Acts: His Great Mission

Acts: Know the Story

We continue the Acts series by reading Acts 13:13–52, where Paul preaches in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, recounting Israel’s history and showing that God fulfilled His promises by raising Jesus, offering forgiveness, freedom from every sin, and justification not possible under the law. Brian highlights what Paul’s speech reveals about God: He is faithful though people are not, He provides leaders because He cares, and He is true to His word. He emphasizes that Jesus was God’s plan all along and calls believers to know the gospel as transformation, not mere information, so they’re prepared to share it. The passage shows varied responses—curiosity, widespread interest, jealousy and persecution—teaching not to equate delayed results with failure, to be sensitive to openness, and to move on when needed, relying on the Holy Spirit’s power to witness to the ends of the earth. CONTACT INFO Branch Church: ⁠https://branchchurchmn.org⁠ [https://branchchurchmn.org/] If you're exploring faith, considering baptism, or looking for a place to grow in community and purpose, we'd love to connect with you. Whether you're taking a first step or your next step, there's a place for you at Branch. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Acts Setup 01:39 Your Favorite Life Story 03:40 Paul Tells the Gospel 07:28 What We Learn About God 13:11 Seeing Jesus Clearly 17:51 Know the Story Share It 20:12 Responses and Opposition 21:24 Four Takeaways for Witnesses 27:22 Closing Worship and Prayer Keywords Acts 13, Paul, Barnabas, Pisidian Antioch, synagogue, Israel’s history, God’s faithfulness, promises fulfilled, Jesus, resurrection, forgiveness, justification, freedom from sin, Holy Spirit, witnessing, evangelism, perseverance, curiosity, jealousy, persecution, Gentiles, grace

Acts: His Great Mission

Pastor Josh teaches from Acts 13:1–12, highlighting how the Holy Spirit spoke during ordinary worship, fasting, and prayer in the diverse church at Antioch and called Barnabas and Saul to be set apart and sent. He emphasizes the significance of the leaders in the room—Barnabas the encourager, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen raised with Herod Antipas, and Saul the former persecutor—showing what the gospel produces before mission begins: unlikely people united in Jesus. The church prays again and releases its best leaders, modeling that the church fuels the mission. Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark minister across Cyprus, where “90 miles” of faithful, unseen work prepares them for confrontation with Bar-Jesus/Elymas before Sergius Paulus, who believes, amazed not by the miracle but by the Lord’s teaching, leading into reflection and communion. CONTACT INFO Branch Church: ⁠https://branchchurchmn.org⁠ [https://branchchurchmn.org/] If you're exploring faith, considering baptism, or looking for a place to grow in community and purpose, we'd love to connect with you. Whether you're taking a first step or your next step, there's a place for you at Branch. Chapters 00:00 Welcome And Reading 03:47 Ordinary Room Spirit Speaks 05:34 Meet The Antioch Leaders 10:09 Sending The Best Away 11:57 Cyprus Mission Begins 14:02 Ninety Miles Faithfulness 17:24 Paphos Power Encounter 18:46 Opposition And Blindness 24:04 Amazed By The Teaching 25:02 What Makes A Listening Room 28:41 Communion And Reflection

Acts 11: Barnabas & The Church in Antioch

OVERVIEW In Acts 11:19–30, we see the birth of the church in Antioch, a city that would become a launching point for the spread of the gospel throughout the world. What makes this story remarkable is that it wasn't started by famous apostles or a carefully crafted strategy. It began with ordinary believers who had been scattered by persecution and simply couldn't stop talking about Jesus. As the gospel takes root in Antioch, we meet Barnabas—a man known for encouragement, generosity, and faithfulness. Rather than seeking recognition, Barnabas recognizes God's grace at work, invests in others, and helps build a thriving church marked by unity, generosity, and mission. Through his example, we see that God often works through people who are available, faithful, and willing to release what they're holding for the sake of His kingdom. This passage reminds us that the church is at its best when ordinary people join in what God is already doing. God rarely looks for the most qualified person. He looks for hearts that are surrendered, available, and willing to trust Him with the outcome. Whether we're sent to a new place, serving where we are, or stepping into an unknown season, the invitation remains the same: make yourself available and trust God's hand to lead the way. KEY TAKEAWAYS * God often advances His mission through ordinary people who are willing to say yes * Generosity and encouragement are not strategies but the fruit of a life shaped by grace * The church is strongest when people release what they are holding and trust God with the results * Our availability matters more to God than our qualifications * The hand of the Lord rests on those who surrender their plans and join Him in His work CONTACT INFO Branch Church Website: https://branchchurchmn.org [https://branchchurchmn.org/] If you're exploring faith, considering baptism, or looking for a place to grow in community and purpose, we'd love to connect with you. Whether you're taking a first step or your next step, there's a place for you at Branch. CHAPTERS (00:00) Father's Day Welcome and Introduction (02:00) A Story from Turkey and the Early Church (04:00) When God Answers Prayers, Things Get Messy (05:00) Reading Acts 11:19–30 (07:00) Antioch: A City Ready for the Gospel (09:00) The Power of Ordinary People (10:00) The Church Is at Its Best When Ordinary People Join In (11:00) Meet Barnabas: Son of Encouragement (12:00) Generosity That Flows from Formation (13:00) Barnabas and Saul's Story (14:00) Recognizing the Grace of God (15:00) What It Means to Be Good, Full, and Faithful (16:00) A Father's Day Challenge (17:00) Generosity and Trust as Daily Postures (18:00) Barnabas Finds Saul (19:00) Christians First Called Christians in Antioch (20:00) A Church Marked by Generosity (21:00) The Lord's Hand Was With Them (22:00) Availability Over Ability (23:00) A Story from Turkey: Seeing God at Work (25:00) Generosity Precedes the Harvest (26:00) The Divine Potential Within Ordinary People (27:00) Branch West and the Invitation to Go (29:00) Final Prayer and Sending KEYWORDS Acts 11, Acts 11:19-30, Antioch, Barnabas, Saul, Paul, church planting, generosity, encouragement, discipleship, Holy Spirit, mission, evangelism, Branch West, availability, faithfulness, Christian community, Branch Church, Christian podcast, Minnesota church

Acts 9-11: Peter & Cornelius

OVERVIEW In Acts 10–11, we reach a pivotal moment in the story of the early church. Through a series of visions, divine appointments, and acts of obedience, God makes it clear that the gospel is not just for one group of people—it is for everyone. What once seemed impossible becomes reality as Peter shares the good news of Jesus with Cornelius, a Gentile, and witnesses the Holy Spirit move in powerful ways. At the heart of this story is a God who relentlessly pursues people. Cornelius is searching for God. Peter is learning to see people differently. And through both of their stories, God is tearing down barriers that once separated people from Him and from one another. The mission of Jesus is expanding, and the church is being invited to participate. KEY TAKEAWAYS * No one is beyond the reach of God's grace and invitation to new life * God continually changes our hearts so we can better reflect His mission and love * Wherever God sends us, He is already at work preparing people to encounter Jesus * We are called to be ready to share how Jesus has changed our lives * Following Jesus means removing barriers rather than standing in the way of God's work CONTACT INFO Branch Church Website: https://branchchurchmn.org [https://branchchurchmn.org/] If you're curious about Jesus, considering baptism, or looking for a community to help you grow in your faith, we'd love to connect with you. Whether you're taking a first step or your next step, there's a place for you here. CHAPTERS (00:00) Reading the Story of Cornelius and Peter (10:00) Why This Passage Changes Everything (11:00) God's Mission to the Gentiles Begins (12:00) Cornelius: A Heart Open to God (13:00) With God, Anything Is Possible (14:00) Who Is God Drawing in Your Life? (15:00) Peter's Vision and a Changed Heart (16:00) Breaking Down Barriers and Dividing Walls (17:00) Seeing People the Way God Sees Them (18:00) Taking the Next Step of Obedience (19:00) God Is Already at Work (20:00) Always Be Ready to Share Your Story (21:00) Trusting God for the Results (22:00) Baptism and Public Faith (23:00) Nothing Should Stand in the Way (24:00) Peter Defends God's Work (25:00) Don't Stand in God's Way (26:00) The Gospel Is for Everyone (27:00) Living on Mission and Final Challenge KEYWORDS Acts 10, Acts 11, Cornelius, Peter, Gentiles, Holy Spirit, mission, evangelism, gospel, salvation, baptism, discipleship, obedience, God's grace, church unity, Acts series, Branch Church, Christian podcast, Minnesota church

Acts: Miraculous Restoration

OVERVIEW In Acts 9:32–42, Peter encounters two very different people in need of restoration. Aeneas has been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. Tabitha, a beloved servant in her community, has died unexpectedly. In both stories, Peter becomes a vessel through which Jesus brings healing, hope, and new life. But the miracles themselves are not the center of the story—Jesus is. Before examining these miracles, we are reminded of Peter's own journey. The man who once denied Jesus has been transformed through intimacy with Christ, failure, restoration, and the work of the Holy Spirit. By this point in Acts, Peter is no longer seeking experiences or recognition. He is simply dependent on Jesus and available to be used by Him. This passage invites us to consider the legacy we are leaving behind, the role of prayer in our lives, and whether our actions ultimately point people to Jesus. God still brings healing, restoration, and transformation today—not so that people will marvel at the miracle, but so that they will encounter the Savior. KEY TAKEAWAYS * A life of humble service leaves a lasting legacy that impacts others long after we are gone * Prayer is not a last resort but a posture of dependence on Jesus and His power * God often forms us through failure, suffering, and restoration before using us in greater ways * Jesus meets people in every circumstance, whether they feel broken, forgotten, fruitful, or faithful * Signs, wonders, and acts of service should always point people to Jesus, not ourselves CONTACT INFO Branch Church Website: https://branchchurchmn.org [https://branchchurchmn.org/] If you're seeking healing, prayer, or encouragement in your walk with Jesus, we'd love to connect with you. Whether you're taking a first step of faith or walking through a difficult season, you don't have to do it alone. CHAPTERS (00:00) Introduction and Setting the Stage (01:30) Who Is Peter? A Story of Formation (03:00) Called by a Future Identity (04:00) Learning from Jesus Through Proximity (05:00) Peter Imitates the Ministry of Jesus (06:00) From Seeking Experiences to Trusting Jesus (07:00) Peter's Failure and Denial (08:00) Restoration by the Sea (09:00) How God Forms a Disciple (10:00) Suffering, the Holy Spirit, and Time (12:00) Reading Acts 9:32–42 (14:00) Servanthood Leaves a Legacy (16:00) The Example of Tabitha (17:00) What Are You Leaving Behind? (18:00) Prayer Is the Posture of Healing (19:00) Peter's Dependence on Jesus (20:00) When Was the Last Time You Knelt in Prayer? (21:00) Signs and Wonders Point to the Savior (22:00) Ministry That Leads People to Jesus (23:00) Jesus Meets Both Aeneas and Tabitha (24:00) Healing, Hope, and the Gospel (25:00) Communion and Remembering God's Grace (28:00) Stories of Healing and Transformation (32:00) Final Invitation for Prayer KEYWORDS Acts 9, Acts 9:32-42, Peter, Aeneas, Tabitha, Dorcas, healing, restoration, prayer, servanthood, discipleship, Holy Spirit, miracles, gospel, Jesus Christ, communion, Branch Church, Christian podcast, Minnesota church