The Price of the Presence

| 7/27/25 |

Ever feel like you're just adding Jesus to your existing life instead of letting Him rebuild it from the ground up? This message dives into one of the most overlooked stories in Acts - where a magician tries to buy God's power and completely misses the point. Whether you're a longtime believer or just curious about faith, you'll discover why Jesus isn't meant to be an addition to your life, but the foundation of something entirely new. We explore the difference between adding religion to your routine vs. allowing God to transform everything from your relationships to your career goals. 0:00 - Introduction: Why These Are "Our Stories" 2:15 - Family Recipe Analogy: God Wants You There, But He's In Charge 5:30 - Acts 8:4-25 Scripture Reading 8:45 - Main Point: God's Work Includes You But Doesn't Revolve Around You 10:20 - Catching Up on Acts: From Blessing to Scattering 13:00 - The Dandelion Moment: How Persecution Spread the Gospel 16:45 - Philip in Samaria: Ministry Through Grief 19:30 - Meet Simon the Magician: The Man Who Wanted to Buy God's Power 23:15 - The Samaritan Way: Adding Jesus to Everything Else 27:40 - Historical Context: Why Samaritans Mixed Their Faith 31:20 - The American Addition Problem: P90X, Essential Oils, and More 34:00 - House Addition vs Faith Addition: Why One Works and One Doesn't 37:15 - The Uniqueness of Acts 8: Understanding the Holy Spirit's Work 41:30 - Apostles as Witnesses: Confirming God's Expanding Kingdom 44:45 - Simon's Fatal Mistake: Trying to Command the Spirit 47:20 - The Heart Check: Mixed Motives and God's Work 50:00 - The Parable of the Sower: When Competing Claims Choke Faith 53:30 - Homework Challenge: Addition or Foundation? 56:00 - Final Application: Rebuilding Everything on Jesus 58:15 - Closing Prayer