Being an instrument of God to build His Kingdom is a gift only He can bestow upon us. As the story of Saul—whom we later come to know as the Apostle Paul—unfolds, he believes he is building God’s Kingdom by persecuting believers. Yet on his way to Damascus to continue this mission, the Lord suddenly …
Just before ascending back to heaven, Jesus gave His followers a mission. They were called to go and tell the Gospel. Acts 1: 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends …
The good news and the shield of faith are some of the most essential pieces of the spiritual armor the Lord has given us. When we go into battle without these pieces of armor, we find ourselves without a roadmap, the Bible, and the faith that is rooted in His Word. Today, the Lord may …
The promise of the resurrection and its fulfillment is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Before Jesus entered Jerusalem, He told the disciples what would happen to Him which would fulfill the prophecies concerning Him. Luke 18:32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33 They …
While the story of Acts 8:1-25 is primarily about Philip and Simon, we can see John’s changed heart if we look closely. John and his brother James were fishermen before Jesus called them as disciples. Jesus gave these brothers a nickname. Mark 3: 17 James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons …
The power of the Gospel is seen in people’s hearts as they bear the fruit of a transformed life. In the early church, a great persecution drove the believers out of Jerusalem. Instead of stopping the Gospel, it spread it like seeds in the wind. Acts 8:4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good …
Persecution is the seed of revival and has happened throughout history. The early church was just in its infancy when a great persecution broke out. Acts 8:1A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and …
We in the 21st century may miss Jesus breaking down barriers in the story of the woman at the well. We think nothing of women and men conversing in public. It was very different for the Jewish community of Jesus’ time. Jewish men did not talk to women in public. One of the rabbinical teachings …
Who are the Ephesians? The ruins of this town on the southwest coast of what is now Turkey are several miles inland. The port that was present in Paul’s time silted in. At one time, Ephesus was an important port and trading area. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of …
Not long ago, we had a guest speaker skilled in sharing the Gospel winsomely. Jesus conveyed love through His smile, tone of voice, and words. We can have the right words to speak to someone, but without kindness, we can quickly turn people away from the Lord. Jesus approached the crowds with compassion. Matthew 14:14 Jesus …