This is the first message from our new series, "The Holy Spirit."  We dive into Acts 1:1-14 and discover Jesus' need of the Holy Spirit in His own life and ministry. Jesus did not start His public ministry until He was baptized and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove.  It was then that He was tested in the wilderness and afterwards performed His first miracle.  We must recognize as children of God, as Jesus needed the Holy Spirit, we need Him too as a vital part of our lives.

The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:18, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."  In this message, we explore why the message of Christ crucified is foolishness to the world.

Our substance is everything God has given us. It's our finances, but it is also our time and talents. Just like the Corinthians, we can learn the principles of giving our substance from the Macedonians. Giving is sacrificial, spontaneous, selfless, spiritual, and sincere.

In Acts 1:8, Jesus says, " But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” What does that mean exactly? Let's take a closer look!

Throughout our Christian walk, we often have times when God directs us to do something we consider to be impractical or even outlandish.  During those times, we must remember God has a plan and we need to move forward in it.  We must never allow pride, fear, or cynicism to prevent us in accomplishing God's purpose for our lives.