Opening the Bible – Page 45 – A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green

Alive and Amazed

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or think according to the power that is at work among us . . .” (Ephesians 3:20). What are we supposed to do with passages like this one? Texts like this are found throughout Ephesians. There’s 5:1 where we’re told toContinue reading “Alive and Amazed”

Advancing On Our Knees

John Sedgwick was a general in the Union Army during the Civil War. He came from a military family. His grandfather was a general during the Revolutionary War and served with George Washington. Sedgwick graduated from West Point, served in the Mexican-American War, and was involved in numerous Civil War battles including Gettysburg, Antietam andContinue reading “Advancing On Our Knees”

Wake Up!

I suppose there’s a tendency to treat Luke’s account of Eutychus falling asleep during Paul’s preaching like one of those human interest/humorous stories tacked on to the end a newscast. Or, like the humor Shakespeare and other writers employ, we might want to frame it as offering us a change of pace to Luke’s otherwiseContinue reading “Wake Up!”

Speed Trap

The first chapter of Acts is an overlooked text. That’s understandable because of the fireworks that occur in the second chapter when the Spirit is sent, Peter’s proclaims a mighty message about Jesus, three thousand people are baptized, etc.). Still, there’s a reason Luke wrote Acts the way he did and the first chapter isContinue reading “Speed Trap”

Seeing The Other Side

We all know about the other side: the other side of a coin, the other side of the moon, and if you have more than one child, the other side of the story. The other side is a good thing. If we’re seeing just one side it means our perspective is fragmented, partial, and incomplete.Continue reading “Seeing The Other Side”

The Regret That Brings Life

After King Agrippa has heard Paul‘s defense (which seems to have struck a nerve with him – Acts 26:26-28), he tells Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar (v. 32). Perhaps he is faulting Paul’s strategy in appealing to Rome (he knows nothing of the plot againstContinue reading “The Regret That Brings Life”

The New Creation Of God

The book of Acts is Volume 2 of Luke. He tells us as much in 1:1 of Acts when he says that his first book was about “all that Jesus began to do and to teach.” Acts then is what the Jesus continues to do and teach through His body, the church. So we wouldn’tContinue reading “The New Creation Of God”

Teaching Is Fundamental

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”

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”