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Acts 14: Poisoned Minds
There is a pattern in the ministry of Paul and Barnabas that is similar to that of Jesus. They enter a town without a great deal of fanfare. This is not a crusade with an advance team that has been building support and awareness for months before they arrive. There are no posters or media blitz. No organizing committee. No stadiums reserved or churches organized to get out the crowds. Until Jesus enters Jerusalem to the praise of the crowds along the way there is very little notice of his coming and going. It is the same with Paul and Barnabas. They arrive on foot and unaccompanied. They check in…
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Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13
Many of the books in the Bible have what we call hinge points or places where things change in a significant way and history takes a turn. In Genesis that was the calling of Abraham to leave his home. In Exodus it would be the calling of Moses. In Luke it is that moment when Jesus turns his face toward Jerusalem. In the ministry of Paul it is this chapter for a number of reasons. It is the first missionary journey. It is the first miracle of Saul. It is where Saul becomes Paul. It is our only account of a full sermon of Paul’s Most importantly, it is the…
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The Conversion of Saul
Without a doubt, this is the most important conversion in the New Testament. We don’t really think about the disciples converting, do we? There are other dramatic conversions like Cornelius and his family, the Philippian jailer and his family as well as Lydia, a magician and others. However, this conversion is so central to the history of the church that it is told 4 times – 3 in Acts and once in Galatians. In a sense, it has become the model that is first in our minds when we talk about conversion. It is a radical reversal of a life. But, it is only one story and should not be…
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Acts 8: The Diaspora
1. “And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” Try to imagine 5,000 people meeting one day and the next there are only 12. Everyone else has left. Moved out and leaving everything behind. That is the picture here. It is like what…
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Strengthen What Remains
When do we start thinking about the finish line? It happens most often when we reach a certain stage of life but that stage is, of course, different for everyone. For some, they begin considering last things or finishing well when still young. For others, it may be much later. For me, it began when my grandson asked me, “How old are you, Papa?” When I said nearly 78 he was astonished. “What? And you are not dead yet?” That was my turning point for considering what time for me is left and how to use it. John’s words to the church at Sardis took on a new meaning for…
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The Camino
The final miles of the Camino de Santiago leading into Santiago De Compostela, Spain are not grueling but just a steady incline that seems to have no end – especially in the rain which was our fellow traveler on the pilgrimage in May. You finally reach the narrow street that funnels into the broad plaza and having taken a photo celebrating the finish you look for the Pilgrim’s House where you claim your certificate for having completed your walk. Before you receive it there is a brief survey and one of the questions is, “What was your motivation for doing the Camino?” Your choices are religious, non-religious and other. Standing…
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Eulogy for Gerry Dunlap
Eulogy for Gerry Dunlap June 12, 2024 The Apostle Paul says in Philippians: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Many years ago I taught junior high school. One day a student asked me, “Mr. Smith, what is a eulogy?” I told him it was a time when we say…
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Acts 2: Pentecost
1. The lesson for this morning is Acts 2 and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It’s difficult to understand the meaning of Pentecost (Greek for 50th day) unless we look first at the chapter that precedes it. What is the context of the 50th day? While there were a number of feasts and festivals in the life of Jews, there were three main solemn feasts in Jewish life for which every adult male we required to make the trip to Jerusalem. The first was Passover, the second was the Feast of Weeks seven weeks later and, third, in the fall the Feast of Tabernacles. To each of…
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The Ambitious Priest
Even the purest religions go astray in time. In the book of Judges is a story which opens with the mother whose son returns money he has stolen from her. Overjoyed, she thanks the Lord and then vows she will use a portion of the returned money to make an idol dedicated to the Lord. An idol dedicated to the Lord? What was she thinking? How does this happen? How do people get turned around when the commandment is so clear? It is not just making an idol but thinking the idol is a way to worship God. It is still true today, isn’t it? We have people (even religious…
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The Gentle Slope
In the earliest days after Israel entered the Promised Land there was no plan for a single leader following Moses and Joshua. Everything was tribal by design. No President. No King. No standing national armies. There would be no United Tribes of Israel – just Tribes. There was only the common mission of completely driving out the Canaanites and observing the Law. The assumption was every tribe was capable of self-regulation for all had the same set of values in the Law. Such a system assumes people do not need external controls except in extreme circumstances. They were to look out for each other but not dominate or control. They…
