Unveiling the Mystery - The Book of Acts

* All Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).

* Why does Luke spend much time on certain portions of Paul's trips and moves quickly through other areas? The final answer ... God wanted us to know those parts and determined that the other parts were not needed for our edification!

* Last week, we considered the extent and effect of God's work in Ephesus through Paul. Paul spent at least two years in Ephesus at that time.

* Today, we come to another transitional time in Paul's missionary journey ... and yet God chooses to give us a couple of vignettes along Paul's journey back to Jerusalem. We will consider those vignettes and their significance over the next couple of weeks.

* Specifically, today we will consider his stop at Troas and the gathering of the church during that occasion.

* This message was presented on June 4, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* Last week, we transitioned from Paul's 2nd missionary journey to his third journey. On that trip, he promised those in Ephesus that he would return.

* On his first stop in Ephesus, Paul was received well and people begged him to stay. However, wherever the gospel is proclaimed continuously, there will eventually be opposition. That is what discuss today ... the opposition to the Gospel in Ephesus.

* The City of Ephesus was the largest city and, commercially, the most prosperous city in the province of Asia. It was easily accessed from sea by Athens, Corinth and Rome, and was the gateway to inland trade routes, making travel easy to any point. Due to silting, the main harbor is now about 10 kms to the west! Pilgrims came from around the world to Ephesus - home of the temple of Artemis (Diana - Roman), one of the seven wonders of the world.

* This message was presented on May 28, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* In 2 Timothy 2:1-2 Paul revealed the process of functional discipleship to Timothy: 1 "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

* In today's passage, we see that philosophy, or process, of discipleship being demonstrated by, and through, Paul himself.

* This portion is a transitional passage taking us from Paul's second "missionary journey" into his next cycle of visits to the churches.

* Through this passage, we see various individuals - who being part of the discipleship process - grasp the concept of ministry not as a profession but as a lifestyle.

* This message was presented on May 21, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* Last week we considered Paul's engagements in the metropolis of Athens - the center of the Grecian philosophical world. While there, Paul could not help but continue to tell people about Jesus. This led to his confrontation with the Stoics and Epicureans at the Areopagus. As a result, we are told, some believed.

* Paul continued his travel southward to the city of Corinth - one of the major cities of Greece.

* Some of the passages that we have considered during this series have spanned days or weeks. Today we will be considering the highlights which Luke records of the 18 month stay of Paul in this important city which sat at the crossroads of culture.

* This message was presented on May 14, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* As we have studied the book of Acts, we have seen how God Sovereignly oversaw the expansion of the church from Jerusalem into Asia Minor (which we refer to today as Eurasia) and then specifically toward the European continent by guiding Paul into Macedonia and then down into the Ionian peninsula - to Thessalonica and Berea - toward the epicenter of the world culture of the day - Athens.

* In each place that they have gone, they have met both reception of the message and rejection of the message - some believed, some did not.

* Today, as we consider Paul's engagements in the metropolis of Athens we will see how he varied his evangelistic approach - in the presentation of God's redemptive plan - to each of his specific audiences.

* This message was presented on May 7, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* In Acts 9, we saw the call and conversion of Saul of Tarsus. In that account, Jesus speaks to the prophet Ananias telling him to go and heal Saul. Ananias balks and Jesus states, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."

* As Paul began his ministry with Barnabas and they traveled proclaiming the gospel to the Jews and then to the Gentiles, Paul began to experience what Christ had proclaimed regarding him. Now, as he is traveling with Silas, Timothy and Luke, his suffering for the name of Jesus has continued.

* The primary cause of that suffering is people's response to the gospel message. The good news of God's free gift of salvation from eternal condemnation is not always met with gladness! Rather, as Paul and his companions find out, it is many times with resistance, rejection, and persecution.

* Today, we continue to see that pattern in the cities of Thessalonica and Berea.

* As we consider how "others" receive or reject the message of the gospel, I must ask myself: how do I respond to God's message in His word? Do I receive or reject His Word of truth in my life?

* This message was presented on April 30, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* Throughout the book of Acts - we have seen how God has Unveiled His Mystery of the Church. God has sovereignly overseen the expansion of the Church through various means of guidance.

* Two weeks ago, we saw how a sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas led to the multiplication of this expansion.

* Today, we will again see God's direct intervention in the continuance and expansion of His kingdom - via the ministry of Paul.

* Many of us are looking for “God's Will” ... His guidance and leading ... today we want to examine the manner in which God guides us and the purpose of that guidance.

* This message was presented on April 16, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* Last week we saw how the church had worked through their first major doctrinal conflict. The church of Antioch had sent Barnabas and Paul to Jerusalem, along with others, to obtain the input of the Apostles and Elders there regarding what requirements should be placed upon Gentiles who were coming to the faith. The decision of the Jerusalem Council was that the Gentiles were not obligated to fulfill the Law as a means of salvation or an additive to salvation; that specifically included circumcision. The Council declared additionally that it would be good for the Gentiles to "Abstain from things offered to idols, from blood and from things strangled .... and from sexual immorality." This decision required submission by those of conflicting opinions.

* As Paul began to take greater "ownership" of the ministry Barnabas and Paul returned to Antioch, along with Judas and Silas, and communicated the message to the church and it was received with joy. After some days Paul decided that he and Barnabas ought to return to encourage the churches which they planted on their first trip. This good desire led to additional conflict between Paul and his mentor, Barnabas.

* In our passage today we see two separate accounts of discipleship situations which involved potential conflict and how they were handled.

* This message was presented on April 2, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* Barnabas and Paul had traveled from Syrian Antioch to Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Derbe, Lystra, Perga and Attalia. On their travels they witnessed God pour out His power through their lives and pour out His grace on the Gentiles through the Gospel. They had also had a foretaste of the hardships that would come along with the spread of the Gospel.

* They traveled back to their sending church - Syrian Antioch - to give a report of all that God had done. They stayed in Antioch, providing additional instruction to the church.

* But then the dissension which they saw in Pisidia and Pamphylia found them in Antioch. But, this conflict would prove to be used by God to solidify His plan of redemption being extended freely to all nations!

* This message was presented on March 26, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* The Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Paul to begin their first Evangelistic Journey while they teaching the believers of Syrian Antioch.

* The Spirit led them to Cyprus where they would meet the Roman Proconsul, Sergius Paulus. After Sergius Paulus believes on Christ, Barnabas and Paul head to Pisidian Antioch in the midst of the Roman Province of Asia - which we refer to as Asia Minor.

* Last week, we saw how Paul proclaimed the Gospel message in the Synagogue at Pisidian Antioch and how it was received well by both Jews and Gentiles, until the Jews saw the response of the Gentiles! In prideful jealousy, the Jews began to fight against Barnabas and Saul, and the proclamation of the Gospel. Finally, the messengers were expelled from the region.

* Today, we join Barnabas and Paul as they travel to Iconium, Derbe and Lystra in the region of Lycaonia ... and hear their exhortations to the churches which they have visited to continue in the faith and endure hardship.

* This message was presented on March 19, 2023 by Bob Corbin.