South CLT Pres Church Dean Faulkner, Josh Creason, et al.

We all want to know something about the "story." Whether it be the latest news, politics, or sports, the "what" of the story matters. Scripture has a story with a "what" called the gospel. In this sermon at South CLT Pres, Acts 8.26-40 moves the question from the "what" to the "Who" of the Bible - and of history itself. Who is this Big Story about?

In some way we all desire power. We like to see it, be near it, experience it, and possess it. We don't like to feel powerless or unable to do something. So we reach for that which will put us in control and in charge so we can feel safe. In this message we see how the powerful gift of the Holy Spirit gives us a powerful hope through Jesus Christ.

Some of us want to be liked. Some of us are ok with not being liked. Few if any of us are comfortable with being hated. In this message, we will see the case of a good man being hated when Stephen preaches Christ while he is on trial in Acts 6-7. This extraordinary story is one that reminds us that even when we are threatened unto death, there is a greater Smile looking our way.

In this message, we take a break from our sermon series to welcome Rev. Charles McKnight III! Rev. McKnight is coordinator of African American Ministries, a ministry of Mission to North America (PCA). He also planted West Charlotte Church at Freedom (PCA), an intercultural church plant committed to the urban west Charlotte community. We are grateful to have him and his family with us! He will be teaching on Lessons in the Storm, from Mark 4:35-41.

How do you deal with pressure? We live in a world that is pressuring us all the time. In Acts 5:17-42, we see a hostile world pressuring the church to silence the message of the Gospel, and we see how the church responds. In this message, we will learn to deal with pressure in dependence of God and because God is the one sustaining the church the message of the Gospel is unstoppable.

Scandal is nothing new in the church, though we hear news of it far too regularly. Still, broken humanity shows up every week and sometimes in deceptive form. Listen, as we see how God responds to the rise of sinister works in church and how the church thrives even more under the gift of discipline in Acts chapters 4 and 5.