PassageWay Church

PassageWay Church
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The weekly messages from Tim Kroeker, Lead Pastor at PassageWay Church in Blair, NE.  Learn more at www.passageway.church.

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  1. EPISODE 1

    Acts 1:1-11 - To the Ends of the Earth: Continuing Christ’s Work Until He Comes

    The crowd excitedly counts down—ten, nine, eight—then as the final number is swallowed up in a roar of cheers, the first firework shoots up into the midnight sky. With a sharp crack, it blossoms into a colorful display. The golden embers begin their descent when, suddenly, a flurry of rockets screams upward. The sky, moments ago quiet and black, is now alive, full of light and sound. After several minutes, the sky once again turns dark. The onlookers scan the sky expectantly, wondering if that was the end of the powerful display. Then, another round of fiery shells launches in rapid succession. Jesus’ earthly ministry was a magnificent display of power in both word and deed, which culminated in his bodily resurrection from the dead. The disciples had been eyewitnesses to this magnificent salvation story, Jesus’ mission to seek and to save the lost. But they now wondered if that was the end. What would come next?  The apostles were about to enter into a new phase of God’s unfolding plan. By the power of the Holy Spirit, they were to take the salvation story to the ends of the earth.  Luke begins his sequel the way he ended the first, with Jesus’ ascension. Jesus ascended bodily into heaven with an assurance that he will one day return in the same way. So in the meantime, stop staring up into the sky waiting for the next big beautiful burst, and be busy accomplishing the task that he’s given us to do.

    34 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Acts 1:12-26: To the Ends of the Earth: Making Choices in Moments of Waiting

    Have you ever had to wait? Perhaps you’ve been waiting a long time for a promotion or a pay increase at work. Maybe you’ve been waiting for Mr. Right to finally walk up and introduce himself. You might be desperately waiting until the kids are out of diapers, old enough to attend school, or get their license so they can drive themselves to activities. Maybe you’re waiting on the results from your latest medical screening. Waiting can wear a person down.  During times of waiting, it can be especially hard to make choices. How long will the wait be? How might my choices made now affect other opportunities later? Am I just growing impatient and making a rash decision?  How can we make good choices when we feel like we’re just waiting? The book of Acts opened with Jesus telling his apostles that they were to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. But first, they were to go to Jerusalem and wait for the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, who would empower them for their worldwide mission. After Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the apostles obediently returned to Jerusalem, and while they waited, we read that they selected a replacement for the traitor Judas. We see that this decision was born out of constant prayer and was according to God's revealed will in the Scriptures.  Their first-century example is a model for you and me as we make our own choices. Good choices are accompanied by the practice of prayer and are always in agreement with God’s word. What’s more, we now have the Spirit of wisdom abiding in us. As Spirit-filled Christians, we can move forward confidently as we apply wisdom to our life choices, even in moments of waiting.

    38 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Acts 2:1-13: To the Ends of the Earth: Born to Boldly Witness

    You’ve probably seen a business sign or logo with the abbreviation “Est.” followed by a date, indicating the year a business, organization, or location officially began operations. The date of establishment is often used to convey a sense of history, tradition, stability, and experience. These same signs are often hung in homes, indicating the year of a couple’s marriage, when the family was established. On Etsy, you can even order t-shirts with your birth year. Est. 1976. But when was the church established? When did operations begin? Before ascending into heaven, we read in Acts 1 that Jesus told his disciples they would be his witnesses, taking the salvation story to the ends of the earth. But first, they were to go back to Jerusalem and wait to be baptized by the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2, we now read that the Spirit came with great power just as Jesus had said, marking a new phase in God’s redemptive plan. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, the church was born.  Not only were the believers baptized by the Spirit into this new entity, the body of Christ. They were also filled with the Holy Spirit, who powerfully enabled them to tell everyone around in their own language about the mighty works of God.  This new people would look and act in novel ways as Luke emphasizes the international flavor of the gathering crowd. Established on the day of Pentecost, we see that the church was born to boldly witness.

    34 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Acts 2:14-41 - To the Ends of the Earth: A Model for Good Preaching

    We live in a complicated era of human communication. On one hand, people will listen to an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience that lasts well over two hours. On the other hand, TikTok videos and Instagram reels typically run 30 to 60 seconds. And then there are preachers who’ve been presenting 3 points and a poem for centuries.  What makes for a good sermon? Is it the length? Choosing a topic of interest? The ability of the speaker to engage his audience with relatable illustrations? Is preaching an outdated method of communication? In the Book of Acts, Luke describes how the church was born and became a global movement. In the previous episode, we read about the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, who filled the disciples and enabled them to tell of God’s mighty works in various languages.  That miracle at Pentecost prepared the gathering crowd for what would come next. Peter stood and delivered the first Christian sermon. Using Scripture, Peter explained to his audience what they were witnessing that day. He then pointed them to Jesus, who is both Lord and Christ. Then, in response to those convicted by his words, Peter exhorted them all to repent and be saved.  The response was overwhelming, as 3000 people received his word and were baptized. Since the birth of the church, preaching has been God’s primary vehicle for saving souls. Peter’s sermon at Pentecost is still a model for us today of good preaching. --------------------- You can access The 5 Steps to Saving Faith from Step Up To Life Ministries here: https://www.stepuptolife.com/5steps

    47 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Acts 2:42-47 - To the Ends of the Earth: Community Created by The Spirit

    What do you look for in a church? Do you know a good one when you see it? Many Christians look for a church that fits their preferences: their preferred style of preaching, their preferred style of music, or their preferred demographic (age, stage of life, ethnicity, or culture). You might look for a thriving youth group or engaging activities for the kids. Perhaps you prefer a church of a certain size. It shouldn’t be too big or too small. After Peter’s powerful sermon on the Day of Pentecost, which led to the conversion of 3000 souls, Acts 2 concludes with a portrait of the early church in Jerusalem. As subsequent episodes will show, it certainly wasn’t a perfect church. However, Luke’s summary presents it as a model for the kind of community the Holy Spirit creates. First, Luke summarizes the church’s regular, ongoing activities. He then summarizes its generous and joyful character, which all led to dynamic growth as the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. This is what happens when people are bound together by a belief in the gospel and an understanding of its implications. This was a healthy church.

    36 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Acts 3:1-10 - To the Ends of the Earth: The Unexpected Proof of Jesus’ Power

    When my boys and I used to shoot around the basketball, we would play a game called Horse. Perhaps you’re familiar with the game. Each player takes a turn shooting the ball. If the person before you makes a basket, you must replicate that same shot. If you miss, you get a letter. When a player accumulates all the letters, he’s out. But we had a rule. If you missed your shot on the last letter, you could either take a second attempt or have the other player prove it.  On the Day of Pentecost, Peter and the other apostles made some sensational claims about Jesus, especially about his resurrection from the dead. They claimed to be his witnesses, powerfully calling people to repentance and to publicly profess their faith in Jesus, the exalted Christ. For devoted Jews in Jerusalem, that would be a pretty tough shot. “Hey Peter. Prove it.” Acts 3 begins with the miraculous healing of a man who had been lame from birth. He was unexpectedly, instantaneously, and completely healed in the name of Jesus. The man went leaping into the temple, praising God. Luke’s description is full of Messianic significance as the miracle pointed to an even greater spiritual reality. All the people recognized what had taken place and were amazed. The healing provided proof that Jesus was alive and that his ministry continued on through the apostles and in the church.  People today are more skeptical than ever about any sort of truth claim, not the least of which are the claims of Christ. Be living proof of Jesus’ power.

    33 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    Acts 3:11-26 - To the Ends of the Earth: Accessing Power in Jesus’ Name

    How do they do that? Perhaps you’ve asked yourself this question while watching freestyle skiers at the winter Olympics. Freestyle skiing is considered the most dangerous of all the events, with injury rates reaching 28%. Competitors perform dangerous tricks, such as the switch triple cork 1980, which consists of three flips and 5½ rotations. How do they do that?  At the beginning of Acts 3, we read about the miraculous healing of a man lame from birth. Luke writes that leaping up, the man began to walk and entered the temple with Peter and John praising God. All the people were utterly astounded. How did they do that?  Peter seizes the opportunity to address the gathering crowd. He explains that it was not their own power or piety by which the man was healed. Rather, it was in the name of Jesus that he had been made well. As Peter preaches at Solomon’s Portico, he attributes several names to Jesus. He is the Suffering Servant, the Holy and Righteous One, and the Author of Life. And it was in this name, the name of Jesus, that the lame man was healed. A name represents the essential character and authority of the one to whom it refers. There is power in Jesus’ name because of who He is. We also see that there is power in Jesus’ name because of what He does. Peter invites his listeners to enjoy for themselves the benefits available to everyone in Jesus’ name; the forgiveness of sins, times of refreshing, and readiness for Christ’s eventual return, the restoration of all things. All in Jesus’ name. But pronouncing Jesus’ name isn’t some sort of magical incantation. The key that unlocks access to the power in Jesus’ name is repentance. Whether it’s a sinful habit or demonic influence, the solution is the same. You unleash Jesus' power in your life when you abandon wickedness and return to God in Christ Jesus.

    37 min

  8. EPISODE 8

    Acts 4:1-22 - To the Ends of the Earth: Leadership in the Face of Opposition

    On October 30, 2001 President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch for game 3 of the World Series. This wasn’t just any ceremonial first pitch. The entire nation was still reeling from 9/11, New York City was at the epicenter of those devastating attacks, and remarkably, the Yankees had won the American League pennant.  The president declined to throw out the first pitch in game 1, which took place in Arizona. Instead, he saved this historic appearance for game 3 in the heart of the Bronx. Before taking the field, Yankees team captain Derek Jeter came and shook the president’s hand in the tunnel behind the dugout. He said, “Mr. President, don’t bounce it. They’ll boo you.” With the whole world watching, the president emerged from the dugout out onto the field and took his place atop the mound. The crowd erupted in chants of USA, USA. He gave a thumbs up, prepared his delivery, and threw a perfect strike across the heart of the plate. It was inspirational in a moment when people were looking for leadership.  What is it that makes for true leadership? In the book of Acts Luke describes how the church was born and became a global movement. Chapter 4 begins with the first hint of opposition. Peter and John were arrested then spent the night in jail for preaching and teaching at the temple under Solomon’s Portico. The next day they appeared before the Sanhedrin, the same ruling council that had tried and unjustly convicted Jesus. These were the supposed rulers of God’s people.  However, in the face of opposition, the apostles showed themselves to be true leaders. They were uncompromising, delivering the same message to these powerful men that they had preached the day before. Even their opponents were astonished at their courage. And when given the chance, they demonstrated total commitment to their Master and his mission. Peter and John’s consistency, courage, and commitment are a model for all disciples, all who are likewise yielded to the Holy Spirit. We too can exercise true leadership.

    38 min
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About

The weekly messages from Tim Kroeker, Lead Pastor at PassageWay Church in Blair, NE.  Learn more at www.passageway.church.

Information

  • Creator
    PassageWay Church
  • Episodes
    118
  • Seasons
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 PassageWay Church
  • Show Website
    PassageWay Church