Creative Space for Wanderers
Read: Just a few verses in this passage set the stage for a major shift in the book of Acts. The Sanhedrin opened Pandora’s Box when they stoned Stephen. They released the anger and tension pent up at the Christ-followers in Jerusalem. Like a wild animal that gets a whiff of fresh blood, this event …
Continue reading “Acts: Stephen Martyred, Disciples Scatter”
Read: The Stoning of Stephen was a tragic event for the early Christian church movement. Stephen was one of the finest examples of a strong Christ follower. Luke includes a list of attributes to set the scene: full of God’s grace and power, face like that of an angel, one they could not argue with because …
Read: The greatest problem for any church planter is dealing with amazing church growth. Luke provides one case where members are being added to the community at a pace that has outgrown the current organizational structure. The solution: create deacons. On the surface, it seems like we’re being transported back to Moses’ day where people …
Continue reading “Acts: Growing Church Requires Better Structure”
Read: The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira resulted in great fear among the people, but these events did not slow the growth of the church in the least. The remainder of chapter 5 climaxes with Gamaliel’s assertion that the disciples should be allowed to follow their hearts and let God be the judge. His compelling …
Continue reading “Acts: Healing, Preaching, Prison, and Flogging — The Church Grows”
Read: The story of Ananias and Sapphira are a vivid contrast to the euphoria surrounding the birth of the new church. Up to this point, we are given a great sense of unity and joy filling every gathering of the apostles and hundreds of new believers (over 5,000 from the latest report). The harmony in …
Continue reading “Acts: Lying to the Holy Spirit – Hypocrisy in the Church”
Read: For my generation, and those proceeding me (yes, there are actually people older than me!), the term Communism evokes an emotional response that’s hard to appreciate. Preface that with Christian and many of us are ready to fight! I am not an advocate for Communism, even worse, Christian Communism. Last week, while visiting the …
Read: Peter and John went back to their own people and shared the story of their confrontation with the Sanhedrin. It’s only been a matter of weeks since this group of religious leaders tried and convicted Jesus. There’s no indication they were in hiding, but it’s clear they were not invited to the meeting, now they …
Read: Though professionally unqualified, Peter and John are able to articulate scripture, defend their positions with eloquence, and act with courage that defies logic. They should’ve been scared and speechless but their response sets the Sanhedrin on its heels. they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Someone took …
Read: For years I have encouraged others to write down their response to 1 Peter 3:15, to work through the words and develop a cohesive statement of personal faith. Here is my work in progress, some thoughts that help me respond to Peter’s exhortation: 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be …
Continue reading “Reason for the Hope I have in Jesus Christ”
Read: We spent this past weekend at Koinonia Farms just outside of Americus, Georgia and down the road from Plains, GA where President Carter lives. The farm is one of the places that stood out during the Civil Rights Movement, where people had to make a choice to stand with the status quo or open …
Continue reading “Acts: Thrown in Jail, Peter Preaches Again”