Authentic Church Through Scripture: Lessons from Acts 11

In this episode of the Middletown Baptist Church podcast, Pastor Josh delves into Acts chapter 11, explaining the challenges Peter faced for ministering to Gentiles and how he addressed them with grace and Biblical truth. Pastor Josh underscores the importance of stepping outside of comfort zones to spread the gospel and emphasizes the church's role in fostering unity and glorifying God amidst contention. The sermon transitions to highlight the spread of Christianity to various regions following Stephen's persecution and the critical role of obedience to God's calling. Pastor Josh also praises Barnabas's encouraging role in the early church and stresses the significance of living boldly for Christ, giving generously, and nurturing new believers into mature followers. Finally, the idea of being Christians by action and faith, not just by name, is explored to inspire listeners to live their faith authentically.

00:00 Welcome to Middletown Baptist Church Podcast

00:23 Peter's Defense and the Challenge of Tradition

01:17 The Spread of the Gospel Beyond the Jews

01:55 The Role of Faith and Obedience in Ministry

03:57 Barnabas: The Encourager Sent to Antioch

06:58 The Importance of Faith and Repentance

09:23 Encouragement and Growth in the Early Church

11:21 Barnabas' Mission and the Power of Encouragement

21:40 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Ministry

27:24 The Impact of Faithfulness on Youth

28:11 Barnabas and Saul: A Dynamic Duo

28:51 The Importance of Teaching in the Early Church

29:42 The Origin of the Term 'Christian'

30:20 Living Boldly for Christ

34:24 The Call to Generous Giving

43:56 Encouragement and Faith in the Church

47:57 Living as True Representatives of Christ

49:13 Conclusion and Contact Information

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This podcast is produced by Ralph Estep, Jr., host of the Ask Ralph Podcast, a daily podcast on Christian Finance you can find it at https://www.askralphpodcast.com/