Our biblical worldview will be put in to practice on election day.  How are we to think about politics, parties, political ideologies, candidates, laws, and propositions?   

We have been given a voice, and God's Word dictates that we use it. Politically, we've been given the freedom to use our voice to instill biblical values into our society. This is one way we can love our neighbors.

The Apostle Paul is given a more proper hearing to determine the accusations the Jewish leadership is bringing against him. They try to use flattery and half-truths to bring conviction. Paul defends himself with the truth.  

In the spiritual courtroom of God's justice, we all stand guilty. The world will continue to flatter you to sin. But the Holy Spirit with convict you of sin, and prove to you that your only hope for freedom rests in the arms of Jesus. The decision is yours to choose forgiveness in Jesus' name, or reject His offer of salvation and try and defend yourself from God's judgement in the end.

Paul is provided another opportunity to answer for his alleged crimes against the Jews. He gets out one line about standing in good conscience and is smacked in the mouth!  

Many will trust their conscience to dictate their actions. Whether your conscience accuses or excuses your actions, is ultimately determined by the moral foundation on which you stand. If we are constantly pursuing right standing before the Lord, it will be His Word and will that determines our course of action.

After being arrested in the temple, Paul now stands before his accusers and shares who he is, the change he's experienced because of Jesus, and what he has been commissioned to do.  

We all have a testimony to share. Whether it's a story of radical conversion and life experiences, or fairly conservative in how you came to accept Christ as your Lord, it's important enough to give away. Our witness for Christ is one of the greatest things we can do to share of the love of Jesus, and the hope others can have in his eternal presence.

As Paul reaches Jerusalem, he is welcomed with some hesitation. There is a group of people claiming he was "anti-Jew" and spreading a false gospel to the Gentiles. His message had gotten convoluted and needed clarity. What it boiled down to was a clear understanding of the essentials of salvation in Jesus name for all people!  

St. Augustine is credited with saying, "In the essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity". The Church today needs a refresher on the difference between essentials and non-essentials. Especially when we hold non-essential practices against others as necessary for salvation and living the Christian life.

A scribe approached Jesus and asked Him which of the commandments is most important. Jesus' answer provides us a glimpse of how we are to approach God...with our whole heart!

In Psalm 9, David's song of praise reiterates this idea. No matter our circumstances, we should praise God consistently and completely, withholding nothing. There is nothing that we can hold on to in this life that will provide us more comfort and provision than the love of God.

A young man falls to his death during one of Paul's sermons. Every pastor's dream, right? Yet God works a miracle and brings him back to life.   

There is a strong connection in scripture between sleep, death, and faith. Death is but sleep to the believer. Yet sleep can be spiritual ignorance to the self-focused. We are challenged to remain spiritually awake and alive, with our eyes, mind, and heart set on God at all times.

Paul and his team find themselves smack dab in the middle of a riot. The light of Christianity and the gospel is starting to overwhelm the darkness of Ephesus. Those who sell idols to the gods are furious at the loss of income they are experiencing. So they rally the town against God.

Ever find yourself in a situation that is beyond your control? There's nothing you can say or do to help the situation? Today, we look at 3 things we can do when the world around us is getting out of control.   

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As Paul spends time in Ephesus, it becomes extremely clear that this city is in need of the Holy Spirit. Certain "disciples" did not know that the Holy Spirit existed, and other spiritual people were trying to invoke the name of Jesus without believing in Him. 

The spiritual realm is real and can only be combated by the Spirit-filled. As disciples of Jesus, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit in us to guide us, empower us, and give us the wisdom we need to fight the spiritual battles we face on a daily basis.

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