teach – Page 5 – Dave R Phillips

August 27, 2018

The reading today takes us up to the infamous verse, John 3:16. It’s important to remember the context, so the title I chose for this post is intentionally focused on Nicodemus. He’s the Pharisee that heard about Jesus and sought Him after hours, under cover of darkness. Jesus has a lot to say to Nicodemus (and us) before John summarized the lesson in a statement that almost everyone has heard. This section paints the picture in dark or light, black or white. There is no gray mentioned here. It’s a tough lesson for a religious zealot from a few thousand years ago and it’s hard for many to accept in this present time. Let’s dive in and take a look!

Visitation at Night

Imagine you were part of a minority group that is trying to get a nation back on track with God. The Pharisees had a strong voice and were convinced their way was right. Their main rival was the Sadducees, the group that held a majority of positions in the Sanhedrin. The Sadducees were bound to the Torah, the first five books of what we call the Bible. They denied the resurrection, afterlife, and even the spiritual realm. Their beliefs seemed out of step with reality from our perspective and definitely something the Pharisees were trying to overshadow. (See GotQuestions.org for more.)

The picture I’m trying to paint is one of political maneuvering among the religious elite. This background is essential to understanding why Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, had to show up at night — this was significant and unusual.

In addition, recall the events covered in John’s first few chapters: John the Baptist, calling of the disciples, miraculous water into wine, and clearing of the temple. There were probably other events that prompted Nicodemus to seek out Jesus, but John wants us to consider these before reading this chapter.

He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:2

Teaching the Teacher

As we begin to dive deep into this lesson, I have one last observation to set the stage. The Pharisees are notoriously at odds with Jesus. We know they were the group in particular that wanted to have Jesus killed. Yet Jesus accepted the opportunity to meet with Nicodemus. I would suggest His words are meant to encourage Nicodemus, not speak down to him. I read the interaction with great kindness, with care and love.

I hope this is an example for us to speak to others who are truly seeking to understand the essence of our faith. It’s impossible to show anyone what the heavenly realms look like, there has to be a leap of faith. That leap must be from a sure foundation to a certain destination. The foundation is Christ. The destination is eternal life with the Father.

Nicodemus is a teacher of teachers who came to learn from the greatest teacher of all. Perhaps he set out to test Jesus, to see where He stood on the Torah. He doesn’t even ask a question before Jesus jumps into an intense thought.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3

Nicodemus is a learned man. I’m convinced he knew that Jesus had more to say on this subject, but he’s trying to understand how to teach this to someone else.

“Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” John 3:4

Jesus now explains that which is difficult to understand. His explanation he gently rebukes Nicodemus,

“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? John 3:10

Even so, He provides details to challenge and stretch the imagination of many.

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” John 3:5-6

We Speak and You People Don’t Believe

These few verses jump out at me this morning. Here Jesus’ words are “we speak” versus “you people.” Something is going on here. Pay particular attention to this passage in that light.

Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? John 3:11-12

Let the thought sink in. Jesus goes on to provide an example of Moses lifting up the snake in the wilderness, just as He will be lifted up on a cross. His testimony is compelling. I think they talked until dawn. In my imagination, I see Nicodemus with tears as he hears the words of the Messiah. I think he’s convinced and stuck at the same time.

We’ll see Nicodemus a few more times in this gospel account. My prayer that I would learn from his humility and great desire to learn from the Master.

I intended to include the next few verses, but as I got to this point, I wanted to pause and reflect on how much I am like Nicodemus. Raised in the church, steeped in religion, blessed beyond measure, yet lost in the world. I need to hear and appreciate the ensuing verses, but I need to wait a moment.

Lord, fill this place right now. Cast a light into the darkness that surrounds us. Show us that if we hold tightly to that which the world honors we will miss the blessing You have for each of us. This is a hard lesson to understand, but essential to our growth.

Breathe into us, Holy Spirit, fill our lungs with Your breath so we may be a blessing to everyone we meet today. Everyone.

August 21, 2018August 13, 2020

John: The Voice of One Calling in the Wilderness

Read: John 1:19-34

We are sure that John the Baptist is not the Apostle John, he’s not the one who wrote the Gospel of John, but the religious powers of his day couldn’t figure out who he was. John the Baptist was baptizing people at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River and apparently attracting quite a lot of attention, or perhaps from the Jewish leadership’s perspective, distracting a lot of people. One thing is sure. John knew his calling. He understood what his life was all about and was relentlessly pursuing Jesus.

John the Baptist:

was not the Messiah: John 1:19-20
was not Elijah: John 1:21, see Malachi 4:5 and 1 Kings 17-19 and 2 Kings 2:1-11
was not the Prophet: John 1:21 and reference by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:14-19

Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” John 1:22-23

John’s mission was not to impress anyone with his importance. I don’t even think he was on a mission to gather disciples except where it would help promote the message of repentance and preparation for Jesus. John knows Jesus is among them. This is a truly overwhelming thought:

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:26-27

“But among you…” is an audacious statement that has slipped by me in the past. He’s right here in front of you. And He will be revealed very soon. In fact, the way John (the Gospel writer) puts it, the very next day he has an encounter with Jesus.

John Testifies About Jesus.

Finally, after years of obedience with no guarantee of success, John the Baptist sees Jesus.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ John 1:29-30

John is speaking to his disciples, and he is speaking to us. This is the One, the Lamb of God, the One who was and is, the One who was before and is now. There’s a lot of doctrine wrapped up in this short phrase. I imagine they talked about the concept more than once. The prologue suggests this was something they thought about a lot.

John the Baptist didn’t know Jesus in this way as they grew up. They were cousins in an earthly sense, but their heavenly mission transformed both from ordinary men to extraordinary people from God.

John Knew His Mission on Earth.

I don’t know about you, but I often find myself praying for clarity, a clear mission statement. John had no doubt.

I came that he might be revealed to Israel: John 1:31
God sent me to baptize with water: John 1:33
I would see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ John 1:33

John knew his mission and he went about it zealously, day after day, with complete confidence holding nothing back.

Then it happened.

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One. John 1:32, 34

Some Thoughts:

I think John was sure he would eventually see Jesus, but he had no idea of when. Day after day John was committed to his work. Each day he woke up, ate some honey and locusts, fluffed his wild hairdo, and then began preaching repentance and baptizing people. How many did he baptize before or after Jesus? No one knows, but try to imagine: one thousand fifty-three, fifty-four, fifty-five…on and on. The message was of utmost importance. Each time he had to wonder. Is this the one? Nope. Next one? Nope. Again and again.

Was John ever discouraged? There’s no indication that he ever missed a beat, but I have to wonder if he looked at the list of those he baptized a few times to see if he somehow missed the sign. That’s just my mind wandering because there are so many days when I question if I’m on the right track.

What is your wilderness today? You and I may not be standing in a river or eating locusts and wild honey, but if we can see beyond the physical realm and peek into the spiritual world that surrounds us, I think we would see the wilderness with some clarity. Of course, the tempter does not want us to see this nor does he want us to dwell on the thought.

Instead, I think Satan wants us to question being the voice in the wilderness. He wants us to think we are merely drawing attention to ourselves. He feeds us the lie that it’s all about our fame and fortune. I don’t want to say “we” too often. Perhaps you don’t get discouraged or confused, but I have found myself questioning my motives to the point of inaction. Does that make sense? Am I the only one holding back? Is my pursuit of ___ (fill in the blank) ___ all about promoting myself, or is it to help people in their walk with Christ? It sounds easy, but it’s not.

As I get older, my list of failures gets longer. The opportunity to dwell on that which did not work is far longer than the successes I have seen. Here’s the key: focus on the mission statement that was commanded: go and make disciples of Jesus, teach His commands, baptize in His name, repeat until the time on earth is done. If my daily activity is supporting the mission, whatever that activity is, I’m moving in the right direction.

Life in the wilderness may not easy at times, but in comparison to the sacrifice that Jesus made, it’s certainly worth the struggle. Enjoy the successes. When you fail, (and you will if you’re trying) lean forward and fall on your face. Fall forward. Then get up and try again.

August 14, 2018September 16, 2021

John: Introduction

For the next three months or so, we will study the book of John. The Apostle John adds a different perspective from Matthew, Mark, and Luke (known as the Synoptic Gospels). John includes stories that are not found elsewhere. He emphasizes the incarnation of Jesus as something we should wrap our minds around. The word incarnation is not one we use in everyday conversation, at least I don’t, but it’s an important concept to consider. Here’s how John defined it:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Jesus was at the beginning as the Word, with God, and with the Holy Spirit. He was eternally present, rather, He is eternally present. (The whole notion of not being bound by time is hard to get my mind around.)

Incarnation means that Jesus, the Word, stepped into time and took on human flesh. John will invest quite a bit of energy trying to help us appreciate the importance of this distinction. I hope you’re willing to take the journey with me!

Different Perspective, Same Story

As mentioned early, John’s perspective is different, but this is all part of the same story.

While ninety percent of Mark’s stories appear in either Matthew or Luke, ninety percent of the Fourth Gospel—the Gospel of John—is unique. The Bible Project

Having read through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts, we now get to take a distinctly different view that should give us a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Messiah as fully human and fully divine.

Here’s a sketch of the Book of John that provides an insightful overview of his account of the life of Jesus.

TheBibleProject_John — Overview of John by The Bible Project

That’s pretty intense! I made a poster of this to help as we study the Gospel of John and I hope it’s helpful for you. Here are links to The Bible Project’s videos that provide a great overview: Part 1 Part 2.

Bible Study on the Gospel of John: Here’s the link to the page that contains the current handouts for those participating in the Bible study. [ Handouts ]

This will be an exciting journey as we learn about the life of Jesus through John’s personal encounter with the Son of God. Expect to be challenged. This is going to be fantastic!

Things I’ve Learned Along the Way

One of the many things I’ve paid particular attention to this time through the Bible is that Luke and Acts were written by Luke and can really be considered one continuous story. The Bible Project suggests there are five books, based on our modern Bible divisions, that are considered “the Gospel of Jesus.” Essentially, they combine Luke and Acts and refer to it as Luke-Acts. As I was blogging through Luke, it only seemed fitting that the post after Luke 24 should be from Acts 1. I didn’t read The Bible Project’s introduction before, but I definitely support their perspective now.

If I had read this statement a year ago, or if you asked me in a game of Bible Trivia, I would have said there are four books that form the Gospel. I would have been wrong.

The Forest

It’s important not to win a trivia contest and miss the opportunity to hear the voice of God through His word. This is not to suggest that we should merely swim on the surface, skimming over the deep details that make up the Bible. Nor am I suggesting we need to strap on some deepwater diving gear and go down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench to understand every pixel in every image portrayed.

Let’s meet somewhere in the middle. The internet provides links to a seemingly endless stream of information, but we only need so much to make sense of the context of the stories we read. I’m in awe of those who have dedicated their lives to add to the body of knowledge to support the biblical accounts.

Contemporary Context

My present effort is mostly focused on finding sources that appear trustworthy to help me understand the narrative better, especially as it seems to relate to our contemporary context. This is what I like to call the “so what” portion of every post. If my words don’t add to a better understanding of the passage, they fail the “so what” test. As I type the blog, I take lots of notes. Fortunately for you, there are many thoughts that get deleted when I review what’s written before hitting the “publish” button. Hopefully.

Some days I probably don’t review the words enough. That’s where you come in and that’s why there is a space for comments. My prayer is these words will inform and challenge, but when I leave a gap, please take a moment and fill it with your thoughts. That’s the challenge.

For those who prefer to listen to the posts, the podcast is available here: https://anchor.fm/dave-r-phillips. I’m still recording the posts, but it’s a start.

Index with Links to blog posts on John

I’ll update this list as we go through the Gospel of John

The Synoptic Gospels: The word “synoptic” comes from the Greek word synoptikos, meaning “able to be seen together.” Source: https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/synoptic-gospels/

Podcast

I’m working on a Podcast to go along with this series. Stay tuned in at the following link if you enjoy listening on the go!
https://anchor.fm/dave-r-phillips

July 29, 2018

Acts: Paul in Jerusalem, Part 2

Read: Acts 21:27-36

Paul was received well but given a task to go through some purification ritual to appease the Jewish Christians (see Part 1). Trouble finds him before he gets to finish the process. In this part, we’ll focus on the few verses that turn the corner in the story. Paul was warned by his brothers and sisters that Jerusalem would not turn out well. He did not know, however, from which direction trouble would come. There’s a lot more to this story than a few simple verses. May the Spirit speak to you as you dwell on this passage.

Some Jews

Luke is careful not to point fingers at those who caused problems. They are nameless and are not the point of the story. The fact that the crowd is so easily swayed should get our attention.

When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him… Acts 21:27

Before we chalk this up as another, “that’s what those crazy people did back then” experience, take a look at how the argument is constructed. Paul is accused of two things, the latter of which is worth a bit of a study. Here are their main points:

Paul is teaching everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place and
he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place

The first point doesn’t seem to get much traction. Perhaps even in ancient times, such overarching accusations are quickly dismissed. Anytime I see a post, whatever the platform, that suggests “everyone” or “everywhere” I’m quick to move on. I’d rather see a picture of a family playing dominoes!

The second point escaped me as significant until I did some research. The NIV Study Bible includes this note:

Any Gentiles found within the bounds of the court of Israel would be killed. But there is no evidence that Paul had brought anyone other than Jews into the area. NIV Study Bible, p.1870

The NIV Application Commentary explains this even further (see note below). The point I’m trying to make is that one who wants to create dissension, those who want to cause a riot, “they” who want to divide the church will keep looking until they find that which will create the reaction they want.

Remember how the Jewish leaders kept looking for ways to crucify Jesus. Time after time they tried to find an angle that would work until they finally won. They manipulated Pilate and the crowd to gain what they wanted.

Whole City Aroused

We only read two items of accusation, but the second one was the key. Luke tells us the whole city is aroused. With large numbers of people encouraging immediate action, they grab Paul, drag him from the temple where he was simply trying to fulfill the requirements of purification. He’s accused and beaten by people who feel their temple has been desecrated. This is important to me. I’m not about to suggest their actions were right, but consider what this means to them and their understanding of the temple.

This was the place where they met God. I believe there were many devout Jews who studied the prophets, knew the tainted history of their ancestors and wanted to remain pure. They remembered how Jeroboam misled the people and how his actions ultimately divided Israel. The temple was the one thing that remained. Hear me on this. They had become so entranced by their own zealousness that they lost sight of God’s relentless pursuit of a relationship with all people. There were scores of people in agreement, that’s why the crowd was easily stirred.

These were not ignorant men and women. I think we like to discount their intellectual capacity because they didn’t know then what we know now. Please don’t jump on that train. They were wrong, without a doubt, but I will maintain they were wrong for good reasons–that is my point. Wrong is still wrong even if it is for reasons we can justify.

Roman Intervention

The Roman commander got involved to squelch the riot.

He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Acts 21:32

After binding Paul in chains he asks the rioters for some explanation. It was quickly apparent that they had no rational reason for killing this man. For the sake of maintaining good order and discipline, the commander took Paul to the barracks for further investigation.

When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!” Acts 21:35-36

The scene is one of great turmoil. Recent riots in this country come to mind. It’s sad to see people moved beyond rational behavior, yet I sympathize with a desire to want to scream out at injustice when I see it. How do we maintain a fighting spirit while being objective?

They

I know I’ve used the term, “they” way too many times in this post. Forgive me. I am trying to make a point. They are anonymous. It’s safe to be hidden in the crowd, but we were not called to safety. Nor are we called to incite riots. If anything, the riot I would endorse is one of radical love as Jesus demonstrated and Paul taught. I would like to be a part of “they” who love with kindness and patience and without reservation or qualification.

The story doesn’t end here for Paul and it’s just beginning for us. I pray that we will learn how to be a people who are willing to speak out for the love of Christ in a way the honors and draws people to Jesus.

NIVAC Note: Bruce explains the seriousness of their charge: “The Roman authorities were so conciliatory of Jewish religious scruples in this regard that they authorized the death sentence for this trespass even when the offenders were Roman citizens.” Citing evidence from Josephus and Philo, Bruce says that notices in Latin and Greek were fixed to the barrier between the inner and outer courts, warning Gentiles that death was the penalty for going any further. 8 “The whole city was aroused” (v. 30a), and the people dragged Paul out of the temple. The gates of the temple were shut (v. 30b), possibly to avoid defiling the temple from the chaos.

Wilkins, Michael J.; Garland, David E.; Bock, Darrell L.; Burge, Gary M.; Fernando, Ajith. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 86293-86298). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

July 28, 2018

Acts: Paul in Jerusalem, Part 1

Read: Acts 21:17-26

Paul, Luke, and the entire group were warmly received when they arrived in Jerusalem. James, the brother of Jesus, and the elders of the church are excited to hear the news of Paul’s missionary efforts, but there is a problem that requires resolution in the eyes of the established Church. There is so much to learn from this story in Acts that we need to take this in pieces. This is just Part 1. Pray with me as I venture through this incredible section of Acts.

Warm Reception

It started out great! Christians were eager to hear the stories about Paul’s extensive travels. This was a meeting they were really looking forward to.

Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God. Acts 21:19-20

They are excited to hear about Paul’s success. The result of his ministry is that “many thousands” have believed. This is amazing! Seriously, I’d be overjoyed to see a hundred people come to Christ or even a dozen. Lord, I pray that we aren’t captivated by numbers, but also that we would not shy away from them either.

Paul was aware that many had become Christians, but that was not something he counted. Perhaps his math included the denominator of the entire world to keep him humble. In this case, thousands divided by billions is a rather small fraction. Every individual counts. Enough math for the day!

The Problem

There seems to be a problem here, something that Paul needs to consider before continuing his ministry in the Jewish capital.

They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do? Acts 21:21-22

Oh *#@__%! The potential for dividing the Church is huge. The solution, in this case, is to do that which will be understood by those who stand in judgment. They devise a method that should be seen as evidence for his purification and acceptability. This includes a seven-day ritual that required steps which are impossible to hide, beginning with shaving your head.

The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them. Acts 21:26

Paul doesn’t waste time and energy trying to prove his point. Instead, he accepted their decision and honored their authority by submitting to their process.

If Paul was willing to go through this ritual in an effort to win the Jews, we must evaluate how we interact with the established Church in this time before burning any bridges. It’s complicated and messy. When we look at this event in hindsight it’s easy to join the host of commentators that suggest this was a mistake by Paul, that he should have stood his ground and defended his right to be an individual in Christ. We know he was a persuasive orator that could have easily collected arguments in his favor, but that is not what he did.

Paul preached that he was a chameleon, willing to become whatever he needed to win people to Christ. He told us to do the same. Why would this be any different to Christians? Paul was not impressed with the number of converts, nor was he distracted by aspirations of fame and fortune. His time on earth was dedicated to winning souls for Christ.

One who has died to self has a love that “does not insist on its own way” (1 Corinthians 13:5, NRSV). To Paul the unity of the church was so important that a big price was well worth paying in order to preserve it. We ought to recover this perspective in today’s church. NIVAC Note

Some Thoughts

Things go south rather quickly at this point. The story changes dramatically. I’ve decided to cover this in part 2 rather than squeeze all the thoughts into one post.

The question we are compelled to ponder is how we act within the established Church. It’s clear to me that there are many problems in the Church. I could list a dozen significant issues that must be dealt with immediately. This passage begs me to consider my words carefully. It does not suggest complacency or inaction. I’m not compelled to accept mistakes being made and cower to them. I am, however, entreated to appreciate that all have sinned, each of us, including myself–we live in a fallen world.

Paul preached unity over and over again. We should be a united people who cling to our similarities more than fight over differences. Those outside the Christian faith aren’t interested in this kind of pettiness. They have no time to study why we should do one thing over the other or take a position on either side. They simply view Christians as people who can’t even get their story straight. As a result, they stay away seeming to say, “when Y’all get your act together, give me a call.”

There is so little time to do the ministry for our Lord on this earth. We need to be a band that plays together, that leaves space for each to play his part.

Lord, help me understand how to work within the Church to draw those who would otherwise stay away. Give me the voice of reason that helps churches sharpen their swords of truth for Your benefit. I don’t really know what this looks like for the future. If I need to shave my head and pay the price for someone else, then I need to have a humble attitude and grab the razor! Help us all to hear your voice and act in obedience.

NIVAC Note: Wilkins, Michael J.; Garland, David E.; Bock, Darrell L.; Burge, Gary M.; Fernando, Ajith. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 86346-86348). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

July 26, 2018July 26, 2018

Acts: On the Way to Jerusalem

Read: Acts 21:1-16

Luke provides a dramatic story of their journey from Miletus to Jerusalem. He begins by enunciating the emotional departure from the Elders as they began their journey through several cities. They stayed in Tyre for a week and ministered to the church in this challenging city. As the story unfolds, I’m swept away by the depth of the bond these people had for Paul, those who were disciples, and for the young Church. How I long for this sense of deep connection in the Church today. Take a look and see the highlights Luke provides for us.

Tyre for a Week

Luke writes himself into this story, he is with them on the journey as they sail to the metropolis of Tyre, the huge port city. Tyre has a significant history in the Bible. Notable names like Joshua, David, Solomon, Nehemiah, to name a few, come from the Old Testament. Jesus traveled there as well and many from Tyre witnessed His teaching and miracles. Suffice it to say, it was an important city.

We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. Acts 21:4-5

In my imagination, the video switches to slow motion as the group leaves. Men, women, and children all walking out with Paul and his team. The music is melancholy. There is a heaviness about this visit that is unexplainable except to say they knew in their hearts this was Paul’s last visit. And they cared.

Maybe it’s just me or perhaps you feel the same longing for a community of faith that is this close. Lord, help us to be a people that are moved by this story. Show us how we can become people that love You with all our heart and love our neighbors as well. Make this the new normal.

Agabus the Prophet

From Tyre they traveled to Ptolemais then to Philip’s house (one of the Seven) in Caesarea where Agabus had a message to deliver.

Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” Acts 21:11

This is the second time on this journey that Paul has been warned to stay away from Jerusalem. His response is a testimony to his desire to follow Christ, no matter what.

Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” Acts 21:13-14

As I’m typing this post, I received an email from The Voice of the Martyrs with the subject: How You Can Pray for and Help 10,000 Displaced Christians. I’m reminded that Paul’s example of obedience is repeated by many throughout the world today. We have many brothers and sisters who have found themselves in danger for the sake of the Gospel.

This is not a plea to go and look for trouble. Far from it. It is, however, a recognition that this is a very real possibility in our world today. One of the initial questions in Multiply asks what it might cost you to become a disciple of Christ. Paul knew the answer. How about you?

The early disciples risked much to pursue their faith in Jesus. As I sit in my home to reflect on this passage I have to wonder if I’m a bit too comfortable. As I said above, I don’t think Jesus is calling us to look for problems, but I’m pretty sure He didn’t call us to sit in rocking chairs and be content in our own private little worlds.

Lord, help me to see that which is right in front of me and move me to action. Stir in my heart that which stirs Yours. Do not allow me to be content and complacent. Light the fire that is the beacon of hope for the lost, the least, and the lonely.

July 23, 2018

Acts: Sunday Gatherings Begin and the Eutychus Miracle

Read: Acts 20:1-12

As we read many details of Paul’s travels in this chapter, we are given some significant insight into his way of encouraging leaders of the first century Church. He encourages them through teaching well into the night and even through a miraculous healing without missing a beat. We need to read his letters to the churches he planted to get a better understanding of what he must have discussed, but Luke’s focus here is to capture the broad perspective of his vast ministry.

Paul the Encourager

After the riots in Ephesus, Paul lets things settle down a bit.

When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. Acts 20:1

In Paul’s day, Macedonia included Thessalonica, Philippi, Berea, and other cities where he planted churches. The group was comprised of men from Berea, Thessalonica, Derbe, and the province of Asia. When you look at the map, this is a rather extensive area to draw from in an age where it was difficult at best to communicate over great distances. It’s no wonder that Paul chose to write letters to these churches to keep in touch and consistently teach across cultural boundaries.

Luke joins the group at some point during these travels. Notice that he inserts phrases like “we came together,” “where we stayed,” etc. This personal touch is quite interesting to me. I guess it’s why I was diverted yesterday when I wrote The Miracle of the Bible. It’s a fascinating collection of writings I hope we can all appreciate.

Sunday Gatherings

Paul routinely went into synagogues everywhere he traveled to preach the Gospel to Jews gathered on the Sabbath. We see this pattern repeated often. In this case, and probably in many future cases, we see the day to gather moves from the seventh day (Saturday) to the first day (Sunday).

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Acts 20:7

I don’t want to overstate the significance of this detail, but it is quite interesting to note. It’s logical as well. Gentiles would not have a habit of going to the synagogue on Saturday, it certainly wasn’t the Sabbath for them! Sunday made more sense and it allowed Paul to continue his appeal to the Jews and the Gentiles.

Sidenote on Gathering

In these days weekends are often filled with sports and other activities that make Sunday worship seem more like an event that gets checked off of a list than an opportunity to gather and worship. So much to do and so little time. We should still get together on Sunday, no doubt, but perhaps we should gather at another time like Friday nights. It’s funny that this is often the time many look forward to for fun because there are far fewer limitations. Babysitters are easy to arrange and places are open late to serve. Our society has figured this out, how about us?

What if we gathered together to sing, share communion, fellowship, laugh, eat, and learn without the finite boundaries of time on Sunday morning. What would happen if we invested time in developing deep relationships with other Christ-followers in homes where we might actually have time to get to know one another? It’s risky. We wouldn’t be able to hide in the back row. I am suggesting the risk is worth the reward. Just a thought.

Eutychus Raised from the Dead

Eutychus was a young man among many that were drawn to Paul’s teaching. More than just a sermon, Paul keeps on talking well into the night. Luke lets us know that the room was well lit, but Eutychus gets sleepy nonetheless. He chose to listen while seated in a window on the third story of a house.

I’m not sure it matters, but in Europe, the third story is what we would refer to as the fourth floor. The ground floor doesn’t get numbered. I’m suggesting this to emphasize the height of his perch and the distance he would have fallen. Be assured, Eutychus didn’t survive the fall.

I wonder if Paul was watching him nod off during his talk. Not merely falling asleep in church, this was flat out dangerous. Suddenly, Eutychus slips out of sight.

When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” Acts 20:9-10

Remember that Luke was a medical doctor. When he says he was “picked up dead” there is no doubt, Eutychus was not alive. Paul’s reaction is crazy. Don’t be alarmed. Seriously? He wastes no time in running to the scene and the Holy Spirit works through him miraculously.

What does Paul do after this miracle? Does he teach on healing ministry or take time to mention how Eutychus was healed? Or perhaps take up a collection? Nope. It doesn’t appear that this event was even discussed. The group heads back upstairs to share communion and continue talking until daylight. The important thing was still the most urgent — teach disciples what they need to know.

As we’ll learn in the rest of this chapter, Paul’s focus was on ministry, on spreading the Gospel. His energy was not on getting his name on a placard somewhere. Just the opposite, he was there to teach an encourage others to do the same. He modeled the behavior that we should emulate.

Christ came in human flesh, served people, and showed us we should do the same. Go. Make disciples. Spread the incredible news that Jesus paid the price once and for all. Eternity includes yesterday, today, and tomorrow. May every conversation reflect this sense of urgency.

July 20, 2018July 25, 2018

Acts: Paul and Apollos in Ephesus

Read: Acts 18:23-19:7

As Paul travels to Ephesus, he meets Apollos and other disciples. It appears that Paul invested quite a bit of time into teaching disciples on this trip. A group he finds in Ephesus is particularly interesting because they didn’t even know about the Holy Spirit. Obviously, there were gaps in their education that Paul (and others) found and fixed. There’s no finger-pointing or disparaging words, just a focus on solid teaching to get these new disciples on track and bolster the early church.

Apollos

Always be teachable. I don’t want to forget that lesson. Apollos, a wise and learned scholar appears on the scene with his approach to teaching the gospel based on his knowledge of the baptism of John.

He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately Acts 18:25

“Great fervor” is probably an indication of his preaching ability, which I believe is a gift from the Spirit. We can all speak with great fervor, even if we aren’t great preachers. Fervency is a mark of passion about a subject, hopefully as a result of knowledge. I say hopefully because far too often we hear repeated sound-bites that makes one appear to be informed on a topic without adequately studying the subject.

Apollos’s fervor appears to come from his confidence in the truth and power of Jesus. Ignited by the Holy Spirit, he was able to effectively teach many. We too can have this level of confidence through the consistent and obedient study of the Bible.

When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. Acts 18:26

Our preeminent example of hospitality and wisdom, Priscilla and Aquila, invited Apollos into their home and filled in the gaps of his knowledge about Jesus. From Luke’s account, it seems Apollos was a great student, eager to learn, and gifted to teach.

For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. Acts 18:28

Apollos grew to be a prominent teacher in the region. Later, in [Bible]1 Corinthians 1:10-12[/bible], we’ll read his name in comparison to Paul, though there is no reason to conclude that Apollos was trying to compete. Both Apollos and Paul were in ministry to win souls for Christ, not to boost their egos!

Paul

As we begin chapter 19, we find Apollos in Corinth and Paul in Ephesus. When Paul arrives he finds a small group of disciples, about twelve men, who appear to have incomplete information about being a Christ follower. I’m not sure what prompted Paul to ask, no details are provided, but he asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit. Their response is interesting:

No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. Acts 19:2

Paul completed their education on the spot and laid hands on them!

When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:6

In both cases, the lack of knowledge is not criticized. Instead, those who knew more taught those who needed help. Both teaching and learning are received well. There is much to learn from this behavior as we grow in our knowledge of Jesus’s call in our lives. There’s no need to criticize others when we see gaps. Instead, let’s focus on imparting knowledge we have gained while being teachable at the same time.

Since we’re starting Paul’s third, and last official missionary journey, it’s time to look at a map that shows the extent of his travels.

Source: ConformingToJesus.com

July 19, 2018July 19, 2018

Acts: On Being Discouraged

Read: Acts 17:32-18:22

While I’m a proponent of the old adage, never say never, I’m confident in making this statement: any endeavor that runs counter to culture will be met with resistance. If you’re doing something that’s “never been done that way,” be prepared for a bumpy ride. After reflecting on yesterday’s post, I thought this was a good time to pause and emphasize how Paul was encouraged in a variety of ways so when we run up against those who sneer (Acts 17:32), become abusive (Acts 18:6) or attack us (Acts 18:12), we might find encouragement.

It’s one thing to simply suggest we should ignore the negative press, but it’s another to look directly at the attacks and find where the Spirit is sending encouragement. It’s in the midst of attacks where we can lose our minds, well, at least that’s where I’m most vulnerable. How about you?

At the end of Acts 17, Paul has little to be encouraged about. He’s invested significant time in Athens, only to be sneered at and rejected by most. While “some believed” and wanted to learn more, I can’t help but conclude he was pretty depressed as he traveled to Corinth.

Luke shows us how Paul is able to ride the waves of discouragement on the shoulders of believers who demonstrated their love during the trials. I have to believe this helped form Paul’s thoughts on spiritual gifts, love, and roles in the church that we read in his letters to the churches he planted.

Aquila and Priscilla – Acts 18:1-2

On arrival in Corinth, Paul was greeted by fellow tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla. They became partners in ministry as Aquila and Priscilla exercise their gift of hospitality to encourage Paul. It’s a great reminder for us to develop true friendships as we do ministry. Few things encourage a brother or sister in Christ as a loving Christian family.

Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia – Acts 18:5

The arrival of Silas and Timothy greatly encourages Paul. As mentioned in the previous post, Paul is able to refocus on his dominant gifts as a preacher, teacher, and evangelist.

Titius Justus – Acts 18:7

Paul shook out his clothes at the Jews that opposed him, but God opened the door of the home next to the synagogue: Titius Justus. As simple as this sounds, this is a significant gesture of kindness that provided Paul with a space to relax. Don’t discount the need for rest.

Crispus and his Household – Acts 18:8

The Jews, as a whole, are resistant to Paul’s message, but here we find the synagogue ruler, Crispus, and his entire family were converted. This is a great boost to his ministry and probably a huge benefit to the church in Corinth.

The Vision – Acts 18:9-10

No doubt, the greatest encouragement was from Jesus Himself in a vision to Paul. It’s important to see how God reassures His troubled servants at crucial times. Such comfort is a welcome relief in times of difficulty.

The Result

Paul’s ministry was fruitful and he was able to serve in Corinth for eighteen months. His letters to the church, First and Second Corinthians, give us some great insight into the struggles he fought against in those days. I look forward to re-reading those letters soon!

Lord, I’m so thankful for people who are kind, patient, and truly loving. Remind us of the powerful gift of hospitality, whether or not it shows up as our dominant gifting. Please send people like Aquila, Priscilla, Titius, and Crispus to encourage us to do the ministry you have given each of us. All for the building up of the body of Christ, for making disciples that make disciples.

July 18, 2018July 18, 2018

Acts: Encouraged by Jesus, Paul Shifts Gears in Corinth

Read: Acts 18:1-22

The first half Acts 18 finds Paul in the middle of his second missionary journey. Paul leaves Athens and moves on to Corinth and connected with a ministry couple named Aquila and Priscilla. His early focus in Corinth was continuing his work convincing the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. There are some serious highs and lows in this short passage and a lot for us to learn as we work in the harvest fields for Christ.

Ministry in Corinth

Paul had many uphill battles to fight in Corinth. While he certainly expected to find disbelief among the Corinthians (see note at the bottom of this post), I’m convinced he didn’t expect such a harsh reaction among the Jews. Perhaps the Jews were extremely hardened because of the expulsion from Rome plus the licentiousness of the people surrounding them. Whatever the case, Paul attempted to reason with them.

Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. Acts 18:4

After Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul focused on preaching to the Jews. Apparently, Silas and Timothy assumed some of the routine tasks so that Paul could focus on his dominant role as a preacher and evangelist. His preaching, however, was not received as well as he hoped:

But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” Acts 18:6

The Jews not only resisted Paul’s message, but they became abusive. Paul eventually abandoned this effort to focus solely on preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Discouraged

One of the themes that surprised me in this passage is the image of Paul being discouraged. I’m sure this is in the text to serve as an encouragement to all who are in ministry. He was not well received in Athens and now the Jews have risen against him.

Then we read some rare red letters in the text — Paul received encouragement from Jesus!

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. Acts 18:9-11

At just the right time, when there seemed to be no way for the church to get started, Jesus appears in a vision. Wow! In the huge metropolis, Jesus affirms He is present and many people in Corinth are His. Paul is inspired to move on and refocus his ministry. This is crucial and a significant lesson for us all to learn.

Gallio’s Verdict

The battle is far from over. Once again the Jews make an effort to have Paul expelled.

the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. Acts 18:12

Reminiscent of Gamaliel in Acts 5:33-39, Gallio provides a decisive verdict that defuses the Jewish attack within the courts of the proconsul of Achaia.

Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. Acts 18:14-15

Ups and Downs

There are a few things that leap off the page for me in these few paragraphs of scripture. When Paul realizes he isn’t having an impact on the Jews he changes his ministry focus. When I look back over my shoulder at a different season of ministry, I wish I had responded like Paul. Too often my pace to adapt and change in ministry has been way too slow.

As I coach pastors and work with churches, I often find the ability to adapt and change to be a challenge for many other ministry leaders today as well. Tom Planck

Why is this so often the case? If we aren’t having the kind of effectiveness that we know we should be experiencing then why not adapt and change? And, why not do that quickly?

Paul’s willingness to adapt and change led to eighteen months of fruitful ministry. Luke doesn’t tell us much about Paul’s time in Corinth, but he does mention one of the biggest wins. The synagogue leader and his entire family became followers of Jesus! (See Acts 18:7-8.) How ironic, right?

Another important lesson is the Lord’s message to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid…for I am with you!” This sounds so familiar to the words of the great commission in Matthew 28: 19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples…and surely I am with you always…” Wow!

Stepping out in faith to have a spiritual conversation with someone who is yet to cross the line of faith can be a scary endeavor. It can most certainly conjure up fears of not having the right words or the answers to some probing questions that might be asked.

The next time you find yourself on the brink of one of those conversations step into them with confidence knowing this, Jesus is with you! And the Holy Spirit promises to provide just the right words.

Corinth. It was one of the few cities where licentiousness has been sanctioned and sustained by law and religion, having been not only practiced and allowed but consecrated by the worship of Venus; and no small part of the wealth of the city having been derived from the offerings made in the very temple of this goddess. No city of ancient times, perhaps none of modern times, has been or is more profligate. In the art of refining upon the pleasures of sense, Corinth was in the ancient world what Paris is in the modern,—the seat of splendor, gaiety, magnificence, sensuality. Source: Link.

Read: John 3:1-15