SCRIPTURE: Acts 24 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. [Matthew 12:6] Like Jesus, Paul is accused of dishonouring God’s temple. At one time, Paul would have joined these Jews in defending the sanctity of the temple, but now he has met the One that is greater than the temple. Though he…
bless those who curse you
SCRIPTURE: Acts 23 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. [Mark 14:60-61] When Paul lashes out at the high priest, we can sympathize. I have been in…
why I sometimes preach too fast
our world belongs to God
As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world— which some seek to control, and others view with despair— we declare with joy and trust: Our world belongs to God! These are the opening words of the Contemporary Testimony, a expression of faith adopted by the Christian Reformed Church. I recently used some sections of…
changing church
Yesterday we changed our church gathering. No big deal, just changed the seating to be more intimate, in a semi-circle. No stage, just me standing at a table at the open end of the semi-circle. The time of worship was in simple format too, voices and acoustic guitar, again no stage. I welcomed everyone to…
welcome to the worst of sinners
SCRIPTURE: Acts 22 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing…
above and beyond the law
SCRIPTURE: Acts 21 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. [Matthew 5:20] Jesus explained that He did not come to abolish the Law of Moses but to fulfill it. Here Paul is accused of undermining…
driven by divine destiny
SCRIPTURE: Acts 20 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. [Matthew 16:21] Jesus understood…
the only way
SCRIPTURE: Acts 19 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ [John 14:6] The Jesus movement was known as the Way [Acts 19:9, 23]. But the movement is not the way, Jesus is. The disciples in Ephesus were heading the right way, but not yet…
on the same team
SCRIPTURE: Acts 18 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: ‘Master,’ said John, ‘we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.’ ‘Do not stop him,’ Jesus said, ‘for whoever is not against you is for you.’ [Luke 9:49-50] As messengers of the King, we are not competing against…