The Acts 13 Network

The Acts 13 Network

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1d ago

Do You Want What Jesus Gives, or Do You Want Jesus?

Three signs. Three questions. One that actually matters. In this message, we take a big swing through John 5 and 6 together—the healing at the pool of Bethesda, the feeding of the 5,000, and Jesus walking on water—and land on the question underneath all of them: are we chasing Jesus, or just chasing what he can give us? We look at a man who'd been sick for 38 years and answers Jesus' question with reasons why healing is impossible. We look at a crowd that gets fed and comes back the next day looking for more bread, not more of Jesus. And we look at Peter, who stays when everyone else walks away, because "you have the words of eternal life." Along the way: why archaeology backed up a detail in John's Gospel skeptics doubted for years, why grace tends to collide with our religious rule-keeping, and a gut-check from C.S. Lewis about how easily we settle for less than we're offered. In this episode: The healing at the Bethesda pool and the question, "Do you want to get well?"Why the religious leaders missed the miracle and only saw a broken ruleThe feeding of the 5,000 and its ties back to the manna in ExodusJesus' hard teaching about eating his flesh and drinking his blood—and why people left over itPeter's answer: "Lord, to whom shall we go?"The real question: do you want what Jesus gives, or do you want Jesus?Scripture: John 5:1–15, John 6:1–15, 25–69 Quoted: C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
6d ago

Believing is Seeing and Believing is Life - Faith My Eyes

Description:Jesus heals a royal official's son from twenty miles away — with nothing but a spoken word. But the real story here isn't the healing. It's the choice the official makes before he knows the outcome: will he trust Jesus's word, or walk away disappointed like so many others in John's Gospel? This week we look at the difference between a transactional faith ("what will you do for me") and a trusting faith ("I believe you, so I'll act on it") — and why that difference only really gets tested when suffering shows up. In this episode: Why the Galileans' "welcome" of Jesus was more transactional than triumphantThe royal official: powerful, wealthy, and completely undone by his son's illnessWhy suffering is the great equalizer — and why Jesus's "unless you see signs and wonders" isn't as harsh as it soundsThe turning point: the man takes Jesus at his word and starts the twenty-mile walk homeSeeing-is-believing vs. believing-is-seeing — and which one you actually areWhy suffering, not comfort, reveals the true shape of our faithScripture: John 4:43–54
Jul 12

Believing is Seeing and Believing is Life - Night and Day

Two of the most famous stories in the Gospels, side by side: Nicodemus, a respected religious leader who comes to Jesus at night, and the Samaritan woman, an outcast Jesus meets at a well in the heat of noon. Night and day. Male and female. Insider and outsider. Same offer of grace. We walk through both conversations — Nicodemus and "born again," the woman and "living water" — and ask which one we actually resemble: the person hiding what's inside, or the person already exposed and desperate for grace. Either way, Jesus meets us there. Scripture: John 3:1–21, John 4:1–42 If this episode is useful, share it with someone who needs to hear it.
Jul 5

Believing is Seeing and Believing is Life - The Zeal that Consumes

John 2:13–25 | Acts 13 Network Everyone notices it eventually: this story shows up in the wrong place. In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus clearing the temple courts comes near the end of his ministry — it's the moment that gets him killed. John puts it in chapter two. Same event, two different spots. In this message, we look at why John does that, what was actually happening in that temple courtyard, and why Jesus's anger there still has something pointed to say to us about what we worship. In this message: Why the Gospel writers weren't writing modern history, and what that means for how we read the placement of this storyWhat was really going on in the Court of the Gentiles — and why it mattered that this particular courtyard was the one turned into a marketplaceThe wordplay in the Greek between "temple" and "temple" that most English translations flatten outWhy "seeing is believing" gets flipped on its head for JesusA hard question about what we actually measure as church "success" — and what our own idols tend to look likeScripture: John 2:13–25 Discussion questions: Jesus overturns tables but doesn't strike a person, and he lets the dove-sellers keep serving the poor. What does that precision tell you about the nature of his anger?The religious leaders were fixated on Herod's temple complex while missing the one standing in front of them. Where are you tempted to fixate on the impressive and miss the actual presence of God?What's your version of the "triple B" — building, budget, or butts in seats? What would it look like to measure faithfulness differently?Is there a table in your own life that Jesus would want to overturn?Acts 13 Network is a house church gathering in Ypsilanti, MI. Find us at acts13.net.
Jun 29

Believing is Seeing and Believing is Life - The Presence in Our Midst

We often view God in grand, cosmic, and epic terms. But what happens when the Creator of the universe steps out of the eternal scope and moves straight into a dusty riverside neighborhood? In this episode, we kick off a new study in the Gospel of John, diving into what commentators call the "Book of Signs" (John 1:19–2:12). Together, we trace the narrative from John the Baptist’s interrogation at the River Jordan to a chaotic wedding feast in Cana. Along the way, we explore three profound realities about living in the active presence of Jesus and confront the dangerous tendency to substitute a living relationship with a dry, religious checklist. Tune in as we discuss how Jesus steps into our human insufficiency to offer an overwhelming, inside-out transformation. Key Takeaways From This Episode: The Danger of Religious Blindness: The Pharisees and scribes had credentials, devotion, and the scriptures memorized, yet they completely failed to recognize Jesus standing right in front of them. We face the exact same danger when we evaluate our faith based on an external audit of rules rather than His presence. The Power of "Come and See": When the first disciples approached Jesus, they didn't ask for a theological defense—they asked where He was staying. Evangelism isn't a complex sales job or an apologetics battle; it is a simple invitation to encounter the Savior who is already in our midst. From Empty Rituals to Kingdom Abundance: At the wedding in Cana, Jesus turned water into 600 to 900 bottles of the absolute choice wine. By using the stone jars meant for ceremonial purification, Jesus showed that He didn't come to look at our external cleaning rituals—He came to take our dead, incomplete religion and transform it into the rich, abundant wine of kingdom life. Scripture Referenced: John 1:19–2:12 Genesis 28 (Jacob’s Ladder) Reflection Questions for the Week: When someone asks how your walk with God is going, do you immediately run down a checklist of external behaviors, or do you focus on His active presence? Are you still standing by the old stone jars trying to scrub yourself clean from the outside, or are you resting in the transformational wine of His grace from the inside out? If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a friend who needs the reminder that believing is seeing, and believing is life!
Jun 25

Believing is Seeing and Believing is Life - The God Who Moved into the Neighborhood

We often think of God in two ways: He is imminent (right here with us) and He is transcendent (completely beyond our comprehension). But how do these two realities mix when life gets messy? In this episode, we dive into the final verses of the John 1 prologue to explore one of the most radical claims of the Christian faith: The Word didn't just look down on us—He became flesh and moved into the neighborhood. Before Jesus died for you, He lived with you. Join us as we look at what it truly means to experience a God who doesn’t hide from our mess, but steps right into it to offer relentless, wave-after-wave grace. 📋 What We Cover In This Episode: The Ultimate Paradox: How we can know God truly without ever fully exhausting the depths of who He is. The Great Undoing: Why Jesus walking on Earth is the direct reversal of the brokenness, shame, and isolation born in Genesis 3. Grace Upon Grace: A look at the Greek word pleroma and why God’s grace functions like ocean waves—eternally rolling in, with no danger of ever running out. The "Holy Huddle" Trap: Why the Incarnation doesn't allow us to isolate ourselves from the culture, and what it actually looks like to "show up" for our neighbors. 💬 Key Quote From The Sermon: "The way God decided to bring grace and mercy to the world was by showing up, by being present, by moving into the neighborhood... We leave the church and we go be present out in the world, demonstrating this life of love for the world to see." 🎯 Your Challenge This Week: You don’t need a bullhorn, a stack of tracts, or a perfect theological argument. This week, simply walk out your front door, look at your community, and find one practical way to show up and love well. Enjoying the podcast? Don't forget to hit the Follow button, leave us a 5-star rating, and share this episode with a friend who needs a reminder of God's endless grace today!
Jun 25

Believing is Seeing and Believing is Life - Radical Reality of Adoption

In this episode, we continue our journey through the Gospel of John, diving deep into the structural center of the famous Prologue: John 1:9–13. While it's easy to get caught up in the grand, cosmic scale of Jesus as the pre-existent Word and Creator of the universe, John’s ultimate destination in this passage is deeply personal. He drives us toward a breathtaking climax: the reality that those who receive Christ are given the legal right to become children of God. Join us as we break down this text into three powerful movements: the Creator rejected, the Creator adopting, and the Creator working alone. What We Cover in This Episode: The Irony of the Rejected Creator: How Jesus came into the very world He spoke into existence—and even to His own chosen people—yet was completely unrecognized and rejected. The "Liar, Lunatic, or Lord" Dilemma: A look at C.S. Lewis’s classic argument. Why we cannot just settle for calling Jesus a "good moral teacher." The Legal Power of Exousia: What it actually means to have the "right" to become children of God. Spoiler: It’s not a vague spiritual "vibe"—it is an unbreakable, documented legal standing given by the Father. Why the Creator Works Alone: Dissecting John’s "triple negatives" (not of blood, nor of the flesh, nor of a husband's will). We debunk the cultural myth that "God helps those who help themselves" and look at why our total inability to save ourselves is actually the best news ever. Key Takeaway: "In our world, we say 'seeing is believing.' But in God's economy, John flips the script: believing is seeing. When you place your trust in Christ, your eyes are opened to see who God truly is—and who you are to Him." Connect With Us: Subscribe & Review: If this episode encouraged you, please leave us a 5-star review on Spotify! Share: Know someone who needs to be reminded of their secure identity in Christ? Share this episode with them! Thanks for listening!
Jun 9

Believing is Seeing and Believing is Life - Sent to Point

We are diving back into the beautiful prologue of John’s Gospel, specifically looking at John 1:6–9 and verse 15. In this episode, we break down the unique role of John the Baptist, tackle some mind-bending theology regarding the pre-existence of Christ, and look at the two cultural errors the modern church frequently falls into when it comes to faith and evangelism. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with the "E-word" (evangelism) or felt pressured to have a PhD in theology just to talk about your faith, this episode is a breath of fresh air. The Missing Title: Why does the author simply call him "John" instead of "John the Baptist" like the other three Gospels? The Divine Hierarchy: How John the Baptist flipped ancient family culture on its head by submitting to his younger cousin, Jesus. The "Moon vs. Sun" Reality: A challenge to stop centering ourselves in God's story and remember that our only job is to reflect the True Light. Witnessing vs. Salesmanship: Why you don't need a degree in apologetics or a script to share your faith. (Hint: It’s as simple as standing on a witness stand and saying, "Here is what I saw.") "We are not the sun; we are the moon. The moon has no light of its own—it simply reflects the light of the sun back into the darkness. When the world looks at us, they should see the character of Jesus reflected clearly." We aren't asking you to go door-to-door or pitch Jesus to five strangers this week. Instead, we challenge you to sit down and honestly wrestle with these two questions: Have I actually encountered the living Christ in my life? If someone asked me why I have hope in a dark world, am I ready to simply tell my story? Enjoyed the sermon? Don't forget to subscribe, leave a 5-star rating, and share this episode with a friend who needs a reminder of the peace and hope found in Christ this week! 🎧 What We Cover in This Episode:💬 Key Takeaway Quote:🚶‍♂️ This Week's Reflection Challenge:

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The Acts 13 Network (Trailer)

The Acts 13 Network

The audio home of The Acts 13 Network.

Creator

The Acts 13 Network
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

154
Rating

Clean
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The Acts 13 Network