Welcome to Nick Stevens, long-time member at Hope Church as well as Chair of the Hope Church Leadership Team. He will share his reflections on the readings from Jeremiah 1-6. SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 1:1-19 OBSERVATION (ver 1-4) starts out with seemingly trying to give a very clear who, when, and where this is about right from the get…
Category: daily meditations
Nov 10 — Acts 28:17-31
SCRIPTURE: Acts 28:17-31 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Paul starts with the Jews, like Jesus did, but also experiences the same response; a few believe but many do not. He witnesses to them from the Old Testament, trying to show them that what he believes is consistent with their beliefs, the hope of Israel. This is the last we hear…
Nov 9 — Acts 28:1-16
SCRIPTURE: Acts 28:1-16 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The Lord provides. A warm reception, gracious hospitality and supplies for the journey. Christ-followers (“brothers”) in Puteoli, and more who traveled from Rome to meet Paul and escort him to the city. The Lord’s favour is with Paul, but not just for Paul’s comfort and ease, but for the Lord’s purpose. The…
Nov 8 — Acts 27:27-44
SCRIPTURE: Acts 27:27-44 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Once again I am struck by how calm and confident Paul is. In the midst of the storm, Paul leads them in a communion like meal, showing the others the grace and strength of God in Him. Th others are encouraged, not just by Paul’s courage, but by the calming presence of…
Nov 7 — Acts 27:1-26
SCRIPTURE: Acts 27:1-26 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This is a fascinating, well-written ‘play by play’ account of Paul’s journey to Rome. Paul doesn’t seem to be stressed by being sent to Rome. He does take the opportunity to say “I told you so” (v.21), but he encourages them to keep on hoping. Actually, Paul’s presence on the ship is…
Nov 6 — Acts 26:12-32
SCRIPTURE: Acts 26:12-32 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Here we see Paul’s evangelism skills in action. He speaks boldly yet graciously. He connects the coming of Jesus to the old covenant story of Israel. He highlights the need for eyes to be opened, repentance, turning from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. He…
Nov 5 — Acts 26:1-11
SCRIPTURE: Acts 26:1-11 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: It seems that for Paul, the heart of his message, the hope of all of Israel, “the promise the twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night” is the resurrection of Jesus. All religions speak have their worship, their ethics, their hopes for life beyond…
Nov 4 — Acts 25:13-27
SCRIPTURE: Acts 25:13-27 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This is all “behind the scenes” stuff, where God is not mentioned or visible. Like the book of Esther, where God is nowhere even mentioned, we do not see God in an obvious way. Like reading a newspaper today, where events are recorded but God is not included. And yet, as in…
Nov 3 — Acts 25:1-12
SCRIPTURE: Acts 25:1-12 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: What has to happen within ‘righteous’ people that would bring them to this point, that they would be willing to “prepare an ambush to kill” Paul, all in the name of their religion. Sadly, this has happened often, and many of those people claimed to be Christ-followers. Jesus called these Jewish leaders…
Nov 2 — Acts 24:10-27
SCRIPTURE: Acts 24:10-27 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Paul did not intentionally provoke the Jews, and he did not “desecrate” the temple, as the Jews from Asia said (Acts 21:27-29). I like how the movement is called “the Way”, since it describes a way of life. Paul mentions that he believes everything that agrees with the Law, but this does not…