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The broader gospel
I have had NT Wright’s new book, The Challenge of Acts, on my shelf for awhile. I have some time to pull it out and begin to work through it. A small book, but NT Wright find’s his ways of making every word count. While I wish it to be a “quick read,” it will just be another pondering of…
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What happens after Easter
I am choosing to learn more about the discipline of celebration. We have cycles of feasting and fasting. I tend to learn more about the “fasting” part… the “giving up”, the “hard work,” etc. I honestly don’t do as good with the celebrating. I am walking through Eastertide with a listening ear and a willing heart to walk better in…
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God doesn’t mind small beginnings
In Acts 19, Paul finds a handful of people following Jesus and much as they know how to follow at that point in time. He then completes the story for them, baptizes them, and then they are filled with the Spirit. Verse 7 is notable: There were about twelve men in all.
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Where the Word has taken me
I am working my way through Acts in a new notebook. As I journey through Acts, I am putting down what I have learned in study and in ministry life over 30 years. At least three major turns in my life and ministry have come in Acts 10, 16, and 20. They are vivid in my mind and I am…
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Has the Word been pouring through me?
A few weeks ago in church I had a serious challenge drop into my heart from the Spirit. I was just entering the Book of Acts and the Gospel of John as part of my daily reading. I am using the daily reading from the Book of Common Prayer through this season. When I get to Advent, I hope to…
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The enemy shows up when things are GOOD
As I keep moving prayerfully through Acts 5, I am struck by how I like to emphasize things in my preaching and teaching. I love Acts 5:12-16. Peter’s shadow falling on people heals them and delivers them from demons! Who wouldn’t like that? Who couldn’t preach on that?
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The deceit in our heart
I am writing/praying my way through Acts right now and come to Acts 5 where Ananias and Sapphira lie about the amount they are giving in the offering and God strikes them dead. We have so many questions about why God struck them dead. This thought occurs to me this time around in my reading: Too often we’re bothered by…
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Early warning system
It’s not a time for panic. It’s a time for prayer. Not a prayer about who will “win” the election, but deep prayer that will call the Church back to listening to the Spirit NO MATTER WHAT.
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Pharaohs, Pharisees, and Faith
Choose carefully the voices you have in your life. Choose carefully the voice YOU are in the lives of others.
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Prayer for the Day
We must not live in fear and anxiety.
Tag: Acts
