Pastor Randy Hoskins

​Senior Pastor - First Congregational, Ashland, NE

June 9, 2023

No matter where Paul went he always made a major impact. In Acts 21, there was a riot. We're told, "The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple." A few chapters later, in Acts 28, he made such an impact that people thought he was a god. That's the time he was bitten by a venomous snake. They expected him to die, "but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god."

Paul was absolutely unforgettable. He stirred strong emotions, and as a result, he changed lives. He was one of those people that even if you only met him briefly, you would remember him vividly. Paul had that kind of an impact on people. There was no mistaking the relationship he had with Jesus Christ, because it influenced every aspect of his life.

What kind of impact are you having on people? If I was Paul, I would have been a little concerned if the "whole city was aroused," and an angry mob was "running from all directions" toward me looking for blood. Have you ever faced that kind of danger right here in town? I really doubt it. If we truly believe that Jesus is the answer to our friend's, neighbor's and community's problems, what kind of fear is preventing us from witnessing more aggressively about Him? Think about it.


How courageous are you? How much of an impact do you want to make in this world? All of our earthly accomplishments will eventually turn to dust, so the only real evidence of our life is the spiritual legacy we leave behind and the lives that are changed as a result. So why do we work harder at the gym, at the office, on the yard, or on the car than we do for the Kingdom of God? Philippians 2:13 says: "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." God is working in you right now to get you involved in a Kingdom project. Will you respond? Resolve to take a step in the right direction - choosing courage instead of fear. Chase your lion!


Pastor Randy 402-450-4447

PASTOR RANDY HOSKINS

After serving as part-time pastor, Pastor Randy was called to full-time ministry in February of 2020.
​He and Velvet now live in Ashland.