Acts - The Story of the Church

DATE: September 22, 2024

THEME: Serene Confidence

SCRIPTURE: Acts 23:12-35

In the midst of great struggles, trials, and everyone Paul had known from his old life and his own people, the Jews, turning against him, Paul shows us that our courage comes from serene confidences in the truth of the gospel of Christ. He shows the Church what it looks like to stand firm in faith while also wielding the full protections as a citizen of a worldly kingdom, for Paul this was his Roman citizenship, while for us it is our American citizenship. God never promises that we won’t go through struggles and trials, but He promises that He will be with us through them.

DATE: September 15, 2025

THEME: Affirmation

SCRIPTURE: Acts 23:11

As we live our lives by faith, and desire to follow and obey His direction in our lives, He will send us affirmation that we are still going the right direction. He will also correct us if we start to get off. Jesus Himself appeared to Paul in the jail cell in the Antonia Fortress the night after he was put into protective custody to keep him safe from the Jealous Jewish leaders. That night, Jesus gives people both vindication and affirmation of his calling. We often need the same affirmation as we pray and follow Jesus’ path and direction for us to live. He will continually affirm us. In this teaching, we discuss the difference between CONfirmation and AFFirmation and how Jesus, by His Holy Spirit, gives us this affirmation.

DATE: July 21, 2024

THEME: Stand Firm Be Bold

SCRIPTURE: Acts 22:30-23:11

Paul stands before stubborn religious legalists to try and give a testimony of God’s goodness, but all they want to do is abuse him, kill him, and dishonor him publicly. He begins his word with a declaration that he has lived his life in good conscience to which the High Priest, unbeknownst to Paul at the time, instructs the man near Paul to strike him in the mouth as a declaration of accusation of blasphemy and lying. To which Paul retorts a truthful and prophetic curse upon Ananias. Paul is told his error of cursing the High Priest and Paul apologies. This is where we center our teaching…how do you honor and respect people and entities not worthy of honor and respect, but submit to these authorities as God has instructed? “We salute the rank not the man", as the character Winter’s spoke in the HBO mini-series, “Band of Brothers.” This gives us a clue how to honor someone’s position and authority though not honoring their character or behavior. Paul shows us what it means to “Stand Firm, Be Bold, and Remain Resolute in Jesus".

DATE: July 14, 2024

THEME: Speak Softly Carry a Big Faith

SCRIPTURE: Acts 22:22-29

Paul's testimony before the Jews on steps of the Antonia Fortress was going so well until he mentioned his call to go to the Gentiles...at which time the crowd erupted into rage. The Roman tribune brought Paul into the Antonia Fortress for questioning by torture, but Paul brought up the fact that he's a Roman citizen which caused shock and fear in the soldiers and tribune. The point in this narrative is to "Speak Softly and carry a big Faith." Being a Christian should never make you a pushover, a pin cushion, a punching bag, or an easy target. Temperance is not timidity.

DATE: July 7, 2024

THEME: Planted Established Fruitful

SCRIPTURE: Acts 21:37-22:24a

As Paul is being detained and brought to the Barracks (aka the Antonia Fortress) he respectfully asked the Roman Tribune if he can speak to the crowds, try to calm them down, but he also uses this as an opportunity to tell his story, his testimony of grace and salvation. He gives a powerful and convincing witness to the miracles, salvation, calling, and mission he was given by Christ. The crowd listens intently, possibly even interestedly, until Paul pushes a button of cultural prejudice and hatred, the Gentiles. We see and can be inspired by several things in this account of Paul before this angry mob; specifically that Yahweh desires for us to be planted, established, and fruitful in the Lord Jesus.

DATE: June 30, 2024

THEME: Stories of Awesome

SCRIPTURE: Acts 21:37-22:23

A devotional about “Testimony” as Paul is given a powerful opportunity to share the story of how he came to faith in Jesus Christ from persecuting Jesus and the “Way.” What we learn is that testimonies are stories of awesomeness that inspire desire in others.

DATE: June 23, 2024

THEME: Leave God’s Mark On the World

SCRIPTURE: Acts 21:15-36

Paul arrives in Jerusalem and shares the testimony of what God has been doing across the Roman world. The Jerusalem Church rejoices at hearing the powerful news of God’s works. However, there is a rising rumor that says that Paul is teaching Jewish Christians around the empire against the Law of Moses, the practice of circumcision, and living the customs of the Jewish nation, which wasn’t true. Jealous Jews from Ephesus see Paul and rally the Jewish people against him in a violet RAAAAGE!!! This is the fulfillment of Paul’s words of willingness to accomplish the will of God, no matter what. He was faithful to leave God’s mark on this world.

DATE: June 16, 2024

THEME: The Lord’s Will Be Done

SCRIPTURE: Acts 21:1-14

The Holy Spirit kept revealing to Paul that he was both called to go to Jerusalem and second that he would suffer and be arrested and handed over to the Romans. In Caesarea, the Holy Spirit began to reveal these same things to the Church, however they had a different interpretation of application for the prophetic visions they were getting. Even today, we need to learn how to properly perceive, interpret, and apply prophetic words and visions. Our passage today helps us to understand how to properly apply prophecy in our lives.

DATE: June 2, 2024

THEME: Grounded Alert Love

SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:17-38

Paul summons the Elders from the Church in Ephesus to meet with him to strengthen and encourage the elders as they return to Ephesus to minister to the Ephesian Church to build itself up in love. As we hear what Paul speaks to the elders, we can hear God's words to us today to stay grounded in the gospel, be alert to deceptions & distractions, and to love one another deeply through God's grace.

DATE: May 26, 2024

THEME: Great Adventure

SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:3b-16

Luke rejoins the group to share in the travel and ministry adventures with Paul as he travels to Jerusalem. There are hints of glory and joy as we look deeper into narratives we believe to be mundane accounts of travel. There is a divine comedy here with the young slave man falling out of the window. But in all of this, we can see our own invitation to follow in the adventure of living our lives through faith in Jesus!