the spot ‘The Place of Struggle’ or ‘The Place of Pain’ or something similar—and it would have been correct, for so it was. Sometimes we do give our times of wrestling names like that—which, I guess, says a lot about us. We can only call those dark encounters Peniel (‘It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared’) when we realise that faith is: the wisdom to see treasure in trash, the courage to face things as they are, not as we wish them to be, the boldness to embrace those things and say, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me,’ making our greatest weakness our greatest strength.”

    Reflective Questions:

    1. How has a past “ending” or painful season in your life ultimately led to a “new beginning” or unexpected growth, even if it wasn’t immediately apparent at the time?
    2. In what ways have you experienced wrestling with God during a time of suffering? What does “wrestling with God in trust” look like for you in your current circumstances?
    3. Consider the scars or “limps” you carry from past pain. How might God be inviting you to view these marks not as symbols of defeat, but as evidence of His redemptive work or even as a source of hope for others?
    4. Jesus was “made perfect through suffering,” and Jacob’s identity was reshaped through struggle. What aspects of your character or faith do you believe God is seeking to refine or transform through your current challenges?
    5. What is one practical step you can take this week to lean into trust and wrestle with God, rather than rejecting Him, in the midst of any pain or uncertainty you are facing?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, we come before You with open hearts, acknowledging the reality of pain and suffering in our lives. We confess that at times, we are tempted to reject You when faced with hardship, questioning Your presence and purpose. Forgive us for our doubts and our desire for perfection through ease. We thank You for the profound examples of Jesus and Jacob, who show us that wrestling with You in our pain is not a sign of weakness, but a pathway to deeper faith and transformation.

    Lord, help us to embrace the redemptive pathways in our suffering. When we carry scars, may they become testimonies of Your healing power. When we walk with a limp, may it be a sign of Your blessing and the reshaping of our identity. Grant us the wisdom to see treasure in our trials, the courage to face things as they are, and the boldness to hold onto You, saying, “I will not let You go unless You bless me.” May our greatest weaknesses become our greatest strengths in Your hands. Guide us into the new beginnings You have prepared, even when we cannot yet see them. We trust in Your unfailing love and Your perfect plan. Amen.

    Watch the sermon on YouTube

  • Resurrection Sunday

    Resurrection Sunday

    Jesus repositions us from a victim to a victor in my suffering, transforms my wounds into a witness and turns death into a doorway leading to eternal life.

    It’s a powerful thing to consider how Jesus’ resurrection reframes our understanding of life’s difficulties. Words like ‘suffering’, ‘woundedness’, and ‘death’ often bring feelings of oppression, hurt, and loss.

    However, the resurrection of Jesus offers a new perspective, turning these experiences into paths of redemption.

    Firstly, Suffering Doesn’t Define Me, It Refines Me.

    Like refining gold through intense heat to reveal its purity, our trials can purify our faith, building perseverance, character, and hope. Through Christ’s resurrection, our suffering can become a reflection of our risen Savior, moving us from victim to victor.

    Reflect:

    1. In what areas of your life do you currently feel defined by your suffering?
    2. Can you identify a time when a difficult experience ultimately led to personal growth or a deeper understanding of yourself or your faith?
    3. How might shifting your perspective from “why me?” to “what now?” change your approach to current challenges?
    4. What does it mean to you that your suffering can reflect the image of Christ?
    5. What is one small step you can take this week to view a current struggle as an opportunity for refinement rather than just a source of pain?

    Secondly, Wounds No Longer Need to Transmit Negativity to Others, but Can Be Transformed into a Witness.

    Jesus’ wounds led Thomas from doubt to faith. Similarly, our wounds can become testimonies to God’s presence and healing. We connect through vulnerability, and our stories of overcoming hardship can offer hope to others.

    Reflect:

    1. What are some of the “wounds” in your life – past or present – that you might be tempted to hide or feel ashamed of?
    2. Can you think of a time when someone else’s vulnerability or story of overcoming hardship resonated deeply with you?
    3. How might you begin to see your own experiences of woundedness as potential points of connection and witness to others?
    4. What does the idea of being a “wounded healer” mean to you?
    5. Who in your life might benefit from hearing a story of hope that has emerged from your own pain?

    Thirdly, Death Becomes a Doorway to Life, Not a Dead-End.

    The resurrection transforms death from a finality to a passage into eternal life. This understanding shifts our focus from solely earthly concerns to an eternal perspective, freeing us from the fear of death and empowering us to live intentionally.

    Reflect:

    1. How does the concept of death as a “doorway to life” impact your perspective on your current life?
    2. What are some of the “treasures” you are currently focused on accumulating in your life? Are these earthly or eternal?
    3. How does the resurrection challenge any fears you might have about death?
    4. What does it mean to you to “live with the end in mind”? How might this influence your daily choices?
    5. In what ways can you begin to prioritize “stockpiling treasure in heaven”?

    On this Easter Sunday, the invitation extended to us is profound: to believe in the transformative power of the resurrection in every aspect of our lives – our suffering, our wounds, and even in the face of death. Jesus’ question, “Do you believe this?” is a personal one, inviting each of us to embrace this new reality.

    closing prayer

    Heavenly Father, on this glorious Resurrection Sunday, we thank you for the victory over death through Jesus Christ. Help us to see our suffering as refinement, our wounds as witness, and death as a doorway to eternal life. Strengthen our belief in the power of the resurrection and empower us to live as victors, sharing hope with others. Amen.

    Watch the sermon on YouTube