Elder Emeritus Paige Meredith exhorts from the book of Ecclesiastes, following Living Life Backwards by Dr. Gibson.

The story of Paul's voyage and shipwreck is one of the great, all-time nautical adventures. We are encouraged by God's hand and promise.

Resurrection is at the heart of the Christian faith and hope. Every aspect of the resurrection weaves together into a grand, salvific tapestry. In this message we take a look at one thread: the relationship between resurrection and the proclamation of the gospel of the risen Christ.

We wear our hopes and they animate us. If we have our eyes opened to see the risen Christ, our hope is radically changed, which will change everything about how we act and think.

Amid all the turmoil and injustice, Paul persists, knowing the fixed point of the Resurrection of Jesus, who commissioned him, will never shift.

In Paul's third defense, he is tried by governor Felix. This defense embodies what Jesus said in Luke 21, "... they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness..." Given the opportunity to address the governor, Paul speaks to him about faith in Christ Jesus.

God's work of providence is put on display in this passage. He always executes his plan to his maximum glory, which is always our highest good.

The Second of five defenses, Paul displays what it means to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Paul makes a defense of the Gospel and his own apostleship, knowing what the response of the Jews would be. Ultimately, it is not his responsibility, nor is it ours, to open the eyes of the blind. We can only be faithful, charitable, and clear witnesses, leaving the results to God.

As Christians, we live as men with sight among a nation of blind men. We are called to faithfully proclaim the gospel of light even when those caught in darkness persecute us because they do not understand us.