Sanctify My Heart/Troy Church of Christ

This week we look at one of the more unusual events in the book of the Acts:

"Some itinerant Jewish exorcists who happened to be in town at the time tried their hand at what they assumed to be Paul's "game." They pronounced the name of the Master Jesus over victims of evil spirits, saying, "I command you by the Jesus preached by Paul!" The seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were trying to do this on a man when the evil spirit talked back: "I know Jesus and I've heard of Paul, but who are you?" Then the possessed man went berserk--jumped the exorcists, beat them up, and tore off their clothes. Naked and bloody, they got away as best they could." (Acts 13-16, The Message)

Acts 3:1-10
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer-- at three in the afternoon.
2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.
4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!"
5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.
8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
(NIV)

You know the old saying, "Old dogs can't learn new tricks?" Scripture tends to turn that saying on its head by reminding us that God did not create us as dogs, and that we are capable of learning and growing in our understanding and faith at all stages of life. Starting in Acts 18:24, we find a couple of examples of people who knew well that learning never ends.

Acts 18:9-11 (NIV)

"One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: 'Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.' So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God."

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’"

Acts 17:24-28 (English Standard Version)

A quick overview of baptism as seen and practiced in the Book of Acts.

A vision, a false imprisonment and illegal beating, and a guard on the verge of suicide might not sound like the beginnings of a new church family, but that's just what happens in Acts 16.

Acts 15:1-2, "Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: 'Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.' This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question."

What did the apostles and elders decide (and what's it got to do with me???)? Join us in this podcast and see!

Despite fierce opposition and a very serious brush with death, Paul and Barnabas continued to boldly proclaim the news that Jesus had come to redeem mankind.

Given the opportunity, Paul preaches the good news of how Christ, the Messiah, fulfilled the prophecies of the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and Psalms. This is one of the first stops on Paul's first missionary journey.

When standing face to face with a disruptive, corrupt, and evil man calls him to account, without hesitation. We come face to face with sin and its work every day, and often are too fearful to speak up. Is there something in Paul's actions that day we can learn from? Join us as we seek inspiration from the lives of the early disciples and apostles as we continue our study of the Book of Acts.

Political maneuvering, flattery, and an over-inflated ego open a whole new can of worms for Herod in this installment of our ongoing study of the Book of Acts.

Jailed by Herod (who thought he'd reap political favor by rounding up Christian leaders), the apostle Peter has an unexpected visitor in the middle of the night in his jail cell. See what happens next in this broadcast of Sanctify My Heart.

Leaving Jerusalem because of the persecution that began with the martyrdom of Stephen, the disciples of Jesus take the news of Jesus to to the city of Antioch, where a strong church was planted and grew to become a missionary sending church. Christians were, in fact, first called "Christians" at Antioch. Join us this week as we continue to retrace the steps of the early church as we journey through the Book of Acts.

Peter has a mysterious vision, followed by unexpected guests at the gate. He knows God is up to something, but just what is it?

Find out on this week's broadcast of Sanctify My Heart, the radio & podcast ministry of the Troy Church of Christ, Troy, NY.

On the road to Damascus Saul, a zealous persecutor of the church, was stopped in his tracks by Jesus, and his life would never be the same.

A truth-seeking Ethiopian official finds the grace of Christ during a desert journey.

(Acts 8:26 & ff.)

4 So those who were scattered went on their way proclaiming the message of good news. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and preached the Messiah to them. 6 The crowds paid attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the signs he was performing. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
(Acts 8:4-8)

Acts Chapter Seven

As the church continued to grow, it met challenges from within and without. In Acts 7, we see Stephen, a powerful witness to the good news of Jesus, become the first Christian martyr. Why? Because truth met stubborn hearts. Join us this week as we look at this event, and the high price of stubbornness.