Calvary Chapel Of Crook County - Main

Peter returns to Jerusalem and the news of him eating in a gentile’s house was already known. So Peter explains that how, through a vision, God called him to share the Gospel with the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Peter related that at first refused but the Lord rebuked him, and Peter obeyed. As a result, he shared with the Gentile Cornelius and his whole household, and a “Gentile Pentecost” happened. Then Peter challenged the Jewish Christians: If God gave the Gentiles the same gift as He gave us, how can we say no? When they heard these things they became silent and then glorified God that the Gentiles were given repentance to life also.

In Caesarea a centurion named Cornelius, a devout and God-fearing man, was told in a vision to send for Peter, in Joppa. At the same time, Peter had a vision of all kinds of animals in a sheet, and God told him to eat. Peter protested since most were unclean to the Jews, but God said He had made everything clean. While still thinking about the vision, Cornelius' friends came for Peter, and God told him to go with them. Arriving in Caesarea, Peter understood that God had torn the walls down between Jew and Gentile, and that's what the vision was about. He explained Jesus to Cornelius and his household - all believed, were filled with the Holy Spirit and were baptized.

Peter leaves Jerusalem to minister to the young churches hungry to hear from someone who walked with Jesus. Arriving at Lydda he came upon Aeneas, a man who had been bedridden for eight years. Even as Peter stood by him he sensed the Lord’s healing, and he was healed, which caused all those who saw Aeneas afterward to believe in Jesus. Then he heals a woman named Tabitha, who had been dead for several hours. This was Peter’s first healing. Once again, many believed. They heard the Word, saw the signs and believed. Peter made himself available, put Jesus on display and God did the rest. He lived a “deliberate” life.

Paul teaches that because of Adam's sin, all mankind is born in sin. All have sinned and need redemption. One sinned and brought death to many. Then, through the sacrifice of Jesus, one Man died and brought life to many.

The podcast of Calvary Prineville contains the latest sermons from Pastor Rory Rodgers, and occasionally live recordings of the latest worship service.

After his conversion, Saul changes from opposing the gospel to preaching it. So much so that he became a gossiper of the gospel, teaching in all the synagogues. Eventually he left Damascus for Jerusalem, prompted in great part by the Jews who were trying to kill him. In Jerusalem he intended to meet the apostles, but they were wary of him, given his history of persecuting the followers of Jesus. Finally, Barnabas convinced them that Saul was the "real deal," and that they needed to embrace him. Saul continued teaching and the church flourished.

The podcast of Calvary Prineville contains the latest sermons from Pastor Rory Rodgers, and occasionally live recordings of the latest worship service.

After Stephen is martyred, Saul is like a wild beast, set to destroy the Church. Already having created havoc in Jerusalem, he travels to Damascus to do the same. On the way, the Lord knocks him to the ground, speaks to him, and blinds him. He is directed to go to Damascus where he was lead by his friends. A man in Damascus, Ananias, was directed by the Lord to seek out Saul, pray with him, and baptize him. Saul believed and was filled with the Holy Spirit. God effectively turned the wolf into a shepherd, showing that if God can save Saul, He can save anyone.

Philip obeys the Lord and goes out to the desert. There he meets an Ethiopian eunuch - a treasurer for Queen Candace of Ethiopia - who is studying the book of Isaiah. He doesn't understand what he's reading and so asks Philip for help. Philip lays out the gospel for him, the Ethiopian believes and is baptized.

After Stephen's martyrdom the church is persecuted, scattered, and it grows! Philip, led by the Holy Spirit, travels to Samaria, an area detested by the Jews in Jerusalem, and performs many signs and wonders as people believed in Jesus. Peter and John came up to Samaria to see what was going on and after realizing the new converts hadn't receive the Holy Spirit, they laid hands on them so they could. Simon, a local sorcerer, was impressed by Philip and apparently believed and was baptized. When he saw the apostles laying on hands and the people becoming full of the Holy Spirit, he asked Philp if he could give him money so he could do that as well. That did not go over well.

Paul writes to the Roman church to make sure they have a firm foundation in their faith. It’s likely they had no pastor and had simply come into existence through those Romans who had believed in Jerusalem after Jesus’ resurrection and then returned home. In this first chapter, Paul makes the case that people are without excuse, that God has revealed Himself to them in many ways. Even so, the world has chosen to go its own way.

Stephen, one of the first deacons and full of the Holy Spirit, preached Jesus and performed signs and wonders. This caused great opposition by the authorities, and they brought false charges against him. Beginning with Abraham, Stephen reminded the Jewish people of their heritage, how they were chosen by God but were always rebellious and how they had killed the prophets. He told them this is exactly what they had done to Jesus, and for that he became the first Christian martyr.

The apostles struggled to meet their responsibilities to teach, pray and pastor and also to administer the day-to-day affairs of the growing church. With godly wisdom they decided to appoint seven men of good reputation and full of the Holy Spirit, to minister to the practical needs of the believers.

The Lord purified the church through the taking of Ananias and Sapphira, which brought power and unity. Subsequently, there were many signs and wonders, and people came from all over to be healed. Once again, the authorities arrested the Apostles - all of them. While in prison, an angel of the Lord set them free and told them to continue preaching, which they did. Called before the authorities once again, the apostles said they needed to obey God rather than men. Finally, Gamaliel convinced them to let them go. If it was of men it would come to nothing; if of God, they couldn’t be stopped. They were beaten and released – praising God that they were counted worthy.

After Barnabas sold land and donated the proceeds (Chapter 4), husband and wife Ananias and Sapphira thought they'd do the same. The only problem was they kept part of the proceeds and gave the rest to Peter, making people believe that what they gave was all they received. Peter told Ananias that he lied to the Holy Spirit, at which time he collapsed dead on the floor. A few hours later his wife came in, and when confronted with what they'd done, she died as well.

God is after our worship out of joyful hearts. Psalm 100 has four main points. First, we are commanded to practice public praise and worship, which calls for a need to be together. We are also called to worship in song, no matter our ability. Second, we are called to serve the Lord gladly. Whatever you do, do it heartily for the Lord. We have purpose for Him and His glory, not just in the church but in our community. Third, we are created in His image, and He delights when we get to know Him, especially be being in the Word and meditating on it. Finally, we need to be continuously thanking God for His mercy as well as everything he provides.

The story of the prodigal son teaches the entire message of the Bible and is especially applicable for Resurrection Sunday. The son wanted to live life his way, as do all of us. The result is a natural leaving of God and ending up in the “big emptiness” without Him. When he came to his senses, the son returned to a loving, accepting father, who covered him in a robe of “righteousness.” The older brother, like the Pharisees, wanted judgment for his brother’s actions, exhibiting a spirit of pride and self-righteousness. He missed his father’s heart. Being a Christian is not about being “religious,” rather, it’s about being forgiven.

Finishing with Acts 4, a picture is painted of the generous spirit in the early church. Although people had their own possessions, they didn't regard them as such, and shared willingly with those who were in need. This was a large number of people as a majority of the new believers in Jerusalem were "out-of-towners," having come from other areas to celebrate the Passover. People shared out of love and not compulsion. An example given was that of Joseph, later called Barnabas, who sold a field and presented all the proceeds to the apostles for use as needed.

Peter and John come before the Jewish authorities, who tell them not to speak the name of Jesus again. In reply, they say they will obey God rather than man. Once released, they return to their companions and together pray for boldness to share Jesus. Rory emphasizes that this boldness is borne from the Holy Spirit, coupled with a close relationship with Jesus through reading the Word and prayer.

Peter and John are arrested by the Jewish authorities and Peter gives them the gospel message, concluding with the statement that Jesus is the only name in heaven by which men can be saved. This is the beginning of the Church's persecution by the world.