The healing of the lame man in Acts 3 highlights God's compassion towards those who suffer, including those who are overlooked and forgotten by others. Through Peter and John, we have a picture of the invitation God gives humanity to look to Him for healing and restoration, along with the immeasurable love God showed the world by reaching down into our darkness to lift us to Himself.

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Peter's denial of Jesus is shocking, especially considering his deep friendship and loyal following of Jesus over the three years prior. But what is more astonishing is the magnitude of God's grace towards Peter. Have you ever denied Jesus? The grace that covered a repentant Peter following that first Easter is also available for us today.

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We're overrun with chaotic news, and our response is often fleeting attempts at decompression. In this sermon, Rich looks at Acts to explore how God brought order through the powerful truth of Jesus Christ amidst the pandemonium of Pentecost. True peace isn't found in escapism but in acknowledging our responsibility for the chaos and embracing God's forgiveness.

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If you've ever felt like you've fallen short, the Apostle Peter's story should serve as a potent reminder that we can never be too far from God's grace. In this sermon, Rich looks at how a man who once denied Jesus three times became the bold voice of Pentecost only a few weeks later. Peter's sermon in Acts 2 highlights God's boundless grace, the importance of grounding our lives in scripture, and how ancient prophecies connect to the earth-shattering events fulfilled in Jesus.

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There are many different opinions on what it means to be 'Spirit-filled,' but despite the differing perspectives and opinions, no Christian would want less of the power of God in their life. Without the Holy Spirit, no power of God has been shown to any of us, including the power to repent and turn to Jesus. We can debate the terminology and timing all we want, but scripture is explicitly clear: we need the Holy Spirit.

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Regarding the moving of the Holy Spirit, the first verses of Acts 2 show us that, in essence, we can respond in two ways. We can either look in with awe and wonder or foolishly mock. How will you respond to what you see the Holy Spirit doing, and how should we respond as a church?

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The coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, with tongues as of fire and a roar like violent wind, seems a far cry from many Canadians' hyper-reserved and solemn experience with church gatherings. If church life in the New Testament shows us anything, the gospel's advancement is exciting work. It was true then, and if we're open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, including here in Canada, it can be true for us today.

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New Year's resolutions often set us up for disappointment by focusing on our efforts. The same can be true for Christians resolving to be "better" through more prayer, Bible study, or church attendance. This year, instead of self-dependent resolutions, we need ones that rely on God. Using Psalm 135, Rich Crosby offers an alternative vision for spiritual growth: allowing, celebrating, and expecting God to be God.

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