When the day of Pentecost arrived, the disciples were “all together in one place”. They were waiting—unsure of what would come next—when suddenly the room filled with “a sound like the rush of a violent wind”. Tongues “as of fire” rested on each of them, and “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit”. …
Tag: First Congregational Church
May 15
It Is Not About the Power
Philippians 2:1–13 Ascension Sunday often gets misunderstood as the moment Jesus “takes power” in some triumphant, king‑of‑the‑mountain way. But Philippians 2 tells a very different story. Christ is exalted not because he grasped for greatness, but because he let it go. His glory rises from humility, not dominance. Paul reminds us that Jesus “did not …
May 06
Finding the God Who Is Not Far from Any of Us
Acts 17:27 In Acts 17, Paul stands in the middle of Athens—a city buzzing with ideas, arguments, idols, and endless searching. It’s a world that looks a lot like ours: noisy, distracted, always chasing the next new thing. But Paul doesn’t shame the Athenians for their restlessness. He sees their longing. He notices their altar …
Apr 23
Resurrection Leads Us Into the Prisons of This World
Easter is not just a season of lilies and alleluias. It is a vocation—a way of living that follows the Risen Christ into the places where people are still bound. Acts 16 reminds us that resurrection hope does not float above the world’s pain; it walks straight into it. Paul and Silas do not set …
