Looking Ahead: Acts 8:9-25

This Sunday we're in Acts 8:9-25. Let’s read it today:

9A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. 10Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” 11They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.

12But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.

14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19“Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!”

20But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! 21You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. 22Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, 23for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.”

24“Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!”

25After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News.

Simon amazed a whole city with magic. Then the gospel came to town — and Simon believed it, got baptized, and started following Philip everywhere.

Sounds like a win, doesn’t it? The man who amazed everyone, called the “The Great One, The Power of God”, seemingly bought into the message Philip is proclaiming.

Did Simon truly believe? Luke tells us that he “believed and was baptized”, yet then when Peter comes to town, he gives him a sharp rebuke, a condemnation if you will.

This weekend we will look at what is true salvation? Is it enough to simply believe?

Somethings to consider:

What's the difference between being amazed by something spiritual and being transformed by it?
Simon believed and was baptized — yet Peter says his heart wasn't right. What does that tell you about the gap between professing faith and possessing it?
Have you ever wanted the appearance of spiritual power, influence, or status more than you wanted an actually changed heart?
What’s the difference between attrition and contrition?

See you Sunday.

Daniel

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July 24, 2026 • 3 Minute Read

Looking Ahead: Acts 8:9-25 This Sunday we're in Acts 8:9-25. Let’s read it today: Acts 8: 9-25 9A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. 10Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” 11They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic. 12But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed. 14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19“Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!” 20But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! 21You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. 22Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, 23for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.” 24“Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!” 25After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News. Simon amazed a whole city with magic. Then the gospel came to town — and Simon believed it, got baptized, and started following Philip everywhere. Sounds like a win, doesn’t it? The man who amazed everyone, called the “The Great One, The Power of God”, seemingly bought into the message Philip is proclaiming. Did Simon truly believe? Luke tells us that he “believed and was baptized”, yet then when Peter comes to town, he gives him a sharp rebuke, a condemnation if you will. This weekend we will look at what is true salvation? Is it enough to simply believe? Somethings to consider: What's the difference between being amazed by something spiritual and being transformed by it? Simon believed and was baptized — yet Peter says his heart wasn't right. What does that tell you about the gap between professing faith and possessing it? Have you ever wanted the appearance of spiritual power, influence, or status more than you wanted an actually changed heart? What’s the difference between attrition and contrition? See you Sunday. Daniel

Daniel Thomas

Lead Pastor

July 15, 2026 • 1 Minute Read

Looking Ahead: Acts 8:1-25

Stephen is dead. The church is under attack. Saul is dragging believers out of their homes. If you were there, wouldn't you keep your head down? They didn't. Acts 8:4 says the believers who were scattered "went about preaching the word" — not in spite of the danger, but seemingly without a second thought. What made ordinary people, staring at real risk, choose to speak instead of hide? They didn't see themselves as refugees running from Jerusalem — they saw themselves as ambassadors of a King who sent them wherever they landed. Paul puts words to this later: "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors... God making his appeal through us" (2 Cor. 5:18-20). An ambassador doesn't stop representing the King just because the assignment changed locations. That's the question worth sitting with this week: when your circumstances get disrupted, does your identity move with you — or does it stay behind? This Sunday we're in Acts 8:1-25. Looking forward to gathering with you!!

Daniel Thomas

Lead Pastor

July 8, 2026 • 2 Minute Read

This Weekend at ALG

This weekend we're walking through a passage I've personally found difficult. It's the bold faith and proclamation of the Gospel — but not from an Apostle. It's from Stephen, a man simply "full of grace and power" who ends up on trial for his life. Stephen is falsely accused. People who don't like what he's saying can't out-argue him, so they do what people often do when they lose an argument with the truth — they lie about him before the High Priest. So let me ask you: when someone lies about you with malicious intent, how do you respond? Does your face show joy, peace, contentment — does it "shine like an angel"? Or does it show frustration, bewilderment, anger? That's not a rhetorical question. It's the question this passage forces on us. Most of us won't stand trial for our faith. But all of us have faced the smaller version of Stephen's moment — the mischaracterization, the whisper campaign, the accusation that isn't true but sticks anyway. What comes out of us in that moment says something about what's been put into us long before it. This Sunday we'll watch how Stephen handled that moment — in the synagogue, and in front of the High Priest. What allowed him to show Christ-like character in the middle of his own destruction? Before Sunday, I'd encourage you to read ahead — Acts 6:8 , Acts 7:1-60 and Acts 8:1-3. Don't stop where our text ends. Stephen's story doesn't resolve neatly in a single sermon-sized passage, and reading the fuller arc will change how you hear it Sunday.

Daniel Thomas

Lead Pastor