June 29, 2020
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO RIOTING A riot broke out in Ephesus over the importance of the Temple of Diana to the city’s identity and fame. The riot began as an angry response by the silversmiths of Ephesus, who made a living making figurines of the goddess Diana to sell. Their business had declined with
June 27, 2020
DON’T LET FEAR KEEP YOU SILENT After Paul preached Jesus as the Christ to the members of the Corinthian synagogue, they opposed him. But he didn’t let fear of opposition stop his preaching of the gospel. Instead, he shifted his ministry focus to the Gentiles in the city. Yet, the opposition among the Corinthian Jews
June 24, 2020
HOW THE GREAT COMMISSION ENLARGES OUR HEARTS After Paul and Barnabas finished their first missionary journey, they returned to their sending church at Antioch. What a joy it must have been to return to this large and prosperous church. After giving their report, they continuing teaching and preaching in Antioch. Yet after a while, Paul
June 19, 2020
THE CHURCH KNOWN MORE FOR ITS SENDING CAPACITY THAN ITS SEATING CAPACITY Imagine attending a worship service that ends not with an invitation to lunch, but with a commissioning service that puts you on the next boat going out to sea. That’s what happened to Barnabas and “Saul” (“Paul”). Oh, to have worship services
June 17, 2020
THE PERSECUTION THAT RESULTED IN PROLIFERATION Jesus had instructed His disciples that they were to be His witnesses to the “end of the earth” (Acts 1:8), yet it wasn’t until after the persecution in Jerusalem that they truly began to fulfill His call. As they scattered throughout the Roman world, great numbers of people turned
June 14, 2020
BE A BARNABAS After Saul became a follower of Jesus at Damascus, he returned to Jerusalem. There he sought to meet with the apostles, but they were afraid and didn’t believe he had changed. But one of the disciples named Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Encouragement,” vouched for Saul and presented him to the
June 13, 2020
RESPONDING TO CHRIST’S CALL While heading to the city of Damascus to persecute Christians, Saul encountered the living Lord Jesus on the way. When Saul understood that it was Jesus speaking to him, he asked one of the most important questions a believer can ask. He asked what Jesus wanted him to do. He knew
June 7, 2020
THE FELLOWSHIP OF SUFFERING FOR CHRIST’S NAME Peter and some of the apostles were put in the common prison by the high priest for continuing to preach in the name of Jesus. That night, an angel set them free from the prison and instructed them to go and preach in the Temple courts. When the
June 6, 2020
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE NAME OF JESUS? Peter and John healed a crippled man in the name of Jesus and began to preach in the Temple. A great crowd gathered to see the cripple now walking and to hear the preaching of Peter and John. The captain of the Temple arrested them for preaching
June 5, 2020
GIVE THEM JESUS Peter and John encountered a cripple asking for money on their way to afternoon prayers at the Temple. While many worshipers passed by the invalid without looking at him, probably even avoiding eye contact, Peter and John looked at him intently, “fixing” their eyes on him. They weren’t afraid of his need.