SCRIPTURE: Acts 11:1-18 OBSERVATION: Here we have the first of many internal battles in the church about religious protocol. In this story the believers listen to Peter and celebrate the manifestation of God’s grace, but throughout history there have been huge conflicts and divisions that resulted in very un-Christ-like actions and attitudes. How do we explain…
Author: Norm
July 14 — Acts 10:24-48
SCRIPTURE: Acts 10:24-48 OBSERVATION: This passage reveals the fulfillment of God’s plan from the beginning, to bless all nations (Genesis 12:1-3). God does not have favourites. He chose Israel as a means to an end, to bless all nations. The laws re. clean and unclean were not intended to separate people from each other, but to separate…
July 13 — Acts 10:1-23a
SCRIPTURE: Acts 10:1-23a OBSERVATION: Here we see the Lord at work on both sides of evangelism, preparing both the witness and the one being witnessed to. Cornelius is good soil (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23), open and receptive to God. Peter’s heart still needs to be opened more, to be released from the constraints of the old covenant code. The…
Prayer Walk/March of Hope
Prayer Walk for Spiritual Revival (July 29, 2007) March of Hope (August 20-26, 2007)
July 12 — Acts 9:32-43
SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:32-43 OBSERVATION: The healing, resurrecting power of Jesus is still at work. These stories are similar to one’s in Jesus’ life. The result of these miracles is that many people put their faith in Jesus as Messiah. Peter makes it look so easy, so normal. Is it, should it be? Some Christ-followers see this…
Woodstock SERVE 2007
July 14-20, 2007 Check out the pictures this week as Brittaney Bartley, Christina Bos, Kevin Bruinsma, Laura Bruinsma, Jennifer Cowle, Joselyn DeJong, Natasha Deurwaarder, Simon May, Andrew Molenaar, Megan Molenaar, Nathan Sennema, Kelly Sheridan, Ethan Stender, Mark Valkenburg, as well as Ron Bruinsma, Norm Sennema and Joanne Westerman (Leaders) spend a week in Woodstock, ON…
July 11 — Acts 9:19b-31
SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:19b-31 OBSERVATION: Saul’s transformation from fierce enemy of Christ to fearless witness for Christ was shocking to both Jews and Christians. No doubt Barnabas’ support was encouraging for him. His bold and powerful message challenged and convinced many, an evidence of the Spirit of Christ at work. When the Spirit takes hold of someone…
Close Encounters of a God Kind
Read about the 2007 ENCOUNTER Week on P.Norm’s blog.
July 10 — Acts 9:1-19a
SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:1-19a OBSERVATION: Once again we see the Lord at work in the world, and bringing His servants into the process. The Lord reveals Himself in a variety of ways, and not always through the church, the Bible. He is the message and the messenger (the Word of God), and He uses a variety of…
July 9 — Acts 8:26-40
SCRIPTURE: Acts 8:26-40 OBSERVATION: The Lord directs Philip by an angel and by His Spirit to this receptive seeker. Philip does not create an evangelistic moment, he joins in where the Lord is already at work. It is interesting that Philip proceeds with baptism directly, it would take a much longer ecclesiastical process today (classes, approval,…