We live in an age where incendiary phrases such as “fake news,” “alternative facts,” and harsh, accusatory, bullying speech are the new normal. In addition, because of the internet and our civilization’s commitment to free speech, radical, extreme views on almost any subject are readily available to everyone. Tragically, there is therefore very little room for critical analysis of what is being said or what is being argued. It is almost impossible to have a reasoned, well-thought-through discussion about anything today.

Peter continues his case that Jesus is the Messiah that the Jewish people have awaited.

Peter encourages those at Pentacost to repent & be baptized; The miracle & the message of the Healing of the lame man.

The curious, confounding and provocative Helsinki news conference involving President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin begs the question, what exactly does Putin want? As one commentator argued, Helsinki “was a summit [Putin] has dreamed of for 18 years.” His Russian advisers used terms such as “fabulous,” “super,” beyond “our fondest hopes” to describe the recent Helsinki meeting. Putin quickly embraced Trump’s invitation to a second meeting in the United States this fall. Putin is finally getting what he wants—and Donald Trump is delivering it to him.

Dr Eckman discusses Peter’s sermon at Pentacost: how proves that what happened is a fulfillment of Joel, and he demonstrates by using the Old Testament that Jesus in the Messiah.

The retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy from the Supreme Court has caused consternation among pro-choice elements in our culture and near euphoria among pro-life elements. Some pro-life folks actually believe that the nomination of Brent Kavanagh to the Court will bring an end to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Court decision establishing abortion as a Constitutionally protected right. Furthermore, the “zero-tolerance” policy of the Trump administration when it comes to children of illegal immigrants has raised serious questions about what it means to be pro-family.

The Holy Spirit comes over those gathered at Pentacost; Peter addresses the crowd, proclaiming another fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

Suicide is a tragic, heart-wrenching reality in our world today. It is rarely discussed in church and few pastors know how to address it from the pulpit. Colleges and high schools are facing a growing number of students showing signs of “distress” that often lead to suicide.

The confusion among men within American society is at a point of crisis. The rise of feminism and the abusive behavior of Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and countless other men have fostered the #MeToo Movement. The LGBTQIA movement has raised questions about what it means to be a male. This identity crisis extends to how men view God and Christianity: American men are twice as likely to call themselves atheists. Columnist Ross Douthat observes that “men who are looking for post-Christian enlightenment seem to gravitate toward secular-religious cults like the New Atheism, or more recently toward toxic forms of alt-right politics. In this sense the post-Christian religious landscape is potentially taking Christianity’s gender gap and widening it, playing its own metaphysical role in the growing divergence and polarization of the sexes.”

Matthias replaces Judas amongst the Apostles; the Holy Spirit comes at Pentacost.