Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Acts 13 marks a key shift in the book Acts — thematically, geographically, and demographically — as Luke directs our focus away from the church in Jerusalem and now to the church in Antioch. There, we see what a healthy, dynamic church culture looks like: in the church, from the church, and for the world.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Acts 12 features a duel of power between good and evil, God and Satan, Peter and Herod. In Herod, Satan tries to stomp out the gospel through unchecked power and sinister strength. But in Peter, God advances his Kingdom through trust, prayer, weakness, silence, and invisibility. The weakness and foolishness of God overturns what the enemy meant for evil, for good (1 Corinthians 1:25-30; Romans 8:28).
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | God brings Peter to Cornelius, and Cornelius gathers a crowd for Peter, so that God can declare the good news to the Gentiles. Acts 10 marks what may be referred to as the 'Gentile Pentecost,' which mirrors in many ways the first Pentecost in Jerusalem for the Jews.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | As Peter moves throughout the Mediterranean, he has two miraculous interactions - one with a paralyzed man, and another with a deceased woman - that replicate and repeat Jesus' own ministry. This story tells us something about apostolic authority back then as well as Jesus' heart for us today.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Acts 9 marks a milestone moment in the early church and also in the history of the world: the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Even though Saul wasn't looking for God, God sought him out. And the ways God brought Saul to repentance and salvation is oftentimes how God brings us into the fold as well.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In Acts 6, the church faces a new type of opposition. It's not external (like persecution or imprisonment) nor is it internal (like corruption or temptation); this time, it's somewhat 'passive opposition' where no one is necessarily at fault; there is natural dissonance, natural conflict, compounded with the stress and strain of natural growth pains in the church. Stephen, in particular, serves the needs of the church that he is aware of; and also evangelize...
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Acts 5 features a cultural and spiritual war taking place between the establishment of Israel and the up-and-coming early church. As Satan takes extreme measures to stop the message of the gospel and salvation from spreading, God ensures that the Truth is preserved and people are brought into His Kingdom.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In the first 4 chapters, the book of Acts shows how the church originated, operated, continued in the ordinary, and faced opposition. So far, the only opposition was external, i.e., physical harm and imprisonment. However, this type of opposition doesn't thwart the growth of the church; in fact, it enhances it all the more. At the turn of Acts 5, Satan changes his opposition from attacking them with external forces to now crafting insidious, internal acts, h...
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In Acts 4, the Sanhedrin arrests the apostles for healing and teaching in Jesus' name - which was not a violation of the law, only the Sanhedrin's perceived sense of power. In the Sanhedrin, we can see a profound picture of ourselves and the culture around us: the priority of self, and Jesus' authority interrupting our autonomy and authority.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | As the church continues in their regular routines and rhythms of life, their ordinary obedience to God gives way to extraordinary events. As they follow God each day, He directs their paths... to the right people... at the right place... for his perfect will.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Acts unfolds in an action-packed way: the apostles receive the authority of Jesus, the Holy Spirit descends at Pentecost, many in Jerusalem repent of their sins and follow Christ, and the first church is born. But now what? At the end of Acts, we see 5 defining characteristics of this new church, marking its health, structure, and lifestyle.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | After the disciples waited, the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost - and the church is born. In chapter 2, we see three main realities of the Holy Spirit - His arrival, activity, and aim.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Acts opens with a great transition, that is, Jesus leaving His disciples and ascending into heaven. As He leaves, the disciples wait, pray, and prepare as they await the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and stand on the precipice of a new era in salvation history: the church.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The end of the book of Genesis recounts the end of Joseph's life, documenting his many years as second-in-command in Egypt, and giving us a window into how he's processed the pain, path, and purpose God had for him. As he looks back, God has crystallized three main things in his heart: an ability to forgive fully, an ability to perceive rightly, and an ability to hope expectantly.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | God's path, plan, and preparation for Joseph has been a series of long-winding roads, twists and turns, diversions and demotions - yet, from glory to glory in God's providential purposes. Joseph is around 27 years old, and God has ordained his path and his preparation - now, we see God's patience and providential actions beyond what Joseph can see, as Joseph waits trustingly.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Joseph arrives at the doorstep of Potiphar, the captain of the guard for Pharaoh, and spends approximately 10 years there. During this particular decade, God prepares his character and competency - orchestrating every detail on his way to second-in-command.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | God's path for Joseph was one of silent sovereignty. God orchestrated each interaction, each diversion, and each detail - all leading him to be exactly where God wanted him to be. And so He does with our own lives, too.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Genesis 35 recalls the final leg of Jacob's tumultuous journey, an uneasy but providential climb to Bethel. In the process, God protects and provides providentially, and reassures him who he is in Him, and His promises to him - the same thing God does for us as we navigate the unknowns, from a desperate place to our designated destination.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The most defining moments in Jacob's life happen in his two transition: from Canaan to Haran; and again, from Haran to Canaan. Both journeys are riddled by tumult and trial, but also tenacity: namely, his tenacity for what he wants for himself, but also God's tenacity for what He wants for Jacob. Again, on the road of transition, Jacob wrestles with God, and God wrestles with Jacob - leaving him never again the same. So, how do we wrestle with God? How does ...
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Jacob nears the end of his agreement with Laban, and he's anxiously awaiting a transition into a new chapter of life. As he begins the transition from Haran and back to Canaan, we see alot of messiness and manipulation, but also God's sovereignty, and principles that we can apply to our own life as we make transitions as well.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Genesis 24 marks a significant transition - the end of Abraham's life and legacy and his 'passing of the torch' to his only son, Isaac. But before he passes, he sets out to find a wife for his son. Here in this chapter, we can find 25 principles that can be applied to searching for a spouse today.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The life of Abraham can be seen as a series of tests of faith, which each one getting more and more severe. In faith, he left his homeland; in faith, he left his family; in faith, he left Lot; in faith, he trusted God with Ishmael; and now, in faith, he trusts God by offering up Isaac - the climactic moment of his life and legacy.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Genesis 14 establishes the 'tithe' between God and God's people, a primary way we respond God, trust Him, and also receive His honor and blessing.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Genesis 1-11 spans nearly 2000 years of human history, and the world keeps rebelling against God's will and ways. What's the hope? The offspring who's come to save and reverse the curse. Genesis 11 ends with what looks like little hope: the line of Shem has become pagan, and is now barren. Where will the promise come? Genesis 12 starts with the only hope: God speaks.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Genesis 7-8 recount Noah's ~370 day ride through the greatest storm in human history. And the promises, principles, and practices God shows Noah, are just as relevant for us today for the storms we will go into - and through.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Genesis 4 features the story of Cain and Abel, the first children and siblings in human history. Their story is one of tragedy and grace, pointing forward to the truer and better older brother we all need.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Genesis 2 expands on and elaborates upon God's pinnacle creation, humankind. In it, we can see humanity's place in the world, their purpose, uniqueness, and capacity.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Genesis 1 gives us the reality behind the creation, the creation itself, and our place in it. It introduces the story of God, the story of the world, and our story in it, too.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Chapter 15 records the 'pinnacle moment' of the Mark's main theme, which has been building like a crescendo over the past 14 chapters: Jesus is God's Suffering Servant and Man's Redeemer. Chapter 15 shows us why Jesus, and only Jesus, is the only One who can save.
Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In Mark 13, Jesus provides 7 signs of what happens at the end of the world, and even more importantly, how we can live in light of the end in our day-to-day lives.
