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…
Author: Norm
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,…
July 8 — Acts 8:9-25
SCRIPTURE: Acts 8:9-25 OBSERVATION: An interesting story about a “sorcerer” who accepts Jesus as Saviour and Lord, and yet reveals that his heart is not right before God, i.e. he is still more interested in fame and fortune (how many Christians today are just like this?). What does it mean that they had not yet received the…
July 7 — Acts 8:2-8
SCRIPTURE: Acts 8:2-8 OBSERVATION: Here we see both the challenges and blessings that the early church experienced. They grieved deeply for those who died for their faith (many eventually died), they faced daily the prospect of suffering and imprisonment, and they were scattered from their homes. And yet, wherever they went, the MESSAGE (word, v.4) was…
July 6 — Acts 7:51-8:1
SCRIPTURE: Acts 7:51-8:1 OBSERVATION: Here Stephen comes to the punchline of his sermon: you claim to be defending the temple and the law, you are the ones who are disobeying it and resisting God. You can see the fruit of their spirits in what comes out of them: the religious leaders gnash their teeth, while Stephen…
July 5 — Acts 7:35-50
SCRIPTURE: Acts 7:35-50 OBSERVATION: Stephen is still defending himself against the charge of ”speaking against the holy place and against the law” (Acts 6:13). He shows that having the temple and the law are not the most important thing but humble, submissive hearts. Even Moses predicted Jesus’ coming, but the history of Israel shows how often people…
July 4 — Acts 7:17-34
SCRIPTURE: Acts 7:17-34 OBSERVATION: Accused of ”speaking against the holy place and against the law” (Acts 6:13), Stephen now demonstrates that the people also misunderstood what God was doing in Moses day – just like the religious leaders in this passage. The religious leaders thought that they were loyal to Abraham and Moses, but onve again (as…
July 3 — Acts 7:1-16
SCRIPTURE: Acts 7:1-16 OBSERVATION: Stephen has just been accused of “speaking against the holy place and against the law” (6:13). He responds by reminding them of Israel’s history, that God’s dealings with His people have not been based on holy observances or places, but on God’s promise and the peoples’ response. Abraham never even saw the…