Bent Oak Church

Paul carried two callings. He felt called to preach the gospel in Rome, but he also sensed the Spirit calling him back to Jerusalem, where he would face suffering. Imprisoned by the Romans, it must have felt like Rome was further and further away. But Jesus appeared to Paul to give him courage and remind him that even in loss and injustice, God was still fulfilling his call. 

Paul's plan failed. He was spotted in the temple by his opponents and quickly seized. I riot formed, and Paul was dragged out of the temple. But after the Romans intervened, Paul was given a chance to offer a defense. He did not defend himself but instead told the truth. God was extending salvation to the Gentiles. We look at Paul's courage and his willingness to risk his own safety for the truth and God's mission. 

Paul finally arrived in Jerusalem. While the believers there celebrated his work, there was danger. Rumors were spreading that Paul was teaching people to abandon the Jewish law. Paul decided to go to the temple in an act of piety to prove them wrong. We look at Paul's arrival, the plan, and why it doesn't ultimately work. 

On his return to Jerusalem, Paul stopped in to say goodbye to the church in Ephesus. He explained that they would not see him again, as the Spirit had confirmed that he would face suffering and arrest in Jerusalem. Luke records Paul's goodbye speech, and by it, some of Paul's most moving and impassioned words for the leaders of that local church. 

On his return to Jerusalem, Paul stopped in for a brief visit at Troas. There he preached long into the night. But there was an ancient and a young man who died. Paul paused his service, raised the boy to life, and went back to ministering. We take a closer look at why Luke included this story and the unique way he narrates it. 

While Paul was still in Ephesus, a major disturbance broke out. Led by a silversmith, the city was concerned that Paul's teaching was jeopardizing the worship of Artemis. But Luke recognizes a deeper concern. The town is worried it will affect their businesses and wallets. We take a closer look at our idolatry and false religion, which lead to greed and a self-interest that produces fear and chaos. 

Word was spreading around Ephesus of Paul's ministry and Jesus' power. But Jesus was not like the gods the Ephesians worshipped and manipulated. It was a lesson a group of exorcists learned through error. By their humiliation, the church was turned toward deeper repentance and holiness. 

Luke offers two stories of disciples who needed more: Apollos, who needed a better education in the word, and the Ephesian disciples, who needed the full baptism of the Spirit. We look at how these two stories offer images of the Word and Spirit and why it's the power of both at work in our lives that guides us into a better faith. 

Luke's short summary of Paul's transition from his second missionary journey to his third comes in just a few simple verses. It's an easy passage to skip, but Luke sets up important events and helps us learn to recognize how God works in the seemingly unimportant details of this moment to prepare us for things to come. 

As we come to the close of Paul's second missionary journey, we look at his ministry in Corinth. Paul stayed in the city for a year and a half. So much about his trip had been unexpected. The Spirit led him to go, and the Spirit led him to stay. We explore how God uses seasons in our own lives as well.