Church Of The Open Door

As we move to the end of Paul and Barnabas first missionary journey in Acts 14, there is a strange thread of freedom that weaves through this seemingly chaotic story. Where does it lead? What is the source of this strange freedom? How do the answers to these questions reveal God's invitation to us...today? Teaching Pastor: Dave Brickey, Lead Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

Paul and Barnabas, following the Holy Spirit’s lead, travel by ship and across land, are deserted by one of their companions, preach the gospel and are begged by their listeners to continue to speak these words of life; but then jealous leaders contradict them, persecute them, drive them out … and in all of these circumstances, they are “continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Teaching Pastor: Kati Beasley, Pastor of Formational Life | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

The early church took seriously Jesus’ mandate to go and share the message of God’s love and grace with everyone. Communities sent and people went at the direction of the Holy Spirit. The mandate remains, it hasn’t changed. Teaching Pastor: Tom Johnson, Missional Life Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

Back in Jerusalem, the apostle James is arrested and killed by Herod. Peter is also arrested by Herod, but an angel releases him. James and Peter both lived with open hands to the work of God. One is not “rescued;” one is“rescued.” Meanwhile, Herod and the Jewish people, grasp for power and control, holding on tight to what they know, but all that comes is death. When we live a surrendered life, God can use our living and our dying to advance the God’s work. Teaching Pastor: Amanda Svensk, Next Gen Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

Dave Brickey brings the message, of the Holy Spirit’s whispers that led Dave, Stefanie, and their children to this point, to this place, at this time. Teaching Pastor: Dave Brickey, Lead Pastor Candidate | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

Barnabas dared to follow God across cultural and religious lines, bringing his gifts of faith and encouragement to nurture and strengthen what God’s grace had brought to life. It’s an apt topic this week as we bless our students, parents and educators and seek to partner with God out in the actual world. His grace is at work all around us! Teaching Pastor: Peggy Lang, Prayer Ministries Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

Do you have any idea what Shark Week has to do with the Peter/Cornelius story of Acts 10-11? Kati Beasley sees the connection and will share that with us this Sunday! Scientists assisting the birth of shark babies offer a potent parallel to Peter’s holding space for what God wanted to do, even when Peter didn’t know at the outset what that would turn out to be. Peter’s obedience, openness, and willingness to be awake and let God do the work is a great invitation for us, a reminder that God is at work in so many places, and we’re called to pay attention. Teaching Pastor: Kati Beasley, Pastor of Formational Life | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

n keeping with the summer study in Acts, Maureen Pranghofer shares some of her life journey. She opens up about growing up with major physical challenges; and how the twists and turns of life brought her to a place of forgiveness and healing. Teaching Speaker: Maureen Pranghofer, Guest Speaker | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

Luke puts dramatic demonstrations of power (a divine healing and a miracle) in context. Powerful displays like these are included in the “everything” in Matthew 28:20; and are to be part of the “normal” Christian experience. However they also can take attention away from the really big deal, a person coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Teaching Pastor: Tom Johnson, Missional Life Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

Is anyone beyond the reach of Jesus? Should we ever give up hope on anyone? Today in our study of Acts we come to one of the most dramatic conversion stories in all the Bible. It reminds us to hold out hope for everyone and how to pray for and walk with those we might think are beyond the reach of Jesus. Acts 9:1-22 Teaching Pastor: Dale Durie, Interim Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

Today we hear the story of how God used a waiter named Phillip to bring the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Phillip did so by using a simple principle Jesus taught – look for and lean into people of peace. Maybe if we practice this principle, God can use us to bring the good news of Jesus to the ends of our worlds too. Acts 8:26-40 Teaching Pastor: Dale Durie, Interim Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

From the large-scale stories of earlier chapters, with thousands of people coming to faith, the focus narrows in chapter 8 to a single individual, Simon the sorcerer, and his heart’s deep needs for attention, affection, and approval. Peter’s rebuke sounds harsh, but it actually offers hope – to Simon and to all of us who are still have those captive and bound places within us. Teaching Pastor: Kati Beasley, Pastor of Formational Life | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

After the stoning of Stephen, a great change occurred in the early Church as they were sent out and shared the Good News wherever they went (Acts 8:1-4). What does it mean to be sent out and scattered? How can we see ourselves as sent while serving, in conflict, in running errands, having family time, at work, in traffic and in these chaotic times in history? The good news: We are sent into the ordinary by the extraordinary Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit...and God's work is not done! Teaching Pastor: Amanda Svensk, Next Generation Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

What is our mindset about the sacred. Where do we believe God is at work and to be worshipped? At the church building? Everywhere? If we say, “everywhere,” then why do we gather for collective worship? Teaching Pastor: Dale Durie, Interim Pastor and Joel Hanson, Worship Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

Seeing needs and inequities when they occur, then responding in ways that remedy those difficulties, is a significant characteristic of God’s people. The young church in Acts 6 offers us a model for meeting practical needs with care and sensitivity as they addressed the discrimination and neglect of a vulnerable population within their congregation. Teaching Pastor: Peggy Lang, Prayer Ministries Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

As we are forced to be the church without walls during Covid-19, how do we sustain a focus on bearing witness with our words and deeds? Today we learn about the accountable relationships that lead the earliest church to bear witness… boldly. Teaching Pastor: Dale Durie, Interim Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

A potential silver lining in the Covid-19 pandemic is that the church in North America has been forced to be the church without walls: in homes, in neighborhoods, in back yards, on the streets, with our hands. But what happens when churches go back into their buildings again? Will the silver lining end? Or, will the silver lining become the playbook? Teaching Pastor: Dale Durie, Interim Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

In our country’s time of reckoning for failing to face up to and fix racial injustice, how should Christ followers bear witness to the good news of Jesus? Today we continue in our study of the book of Acts and watch two of Jesus’ disciples bear witness in such a way that its’ result is actual good news. Teaching Pastor: Dale Durie, Interim Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

That first church in Jerusalem, seeded by the Winds of Pentecost, was marked by courage and a commitment to radical community. Miracles, prayer, study, worship, and open-hearted hospitality characterized their fellowship even as persecution loomed, and their extraordinary generosity, “holding all things in common,” meant that no one among them was in need. They are models for us, in this time, of the generosities the Spirit can grow in us to meet the needs around us. Teaching Pastor: Peggy Lang, Prayer Ministries Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org

Tom points us to the purpose of Pentecost, which is to empower us to be witnesses of jesus and carry on His mission in the world. Teaching Pastor: Tom Johnson, Missional Life Pastor | A New Way | www.thedoor.org