SCRIPTURE: Genesis 38:1-30 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Here we see in dramatic fashion how God works in this sinful world – not affirming the sin, but working through the sin – to accomplish His purpose. Moralistic preaching takes Bible characters and says “be like them” or “don’t be like them”, but often the very best characters live shady lives….
Sep 20 — Genesis 37:12-36
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 37:12-36 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “How the mighty have fallen!” “Pride goes before the fall”. Joseph is learning humility through hardship. Even though what his brothers did was wrong, God uses this situation to (a) accomplish His ultimate purpose of rescuing His people, and (b) to build deep, humble faith in Joseph, so that he can be…
Sep 19 — Genesis 37:1-11
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 37:1-11 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Here we see God at work in the ordinary circumstances of a spoiled son, hated by his brothers, and quite up on himself. God uses these common circumstances to get Joseph to Egypt, so that one day he can help his family, and save the promised people of Israel. The hero in…
Sep 18 — Acts 19:23-41
SCRIPTURE: Acts 19:23-41 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The message of Jesus can be very disruptive to a community, as many missionaries have discovered. Fortunately the city clerk spoke with a voice of reason. This is a “God-moment”, where God speaks through an unsuspecting servant (who thinks he’s speaking for Artermis). God doesn’t always work things out this way, but…
Sep 17 — Acts 19:1-22
SCRIPTURE: Acts 19:1-22 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Here we see the mysterious way the word of the Lord (ie message of good news, not the Bible which was not written yet) moved: baptism of the Holy Spirit, tongues and prophecying, handkerchiefs and aprons healing people, casting out demons (and demons beating up fakes). The results were powerful, dramatic conversions…
Sep 16 — Acts 18:18-28
SCRIPTURE: Acts 18:18-28 OBSERVATION: It is amazing to me that in a time with so little information available (no “Christian” books, bookstores, seminaries, catechisms, etc), the Lord still got His message out, even through Apollos, who was a follower of John the Baptist, yet taught about Jesus in a remarkably accurate way. This passage shows how…
Sep 15 — Acts 18:1-17
SCRIPTURE: Acts 18:1-17 OBSERVATION: Paul’s preaching inspires faith and provokes conflict. Regardless of the response, the Lord wants us to declare the message. If people reject it, or refuse to listen, that is their decision. We do not force people to believe (or not believe) something, like the Jews did, but respectfully allow people to make…
Sep 14 — Acts 17:16-34
SCRIPTURE: Acts 17:16-34 OBSERVATION: Paul starts with the “faith” of non-Christians, and builds his message on what they already believe, expanding their present “faith” with what God is like (not a statue!), and how God is ultimately revealed in Jesus. The resurrection is too much for these philosophers, as it still is for many today. And…
Sep 13 — Acts 17:1-15
SCRIPTURE: Acts 17:1-15 OBSERVATION: There are a variety of responses to the message, and this passage suggests that the response reveals something of the person’s character (v.5, rounded up some bad characters, v.11, the Bereans of more noble character). APPLICATION: An interesting thought, that our response to the message of Jesus will reveal something about our…
Sep 12 — Acts 16:16-40
SCRIPTURE: Acts 16:16-40 OBSERVATION: This passage suggests that some people can do supernatural things because of the (evil) spirits at work in them, still happens today! Why didn’t Paul deal with the spirit right away? Stripped, beaten, severely flogged, thrown into prison, feet fastened in stocks… praying and singing hymns to God… how is this possible?…