I picture these six men now looking at Jesus with wonder and perhaps a little fear. If what he said were true, then who was he really? How could they, ordinary men all, be standing here with one who connects heaven and earth? Continue reading Gospel of John: Stairway to Heaven
In Ephesians 5, Paul wrote about the “Sword of the Spirit,” saying it was the word of God. The author Hebrews said this sword was living and active, sharper than any actual sword. There are times when iron must sharpen iron Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 15, “Iron Sharpens Iron”
The bulk of Paul’s teaching was not about redressing wrongs and rebuking sinners. Instead, Paul talked about the vital necessity of protecting unity, building community, and caring for each other with such love, brothers and sisters in the Lord would rather absorb the cost for another than stand on their own rights. Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 15, Speak the Truth in Love
Plenty of times you and I can feel imprisoned by our circumstances … there are all kinds of ways to find ourselves bound in chains, as Peter was, having to fall asleep between hostile guards. Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 12, Herod, James, and Peter
Peter’s simple, straightforward logic, and God’s obvious affirmation, rendered them speechless. There was no tenable argument, no counterpoint could be made, God had made His desire and will abundantly clear. But this issue was going to crop again and again. Prejudice is hard to get rid of. Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 11, From Peter to Paul
Often, it seems, the way God does that is to shake things up with the unexpected, the unanticipated. Depending on how entrenched you and I are in the way we view something, will determine how willing we are to even entertain the new ways, new perspectives, and new challenges God presents. Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 10, Cornelius Born Again
You know how it feels to be stuck? You can’t see any way out, and you sure wish you could get out. This onramp at the end of Acts chapter 9, leading to Acts chapter 10, is all about breakthroughs, Peter willing to cooperate with God as God began to expand the church and take it in new directions. Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 9, Breakthroughs
God working miracles through Philip drew the attention of a powerful sorcerer named Simon. He was the proud resident magician of Samaria, even considered by many people to be divine, and he had a wide and loyal following. But not, Simon was losing many of his followers to the gospel of Jesus Christ, so he came to investigate this new phenomenon. Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 8, Simon the Sorcerer
Having integrity means living what you truly believe, even if what you believe isn’t very popular. Continue reading Acts Wednesday, Chapter 5, Ananias and Sapphira
Trouble came pounding, they prayed, and God answered powerfully with a fresh infilling of His Spirit. Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 4, Persecution…Prayer
