Jesus In My Place Introduction Today we are going to look at the story about the first African who met Jesus.  We don’t know his name, but we know he is a powerful guy.  He was the secretary/treasurer for the entire southern kingdom of Africa.  On the outside he is a guy who has it all together.  He has money, Power, Fame.  But despite all that, on the inside, he doesn’t know God and he is Searching. And he doesn’t know Jesus…

Introduction We pick up from last week remembering that persecution has run amok in the early church.  Saul was ravaging the church, Christians are getting thrown into jail, Stephen is stoned.   Stephen’s trial really got to Saul, and he responded with frenetic violence.  Because, sometimes that is how people respond to conviction… lash out against the message AND its messengers. The people are scattered… The apostles stay in Jerusalem… regular Christians go and fulfill the great commission.  I believe…

Introduction Many People are bored in Church.  Just going through the motions.  (get up, get dressed, walk in, grab a doughnut, try to get through the service before the sugar crash.  Go home, do it all again next week)… and we are afflicted with a nagging sense that we ought to be doing something.  That there is some meaningful mission we are supposed to be a part of, but we can’t quite get their mind around what it is, or…