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. Continue reading “God doesn’t mind small beginnings”
Tag: Acts
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 grateful to the Lord for making the written word come alive in my heart and life.
It is the story of Paul in Acts 16 that has me in Alabama now. The Lord used that passage to direct me and show his hand in my life over the previous year as he moved me from one type of ministry to another.
The written word, with the power of the Spirit, brings us to the living Word. We hear him. And I am grateful.
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 switch to a new daily reading schedule that the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) puts out. Continue reading “Has the Word been pouring through me?”
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? Continue reading “The enemy shows up when things are GOOD”
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 God’s actions and not nearly as bothered by the actions of Ananias and Sapphira. God’s dealing with us bothers us much more than what we did in getting that response from God.
Early warning system
I have done more work in digital Bibles over the past several years in my study because I can put notes directly into the text and do a LOT more than in any wide margin Bible. I didn’t realize just how far back that went until this morning. Continue reading “Early warning system”
Pharaohs, Pharisees, and Faith
My current reading has me in Exodus and Acts. A quick observation on power and control in my early reading: Continue reading “Pharaohs, Pharisees, and Faith”
