Christchurch Family Baptist: Recent Episodes
Pastor Adrian Kong
Saul continues persecuting believers of Jesus unto Damascus. Jesus appears to him on the way to Damascus and Saul is converted. He is baptized and preaches Christ in Damascus.
Great persecution causes the congregation at Jerusalem to be scattered throughout Samaria and Judaea. Philip preaches in Samaria where many believe in the authentic miracles including a sorcerer named Simon.
When Peter and John come to plant a church in Samaria, Simon tries to pay them money to give him the same power of giving the holy spirit. He is rebuked by Peter.
7 men are appointed by the disciples in Jerusalem to carry out the daily ministration after Greek widows were found to be neglected. Stephen being one of them, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. False testimony is given about Stephen and he is brought before the council where he preaches to witnesses there.
Ananias and Sapphira lose their lives after Peter rebukes them for tempting the Lord with their deceit. The Apostles preach boldly and many mighty works were done. They are placed under arrest and beaten by order of the high priest and Saducees.
Peter heals the lame man at the temple. Many believed as a result. The leaders and chief priests put Peter and John under arrest and tell them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus to which they refuse. Many believed tye preaching 9fthe disciples despite the intervention of the chief priests and Scribes.
Peter preaches boldly to the Jews and devout men from every nation that heard the declarations that the Holy Ghost had given to the Jerusalem church in different languages. 3000 were added to the church that day.
The disciples toil all night fishing at the sea of Tiberias and catch nothing. Jesus appears walking on the shore and tells them to cast their net on the right side which results in them catching many fish. Jesus restores Peter in the presence of the disciples.
Mary finds the rock taken away from the tomb. She runs to tell Peter. Peter and John arrive at the tomb to find Jesus is no longer there. The other disciples are told that Jesus is risen. However, they did not believe.
Pilate faces Jesus and questions Him before finding no fault worthy of crucifixion. He faces the crowd who are set on crucifying Jesus. Although Pilate sought to release Jesus, he decides in the end to appease the crowd, handing Jesus over to be crucified.
Jesus preaches a parable to the multitudes present. After sending the multitudes away, Jesus and His disciples enter into a ship. Other ships follow. Suddenly, a great storm arrives. The disciples wake Jesus in fear of their lives. Jesus rebukes the storm and the winds cease. They are in awe of Jesus.
Jesus and His disciples enter the garden of Gethsemane where He is taken to be judged and later crucified.
The Assyrian king enters the land and sends his people to threatenthe inhabitants in Jerusalem. Te Assyrian soldiers blasphemes the Lord God and compares Him to all other gods that have not been able to deliver the believing nations from Assyria. God delivers His people and the king of Assyria retreats back to Assyria in1 shame only to be killed while worshipping his idol god.
Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to His father and will send them another Comforter who will be with them forever. He reassures them that in time they will understand everything that will come to pass.
Jesus continues to reassure his disciples that the will continue to bear fruit as they abide in Him. He tells them that they were chosen by Him out of the world that they should bring forth fruit.
Jesus reassures His disciples and tells them to believe in God and believe also in Him. He tells them that He is the way the truth and the life and that no man cometh to the father except through Him. Jesus tells them that if they know the Father that they would also know Him and that He would pray the Father that He would send them another comforter that would abide with them forever.
It is this comforter, which is the Holy Ghost that will teach them all things and bring all things to their remembrance whatsoever Jesus had said to them.
Jesus, knowing that His hour had come washes His disciple feet. He instructs His disciples to imitate Him and serve one another. At the last supper, Jesus gives the sop to Judas Iscariot after He had dipped it. Judas leaves immediately after Satan enters him.
In the act of servitude, Jesus commands His disciples to love one another and that this is how the world would know that they belong to Him. Peter is adamant that he will lay down his life for Jesus. Jesus tells him that before the cock crows, Peter will deny him 3 times.
Jesus travels to Bethany for the feast. Many make their way there for the feast since they heard of the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead. They greet Jesus with palm branches as He makes His way into Jerusalem riding on an ass' colt.
Jesus and His disciples no longer walk amongst the Jews. They were beyond the Jordan when they receive news that Lazarus is sick. Despite the news Jesus tarries there and arrive at Bethany 4 days after the death of Lazarus. Lazarus is raised from the dead and many Jews believe on Jesus.
Jesus continues his preaching to the Pharisees. He tells them that His sheep will hear His voice and not the voice of another. The Pharisees are told that they do not recognize Jesus' voice because they are not of His fold.
Horatio loses most of his wealth in the Chicago fire after losing his son a year earlier. On a trip to England on which his wife and 4 daughters are enroute, their ship is struck by an iron ship and sinks. Horatio's wife survives while his daughters are lost. On the way to meet his wife after she send a telegram, Horatio is told by the captain of the ship that they were passing by the area where his daughters perished which prompts Horatio to write the hymn, "It is well with my soul"
Jesus and His disciples are invited to a wedding in Cana. Mary His mother tells him that they have run out of wine. Jesus tells the servants to go and fill the jars with water. After this, he tells them to serve it to the guests. The master of ceremonies makes the comment that the host has reserved the best wine for last.
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
John is inspired by the holy spirit to pen his accounts of Jesus beginning with John the baptist pointing to Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus calls Simon Peter, Andrew and the sons of Zebedee to follow him. The find Philip and he goes to see Nathanael who immediately believes when he meets Jesus.
After fleeing the Pharisees Jesus and His disciples come across a blindman. Jesus heals him and he starts preaching at the temple before the Pharisees testifying that Jesus is a prophet come from God. They banish him from the temple. Jesus reveals Himself to the healed man and he worships Jesus. The Pharisees are reproved by Jesus for their claim of being able to see.
A woman caught committing adultery is brought before Jesus. Her accusers eventually leave after being convicted by the words of Jesus. At last, she was also free to go. Jesus reproves the Jews and claim that He and the Father are one for which the Jews attempt to stone Him.
Jesus proves Philip and feeds the multitude that include five thousand men. After the disciples and Jesus leave, The disciples are caught in rough waters and Jesus delivers them. The men from the miracle come seeking Jesus to make Him their earthly king. Jesus tells them that the only way to be saved is to eat His flesh and drink His blood. Many disciples leave Jesus after this hard saying. Jesus makes reference to the 12 of whom 1 of them will betray Him.
Jesus no longer walks in Jewry because the Jews seek to kill him. His brethren do not believe him and challenges him to attend the feasts of tabernacles to show himself to the world. Jesus goes instead in private to teach at the temple. Many hear His words and are divided in their beliefs. The authorities are reproved by the Pharisees because they failed to apprehend Jesus. Nicodemus' words to listen and consider Jesus words fall on deaf ears. The Pharisees use an excuse that there is no prophet that comes from Galilee.
Jesus heals the invalid man at the pool of Bethesda during a Jewish feast on the Sabbath. The Jews seek to kill Him because he refered to God as His father; making Himself equal to God.