The Daily Discipleship Podcast

When we get to Acts 21, we see Paul seemingly go against the Spirit, or does he?  Or was it a matter of the clash between how some visions were interpreted and what the Spirit actually meant?

What is your goal in living the Christian life?  How well do you want to finish the race?  Paul says goodbye to the Ephesians as the Holy Spirit leads Him toward the finish line. 

Sometimes, there is just so much to say.  Paul knew he might not get the chance to be with these people again, so he wanted to give them as much instruction as possible.  Remember, there were no Bibles in those days (the New Testament hadn't been written yet).  How much can you absorb?  Do you hunger after God's Word? What would you have done had you been listening to Paul, who may have taught for 12 hours?  Would you have stayed?

Paul continued to travel, and he continued to exemplify the example of never traveling alone as a key disciplemaking strategy. 

Sometimes our message will confront the culture in ways the culture doesn't like. That culture may not always respond kindly to our message, and it could get ugly. 

Some people use God for gain.  Some people use His name to make themselves look appealing to a group of people. Be careful how you use The Name of Jesus.  God upholds the honor of His Name.

As in Ephesus, where some of the believers weren't informed about the Holy Spirit, so in our day, we sometimes live as if we don't have the Holy Spirit.  You have the Holy Spirit; let Him make a difference in and through your life!

At the end of Acts 18, another prominent teacher enters the scene, but even he needed more schooling as an everyday disciple-maker.  Apollos sat with some everyday disciple-makers and learned more fully the way of Jesus. Are you an everyday disciple-maker?

Sometimes, our service to Christ requires doing work outside the scope of our ministry service to support ourselves in our work. Paul had to do it, so we should not be surprised if we also have to do it occasionally. 

As missionaries, studying culture to understand it and conversationally engaging that culture doesn't change our end message. The message has been and remains the same across millennia—repent and turn to Christ.