Lord willing, I’m planning to be at the Memphis School of Preaching lectures for several days this week.

I talk about that briefly in this short update, and look forward to getting back to our “regularly scheduled programming” next Sunday.

In Acts 17, the apostle Paul “came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews” (verse 1, NKJV). Speaking to the crowd at that location, Paul reasoned from Scripture in order to prove Jesus was the Christ.

Although “some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas” (verse 4), others became envious and sought to harm Paul and Silas.

These opposite reactions to the message of Jesus are common. Some who hear God’s message obey (Acts 2:36); others rebel (Acts 7:54).

Not surprisingly, those who rebel against God often “speak evil of whatever they do not know” (Jude 1:10). Some of the Thessalonians did this on the occasion described in Acts 17. In an attempt to discredit Paul and his message, his enemies declared:

“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too” (Acts 17:6).

Rather than tainting Paul and his work, however, the insult actually turned out to be a compliment in disguise. Paul was doing what all Christians should seek to do. He proclaimed the message of Christ—a message that can change the world.

We should do no less. But how do we do it?

Seek the Lost.

We must look for individuals who need to hear and obey the gospel. This is where Paul started. According to Acts 17:2: “Paul… went in to them….” He did not wait for lost souls to come to him. Instead, he found and engaged individuals in a study about Jesus.

Jesus commanded this type of effort in Mark 16:15, 16. He said,

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

We must seek the lost if we wish to turn the world upside down.

Teach the Truth.

Additionally, we must commit to teach only the truth revealed in the Bible. Paul did this when he “reasoned with [the Thessalonians] from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that Christ had to rise again from the dead” (Acts 17:2, 3).

This is also the approach Peter advocated when he stated:

“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11).

We must teach God’s doctrine and not our own if we hope to turn the world upside down. Nevertheless, this must be done in a way that is both relevant and faithful.

* Cultural barriers must be properly considered.

* Knowledge must be presented in an appropriate way (cf. Proverbs 15:2).

* Love for the souls of men and women must serve as our motivation (1 Timothy 1:5).

Never Give Up.

Finally, we must never give up. Paul taught at Thessalonica despite opposition and possible persecution. He realized not everyone would receive and obey the gospel. At the same time, he knew some would.

We should never shy away from doing what is right because men oppose us. Jesus was opposed, Paul was opposed, and we will be opposed as well (cf. Matthew 5:10-12; 1 Peter 4:16).

Christians are to be different and make a difference. The only way to do this is to preach “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Chad Ramsey preaches for the Gloster Street Church of Christ in Tupelo, Mississippi. You can access their Bible classes and Chad’s sermons on Gloster Street’s YouTube page.

Chad was - and still is - “my preacher” from when I spent my high school and early college years at Gloster Street. I’m thankful to be able to share some of his writings with you.

I hope and pray that this series of articles has been a blessing to your life as it has been to mine. It is an honor to spend time in the Word of God and share thoughts from my study with you.

We have noticed in our study that in order to cope with the trials of life appropriately, we need to be still (Psalm 46), be prayerful (Psalm 69), and be encouraged (Isa. 43:1-5).

As we close out our series today, we want to examine how we can be hopeful in the face of trials.

I draw your attention to my favorite chapter in the New Testament: Romans 8. The apostle Paul, who suffered and struggled immensely (2 Cor. 11), writes an incredibly encouraging section on how we can have hope even in the face of adversity.

The Child of God’s Salvation.

Paul begins this chapter discussing the reality of the child of God’s salvation as well as the importance of staying the course:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:1-2).

First, he points to the importance of being in the right location, i.e “in Christ Jesus.” The New Testament teaches that the way to get into Christ is to be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3-6). Being in the right location is essential because in Christ, all spiritual blessings are found (Eph. 1:3).

Paul also points to the importance of living the right kind of lifestyle, i.e., “Who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” The Christian’s life is to be characterized by righteous behavior as he or she walks (lives) in harmony with the Word and will of God (Psa. 1:1-3; 119:11, 105; 1 John 1:7-9).

It is extremely encouraging to know that if you are in the right location and living the right kind of lifestyle, there is no condemnation!

The Child of God’s Direction.

Paul then points to the reality of the child of God’s direction. Christians are led by the Spirit as they study, listen to, meditate upon, and apply the Word of God to their lives (vs. 12-17). The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are in fact children of God (vs. 16). We have obeyed the Spirit’s teaching (John 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:9-13) and therefore we are heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ (vs. 17).

Of course, we can choose to reject this and go back into a life of sin, but that would lead to a tragic loss of what God has in store for those who obey Him: Eternal salvation (Heb. 3:12; 5:8-9).

We must keep on listening to and obeying God so the hope of eternal life becomes a reality when this life is over (John 10:27-28; Tit. 1:2).

The Child of God’s Expectation.

Continuing in the text, notice that Paul points to the child of God’s expectation. Biblical hope is not a “wish,” but a confident expectation. We have a desire to be with God and an expectation to be with God based on His faithfulness and based on the promises in His Word. Paul says we are “saved in this hope” (vs. 24).

He goes on to say that “all things work together for good to those who love God, the called according to His purpose” (vs. 28). God can work things out for our ultimate good and His ultimate glory.

This should inject hope into the heart of every believer to stay faithful!

The Child of God’s Preservation.

Finally, Paul points to the child of God’s preservation. Please understand I am NOT promoting the false doctrine known as “perseverance of the saints,” which falsely teaches one cannot lose his or her salvation. The Bible clearly teaches that it is possible to “depart from the living God” (Heb. 3:12), “fall from grace” (Gal. 5:4), and go back into a life of sin (2 Pet. 2:20-22).

With that said, God will preserve and save those who faithfully obey Him to the end (Rev. 2:10). Paul makes a powerful argument in the form of several questions:

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (vs. 31-35).

He then closes out this beautiful chapter with a statement full of conviction and hope:

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (vs. 37-39).

How do we cope with the trials of life?

We have noticed in our study that we need to “be still” (Psalm 46), “be prayerful” (Psalm 69), “be encouraged” (Isa. 43:1-5), and “be hopeful” (Rom. 8).

I hope and pray this series has been an encouragement to you!

Drew Suttles is a minister for the Quitman church of Christ in Quitman, Georgia, and one of my best friends in this world. They live-stream all their Bible classes and sermons on their YouTube channel.

Drew also hosts the “Weathering the Storm” podcast on the Scattered Abroad Network. Drew talks about facing life’s challenges as a child of God. His podcast will be a blessing to your life.

To find the answer to this question, we look to the Bible at two examples when this question was asked. The answer given in this podcast is the same answer given in Acts 2 and Acts 16.

May we always strive to say the same thing as the Scriptures!

The preacher is constantly tasked with determining the message his audience most needs to hear proclaimed. This is not always easy.

Do people need a reminder of first principles (2 Peter 1:12-15)? Are there times when encouragement is most appropriate (Hebrews 3:12-13)? Should we reflect on the lives of those who have gone before us (Romans 15:4)? Are there spiritual dangers Christians need to be warned about (1 Timothy 4:6)?

Surely all of these things deserve consideration. Regardless, the word of God must be proclaimed (2 Timothy 4:2), for through its direction, “the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17).

What specific subject should the sermon address? Often the circumstances or events taking place will dictate the answer. Jude certainly felt this way when he penned his short epistle. He had one subject in mind but found it more needful to address another. Expressing this, he wrote:

“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

But what about when the answer is not obvious? In such cases, the preacher must seek balance and address issues affecting his audience. This can be done through either topical or expository studies.

In the Sermon on the Mount, we have perhaps the greatest example of a sermon addressing the needs of the audience. Because Jesus knows what is in man (John 2:25), this is not surprising. He understood what his audience needed to hear.

Throughout the sermon Jesus addressed a variety of subjects and challenged His listeners to conduct themselves in a manner different from the religious elite of that day (see Matthew 5:20). But Jesus did not merely address outward conduct. He also discussed both the motivations and emotions of his listeners.

In one particularly well-known section—Matthew 6:25-34—Jesus considered the problem of worry. Having charged his listeners to rely upon God in prayer (Matthew 6:11-13), He identified worry as a hindrance to such. He understood those who worry do not trust God completely, and He showed worry should not characterize His followers. Jesus’ discussion about worry was pertinent to His audience, and it remains relevant today.

In short, Jesus’s message “hit the spot.” We must seek to proclaim God’s message in a similar, relevant manner.

Chad Ramsey preaches for the Gloster Street Church of Christ in Tupelo, Mississippi. You can access their Bible classes and Chad’s sermons on Gloster Street’s YouTube page.

Chad was - and still is - “my preacher” from when I spent my high school and early college years at Gloster Street. I’m thankful to be able to share some of his writings with you.

Do you ever struggle with the sins in your past and wonder if God will forgive you? Or do you think God could never use you because of your sin?

You aren’t alone in feeling this way, and God’s word provides great encouragement to us.

This time of year is “storm season” for where I live in North Alabama. We expect the severe weather now, and we won’t experience it as much later in the summer months.

But the “storms of life” aren’t like that, are they? Those storms are much more unpredictable.

Jesus was very clear when He described the demands of discipleship. He declared:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

Rather than being a religion of minimal commitment, Christianity requires complete devotion. Christians do not practice religion one day per week or only when convenient. We must live every day for Christ.

Therefore, we seek to have “conduct worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27), and we strive to be “blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14).

Our Behavior.

Scripture describes everyday religion in various ways. For example, the apostle Paul frequently compares the Christian life to a walk. Writing to the Ephesians, he urged:

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1).

Later in the same letter, he exhorted his readers to “walk in love” (Ephesians 5:2); to “walk as children of light” (verse 8); and to “walk circumspectly” (verse 15). In each instance, Paul had personal conduct in mind.

Behavior matters.

Our Influence.

Another description of everyday religion is found in Jesus’s admonition in Matthew 5:16:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Although the term “light” calls to mind one’s influence, it is not possible to separate influence from personal conduct. Consequently, Christians must live each day in hopes of encouraging others to glorify God (cf. 1 Peter 2:11-12).

Our Effort.

Perhaps James summed up everyday religion best when he wrote:

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

This demands daily effort.

Paul addressed the subject of daily Christian living in 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12. Having warned the brethren about the need to maintain sexual purity (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8), he continued the discussion by exhorting the Christians to practice “brotherly love.”

Importantly, Paul gives concrete examples of what brotherly love looks like in one’s life. Brotherly love is demonstrated when one behaves appropriately. But how do we do this?

Paul’s answer is worth noting. He said,

“But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing” (verses 10-12).

Chad Ramsey preaches for the Gloster Street Church of Christ in Tupelo, Mississippi. You can access their Bible classes and Chad’s sermons on Gloster Street’s YouTube page.

Chad was - and still is - “my preacher” from when I spent my high school and early college years at Gloster Street. I’m thankful to be able to share some of his writings with you.

We all struggle, suffer, and face storms in life. Some struggle more than others, but we all face difficulties. Some deal with childhood trauma while others battle with self-inflicted wounds after years of sinful living. Most of us have dealt with the pain of losing a loved one. In some cases, the losses are traumatic, tragic, sudden deaths, while others are prolonged due to cancer or some other illness.

The question is not IF we will struggle in life, but WHEN and HOW we will respond when it does happen?

This article begins a new series wherein we will ask and answer the question, “How does the child of God cope with the trials of life?”

The Reality of Suffering

Job, one who was well acquainted with suffering, accurately spoke from experience when he uttered the words,

“Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).

Moses, who also experienced times of suffering, said,

“The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psa. 90:10).

Recognizing the reality of the presence of pain and suffering in our lives forces us to respond. One preacher once said, “The trials of life can break our faith, shake our faith, or make our faith stronger.” Truly, it is not what happens to us that defines us, but how we respond that shows our character.

Looking to Scripture, how should we respond when life brings us to our knees?

The Comfort of Psalm 46

I invite you to a powerful Psalm that has carried me through many times of distress in my life: Psalm 46. The Psalmist, by inspiration, says this:

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah” (Psalm 46:1-11)

Be still.

The first thing we need to do is “be still.” When is the last time that you literally stopped what you were doing to just be still? Sometimes, just being still and taking a breath can bring about healing and clarity. God encourages us through His Word to “be still.”

When God was bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt and they were literally running for their lives to escape Pharaoh and his army,

“Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever” (Exo. 14:13).

When King Jehoshaphat knew the enemy was pressing in hard, he said,

“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you” (2 Chr. 20:17).

The same God who was with Moses and Jehoshaphat is with His people today! We are never alone (Rom. 8:31-37; Heb. 13:5-6).

The first step we need to take in order to cope with the trials of life is to simply “be still.” Dependence on God shows true strength so may we lean on Him and trust Him with all of our hearts (Prov. 3:5-6).

Next week, we will discuss how we need to be prayerful from Psalm 69.

Drew Suttles is a minister for the Quitman church of Christ in Quitman, Georgia, and one of my best friends in this world. They live-stream all their Bible classes and sermons on their YouTube channel.

Drew also hosts the “Weathering the Storm” podcast on the Scattered Abroad Network. Drew talks about facing life’s challenges as a child of God. His podcast will be a blessing to your life.

Helping coach my daughter’s 6U softball team got me thinking about how we all start at the “basic” level when it comes to our walk with Christ.

This requires patience from teachers, but also an expectation of growth from all of us.