In this chapter of Acts we see Paul and Barnabus move from Iconium to Lystra and Derbe in their mission to spread the good news to the Jews and Gentiles in the region of Galatia. Chris speaks on how they manage to do this in spite of stiff opposition from some Jews and significant misunderstanding from many of the other people they meet. We are reminded that in our own evangelism people may not have the same view of God that we do and are challenged to make the gospel accessible to them.

Susan leads the rest of the service as we take time to reflect on God’s word and Mike leads our sung worship.

We continue in our series in Acts this week, focussing on Paul and Barnabas’ preaching to the Jews and Gentiles in the towns of Galatia. We see how, just as in Jerusalem, many of the Jews rejected their message of salvation through Jesus and began to persecute those who believed, both Jews and Gentiles. Paul taylors his message to his audience, he doesn’t tell them the whole gospel just the bits they need to know at that time. A handy tip for when we ourselves are called to evangelise!

Andy leads the rest of the service, Trevor introduces our mission of the month for November – Mercy Ships – and Lynne and Pete lead our sung worship.

This week we carry on in our study of Acts and in chapter 13 we start to see the focus shifting away from Peter and the church in the Jewish world to Paul (formerly Saul)’s mission to evangelise to the Gentiles. Chris looks at the church’s sending of Paul on his first missionary journey to Cyprus alongside Barnabus, where they encounter spiritual opposition in the form of a false prophet. We hear how the Holy Spirit set apart those two men to bring the word of God to the world, what are we being set apart for today?

Ant leads the rest of the service, we hear about the final vision given to Loren Cunningham the founder of YWAM (our Mission of the Month) and Pete leads our sung worship.

This week we return to our ongoing study of the book of Acts. Previously we had seen the word of God begin to spread from the initial believers in Jerusalem throughout the Roman world and beyond, and we re-join the story a few years later where King Herod (the grandson of the *other* King Herod) was threatened by the increasing Chrisitan community back in Israel. He had Peter arrested and thrown in prison, but – as we find out – human chains cannot hold back God’s plans, and in this passage we see an amazing demonstration of the power of prayer. What are we praying for today?

Karen leads the rest of the service with updates from our Mission of the Month, YWAM, and the launch of the annual Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal. Lynne and Dave lead our sung worship.

This week in our Acts series we see the focus shifting from Peter to the spread of the Gospel to the north of Israel in Antioch (on the modern day Turkish/Syrian border) and Barnabas’ mission to bring encouragement and teaching to the newly-named Christian community there. During his time in Antioch Barnabas recruits Saul, who the apostles had previously sent to Tarsus, to join him. This initial spread of Christianity may have seemed random and disorganised but – as Chris encourages us – God often uses disorder to bring forward his purposes. What apparent disorder can we see today that God is working through?

Andy leads the rest of the service as we invite the Holy Spirit to take away all our inhibitions and Lynne and Dave lead our sung worship.

This week in our Acts series we find Peter returing to Jerusalem from Caesarea and reporting back to the church what had happened before and during his visit to Cornelius. We see a reiteration of his belief that God has opened up the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, and Chris looks at why this may have been a challenge to the Jewish believers. He also explains that – as most of us in the west are Gentiles – in accepting Jesus we are also grafted into the (historic) people of Israel and can share in their promised inheritance.

Susan leads the rest of the service whilst Pete and Nick lead our sung worship.

We continue with our study of the book of Acts this week as Chris leads us through Acts 10. Up until now the church had been composed of what we would now call Messianic Jews – Jews who have accepted the grace of Jesus. But now with Peter’s vision and visit to Cornelius it is abundantly clear that the message is not just for the Jews but the Gentiles too. God reveals to Peter that his gift of the Holy Spirit is for all, Jew and Gentile alike. And thank goodness for that, because it means us too!

Karen leads the rest of the service as we pray for our Mission of the Month, Home Mission, whilst Mike and Lynne lead our sung worship.

Chris continues our study of the book of Acts, this week closing out chapter 9 back with Peter as Luke recounts his journeys to Lydda and Joppa and the miraculous signs that were performed there. First we hear about the healing of Aeneas who had been paralysed for 8 years, and then the raising of Tabitha from the dead in Joppa. In both cases God used these miracles as the catalyst for even more, as the news of Jesus continued to spread in Israel and beyond.

Karen leads the rest of the service as Lynne gives an update on our Mission of the Month, YFC, and Pete leads our sung worship. We also share communion together.

This week we return to our series in Acts, specifically looking at what Saul (Paul) does immediately after his experience with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Chris looks at Saul’s new calling to preach what would then have been an extremely radical message in Damascus, Arabia and Jerusalem: that Jesus is the risen Son of God!

Andy leads the rest of the service as we celebrate and pray for the women of the church in the light of Mother’s Day (aka Mothering Sunday) and International Women’s Day this past week. Lynne and Dave lead our sung worship.