Larry Kirkpatrick

A Positive Place on the Web for the Third Angel's Message

Acts: Repentance and More

2020-04-18

Our study is from the book of Acts. This week we are in Acts 5:12-42.

Jesus has been crucified--murdered--by the combination of church and state, Rome in connection with the local religious leaders. But, oops, Jesus was in fact God and after His crucifixion He rose again. He has launched His New Testament church and the authorities are having a bit of a time.

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Acts: Hypocrisy or Purity?

2020-04-11

The early church was not only busy, it was persecuted. We continue our study with chapter five. We recall the story of Ananias and Sapphira but often make the mistake of thinking of them apart from the very Scripture content that gives the incident its context. So we actually want to begin at Acts 4:32-37:

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Acts: The Church that Knows who is God

2020-04-04

Today, Acts 3-4: God's church is on the move! But the authorities are interfering. His church is preaching and teaching Jesus as Messiah. The secular authorities are uneasy. Why?

In our day we have to ask that question. That is because in our day, the state is, effectively, god. It decides, for example, which activities are essential and which, non-essential. Churches are closed by decree; abortion clinics are open by decree. The state decides we should keep six feet apart and we comply.

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Acts: Baptism of the Holy Spirit

2020-03-28

Last Sabbath with "Opening for the Church," we began a study of God's church in the book of Acts. But we can go no farther without considering the necessity of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus spoke of it. It is found in all four of the gospels. John's baptism of repentance is linked to the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

At the very beginning of the New Testament we learn about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is portrayed as a future event. Matthew 3:5-12:

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Acts: Opening for the Church

2020-03-21

God Sends Leaders with Commands

As a consequence of the COVID-19 virus, we are adapting to concerns about pandemic. In many places the holding of worship events has been suspended. And now might be one of the best times to revisit God's plan for church. "All who believe are to be gathered into one church" (Acts of the Apostles, p. 28).

Open your Bible to the book of Acts. We begin in chapter one.

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Strong Jesus--Delicate World

2020-03-14

We live in a world of sin. Living in a world of sin is not supposed to be easy.

Jesus' disciples asked Him, What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?

Matthew 24:6-8 is part of Jesus' answer:

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The Dead Know Not Anything?

2020-02-10

One longstanding error plaguing human understanding is the idea of the immortal soul. Seventh-day Adventists studying the Bible learned that man is a whole. He does not have a soul, he is a soul.

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