Cartersville First Baptist Church

It has been said that Acts is the story of what happens in between prayer meetings. In Acts 12:1-25 the church earnestly prays, and their prayer flexes the omnipotent arm of Almighty God! Prayer is our power! Prayer pours out God’s power in our lives. How’s your prayer life?

As the Jerusalem church is dispersed, they fall into disobedience in regards to sharing the Gospel to the gentiles. It’s the church at Antioch that takes on the challenge and opens the door for the gentiles to be included in the faith. As a result, the Lord’s hand is upon them and the Kingdom of God is advanced.

Life changes like the weather. Life is not all green pastures and still waters. Life includes times of the valley of the shadow of death. Psalm 23 is a psalm for the shadows. Here we are reminded in times of trouble that we have a Shepherd who has promised to meet all our needs. His power provides for all our needs. His presence protects us from all fear. His preparations produce blessings now and forever! Can you with absolute confidence claim Lord as your shepherd?

Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? We sure do because life can eat our best plans for breakfast! Unlike our plans, God’s plans always come together! Therefore, what really matters in life is whether or not you are in or out of God’s plan. In Acts 10:1-48 we learn what puts us in God plan and what puts us out. God shows no partiality! God’s plans always come together. Prayer puts us in God’s plan. Our partiality puts us out!

Acts 9:32-43 tells the story of two problems. These two earthly problems had a heavenly purpose. Peter saw their purpose because he has his “glasses” on! He saw earthly problems through the eyes of the Holy Spirit! Such sight transformed Peter’s coming and going from ordinary to extraordinary. This text teaches us that God wants our going to accomplish His goals! Our earthly problems have a heavenly purpose! Can you see it?

Acts 9:1-31 is the single most well-known story in the book of Acts. Saul gets saved and learns that he is a chosen instrument of God. You may not have had a “Damascus Road Experience” like Saul did when he was saved—but if you’ve been saved you too are a chosen instrument of God to carry His name before ___________ (you fill in the blank). Have you realized you are an instrument? Have you realized your purpose in life? Are you ready to tell God, “Here I am, Lord!”?

What did it take to move the Gospel outside the city limits of Jerusalem? The answer might surprise you! In Acts 8:1-25 we see that persecution didn’t slow the Gospel—it sped the Gospel! In fact, nothing propels the Gospel more than persecution! Furthermore, this text also reminds us of five truths:  Every Christian is a Witness.  The Gospel brings Joy wherever it Goes. Nothing God has is for Sale! As the Gospel Goes there will Always be both True and False converts. The True Gospel Demands Everything! 

What does it take for a Christian to live a life worthy of the calling?  Join pastor Steven as he reminds us from the book of Ephesians that the secret is for us to remember how we came to Christ – totally abandoning our former way of life and putting on the new self which is created in righteousness and holiness.

Do you want to be a world changer? What is the single-greatest thing you can do to change the world? WITNESS! Witnessing changes the world! Yes, witnessing for Jesus will generate opposition. Yes, witnessing for Jesus will require speaking in the face of opposition. Yes, witnessing for Jesus is worth dying for by the hands of the opposition. Why? Because our witness changes the world!

Join Pastor Drew as he takes a look into the story of Acts 6:1-7 where a problem arose in the Jerusalem church and the Apostles were tasked with appointing a group of men to be part of the solution to the problem. The appointment of these men was part of God’s plan to create an opportunity for people to lead by serving the church through various ministries. Check out this message to find out how God allowed something incredible to happen as a result of solving the problem!

The resurrection of Jesus is the most revolutionary moment in all of history! The fact that Jesus is alive changes everything! His Gospel—the good news of his life, death, burial, and resurrection—changes everything! Has everything changed for you?

Acts 5:1-16 teaches us that the fear of God fuels the mission of God. These verses contain one of the most unusual accounts in the New Testament. God has commissioned His church to speak the Gospel. Meanwhile, Satan is doing everything within his power to prevent it. Satan has tried outside opposition. Now he deploys the tactic of inside deception. The Holy Spirit acts swiftly to protect the purity of the church, for where there is no purity there is no power.   The Holy Spirit’s actions restore a proper fear of God. This fear of God produces purity and purity restores power. Thus, from Acts 5:1-16 we see that the fear of God fuels the mission of God.

What does a church look like when the Holy Spirit is fully and freely at work? Acts 4:32-37 shows us! Here we see that the evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit is INTERNAL UNITY and EXTERNAL POWER. Internal unity produced radical generosity in the church and external power to share their story outside the church. This text challenges to consider the source of our SECURITY and the power of sharing our STORY.  What is your security in? Are you sharing your story of following Jesus with others?

What is the Holy Spirit all about? Why has God given us His Holy Spirit to live within us? Acts 2:1-41 shows us that God gave us His Spirit to empower us to accomplish His mission. This mission is be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. In this sermon we see that the primary purpose of being filled with the Spirit of God is so that we have the power to speak the Word of God.

Casualties in the Christian faith can be confusing. Just think about Judas. If one of Jesus’ own disciples was a casualty—is Jesus’ plan legit? Is God really in control? The account of Acts 1:15-26 reveals that casualties will occur, but that God’s plan cannot be stopped. There will be both frauds and failures along the way—but faith that stands up is possible by God’s grace!

God’s question for you and me is, “Can I get a witness?” As followers of Christ our identity and mission are summarized in just one word, “WITNESS.” The Book of Acts is the story of God empowering His church by His Spirit to be His witnesses. Witnessing happens ONE gospel conversation at a time. Who’s your ONE? As witnesses we win by the word of our testimony!

Life happens to all of us. How do you respond when life goes wrong? The book of Job teaches us how to respond wisely when life hurts. In the midst of life’s pain, Job points us to the unchanging wisdom, power, and goodness of God. Job is a book intended to lifeproof your faith.

In this 2nd message on three threats to your faith Solomon shows the futility of looking for life in the things of this world. Solomon experienced everything life under the sun had to offer and ultimately found it bankrupt. It offered no lasting satisfaction. In the end, Solomon discovers the secret of getting a life.