Wilmington Community Evangelical Church

This final chapter has premonitions, prophecies, and promises fulfilled. God promised Paul he would testify in Rome and God kept his promise. Satan can never foil God’s plans. The open end of Acts makes us wonder what happened to Paul after two years. The final words of Paul in Acts are from an OT prophecy about the rejection of the Messiah by Jews and the expansion of the church among Gentiles. This prophecy was fulfilled in the years after Paul died.

Your destiny is in God’s hands and he will make it happen. God will give us everything he has promised in the Bible. Do you think you have any personal promises from God? Whatever God has promised, whether salvation or something personal in your life, God will fulfill it.

God keeps his promises!

May 7, 2006 ~ Signs: Acts 28:1-10

In the movie SIGNS, Rev. Graham Hess abandons his faith when his wife is tragically killed, but he returns to his faith when he sees signs of God’s presence.

The people of Malta saw healing signs of Christ’s resurrection. The Maltese were very confused. They thought Paul was a murderer and then a god. This is just like people today – people have a distorted concept of God and their minds are filled with confusing ideas. They sometimes need signs to point them in the right direction. But signs alone are not enough. The clear teaching of the word of God is necessary to reveal truth. There are many signs that accompany those who believe. What signs demonstrate your faith in Jesus Christ?

April 30, 2006 ~ Contagious Confidence: ACTS 27

Paul's confidence during the storm was contagious. It was a powerful testimony. Paul's confidence made him the leader even the Roman centurion followed Paul's directions. Paul got soldiers, sailors, and prisoners to work together for each others survival. If anybody should be able to demonstrate confidence in a threatening situation it is a true Christian. We can spread contagious confidence in any situation because we know God is in control. What is your ship in the storm? Where does God want you to demonstrate contagious confidence?

April 15, 2006

Cracking The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code makes this claim: “All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.”

Three central false claims of The DVC:
1) Constantine or the Vatican suppressed the earlier, truer gospels (Gnostic gospels) to consolidate power. (The four Gospels in the Bible were accepted as authoritative 200 years before the Nicaea Council.)
2) Christians did not view Jesus as divine until after the Council of Nicaea A.D. 325. (Christians believed in the complete divinity and humanity of Christ before the Council.)
3) The church covered up the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene because that would have proved that Jesus was only a “mortal prophet.” (No historical evidence for this falsehood.)

There’s a deeper, insidious code in The DVC. The DVC wants to replace biblical, historical Christianity with neopagan goddess pantheism.

April 3, 2005

The primary focus of the passage is solving conflicts so we can more effectively spread the word of God. Persecution and internal conflict are hindrances to spreading the word of God. The first major internal conflict in the Christian community was a class distinction similar to racism: Hebraic Jews & Grecian Jews and Gentile converts. All churches deal with the same issues. Christ must be greater than our culture. Another focus of this passage is the servants/deacons who were "full of the Spirit and wisdom and faith". All believers are gifted servants. The Holy Spirit makes us all Incredibles. Have you found your ministry niche? Your service makes the church more effective in spreading the word of God.

March 27, 2005

The first difference is the quality of the person who died. Jesus Christ had something Theudas and Judas the Galilean didn't have – divinity. Jesus is the unique Son of God. The second difference is that an actual transaction took place when Christ died on the cross. We memorialize the crucifixion in communion because a spiritual transaction took place. The third difference is the resurrection difference. The cross is not the end of the story. The words of Gamaliel have proved true: If it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. Are you fighting against God this morning?

INRI: Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Iudaeorvm

Born: December 25, 3 BC / Died: March 25, AD 30

March 13, 2005

Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell gave a bold prayer at President Bush’s inauguration. In Acts 3:1-10 we observe the healing miracle in Jesus' name. Acts 3:6: Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!" In Acts 3:11-4:4 we read the message emphasizing the power of Jesus' name. Acts 3:16: "It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him." In Acts 4:5-12 we learn that Jesus' name is the only name that grants salvation. Acts 4:12: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." In Acts 4:13-22 we are challenged not to be intimidated by political leaders who tell Christians not to use Christ's name in public.

First, respect the name you claim.

Second, speak the name you claim.

February 27, 2005

The Bible describes the church as a “holy nation”: 1 Peter 2:4-10.

The blood of Jesus Christ and his resurrection from death produced the birth of the church, God's holy nation. Peter’s preaching, the word of God, was also instrumental in the birth of God's nation. The gift of the Holy Spirit empowered the birth of God's nation. We can use the description in verses 42-47 to measure the quality of our own church life. How do we measure up? We are a holy nation. Nobody is born by physical birth or infant baptism into God's holy nation. You must be born again into this nation.

February 20, 2005

Sociologists tell us that dissonant groups within a larger society react in two predictable ways to reduce the potential for conflict. One is to compromise their distinctive beliefs and way of life and so reduce their conflict with society. The other is to keep their difference or distinction and tribalize, retreating within their own group and thus losing contact with society. As a Christian community and an immigrant community, called by Christ Jesus to be salt and light of the world, how should we react when we are under the influence and pressure of the larger society?

January 23, 2005

The disciples of Jesus had a concern: Who should replace Judas? We will examine the methods they used to determine God’s will. We can use these methods when we are trying to discern God’s will. The written word of God is our primary means of knowing God’s will. The Holy Spirit is our Guidance Counselor and he has a voice that can be heard: John 14:25-27. God maintains sovereign control over the circumstances just as he controlled casting lots. We refer to this as an “open door” or a “closed door”.

Testifying before the Senate Agriculture Committee on the value of the peanut, George Washington Carver, who as an infant was traded for a broken-down race horse, said that he got his knowledge of peanuts from the Bible. Asked what the Bible said about peanuts he replied, “The Bible does not teach anything regarding the peanut. But it told me about God, and God told me about the peanut.”

January 9, 2005

Kingdom Vision - ACT1-1.11

Jesus Christ had a kingdom vision and after his resurrection he spent 40 days communicating that vision to his disciples. Acts 1:3: Jesus appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. The focus of Acts 1:1-11 is the ascension of Christ. Without the ascension of Christ there would be no gift of the Holy Spirit to empower the church. Jesus basic message to the disciples: “You will advance the kingdom of God to the ends of the earth and you will be able to do this because the Holy Spirit will empower you to do it.”

January 2, 2005

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Revelation 14:6-7

December 5,2004

Christmas Promises

What is your Christmas “wish list”? The Old Testament is sprinkled with the promises of a Savior-King, like clues to solve a mystery. The Da Vinci Code or the The DiVine Christ Code. First clue, God promised a Savior who would defeat Satan: Genesis 3:15. Second clue, God promised a Savior who would become one of us: Isaiah 7:14 (NT: Matthew 1:18-25). Third clue, God promised a divine Savior who would establish a just government on earth: Isaiah 9:1-7. Fourth clue, God promised a Savior who would be born in Bethlehem of Judea: Micah 5:2 (NT: Matthew 2:6). God is the ultimate promise keeper. Read 2 Peter 3:8-9.

October 31, 2004

Pray for Christians in Iraq.

Iraq has approximately 800,000 Christians. The invasion of Iraq brought freedom for Iraqi Christians. Saddam Hussein’s Baathist Party persecuted the Christians. The interim law in the new Iraqi government includes a provision, Article 53D, creating a safe haven for Iraq’s Christians. The Islamic extremists trying to take over Iraq have threatened to kill all the Christians. Christians are now being targeted by the extremists and it isn’t making the news (I wonder why?). The presence of Christians in Iraq will help in developing a pluralistic and democratic society. This could truly change the face of the Middle East and open it up for the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. God is at work in Iraq.

Source: BreakPoint: ‘Canaries in the Middle East Coal Mine’, 10/28/2004

October 24, 2004

The Divine Christ - Luke 5:17-26 & 18:31-34

Debunking the deity of Christ is nothing new. The Jeffersonian Bible denies the deity of Jesus Christ. The Jesus Seminar denies the deity of Jesus Christ. Popular fiction, The Da Vinci Code, denies the deity of Jesus Christ. The first proof of the divine Christ is his claim to forgive sins: Luke 5:17-26. The second proof of the divine Christ is his claim to be “Lord of the Sabbath”: Luke 6:1-11. The miraculous healings confirmed Christ’s divine claims. The third proof of the divine Christ is the prediction and fulfillment of his death and resurrection: Luke 18:31-34. Jesus Christ is either Lord, a liar, or a lunatic – great moral teacher and nothing more is not an option.

October 17, 2004

The Weeping Christ: Luke 19:41-44 & John 11:35

Crying has emotional and physical benefits. In Luke 19:41-44, Jesus wept over the spiritual blindness of the people and its impending consequences for Jerusalem. The Greeks had two words for time: chronos and kairos. God gives every person at least one “window of opportunity”: don’t miss yours! In John 11:35, Jesus wept, “burst into tears”, and immersed himself in the pain of human loss. John 11:33 indicates that there was anger behind Jesus tears. Jesus was angry at the illness, suffering, and death which He saw as a manifestation of Satan’s kingdom of evil. “When you cry, it looks like love to me!”

October 10, 2004

The Patient Christ: Luke 13:1-8

Patience is not a virtue in our society, but it ought to be. Impatience is defined as time-urgency. Jesus Christ taught his disciples about the patience of God in Luke 13:1-8. God waits patiently for us to repent. Christ was patient with his disciples: Luke 9:46-50. Christ showed great patience toward fallen human nature. Christ was patient with his opponents, the religious professors, when they harshly slandered him: Luke 11:14-20. The patient Christ restrained his emotions and reasoned with them. Jesus Christ patiently waited for his permanent incarnation and he has been patiently waiting 2000 years to return and take over the earth. God has been very patient with each one of us.

October 3, 2004

The Great Exchange synopsis 10/3:

Another important word that describes the significance of the cross of Christ is redemption. The main idea is exchange. Biblical redemption involves deliverance from slavery because of a great exchange: 1 Peter 1:13-21. Biblical redemption involves release from a curse, another great exchange: Galatians 3:10-14. Biblical redemption involves transference from one kingdom to another, another great exchange: Colossians 1:13-14. Imagine being transferred from Domain of Darkness High School (DDHS) to Kingdom Charter School (KCS). Your bad record is expunged and you receive Christ’s perfect student record.

September 26, 2004

The Humorous Christ: Luke 6:39-42

Jesus used the hippest humor of his day to communicate spiritual truth. Jesus had the people of his day rolling on the hillsides with laughter. The humorous Christ used puns or word plays to communicate truth. Jesus poked fun at the excessive legalism of the Pharisees: “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” The humorous Christ used hyperbole to teach eternal truth. In Luke 6:39-42 & 18:24-25, Jesus used humorous exaggeration to deflate self-righteousness. The humorous Christ used irony of situation to teach truth. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14 is an example of Jesus’ ironic humor. The most wonderful and humorous irony in history is the great reversal at the end of the Gospel story. The world’s greatest one-liner is “Christ is risen!” So “Lighten up!” and experience the healing power of laughter.