Teaching is fundamental to the kingdom of God. It is the transference of life-altering, relational truths about God and His kingdom. In Acts 11 the Jerusalem church hears about the establishment of a church in Antioch. Their response? They send Barnabas, one of their best men there. He reaches out to Paul and together theContinue reading “Teaching Is Fundamental”
Category Archives: Acts
Pointing Fingers Or Extending Hands?
Luke closes the book of Acts in somewhat of an open manner. He tells us that Paul “stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered” (Acts 28:30-31 NASB). While weContinue reading “Pointing Fingers Or Extending Hands?”
No One Gets To Stay Where They Are
Sometimes I think that when we congratulate people who are about to be baptized as disciples of Jesus on the wonderful decision they are making—we should tell them the rest of the story. That would be that becoming a follower of Jesus is not the end of change but the beginning. Following Christ means thatContinue reading “No One Gets To Stay Where They Are”
Looking For The Intersection
Whatever else we might see when we look in the mirror in the morning, we don’t see the Apostle Paul staring back at us. That’s because whatever self-illusions we might have, we don’t confuse ourselves with him. Neither did people in the first century. When you think about it, Paul was a very singular individual.Continue reading “Looking For The Intersection”
Living The Generous Life
If you did a word association with Barnabas, my guess is that sooner rather than later we’d come up with the word encouragement. We’d be on solid ground for that’s the way he’s introduced to us in Acts 4:36-37. There we’re told of a Cyprian Levite named Joseph given the name Barnabas which means sonContinue reading “Living The Generous Life”
Integrity vs. Image
Simon Chaplin saw the blue lights flashing in his rear view mirror, flipped a switch on the dashboard of his Peugeot and immediately smoke began billowing out from the car in finest James Bond fashion as he raced off. Chaplin had earlier filled a five-gallon bucket with diesel, stuck a pump in it and ranContinue reading “Integrity vs. Image”
He’s Alive And We’re Forgiven
“You are my son; today I have become your father,” (Psalm 2:7). By itself, this little piece from the second psalm doesn’t look like much—certainly not a prophecy of the resurrection. (It actually looks more like a birth announcement). Be that as it may, Paul nonetheless quotes this text in support of the resurrection ofContinue reading “He’s Alive And We’re Forgiven”
For The Good Of The World
I was a few hours away from home. The two people in the vehicle with me were examining the backs of their eyelids for scratches so I needed some company. I turned the radio on but were in an isolated area so there wasn’t much available—a lot of static and little else. Finally, I foundContinue reading “For The Good Of The World”
Fear, Faith, And Focus
When I was growing up, we had a white Siamese cat named Charlie. I don’t know how much breeding goes into a white Siamese, but I know this—Charlie was thoroughly domesticated. He was a household cat with a capital “H.” Yet every once in a while, Charlie got the itch to see what was onContinue reading “Fear, Faith, And Focus”
“Excuse me, could you help me with this?”
The man from Ethiopia (present day Sudan) needed help to understand the Scripture! That much is clear. Some say it was because there was no New Testament to aid him in interpreting the Old Testament text (Isaiah 52:13-53:12) he was reading. It is suggested that if he would have had the complete Bible he couldContinue reading ““Excuse me, could you help me with this?””
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 