The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever. If the Lord is on our side what can man do to us? The Lord is the God who has become our salvation and he has done this through the chief cornerstone: the Lord Jesus Christ.

The third missionary journey kicks off with Paul teaching & preaching in Ephesus for over two years. As new believers burn their occult books and stop buying idols, the silversmiths see their source of income at risk and instigate a riot. The good news of Jesus demands our full allegiance and confronts us in our idolatry. Who will we submit to?

Paul arrives in Corinth, although there is opposition, many Corinthians - both Jews and Gentiles - believe and are baptized. In a vision God tells the apostle that he has "many in this city who are my people" and so Paul remains there for 18 months teaching the word of God, before returning to Antioch. Now as then God is sovereign in our desires to make Christ known and he will not let the word come back void.

Paul travels south to Thessalonica and Berea, finally reaching the great city of Athens. It is here that he proclaims the "unkown God" to the people on the Areopagus. The God of heaven and earth does not live in temples and cannot be depicted in images of gold and silver. The living God now calls on all peoples to repent, turning away from their ignorance, because one day he will judge the whole world by the appointed man: Christ Jesus.

Paul & Barnabas are set to embark on their second missionary journey, but a disagreement means they will part ways. However, this doesn't mean the gospel will be stopped. On the contrary, the Lord sovereignly directs Paul & his new companion, Silas, to Philippi in Macedonia, where a seller of purple cloth and a jailer will hear the gospel and believe in Jesus.

Legalism is threatening to divide the 1st century church. Some demanded that the Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised, but Peter boldly refutes this claim: "We believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." The wonderful gospel of free grace is still as true and precious today as it was then. Let's treasure it, be united by it and proclaim it to all people.

Paul & Barnabas herald the good news of Jesus to Gentiles from Iconium to Lystra. Whether they are revered or mistreated, it won't deter them from their mission. Upon their return to Antioch, they declare to the church all that the Lord had done.

Samson was set apart by God to save Israel from the hands of their enemies. However, he is controlled by his passions and the savior of Israel becomes the slave of the Philistines. Yet, in his moment of greatest shame and weakness the Lord will use his death to bring rescue for his people. What a great picture of Jesus' death that brings victory for the people of God.