Stephen McDonald

What is Faith?

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Hebrews 11:1 defines faith speaks of faith like this: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” But does that mean that faith is blind? Is it being sure about something that we can know nothing about? Surely not! The chapter endsContinue reading “What is Faith?”

Hope for Rebels (Acts 7:1-53)

“Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” George Santayana. The history of Australia is a story of Christianity in decline. There have been moments of great promise, like the Billy Graham Crusades of 1959, which historian Stuart Piggin says is the closest we’ve come to nationwide revival. Is our story aContinue reading “Hope for Rebels (Acts 7:1-53)”

Prepared to Die (Acts 6:8-15)

What amazing people these Christians were! It was obvious that the Holy Spirit filled them, they were full of faith, and God’s grace and power were at work in and through them (v3, 5, 8). God’s Word is spreading. The Church is growing, not just in ones and twos, but multiplying! Even priests and religiousContinue reading “Prepared to Die (Acts 6:8-15)”

Service with Strategy (Acts 6:1-7)

Does it matter what sort of church you belong to? There are churches where the bishop calls the shots or what the minister says, goes. There are churches governed by elders. Does the way the church is organized matter? Really? Maybe you’re thinking, ‘Oh, great. A sermon on church government.’ But even though how theContinue reading “Service with Strategy (Acts 6:1-7)”

God’s Unstoppable Gospel (Acts 5:17-42)

Time and again, Bible-believing Christians are told that we are on the wrong side of history. The message is, ‘Society is changing. You need to keep up.’ And if we don’t, we deserve to be swept out of the way. But the bigger issue for Christians is not whether we are on the wrong sideContinue reading “God’s Unstoppable Gospel (Acts 5:17-42)”