DavidFiorazo

"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." (Heb. 1) The book of Hebrews begins with God, then the Son, His authority, and a comparison of Jesus to angels regarding authority. Written to encourage Jewish converts that they could have confidence in Christ, their Messiah and High Priest, much is recorded with the assumption they understood the Levitical priesthood. In fact, the generation who received this letter had practiced sacrifices in the temple at Jerusalem according to Levitical law. So there is an emphasis on the superiority of Christ’s ‘once and for all’ sacrifice over the practices of Judaism. God provided the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the people and Jesus is the perfect High Priest offering better provisions through the New Covenant; this is the central message of Hebrews. "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." COLOSSIANS 1:14-17 During a time of intensified persecution, some Jewish communities were tempted to avoid identification with Christ and may have considered claiming He was a mere angel. The Qumran Messianic Jews were doing this by dropping out of society and their brand of reformed Judaism included the worship of angels, even going so far as to claim Michael the archangel had a higher status than the Messiah. Jesus called Himself the Son of Man and the Son of God. The first title emphasized His humanity; the second, His deity. He is the only person in history who was both God and man. Leaving heaven, He laid aside His divine glory and took upon Himself the robe of humanness. SCRIPTURES IN ORDER OF MENTION: Hebrews 1:1-14 Colossians 1:14-17 Hebrews 2:5-9 Psalm 110:1 John 10:30 Mark 14:61-63 Philippians 2:6-11 Hebrews 4:14-16 Hebrews 2:2 *Message presented at Freedom Fellowship in Kaukauna, WI on Sunday, November 19, 2017. Cometofreedom.com Nov 20, 2017

If Jesus rebuked many early Christian churches for leaving their first love, for straying, or being lukewarm, how can we, believers in America, think He would not harshly rebuke our churches? We have watered down the Word of God and have lost our saltiness and power to preserve culture. Some large churches have a reputation for being alive, but their discipleship and doctrine is rather ineffective. Jesus told the early churches: "Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you." Revelation 3:2-3 QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: 1. Today, is your life bearing fruit for the Lord Jesus Christ? 2. Are we passionate about eternal and spiritual things? 3. Who or what is our first love and main focus? 4. Have we conformed to our culture - or to Christ? 5. Do we love this world more than we love God, His Word? 6. Are you prepared for persecution when it comes? Dwight L. Moody once said, "Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter." SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: Revelation 3:2-3, "Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you." REV. 3:1 REV. 3:14-22 REV. 2:1-5 MATTHEW 5:14-16 ACTS 2:42 1 JOHN 2:15-17 1 PETER 5:8-9 JUDE 1:3 MATTHEW 10:22 2 PETER 3:7-13 Presented by author, David Fiorazo, guest speaker at Crosspoint Church in DePere, WI, 10/7/18. Notes: https://davidfiorazo.com/2018/10/what... Oct 8, 2018

Christianity provides compelling answers to four ultimate questions of origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. “But is the Bible reliable?” After thousands of years of constant attacks, opposition, and intense scrutiny by critics − warfare that no other work has ever seen − the Bible has withstood the onslaught, has gained credibility, and the Christian faith has continued to thrive throughout the world. Why? No other written work has the power to convict people of their sin, the ability to change human nature, and offers a permanent solution to man’s greatest problem. Consider the uniqueness of the Bible: a record of God’s message to His creation, miracles, history, an honest assessment of evil and the heart of man, unique claims, a plan of salvation, and a specific description and vision of the end times. According to Bible scholars, 1,845 references point to the return of Jesus Christ More than a quarter of the Bible is prophecy (some suggest one third) Jesus’s return is highlighted in seventeen Old Testament books, as well as 321 mentions in the New Testament. The “God-breathed” sixty-six books in the Bible were written by forty different authors from diverse backgrounds Scriptures were written in three different languages over a period of 1,500 years on three different continents by men who never communicated with each other! Archaeology confirms the Bible, hundreds of eye-witnesses testify to it, history supports it, martyrs died for it, and prophecy reinforces its truth. If you really want to understand truth, it is revealed throughout Scripture; and Jesus said the truth will set you free! Oct 19, 2018

Who is the True God? Was Jesus created or is He the Creator? On this doctrine, eternity depends. If Jesus Christ is God and if the Bible is inspired - literally “God-breathed” by the Holy Spirit - then everything Jesus said and taught is true. If everything He said is true, then Christians had better understand and obey his teachings. Jesus: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." (Luke 21:22) The more of Jesus and His word we get in us, the more full we will be of Christ. Jesus is the perfect combination of grace and truth! Churches today can be 80% grace and 20% truth, so we need a proper balance. We know and believe Jesus Christ is both Savior and Lord, and our faith is based upon not only His finished work on the cross, but on His divinity and humanity. Let’s dig-in to the doctrine of the Trinity and the 'God-Man.' Notes, study, and full commentary: http://davidfiorazo.com/2018/11/the-t... SCRIPTURES Philippians 2:5-11 Colossians 1:15-19 John 1:1-3, 14 John 3:16-18 Acts 13:33-34 Revelation 22:12-13, 16 Nov 19, 2018

Never before in history has a nation or people been dispersed throughout the world and then centuries later, returned to their homeland from the north, south, east, and west (Isaiah 43:5-6). This year, 2018, marks the seventieth anniversary of Israel becoming a state; the nation was not “created” in 1948. Israel was miraculously re-gathered according to Bible prophecy. Plenty of American history has been rewritten and is now being parroted throughout academia. Many have also tried editing world history as well, particularly when it comes to Israel and the Jewish people. Over five million Jews returned to Israel, and as predicted, the remnant was restored (Isaiah 11:11-12; Ezekiel 37:21-22; 38:8). But what about America - are we blessing Israel? The Trump White House has a strong relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu and is the most pro-Israel administration in decades. God’s faithfulness throughout the Bible encourages us because we know we can trust that He will make good on the remaining prophecies about Israel, the return of Christ, and the end times. Full article: http://davidfiorazo.com/2018/05/the-g... Dec 5, 2018

“…it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17 Those who commit or condone evil have again given Jesus a black eye. Tragically, the Roman Catholic Church has known all about it: decades of sexual abuse and yet, they covered-up extensive abuse by its leaders – abuse that has robbed children of their innocence, further tarnished the church’s image, and destroyed countless thousands of lives. Church leader, priest, or lay person, every one of us will stand before God. And unrepentant sinners will be held accountable. Come out from among them! Make sure you are born again into a living hope, and are following the true gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Full article with links: http://davidfiorazo.com/2018/08/corru... Aug 24, 2018

If Jesus wasn't raised from the dead, Christianity is not true, we won’t be resurrected either, and we’re out of hope and luck. Christianity stands or falls with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Since the resurrection is pivotal to Christianity, investigating the claims and proving the resurrection is of infinite importance. https://davidfiorazo.com/2019/03/real... Sermon from Freedom Fellowship Church, Kaukauna, WI 3.24.19 SCRIPTURES: 1 Cor. 15:3-8, 14-17, 51-52; Acts 1:1-12, Heb. 6:18-19, Luke 1:1-4, Zechariah 14:4, Ezekiel 43:1-4, 1 Thess. 4:16-18 Mar 25, 2019

Jude wanted to write about the common salvation in Christ shared by true believers, but was compelled instead to warn about contending for the faith handed down by the apostles. False teachers and apostates are nothing new. Early Christian church leaders warned about them; Jude was one such apostle. Thankfully, Jude provides a detailed letter and an example to follow as how to recognize, expose, and deal with false teachers. The book of Jude was included in the Canon (A.D. 170) due in part to his being related to Jesus, the fact Jude was an eye-witness of the resurrected Christ, and a brother of James, leader of the Jerusalem Council. Clement of Rome (A.D. 96) also supported Jude as authentic. NOTES, TRANSCRIPT: http://davidfiorazo.com/2018/08/book-... FURTHER STUDY Genesis 3:1-4; Mark 10:6-8, Mark 13; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1-3, Galatians 5:7-9 Revelation 3:11, 20; Rev. 22:18-19 Aug 14, 2018

Maybe you’re someone who thinks Jesus was just a good man or good teacher. But if He lied, can He really be good? Would you die for a lie? What if the men He spent three years of His life with were all telling the truth? What about fulfilled prophecies or all the miracles they witnessed? Hundreds of martyrs also believed in Jesus' resurrection enough to die for their faith. Is the Bible reliable and does Scripture offer compelling evidence for their claims? The short answer is yes. Full article here: http://davidfiorazo.com/2018/07/who-i... Jul 27, 2018

Jesus once said the truth will set you free. It’s not that people can’t know the truth, the problem is they don’t like what they find because they don’t want to change how they live. Let’s look at a fraction of the overwhelming evidence supporting the historical resurrection of Jesus as well as the accuracy and reliability of the Bible. Full blog post: https://davidfiorazo.com/2019/04/5-re...

The most important decision you will make in this life is what you do with Jesus. We know what the world says about Jesus, but they don't really know Him, haven't read the Bible, and they’re dead wrong! This is a verse by verse study through the Gospel of Matthew. We're in chapter 16, which reveals who Jesus is, what He came to accomplish, and some of the opposition He faced. For extensive study notes and transcript: http://davidfiorazo.com/2019/02/who-d... Sermon presented at Freedom Fellowship Church in Kaukauna, WI Feb 27, 2019

Truth is under attack. People seem less informed, less secure, and more confused about truth than ever before. Why? They have rejected the one living God and Creator. Does God make mistakes? Are some people born the wrong sex or in the wrong body? What does the Bible teach about creation and does it really matter? http://davidfiorazo.com/2018/02/can-t... Feb 22, 2019

Would you please share this video with a Christian friend? Hi, I'm David Fiorazo. I would love the opportunity to speak at your church or event about the important subjects of truth, Christ, and culture. One of my goals is to help challenge, inform, encourage, and wake up the church. Through my presentation, I aim to inform people as we evaluate the overwhelming evidence supporting Christianity. My prayer is that you’ll also be encouraged to cultivate an eternal perspective even as attacks on believers are increasing. Redefining Truth will help you to respond to others in a loving and confident way, and I hope to also help you successfully navigate through the noise, agendas, distractions, and confusion prevalent in America today. In my book and live presentation, you will be given facts, history, and Scripture you can use to answer skeptics and challenge others to consider the truth of Jesus Christ. Please visit DavidFiorazo.com or connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Stand Up for the Truth. Let me know if you have any questions. I appreciate your time and help in getting this important message to those who will benefit from it. God bless you! Part of the book description for Redefining Truth: "At a time when truth is being denied, hated, rejected, and reinterpreted, many are falling for the deception. Irreparable damage has been done to the foundations America was built upon. We now live in a culture that has embraced moral relativism, a generation that no longer believes truth can be known. Right and wrong, good and evil are measured by feelings and opinions. It is all part of a satanic delusion and much is at stake. Redefining Truth provides answers and biblical perspective to the most pressing issues in today’s postmodern society." Thanks so much for sharing this video, your help and referrals! Aug 29, 2017

This new, timely book will point you to the absolute truth of God's Word and help you navigate the agenda's, distractions, lies, and confusion prevalent in our culture today. Transcript: "God created man in His own image and ever since then, man has been trying to return the favor. Hi, I’m David Fiorazo. In today’s world, truth has been denied, hated, deconstructed, and rejected; and too many people – including many within the church - have fallen for the deception." This book covers topics relating to culture, entertainment, gender politics, Israel & world history, false religions, the end times, and these 5 lynchpins to a healthy society: life, marriage, faith, family, and freedom. "...Truth is being redefined, evil is being called good, and God is being replaced by counterfeits. It’s all part of a satanic delusion. The good news is Truth will prevail in the end, but much damage has been done to the foundations this nation was built upon. Political correctness will no longer coexist with religious freedom and biblical morality. So where do we go from here?" "...Redefining Truth will equip Christians to respond to others in a loving and confident way. This book will also help you successfully navigate the noise, agendas, distractions, and cultural confusion prevalent in our world today. It will provide you with you facts, history, and Scripture you can use to answer skeptics and challenge others to consider the truth of Jesus Christ." Learn more at Aneko Press or DavidFiorazo.com Aug 3, 2017

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David... (2 Tim. 2:8). Is it too late for us to repent and return to God? Much of America's true history has been rewritten or forgotten, and worse, we have turned our backs on the God who made us, preserved us, and protected this nation in its short history. The underground church in places such as China are growing and yet, here in America, numbers are decreasing. Why? We have forgotten God and have put ourselves and Americanized Christianity above seeking His presence. Listen to quotes from several founders and early settlers as well as Scriptures that inspired men of God in the early days in America. “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here. …Were my soul trembling on the wing of eternity, were this hand freezing to death, were my voice choking with the last struggle, I would still, with the last gasp of that voice, implore you to remember the truth: God has given America to be free.” - Patrick Henry, lawyer and Founding Father, perhaps most known for saying, “Give me liberty or give me death.” SCRIPTURES referenced: Psalm 77:11-12 Revelation 3:3 Matthew 5:14-15 John 17:3 Psalm 11:3 Joshua 24:15-16, 22-24 Judges 2:6-12 Psalm 80:3 Sermon by David Fiorazo. Presented at CrossPoint Church, DePere, Wisconsin, July 2, 2017. DavidFiorazo.com Jul 5, 2017

'Redefining Truth' July book update: I share about the publishing and editing of my new book as well as the creative process of designing the book cover. Release date TBD, shooting for September. "Redefining Truth: the Delusion of Replacing God and Calling Evil Good." www.DavidFiorazo.com Jul 1, 2017

One of the most misused verses in perhaps the entire Bible is 'Judge ye not' from Matthew 7:1. Here's some biblical context and application. How are we supposed to warn others about sin without saying anything? "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." James 5:19-20 Here's a two-minute message from David Fiorazo for those who care enough to obey God's Word and speak up. Always do so in truth and love. Remember, context matters! For extended study, read "Aren't you judging me for making a judgment?" http://davidfiorazo.com/2016/07/why-a... *Correction: reference to Judges 17:6 and 21:25: "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Not Judges 17:7) Jan 11, 2017

No matter what happens, no matter what man does, no matter what this world can throw at us; God is still sovereign over all people, events, and things. No matter what! SO – why should we engage in culture and pay attention to Bible prophecy and world events since we know God is in control and nothing can happen apart from his will? First, we are all called by God to share the gospel, make disciples, and speak the truth about Jesus Christ. Second, the hundreds of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus prove that Scripture is divinely inspired. God’s faithfulness encourages us because we can trust that He will make good on the remaining predictions regarding the return of Christ and the End Times. “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.” Daniel 2:20-22 So whether it’s Netanyahu, Obama, Putin, Iran’s Ahmadinejad, Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, we can be assured that nothing takes place and no one comes to power apart from God allowing it to happen. The Lord seems to be setting the stage for His return like never before. A coalition of nations is rising up against Israel just as predicted, and the majority are Muslim nations. Similar to Old Testament times, the very existence of Israel and the Jews produces an almost irrational hatred. Why do Iran and Muslim nations want to wipe Israel off the map? Why all the fuss over borders? It all goes back to the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But Muslims – descendants of Sarah’s maidservant, Hagar - have lived in hostility toward their brothers from the beginning. “And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed; Gen. 12:2-3 The Jewish Torah promises the children of Israel a modest and reasonable allotment of land about 1/19th the size of California and yet, they are currently surrounded by 22 hostile Arab nations 640 times the size of Israel and 60 times her population. How can anyone believe Israel is responsible for all the problems in the Middle East? Since 1948, Israel has sought peaceful coexistence with neighboring dictatorships dedicated to her destruction. Just as predicted, the city of Jerusalem had been destroyed, trampled underfoot by the Gentiles (Luke 21:24) since AD 70. According to prophecies, Jerusalem would be – and was – rebuilt on its own ruins (Jeremiah 30:18; Zechariah 12:6) and reestablished in 1948. On May 14, 1948, a remarkable event took place when the nation Israel was born in one day, as prophesied in Isaiah 66:8. This is unprecedented in all of history: Over five million Jews returned to Israel, and as predicted, the remnant was restored (Isaiah 11:11-12; Ezekiel 37:21-22; 38:8). Never before in history has a people been dispersed and scattered among the nations of the earth and then return to their homeland from the north, south, east, and west (Isaiah 43:5-6). One major reason for the reliability of the Bible in addition to its accurate history, eyewitness accounts of the resurrection, and overwhelming archaeological evidence confirming Scriptures, is the accuracy of fulfilled prophecies. The Bible consists of specific predictions which cannot be logically explained apart from divine inspiration. It had to be God! And the best is yet to come. And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one.” Zechariah 14:9 Other Scriptures: Isaiah 46:9-10 Genesis 13:15 Joshua 13:6 Psalm 105:5-11 Proverbs 21:1, 30 Isaiah 41:17-20 Psalms 75:1-3, 6-7 Zechariah 14:1-4, 9 Dec 23, 2016

The only true, lasting peace we can have while on this earth is through faith in the Prince of Peace Himself, the only true God. America and the world are in turmoil. John 16:33 states: "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” He Himself is our peace, and also instructs us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and yet, a coalition of nations surrounds Israel and are hostile toward the Jews and their heritage. Things just may get much worse before they get better, but how America treats Israel will be very interesting and important in the days ahead. Jesus is also the Truth, and truth divides people. There is nothing new under the sun. There were angry mobs and rioting in the Apostle Paul's day and there are manufactured protests and mobs in American cities today supposedly angry about the election results. When people cannot refute the truth or oppose it, they will try causing chaos and disruption for others. Since we know nothing can happen apart from God’s perfect or permissible will, why should we care about politics, engage in culture, and pay attention to Bible prophecy, Israel, and world events? First, if we love our neighbors, we’ll tell them the truth about sin and share the gospel. Changed hearts and lives can change communities for Christ. Second, the hundreds of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus prove that Scripture is divinely inspired. We can trust our faithful God will make good on His promise regarding the return of Christ. In Mark 13:31, Jesus said “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” So we would be wise to pay attention to prophecies relating to the Messiah, to Israel, and the signs of the times. Where does America stand and will we be a strong supporter of Israel again? OTHER SCRIPTURES: Acts 17:2-5 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Daniel 2:20-22 Genesis 12:2-3, 7 Psalm 105:8-11 Psalm 75:2-3, 6-7 Zechariah 14:1-4, 9 Acts 17:24-26 Message presented at Freedom Fellowship in Kaukauna, Wisconsin on November 20, 2016 Nov 21, 2016

People were convicted of their sin and converted to Christ because the truth of Scripture had pierced their hearts. After the Holy Spirit's arrival and the first event in Church history (Peter's bold sermon), Peter pleaded with the people to repent and be saved from this wicked generation! He said the promise of salvation and gift of the Spirit are for all who would believe, they changed their minds about who Jesus is, and 3,000 people were added to their number in one day. The foundation of the early church is then described: “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to communion (the breaking of bread) and to prayer.” Acts 2:42 So as we begin Acts 3 and talk more about the growth of the church, we’re also going to start seeing the church’s impact as God’s plan unfolds. The chapter starts with a miraculous healing, the people reacting in amazement which opened the door for Peter’s second sermon which led to more converts to Christianity, and eventually, the opposition from the Jewish religious leaders. Then, after the miraculous healing of the 40 year-old man, Peter unleashed the second sermon in church history: “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14 But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses... And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. Acts 3:12-14, 16 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. (Acts 4:4) How about us? Why don’t most of us speak up for Christ today? Is it because we know it is unpopular and some will call us intolerant or foolish? There will always be opposition and people will always come against the truth and the gospel, but are we trying to please God or man? Let’s clarify one goal of the church: to mature the saints through the preaching of the word, through fellowship, and discipleship. We also gather to praise and worship God. These are important goals that should mark every church. But these things can also be accomplished in heaven. So what is the primary goal of the church? Jesus answered this question by charging us to, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." One thing we can NOT do in Heaven is evangelize. Scriptures referenced or discussed: Acts 3:1-37 Acts 4:1-21 Joel 2:32 Deuteronomy 18:18-19 Genesis 22:18 Matthew 14:20-21 Luke 19:10 *PART 4 of 4 on the book of Acts; David Fiorazo filling in for Pastor Brian Mitoraj at Crossroads Church in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin on October 2, 2016 Oct 19, 2016

Jesus had promised to send the gift of the Holy Spirit to help, counsel, and empower His followers. God used the timing of Pentecost to set the stage for the gospel to be proclaimed as thousands of visitors were in Jerusalem for the feast. Peter’s bold sermon (the first sermon in church history) reinforced Jesus being the Messiah as Joel, David, and other OT prophets predicted, and Scripture was fulfilled. The gospel was preached and the first day, among both Jews and Gentiles – about 3,000 people were convicted and converted. The four major activities of the church are learning God’s Word (the teaching of Scripture), communion (breaking bread), fellowship, and prayer. This was the model set for true community in the body of Christ. Just as Jesus entered the busy city on Palm Sunday during Passover week, God chose Pentecost to send the Holy Spirit. Acts chapter 2 can be divided into five sections: 1. The arrival of the Holy Spirit (2:1 – 2:13) 2. Peter’s first major sermon explaining what they were witnessing (2:14 – 21), and 3. Proclaiming the gospel (2:22-36) 4. The reaction of the people and first converts – both Jews and Gentiles – about 3,000 people (2:37-41) 5. The major activities and disciplines of the early church including united worship (Acts 2:42-47) In Acts, those who believed and experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit typically began speaking with others immediately, sharing the truth of Jesus Christ. We too, are witnesses! Taking a cue from the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the first event in church history was Peter’s powerful sermon which led to three thousand conversions and launched the Christian church. Preaching the Word has always remained central to the primary mission, but today’s church has generally been silent and ineffective in changing or preserving culture for Christ. Why? SCRIPTURES: Acts 2:1-47 Joel 2:28-32 Psalm 16:8-11 Psalm 132:11, Psalm 89:3, and Matthew 22:43-46 Romans 10:11-14 Oct 11, 2016

The book of Acts could be called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles.” The Spirit directed and empowered the early church and caused it to grow in numbers, spiritual power, and influence. Luke, the author of Acts, was Paul’s close friend, traveling companion, and personal physician, and also a careful researcher and an accurate historian. (See Luke 1:1-4) The book of ACTS chronicles the spread of the gospel, the birth and growth of the church. Luke also records the mounting opposition to the gospel as well as the initial response to the Great Commission. Acts is the first work of church history ever written, providing information on the first three decades of the church’s existence. Its emphasis is that Jesus of Nazareth was Israel’s long-awaited Messiah; it shows the gospel is offered to all people not just the Jews, and stresses the work of the Holy Spirit - mentioned more than 50 times. Key verses: But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. John 16:7 "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…" Acts 1:8 Corinthians 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God. Other Scriptures referenced: Acts 16:10 Luke 24:44-53 Acts 1:7-8 Ephesians 1:18-20 John 14:16-17, 25-26 Acts 1:12-20 Psalm 69:25 Psalm 109:8 1 John 4:4 Romans 8:11 *Sermon from September 18, 2016. David Fiorazo, Crossroads Church in Sturgeon Bay, WI Sep 30, 2016

The Spirit indwelling believers in Christ is 'the Same Holy Spirit' that raised Jesus from the dead. Power for life. While there is a degree of divine mystery to the nature of the Holy Spirit, He is not just some vague cosmic force. He is real, He is alive, He is active, and He resides within you because the Bible says your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. He is a real person, co-equal with God the Father and with Jesus the Son. The Holy Spirit loves and cares for you, and is so very important to the Christian life, today we’re going to look at how He works in and through us. We’ll look at WHY He came and HOW He can make a difference in your life. KEY SCRIPTURES: "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." John 16:7 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…" Ephesians 1:18-20 Jesus repeatedly told His followers to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit whom He would send after returning to Heaven. They had little understanding of how important this was and how much help the Spirit would be to them. (Remember He once told them they would do even greater work for the kingdom once the Holy Spirit arrived!) Other Scriptures cited: Luke 24:44-49 John 14:16-17 Acts 1:6-8 Romans 8:11 Romans 8:26-27 Luke 11:13 1 Corinthians 2:12 Sermon Takeaways: • The Holy Spirit makes THE difference in a believer’s life. • He gives us power to witness • He will guide us into all truth • “Witness” means to testify or to give evidence, and “Martyr” means “one who tells the truth about Jesus Christ.” • Greater is HE who is in you than him who is in this world! (1 John 4:4) • The Holy Spirit is a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come! • We have the same power within us that raised Jesus from the dead! God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 *Holy Spirit image by Phil Ware at heartlight.org Sermon presented March 5, 2017, CrossPoint Church, DePere, WI Mar 21, 2017

Beginning a series on the book of Acts, David Fiorazo fills in for Pastor Brian Mitoraj at Crossroads Church, Sturgeon Bay, WI. Be encouraged by the historical and prophetic evidence contained in God’s Word. Just in the first part of Acts chapter 1, we are reminded about some of what Jesus did and taught; the fact we are chosen by Him, the power we have in the Holy Spirit, the eye witnesses and convincing proofs of the resurrection, as well as clues about His return. We have an everlasting hope that can never perish or fade. Luke was written “so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.” And the Bible was written so that you may believe Jesus is the Christ, and by believing, have life in His name! “The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen... To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:1-3‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Other Scriptures cited: Acts 1:4-12 Luke‬ ‭1:1-4‬ ‭ John 15:16 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:1-8‬‬‬ Mark‬ ‭15:47‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ Mark‬ ‭16:1‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Luke‬ ‭24:9-10‬ ‭ John 12:14 Daniel 9:25 Ezekiel 44:1-3 Nehemiah 3:29 Zechariah 14:4 Ezekiel 43:1-4 They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.” ‭‭ Acts 1:11-12 September 11, 2016 www.crossroadssbay.com Sep 26, 2016

Matthew 22 is a mix of parables Jesus spoke against the Jews who rejected Him, the failed attempts of the Pharisees and Sadducees to trap Him, and some of Jesus’ strongest words of condemnation that He ever spoke while He walked the earth. The most educated, religious and political leaders in Jerusalem were too proud to receive Jesus and in turn, rejected the God they professed to believe in. How different are things today? Many people saw the miraculous things Jesus did and heard about countless more which were verified by eye-witnesses, but they were blinded from recognizing Him as the Messiah. What can we take away from Matthew 22? Jesus first invited the Jews to repent and come to Him and when they ignored His call, He extended His offer to the Gentiles; a pattern the Apostle Paul followed and mentioned a few times in the book of Acts. Though we’re all sinners in need of God’s grace and salvation, some will receive and believe Jesus and confess Him as Lord while others will ignore or reject Him. Regarding the Church today, it is often religious leaders who twist God’s Word toward their own interpretation, add their own traditions, water down Scripture, or act self-righteously. Once a person goes down this road the result is often legalism or hypocrisy The Apostle John said Jesus came to His own people but they did not recognize Him as God; He was with God in the beginning, the Word made flesh and lived among us (John 1). Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith; the only true, living GOD! In Colossians chapter 1, Jesus was before all things and by Him all things were created. SCRIPTURES referenced: MATTHEW 7:29, 9:6, 28:18; Matthew 21:12-14, Matthew 21:23, 31, 42-45. Matthew 22, esp. vs. 15 – 46. Revelation 22:12-16 Special guest speaker, author David Fiorazo, fills in and continues the series on the gospel of Matthew. This message was from Sunday August 21, 2016 at Crosspoint Church in DePere, WI (crosspointgb.com) Aug 26, 2016