THIS JESUS WHO DECLARES THE FATHER AND DOMINATES THE FUTURE IS ALSO THE PEACEMAKER, THE REDEEMER, THE ONE WHO DELIVERS THE FALLEN, RECONCILING GOD AND MAN.

Let your kids see God at work in your family—let them see God at work. The home is the classroom. The home is the laboratory. Let them see God at work.

Paul recognized that a search for God had been taking place in the Greco-Roman world, but condemned the result—the idolatry which was everywhere present and the ignorance of the true God which it betrayed (vv. 22–25). In short, he indicated that the search had been ineffective because of human blindness and stubbornness

Paul’s presentation of the gospel was so compelling that some of the Thessalonian Jews, though resistant, were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas. The Thessalonians were not as open to the truth as the Bereans, yet Paul’s convincing exposition of the Old Testament, coupled with the work of the Holy Spirit led to their response.

We need to understand that “closed doors,” are nevertheless true guidance. Negative guidance merely keeps us from where we are not called in order that in God’s time we might come to where God is calling us and will provide blessing.

It is to keep us from getting into a work to which we are not called in order that we might be saved for a work to which we are.

We should all seek wisdom. We should bend all our efforts to become wiser tomorrow than we are today.

Formal education is only one stage in the process of becoming a wise person.

The wholesale entrance of Gentiles into the church was very disturbing and threatening to some of the Jewish believers. Many believed that Gentiles who wanted to become Christians had to first become Jewish proselytes. They saw Christianity as the culmination of Judaism.

The righteous woman is bold as lion. She hears the words of 1 Peter 3:5–6 and says, “Yes!” “In former times the holy women also, hoped in God,

Paul says that it is necessary that entrance into God’s reign be accompanied by persecutions. Paul seems sure that persecution is the inevitable destiny of God’s people who are about to enter into the blessings of God’s eternal reign.

On their return journey they established local leaders for the church.

The gospel automatically divides between the saved and the unsaved, the people who accept it, the people who reject it, and so it’s a shattering thing.