All peoples on earth will be blessed through you
Genesis 28:14 NIV
In 'What the World Owes to Christians', Dr Victor Pearce, an Oxford scholar, shares the story of the typewriter. 'The typewriter was a forerunner to the modern word processor. But how did a Christian come to invent it? To write sermons. I'm serious! Christopher Sholes was concerned about his pastor who'd been busy all week visiting victims of an epidemic, comforting the bereaved and conducting funerals. Consequently he had no time to write his Sunday sermons. One day Sholes, discussing with a friend what could be done, said, "It seems a pity there ain't some quick method of writing for busy folks like parsons." His friend replied, "Why not invent a machine?" Sholes responded, "I'll try." That rainy afternoon was the beginning of months of hard work. Finally a group assembled one day to see him tap out on paper, in capital letters, C LATHAM SHOLES, NOV 1867. Six years later the Remingtons recognised the typewriter as something that could revolutionise business. In those days clerks were mostly men, but the Young Women's Christian Association started offering courses in typing for women. Initially it created a scandal, but as the first typists to be trained were women, employers rushed to hire them. Hence the typewriter and the YWCA determined that a woman's place was not only at home, but could also be in the office.' Is it okay for me to pray for God to bless my business? Yes! God wants to bless your business so that you can help carry out His, which is the business of reaching the world with the Gospel.

God's Training Manual For Today's Church
Reference: Acts 17:6
Description: In the "great commission," Jesus placed "discipleship" at the top of the church's "List of Things to Do Today." However, like many "to do" lists, we have pushed what needs to be done today off until a distant tomorrow that never arrives. The real priority slips further down on the list each day. Thus, the church lacks the desire needed to reach the world. We must focus on our central purpose of making disciples.
Topic(s): Vision
Peter, Thanks For The Kingdom Keys
Reference: Acts 2:38
Description: Once Jesus came, died on Calvary, rose from the dead, and ascended back to Heaven, the door of salvation was wide open. The price for salvation had been paid in full.
Topic(s): Salvation
Persistent Prayer
Reference: Acts 1:1
Description: Often prayer is treated like a market. We bring our list of shopping needs with us and trust that Jesus will fill all of the needs. We can move beyond just asking, into seeking the Lord, and even extend into intercession
Topic(s): Prayer

Paper Preachers
Reference: Acts 13:49
Description: Oswald J. Smith was a pastor greatly concerned with the task of world evangelism. He wrote, "For more than 30 years I have prayerfully considered the problem: How can we evangelize the world in the space of one generation? Long ago I was convinced that we could never send out enough missionaries. For a while I gave up hope. After travel and study in nearly one hundred countries, I have come to this conclusion - the only way we are going to carry out the Great Commission, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," will be the means of the printed page. By the systematic use of the printed page we shall be able to enter into every home and reach every individual with the gospel message."
Topic(s): Evangelism

Neighborhood Evangelism Centers
Reference: Acts 5:42
Description: Have you ever considered where the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Day of Pentecost? It was an "upper room." "And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room..." (Acts 1:13) This was a room traditionally set aside by rich people to entertain their visitors. The Holy Ghost was not poured out in the temple or chapel but in someone's home. With three thousand added to the church on the first day, where do you think they continued to worship?
Topic(s): Small Group Ministry

Mushrooms or a Mighty Oak Tree
Reference: Acts 20:29
Description: The Apostle Paul realized that Satan would raise up false teachers from even within the church who would bring in false teachings, doctrine, pagan practices, worldly ideas, and man-made trends. They are like dangerous animals attacking the church and are difficult to handle. They are like wolves that wish to attack and kill the sheep. We, as leaders, must be very careful to make sure that such wolves will not enter and destroy any of the flock of God. We must guard the truth!
Topic(s): Doctrine

Mighty In The Scriptures
Reference: Acts 18:24
Description: Acts Chapter 18 opens with an interesting testimony of a man called Apollos. In the opening verses we read of a man who was eloquent, mighty in the Scriptures, and received instruction. He also taught and preached what he knew. Beyond the descriptive phrases written about Apollos, we see a further hidden quality in his walk with God. This begins with "knowing only the baptism of John."(18: 25) Apollos was a sincere man who was walking in every light of the Scripture that he had received. There was a longing in his spirit to obey all of what God had in store for him. His understanding of the Word of God and the things of God, led him to accept John's baptism.
Topic(s): Doctrine

Mentoring: The Ministry of Multiplication
Reference: Acts 9:26
Description: Long ago when the Greek warrior Odysseus went off to battle in the Trojan War, he left his young son in the hands of a man named Mentor. The father was away from his son for twenty years and when he returned home his son had grown into a man. He had been trained by Mentor. Because of this story we now say a mentor is someone who operates as a father figure in our lives.
Topic(s): Leadership

Laying On Of Hands
Reference: Acts 8:17
Description: "Laying on of hands" is mentioned as a foundational doctrine in Hebrews 6:2 and is also referred to as a "gift from God" in Acts 8:17-20. "Laying on of hands" is defined as, "the act whereby one person places his hands on the body of another person with some definite spiritual purpose. Usually it is accompanied by prayer or prophetic utterance."
Topic(s): Doctrine

Jesus On The Outside Working On The Inside
Reference: Acts 2:40
Description: Holiness is considered to be separation from sin and the world, and to be dedicated to God, set apart for Him. Separation is moving away from worldliness and moving toward holiness. We are not to love the world, identify with it, become attached to its things, or participate in its sinful pleasures (James 4:4; James 1:27).
Topic(s): Holiness

History's Greatest Prayer Meeting
Reference: Luke 24:52
Description: In the first two chapters of Acts, the disciples are in the "Prayer Room" waiting for the promise. When we enter our "Prayer Place" we are going there to wait for an answer. "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us" (2 Corinthians 1:20). Also read Matthew 7:7-8.
Topic(s): Prayer
Grabbed By Grace
Reference: Acts 4:33
Description: It is not enough to be grabbed by grace (to experience the unmerited favor, and kindness of God). We must obey and allow grace to lead us into salvation (Acts 2:38). We then continue in obedience to the Word of God. We should turn from godless living, and sinful pleasures, to right living. It is not acceptable to have one foot in the world, and one foot in the church.
Topic(s): Doctrine

God Listens To The Cries Of The Desperate
Reference: Acts 12:5
Description: The believers in the New Testament handled desperate situations and persecutions with strong, unceasing prayer. In Acts 12:5, it looked as if Peter was in an impossible situation. James had been killed and Peter was put into the hands of sixteen prison guards. However, our God majors in working through impossible situations in the lives of His people. "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God" (Luke 18:27). The missing link between our questions and God's answers is persistent prayer.
Topic(s): Prayer

God Answers Every Prayer
Reference: Acts 12:5
Description: To human eyes and understanding it was an impossible situation. James had already been killed. Peter was in prison. Sixteen soldiers kept watch over him. Peter's case looked hopeless. He too would soon be killed. However, the church met the bleak situation by calling a prayer meeting.
Topic(s): Prayer

Haleluya!!!