The People Share Everything – Acts 2:1-47
January 14, 2024
Hello Kingdom Family,
Welcome to our Jesus-centered community. We are glad you are listening to today’s message.
Our purpose statement is “We are People Helping People Experience a Jesus-centered Life.”
This six-week series examines the remarkable spread of the gospel and the kingdom of God from Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the world. Jesus has commissioned every one of his followers to be his witness by the power of the Holy Spirit. Despite challenges from outside and within, the kingdom of God continues to advance. Today, we continue to be his witnesses and have a vital role in the continuing story of Jesus’s unstoppable kingdom.
We are in week two of our New Year message series titled “Unstoppable.” Today we unpack Acts 2:-1-47, and how the unstoppable movement of the disciples and Holy Spirit got started. Our scriptures today are some of the most relevant and powerful in the entire Bible.
On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were together in one place when the Holy Spirit descended as Jesus promised (vv. 2–3). Verse 4 states that all the disciples became filled with the Holy Spirit. A great crowd of people gathered to see what all the commotion was. Peter then proclaimed the gospel to the masses, and three thousand people were saved (vv. 14–40). Thus, the church was birthed in Jerusalem. What did life look like for these new believers? Verses 42–47 provide a glimpse of what the early church valued and practiced. Their culture and circumstances influenced the structures that they employed.
What is more relevant to us is what they valued and practiced as disciples of Jesus: devotion to God and his Word, fellowship with one another, radical generosity and sharing, and praying and worshipping together.
Here is the link to the Frances Chan video I referenced in the message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8EwH0Burlc
Here is the link to the video I referenced of Nala Yusuf I referenced in the message: https://vimeo.com/675809012
As a result of Christ-centered values and spiritual practices in the early church, two powerful effects took place. First, the church had a tremendous influence on those around them. Verse 47 states the disciples were “enjoying the favor of all the people.” Followers of Jesus were impacting their city by embracing the life and teaching of Jesus. Second, God brought people into his kingdom. Verse 47 ends by declaring, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Through the disciples’ courage, faith, good works, and reliance on the Holy Spirit, God added to the church daily. The kingdom was growing!
As believers today, we too can have a powerful influence on the world around us. Again, our goal is not to copy and paste the exact structure of how the early church functioned into our present-day structures. Rather, we can learn how the first disciples related to God, one another, and the world and apply those undergirding principles to our context. As we love God and obey his Word, walk in deep community with one another, give selflessly, and pray continually, we will once again change the world by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Before you listen to the message, you are encouraged to go to our website and download the lesson bulletin for this message, dated January 14, 2024. The publication contains questions to reflect on as an individual, couple, or small group. You can find them on the home page by clicking the Bulletins and Lesson Plans tab. Today’s message is “The People Shared Everything.”
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Happy New Year,
Hill-Tran Ministries
- Harold Long
- Unstoppable
- Acts 2:1-47
- Disciples
- Discipleship
- Evangelism
- Faith Community
- Frances Chan
- Generosity
- Giving
- Holy Spirit
- Jesus
- Jesus the Christ
- Jesus-Centered
- Jesus-centered Community
- Jesus-centered life
- Jesus-looking God
- Nala Yusof
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
God’s Presence Propels Us – Christmas Day – Sermon By Harold Long
December 25, 2023
- Harold Long
- 2023 Advent Series
- Christmas
- Exodus 12:1-30
- Exodus 3
- Ezekiel 34:11-12;23
- Genesis 4:21-30;37
- Jeremiah 3:14-15; 10:21; 23:1-8; 50:6-7
- John 10
- Luke 2:8-20
- Matthew 2:3-8;16-18
- Micah 5:2
- Psalm 23
- Samuel 16
- Abel
- Abraham and Sarah
- Advent
- Christ
- Christmas
- David and Bathsheba
- Elizabeth and Zachariah
- Gabriel The Angel
- Jeremiah
- Jesus the Christ
- Jesus the first born
- Jesus-Centered
- Jesus-centered Christmas
- Jesus-centered Community
- Jesus-Centered Faith
- Jesus-centered life
- Jesus-Centered Living
- Jesus-centered Motherhood
- Jesus-looking God
- John The Baptist
- Joseph
- King Herod
- Mary and Joseph
- Merry Christmas
- Moses
- Shepherds
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
In today’s message, we continue in our Advent Series, “Emmanuel, God With Us.” With our time today, we dive into The Shepherd’s Story and Ours. We unpack Luke 2:8-20 and discover how to experience “Emmanuel, God With the Us” from those lowly servants called shepherds.
God’s Presence In The Flesh – Christmas Eve 2023 – Sermon by Harold Long
December 24, 2023
- Harold Long
- 2023 Advent Series
- Christmas Eve
- Luke 2:1-7
- Matthew 1:22-23
- Abraham and Sarah
- Angels
- Christmas
- Christmas Eve
- David and Bathsheba
- Doubts
- Elizabeth and Zachariah
- Immanuel
- Incarnation
- Jesus
- Jesus is the Light
- Jesus Revolution
- Jesus the Christ
- Jesus the first born
- Jesus-Centered
- Jesus-centered Christmas
- Jesus-centered Community
- Jesus-Centered Faith
- Jesus-centered life
- Jesus-Centered Living
- Jesus-looking God
- Mary and Joseph
- Merry Christmas
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
In today’s message, we continue in our Advent Series, “Emmanuel, God With Us.” With our time today, we dive into God’s presence in the flesh. We unpack Luke 2:1-7 and Matthew 1:23-24 and discover how to experience “Emmanuel, God With the Us” from Mary and Joseph. For centuries, God’s people waited for God’s good and just King to arrive.
God’s Presence for Sinners and Sufferers Alike – Sermon by Harold Long
December 10, 2023
- Harold Long
- 2023 Advent Series
- 2 Samuel 11
- 2 Samuel 12
- 2 Samuel 7:13
- Matthew 1:7
- Bathsheba
- David
- David and Bathsheba
- Forgiveness
- Healing
- Jesus
- Jesus the Christ
- Jesus-Centered
- Jesus-centered Christmas
- Jesus-centered Community
- Jesus-Centered Faith
- Jesus-centered life
- Jesus-Centered Living
- Jesus-looking God
- King David
- Salvation
- Sozo
- Wholeness
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
In today’s message, we unpack 2 Samuel 11 & 12. We look at the life of David and Bathsheba, focusing on the sin of David and the need for healing by Bathsheba. We wrestle with why it’s important for forgiveness and healing to take place to experience Emmanuel, God, with us. We also learn how Emmanuel, God with us, means that as Christians, we are Jesus with skin to the world.
The Prodigal God – The Feast of the Father – Session V of VI
October 22, 2023
- Harold Long
- The Prodigal God
- Luke 15:11-32
- Elder Brother
- Feast
- Jesus
- Jesus the Christ
- Jesus-Centered
- Jesus-centered Community
- Jesus-Centered Faith
- Jesus-centered life
- Jesus-Centered Living
- Jesus-looking God
- Reconciliation
- Restoration
- Salvation
- The Parable of the Lost Coin
- The Parable of the Lost Sheep
- Tim Keller
- True Elder Bother
- Younger Brother
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
Today, we conclude our new message series, “The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith.” Our message is titled “The Feast of the Father.” This sermon is V of VI and sets the stage for the rest of the series. We unpack Luke 15:11-32 (NIV) and unpack the most popular of the three parables in Luke 15, which included the first two parables, The Parable of the Lost Sheep and The Parable of the Lost Coin. This message should shock and move every person engaging in the scripture and teaching. In our message today, we look at the true elder brother, Jesus the Christ. We are all called to be true elder brothers, and the question is, can we be humble and honest enough to own it and, even more importantly, do something about it? Before you listen to the message, you are encouraged to go to our website and download the lesson bulletin for this message, dated October 22, 2023.
The Prodigal God – The True Elder Brother – Sermon IV of VI
October 15, 2023
- Harold Long
- The Prodigal God
- Hebrews 2:11
- Luke 15:1-6; 25-32
- Philippians 2:4-10
- Forgiveness
- Jesus
- Jesus the Christ
- Jesus-centered life
- Jesus-Centered Living
- Jesus-looking God
- Joy
- Reconciliation
- Self-Centeredness
- Sinners
- Tax Collectors
- The Gospel of the Kingdom
- The Great Commission
- The Parable of the Lost Coin
- The Parable of the Lost Sheep
- The Parable of the Prodigal Son
- The Tale of Two Sons
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
Today, we continue our new message series, “The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith.” Our message is titled “The True Elder Brother.” This sermon is IV of VI and sets the stage for the rest of the series. We unpack Luke 15:1-6; 25-32 (NIV) and unpack the most popular of the three parables in Luke 15, which included the first two parables, The Parable of the Lost Sheep and The Parable of the Lost Coin. This message should shock and move every person engaging in the scripture and teaching. In our message today, we look at the true younger brother, Jesus the Christ. We are all called to be true elder brothers, and the question is, can we be humble and honest enough to own it and, even more importantly, do something about it?
Where Are You, God?
July 16, 2023
- Harold Long
- Where Are You, God?
- John 8:12-30
- I Am
- Jesus
- Jesus is the Light
- Jesus the Christ
- Jesus-Centered
- Jesus-centered Community
- Jesus-Centered Faith
- Jesus-centered life
- Jesus-Centered Living
- Jesus-looking God
- Jews
Our message today is titled “Where Are You, God?” We unpack John 8:12-36 and what it means to say, “God is everything, or He is nothing.” We learn why Jesus demands that we either crown him King or crucify him.
A Saved Savior
December 18, 2022
- Unforgettable Christmas
- Matthew 2:13-23
- Angels
- Excluded
- Herod
- Herod the Great
- Jesus
- Jesus is the Light
- Jesus the Christ
- Jesus-Centered
- Joseph
- King Herod
- Loneliness
- Mary
- Mary and Joseph
- Our Real Purpose
- Pain
- Purpose
- Suffering
- Wounded
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
Today we continue our Christmas message series “Unforgettable Christmas.” We unpack Matthew 2:13-23 and our message titled “A Saved Savior.” We look at the character of Herod the Great, also known as King Herod. We also discover our responsibility as it relates to God’s purpose for our lives, avoiding evil and helping advance the kingdom. Lastly, we recognize those suffering, wounded, excluded, or lonely this Christmas season.
The Imperfect Christmas
December 4, 2022
- Donna Bondurant
- Unforgettable Christmas
- Luke 1:26-38
- Dysfunctional Family
- Family
- Flawed
- Immaculate Mary
- Jesus
- Jesus the Christ
- Jesus the first born
- Jesus-Centered
- Jesus-centered Christmas
- Joseph
- Mary
- Mary and Joseph
- The Imperfect Family
- Hillsboro UMC
Donna Bondurant unpacks Luke 1:26-38 and helps us discover what “The Imperfect Christmas” means and why Jesus chose to come into the world through an imperfect family. We also look at two 21st-century examples to help us better understand what sacrifice looks like and how it demonstrates what it means to keep Christ in CHRISTmas, even though we are imperfect, always remembering few follow a Jesus-looking God who is perfect in every way. We are blessed by the perfect love of Christ, not just at Christmas but 24/7/365.
Jesus-centered Christmas
November 27, 2022
- Harold Long
- Unforgettable Christmas
- John 1:1-18
- Adoption
- Christmas
- Creation
- Emmanuel
- Foster Children
- Jesus
- Jesus the Christ
- Jesus-Centered
- Jesus-centered Christmas
- Jesus-centered Community
- Jesus-centered life
- Jesus-Centered Living
- Salvation
- Sarah McCracken
- Self-Centeredness
- Selfishness
- Spiritual Adoption
- The Word Became Flesh
- Unforgettable Christmas
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
Today we start our Advent Series “Unforgettable Christmas,” Part 1 of IV. We unpack John 1:1-18 and discover what “The Word” means and why Jesus came to earth. We also look at two 21st-century examples to help us better understand what sacrifice looks like and how it demonstrates what it means to keep Christ in CHRISTmas.