1.  The first several chapters of Acts are about the earliest disciples – especially Peter, Stephen and Phillip. After that, the focus is on Peter and then in chapter 13 the emphasis shifts almost completely to Paul and the expansion of the early church. As we’ve seen before, it is the church that adapts which thrives and the church at Jerusalem that begins to shrink and grow in on itself. It finds it hard to grow out of its Jewish limitations while Paul is constantly innovating and finding ways to present the Gospel to new audiences. It’s always hard to change – especially for founders. Paul’s influence with Gentiles is…

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through…

This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” As you know, we’ve been on vacation so I’ve not had a chance to look at the news. Is anything happening? It seemed pretty slow to me but I probably missed something over the last couple of weeks. Yes, I’m kidding. When I thought about all that is going on…

You know the old saying, “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never harm me.” For some of us with a particular kind of pride, it’s the opposite that is true. We would rather be beaten than to look foolish or ignorant or to fail in public. The fear of humiliation is worse than that of physical harm. Not everyone understands it. Just those afflicted with it. It’s common among speakers, teachers, pastors, intellectuals and professors. Give me sticks and stones any day. Maybe Paul had a bit of that as he had no qualms recounting how he had been abused physically. But as this chapter opens…

As Luke tells us, after Paul’s conversion he spends two years in Arabia and then a year in Damascus and Tarsus before Barnabas is sent to look for him and bring him to Antioch where they spend a year teaching until they are commissioned as missionaries. Together, they spend the next ten years traveling and planting churches. They periodically return to Antioch to give reports of their hardships and their success. Throughout those ten years Paul has run-ins and struggles with Jewish believers (the Judaizers) who insist that new believers be circumcised and follow the dietary laws. So, at the end of ten years or fourteen years after his conversion,…

After Paul’s conversion, he spent three years in Arabia, Damascus and Tarsus until Barnabas went to look for him and brought him to Antioch where together they taught great numbers of people for a whole year. Afterwards, they were set apart and sent off on their first journey. The audiences were mixed, Jewish and Gentile, until we come to the passage this morning where Paul speaks to his first completely Gentile audience. They are not sophisticated like the Athenians but no doubt Paul begins as he usually does. He begins with where they are and their frame of reference. But this time he is totally surprised by the results. Acts…

I love Google Maps for the iPhone.  You just plug in where you want to go and it takes you there.  All you need to know is your current location and you are on your way.  Where you want to go and where you are starting from is so easy. This morning we are looking at John 14:1-6.  The passage is from Jesus’ departing words to the disciples.  While he knows they are not his last words because he knows he will see them again after the resurrection, these are his last words to them in this life. 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a];…

1. I’m not sure why we have so little recorded about the forty days Jesus had with the disciples between his resurrection and the beginning of Acts.  I cannot imagine what the questions must have been or what it meant to have time with a man who had been dead but was now alive again.  It looks like he would come and go periodically and while he was with them he would speak about the kingdom of God.  I wonder if he continued to use parables or if he was more direct like he was with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?  Whatever the case, it was clear…

1. These are the final chapters in the story of Nehemiah and the restoration of Jerusalem after the return from Exile.  You’ll remember from the first lesson that Nehemiah heard about the plight of the returned exiles when his brother returned from a trip to Jerusalem.  First, he wept, then he prayed and fasted for days before doing anything.  He evaluated his capacity (cupbearer to the king) and then waited for four months before doing anything at all except pray.  He grew increasingly committed and it became obvious to people around him. After four months he recruited a partner (the king) who had resources.  Then, for five years he prepared…

I met with a ministry this week whose situation reminded me so much of Nehemiah’s challenge.  He was having to rebuild an organization from the ground up with resistance from both the inside and outside.  It was wearing him down.  He was dependent on a single donor.  His board had very little sense of responsibility.  His people were fearful and comfortable with the situation.  The previous leadership had created a culture of entitlement and low standards. In Chapter 1 and 2 of the book we read the story and the response of Nehemiah to the situation in Jerusalem.  When he heard the news about the state of Jerusalem and those…