Alan Smith‘s Podcasts

What does it mean to be a righteous person after failure? In this lesson on Acts 19 and Paul's ministry, Alan Smith examines the difference between falling and refusing to get back up.

As Paul faces opposition in Ephesus, the message of God's grace reaches the center of the teaching. A just man may fall, but he rises again. Failure doesn't have the final word when repentance, grace, and the support of the church lead a believer forward.

This message also includes a special commissioning prayer for Kevin Michelin, who serves with Samaritan's Purse in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. The congregation prays for his work rebuilding homes, reaching families, and ministering to people whose lives have been disrupted.

Throughout the lesson, you'll hear practical teaching on:

 * The grace of God and the power of repentance
 * Why getting back up matters more than focusing on the fall
 * Paul's message of grace in the book of Acts
 * How religious condemnation differs from God's mercy
 * The need for encouragement within the church
 * Spiritual strength in times of failure and opposition
 * Paul's determination to finish his course and ministry

Drawing from Proverbs 24:16, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Acts 20:24, this study points believers back to the sufficiency of God's grace. No one is beyond restoration, and no failure can cancel God's call when a person turns back to Him.

Watch Lesson 122 from "A Study of the Book of Acts with Paul's Writings" and consider how the Holy Spirit calls the church to encourage, restore, and commission one another.

#BookOfActs #BibleStudy #GodsGrace #ChristianTeaching #NewLifeChurch

What do open doors, difficult trials, and spiritual maturity have in common? In Acts 19, the Apostle Paul faces opposition, public unrest, and the threat of legal trouble, yet God uses the rule of law to protect Paul and his companions.

In Lesson 121 of A Study of the Book of Acts with Paul's Writings, the teaching examines the riot in Ephesus, the role of the town clerk, and the conflict between the gospel, idolatry, and financial gain. The message also connects Acts 19 and Acts 20 with Paul's letters, including 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, and Romans.

The lesson addresses several important themes:

 * Why studying God's Word is essential for anyone who preaches or teaches
 * H.B. Charles Jr.'s well-known statement about preaching without a burden to study
 * The difference between a contract and God's covenant with Abraham
 * Why the church does not replace Israel
 * How Paul's Jewish training shaped his ministry and writings
 * The way God can use civil authorities to protect His people
 * How a crisis can become an open door, depending on our response
 * The connection between Paul's missionary journeys and his letters to the churches
 * How God gives revelation and understanding throughout the biblical story

The teaching closes with Paul's journey toward Jerusalem and the connection between Acts 20 and the writing of Paul's letters. Follow along in your Bible as the study continues through Acts 19 and into the next stage of Paul's ministry.

#BookOfActs #BibleStudy #ApostlePaul #ChristianTeaching #TheSmithAndRowlandShow

Acts 19 comes alive in this lesson as Alan Smith walks through Paul's ministry in Ephesus, the open doors God gives, and the weight that comes with influence. This teaching connects the Bible text to everyday Christian living, showing why access is never the whole story. Once God opens a door, accountability follows, and the real question becomes how that door is stewarded.

This message also ties in a Fourth of July reflection on George Washington and the founding of the United States, then turns back to Scripture with a clear warning about spiritual conflict, mob mentality, and the danger of emotion without truth. Alan breaks down the riot in Ephesus, the role of Alexander, the crowd shouting for Diana of the Ephesians, and the pressure that comes when the gospel confronts false worship and economic interests.

If you want a straight Bible study that stays in the text while pressing into practical application, this episode is for you. It challenges believers to think carefully about influence, obedience, responsibility, and what happens when God opens a door that leads to real change.

Watch this lesson for a grounded study of Acts 19, Paul's missionary journey, and the call to live with spiritual awareness in a confused culture.

#BookOfActs #Acts19 #BibleStudy #PaulTheApostle #ChristianTeaching

In this lesson from Acts and Paul's writings, the focus lands on divine protection, open doors, accountability, and how God leads His people with truth that keeps unfolding.

This message moves through Charles Finney, the Second Great Awakening, and the shift away from rigid Calvinism toward the clear call of the gospel. It also covers progressive revelation, the law of last mention, and why Scripture has to be read in context, not pulled apart verse by verse. Along the way, Alan Smith talks about the role of the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Spirit, the need for discernment, and why believers should test what they hear against the Word of God.

You'll also hear a strong challenge about personal responsibility in the faith. God opens doors, but open doors bring influence, and influence brings accountability. That truth sits at the center of this teaching. If you've ever wanted a clearer view of how the early church, revival history, and present-day Christian life connect, this study gives you plenty to think about.

Watch closely, take notes, and compare everything with Scripture.

#BookOfActs #PaulsWritings #CharlesFinney #HolySpirit #ChristianTeaching

Welcome to Lesson 118 in this study of the Book of Acts with Paul's writings included.

In this message, Alan Smith walks through Acts 19:30-41 and draws out a hard truth many believers miss, people often pray for an open door, but few are ready for what comes with it. The lesson focuses on Paul's courage, the counsel he received from unexpected sources, and the chaos that can follow when a crowd loses sight of the facts.

Before moving into the passage, Allan also gives rich background on John and Charles Wesley, the Great Awakening, and the history behind Methodism. That history matters, because it ties the call to preach, teach, and remain faithful back to the kind of work Paul was doing in Acts. The message also highlights the difference between simply hearing a sermon and actually hearing the Word of God.

As the teaching moves into Ephesus, the discussion turns to the theater, the riot, and the public uproar around Paul's message. Alan points out how influence creates accountability, how mob thinking spreads, and why believers need discernment when emotion takes over. He also presses an important warning about speculation, spiritual pride, and confusing noise with truth.

If you want a Bible study that stays close to Scripture while also bringing in church history, personal application, and straight talk about faithfulness, this lesson will give you plenty to think about. The main call is clear, when God opens a door, the question is whether we'll move in obedience and stay faithful with what He has given.

#BookOfActs #Acts19 #BibleStudy #NewLifeChurch #PaulTheApostle

Paul's message in Acts 19 brought a city to a standstill, and this lesson shows why. In Lesson 117 of A Study of the Book of Acts with Paul's Writings, Alan Smith teaches through the uproar in Ephesus, the clash with idol makers, and the power of the gospel to confront culture, profit, and pride.

This teaching keeps the focus on a simple but hard truth, the gospel changes people, and changed people affect the world around them. From Demetrius and the silver shrines of Artemis to the growing tension in the great theater at Ephesus, the passage shows how quickly truth can shake a city built on lies. Alan also connects the text to real life, calling believers to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, faithful in their place, and ready to stand for Christ with wisdom.

You'll hear a clear walk through Acts 19:26-41, along with practical insight on idolatry, spiritual calling, cultural pressure, and what it means to let the gospel shape both belief and behavior. This is a strong reminder that every believer has a part in the body of Christ, and that showing up matters.

If you want a deeper study of Acts, a biblical look at the first-century church, and a message that speaks directly to faith in everyday life, this teaching is for you.

Join us for worship, study, and a fresh look at how Paul faced opposition without backing down from the truth.

#BookOfActs #Acts19 #BibleStudy #NewLifeChurch #TheSmithAndRowlandShow

A clear, direct study of Acts 19, the Great Awakening, and the power of a transformed life.

In this lesson, the focus moves through Paul's work in Ephesus, the conflict around idol worship, and the role of the town clerk in calming the crowd. Along the way, the message turns to Gilbert Tennant, the First Great Awakening, and the urgent call for real conversion, not just religious knowledge.

This teaching presses on a simple point: if a person has been born again, their life should keep changing. The sermon draws a sharp line between old habits and a Spirit-led life, then brings that truth into everyday living. Focus matters. Repentance matters. What you keep your eyes on will shape where your life goes next.

You'll also hear strong emphasis on the difference between knowing about God and walking with Him. The message connects Acts, revival history, and practical Christian living in a way that keeps the text front and center. If you want a Bible study that is plainspoken, urgent, and grounded in Scripture, this one gives you a lot to think about.

Watch as we continue Lesson 116 in Acts 19, with teaching that challenges believers to stay awake, stay focused, and keep moving toward who God has called them to be.

#BookOfActs #BibleStudy #Acts19 #GreatAwakening #ChristianTeaching

In this lesson from A Study of the Book of Acts with Paul's Writings, the focus is on Acts 19, spiritual push back, and Michael the Protector. Alan Smith teaches on the pressure believers face when the gospel confronts false ideas, pride, and resistance, both in the natural world and in the unseen realm.

The message calls Christians to stay teachable, stay humble, and keep faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Alan warns against deception, especially the kind that comes from thinking we already know everything. He also talks about the love of God as something the Holy Spirit gives, not something we produce on our own. That same love shapes how believers treat other people, how they approach God's Word, and how they respond when their own opinions get tested.

This teaching also connects Daniel 10 and 12 with the idea of spiritual warfare and delayed answers to prayer. Michael's role as a protector is brought into view as a reminder that God defends His people even when the battle is hidden. Prayer, perseverance, and discernment are central themes throughout the message.

Alan also revisits the relationship between George Whitefield and Benjamin Franklin, and how their work helped shape the Great Awakening and American history. He then draws a line between the gospel's effect in Ephesus and the push back believers still face today when truth confronts false worship and false systems.

If you want a teaching that challenges pride, strengthens faith, and keeps the focus on the authority of God's Word, this message is worth your time.

Watch, think, and compare everything to Scripture.

#BookOfActs #Daniel10 #SpiritualWarfare #BibleTeaching #TheSmithAndRowlandShow

Join us for Lesson 114 in our study of the book of Acts, as we look at Paul's writings and the pushback that comes when God is moving.

This message begins with a powerful look at George Whitefield, the Great Awakening, and the way preaching was taken outside the walls of the church. From prison cells to courthouse steps, Whitefield's ministry showed how the gospel can reach a crowd when the Word of God is preached with fire and clarity. That history sets the stage for a deeper study of Acts, Paul, and the reality of spiritual resistance.

The main focus of this lesson is spiritual pushback. When Paul faced opposition in Ephesus, he was dealing with more than human conflict. Scripture shows that unseen forces work against the purpose of God, and believers need to know how to stand. Ephesians 6 comes into view here, with the call to put on the whole armor of God, resist the devil, and stand firm in truth, righteousness, faith, and prayer.

This teaching also points to Daniel 10, the prince of Persia, and the ministry of Michael, the archangel. It brings that passage into a clear view of spiritual warfare and the battle behind the scenes. The message is direct, God defends His people, evil is active, and believers are called to stand with courage.

If you've ever felt resistance in prayer, confusion around a decision, or pressure that seemed bigger than the moment, this lesson will speak to you. It calls every believer to keep moving forward in faith, to trust the Word, and to stay anchored in Jesus.

Watch now and strengthen your understanding of Acts, Paul's ministry, and the spiritual battle that still affects believers today.

#Acts #Paul #Jesus #BibleTeaching #SpiritualWarfare

Join us for Lesson 113 in A Study of the Book of Acts with Paul's Writings, where Paul, Acts 19, and the trouble around "our craft" come into sharp focus.

This Sermon looks at Acts 19:23-41 and the uproar that broke out in Ephesus when the gospel started colliding with money, idols, pride, and power. The message connects the story of Paul with the real battles believers face today, then pushes the conversation further into the idea of spiritual resistance, personal failure, repentance, and the work God still does in our lives.

Along the way, this teaching also ties into the church's 250-year celebration and the call to prayer at the National Mall. It uses the beauty and symbolism of Siena Cathedral to point back to a bigger truth, people can build impressive things with their hands, but only God changes the heart. The floor, the stones, the art, and the history all become part of a larger lesson about worship, witness, and what really matters.

If you've been following the Acts series, this episode brings a strong reminder that the gospel still disrupts false comfort. It still challenges culture. It still exposes what people trust in. And it still calls God's people to stand firm, live clean, and keep moving with purpose.

Watch, reflect, and take in the message for yourself. If this teaching helps you, share it with someone who needs a fresh look at Acts, Paul, and the life-changing power of the gospel.

Welcome to New Life Church with Alan Smith.

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