“About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray” (Acts 10:9)

June 15, 2011

Peter’s strategy for reaching Romans- pray and obey. He prayed on the roof of Simon the Tanner in the port city of Joppa while Cornelius the Centurion sent three men to invite him to carry the gospel to his house.

“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31)

June 14, 2011

This season of peace followed one of persecution. Seasons are not coincidental. The Gardener uses them to make the Vine’s branches more fruitful.

“As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God” (1 Kings 11:4)

June 13, 2011

Solomon started well but finished poorly. How will you finish? Will your devotion and service for Christ increase as you age or will you retire and coast in the end? Where are the elders whose hearts burn ever brighter with age?

“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus” (Acts 8:35)

June 12, 2011

The Written Word points to the Living Word. This is a paradigm for right preaching. Preach the whole of Scripture while always focusing on Jesus as its fulfillment. If Christ isn’t central to our message, we preach in vain.

“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went” (Acts 8:4)

June 11, 2011

When persecution caused the church in Jerusalem to scatter, the gospel was spread to other nations. What was intended to stop the message, instead spurred its growth. God has commanded us to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Will it take persecution for us to obey?

“He erected the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz” (1 Kings 7:21)

June 10, 2011

King Solomon commissioned these 27 ft tall, bronze pillars for the entrance to the Temple. One he named Jakin (He establishes) the other Boaz (In Him is strength). Has God established your house? Is He your strength?

“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1)

June 9, 2011

With both working to pay the mortgage, buying a house in the nicest neighborhood, filling it with expensive furnishings, you still labor in vain without God. A house doesn’t make a home. Love does. God is love. Let Him build your house.

“They held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice” (1 Kings 3:28)

June 8, 2011

What Israel thought of King Solomon. Will God still give wisdom to national leaders? We should pray for those that are in authority that God would imbue them with His wisdom for the administration of justice.

“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 5:42)

June 7, 2011

Where: Temple and house. How: Preaching and teaching. When: Daily. Commitment: Never stopped. Message: Jesus is the Christ. What’s your strategy?

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John… they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13)

June 6, 2011

Peter and John were not wealthy and educated like the Jewish leaders, but they had something better. They had been with Jesus. Are others able to notice that you have spent time with Jesus?