The Chiastic Structure or Pattern shows a different emphasis in 1 Timothy, one in which proto-gnostic teaching was becoming a problem that must be addressed head on. Timothy was to make sure everyone was properly educated before they were entrusted with being deacons and elders, teachers and leaders within the church. Continue reading What is the Point of 1 Timothy 2:12?
Embedded in these verses is a lot of information found elsewhere in the New Testament, but not here—Luke was actually summarizing Paul’s activities in order to get to the part of the story Luke wanted to tell: the story of Eutychus and the elders in Ephesus. Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 20, Macedonia Revisited
The believers at Thessalonica were to become among Paul’s most beloved friends and supporters, a living model to all the surrounding area of what it meant to belong to Jesus and live by faith. Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 17, Thessalonica
God sometimes allows something to happen, to put us in the position to be ready for the next step. Paul’s willingness to trust and accept even the really hard steps God took him through, the church at Philippi was establish—the only church Paul consistently received help from throughout his career. Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 16, Demons and Jail
One thing I am getting to learn about Paul, he loved powerful women, and he included them whenever he could in God’s great work. Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 16, Lydia
ya gotta hand it to Paul and his crew. They did not skip a beat. Puzzled looks changed to pleased smiles instantly, and they sat right down to worship with these God-fearing women. The women, apparently, didn’t skip a beat, either. They welcome these four men into their gathering Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 16, The Women of Philippi
even with a vision from God, to not exactly know what’s going to come next. I may think I have every detail of the plan nailed down; but, with the Lord, that is rarely going to be the case. Where would faith fit in, in a scheme like that? Typically, God is going to give us enough to go on, and at each step—if we’re willing to take those steps of faith—God will give us more. Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 16, Paul and the Macedonian Man
