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The Bereans and the Areopagus We continue with Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey. He is encountering all sorts. He confronted and cast out the evil spirit that was operating through a young slave girl who was being used to make money. This landed Paul and Silas in prison because the girl could no longer bring money by fortune telling to her owners (Acts 16). In a miraculous way, God released Paul and his team from prison. You will think his problems are over but not. Paul gets thrown out of town in Thessalonica by his fellow Jews who were envious of the success of the gospel of Jesus. That did not stop him. Paul will continue his journey and will now encounter the Bereans, the Epicureans, the Stoic and the Areopagus. Who are these strange sounding names? Let’s find out from Scripture. Let’s be ready to encounter all kinds along the way and be like the Bereans who did their home work. Are you doing your home work on the Word of God or are you just winging it? Acts 17: 10-...

Just One Life at a Time – Timothy and Lydia Apostle Paul and Barnabas have gone separate ways in the mission having had “sharp disagreement” because of John Mark whom Barnabas wanted to come along and Paul did not think so (Acts 15:36-41). That did not stop the work of God. Rather, we see God at work to shape the lives of individuals one at a time for the purpose of establishing His Church. Barnabas discipled John Mark who later became very “useful” even to Paul (2 Tim. 4:11) and John Mark is credited with the writing of the Book of the Gospel of Mark. We see the power of mentoring at work in the early church. This is what making disciples is all about – changing and impacting just one life at a time. Jesus put this plan in place to grow the Church and His kingdom. We will focus on two of these disciples – Timothy and Lydia whom God put in the path of Paul during his second missionary journey. God will put us in the path of someone who needs to be discipled. Often, it is for a seas...

Circumcision Required for Salvation? I have heard about many church splits and I have experienced one myself. Most of the church splits of our time are often based on disagreements on money/property control or on leadership personalities. It seems that we are not particularly interested in doctrinal issues that could divide as did the early church. In Acts 15, we see a “sharp disagreement and dispute” among the believers on the essential doctrine of the church. The big question: Is one required to be circumcised to be saved in accordance with the laws of Moses? Of course, the question is unique to men since the bible never required women to be circumcised. In other words, is obedience to the laws of the Old Testament required in other for the Gentile (or even the Jew) to be saved? Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Church leaders at the time dealt decisively and appropriately with the issue at hand. May we learn from them on how to have legitimate disagreements and make l...

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED We must continue to go back to the first chapter of Act as we study the entire book. The mission handed down by Jesus to his disciples and how it was carried out is the book of Acts. Jesus told his disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Progress has been made on this assignment by the power of the Holy Spirit as we have studied so far. Acts chapter 14 documents a major milestone as Apostle Paul and Barnabas concluded their first missionary journey. The first mission had not come easy. Opposition by the Jews and some Gentiles confronted Paul and Barnabas. In verse 2, “But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers”. Also, in verse 19, it says, “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinkin...

THE TURNING POINT Apostle Paul has now taken the leadership of the ministry to the Gentiles. Barnabas has been a very important figure paving the way for Paul. It is good to work with people who are only after God’s glory instead of their own glory and promotion. Barnabas was that kind. He had sold all his property for the work of God to see the gospel prosper. He is an encourager for that is what his name means. Paul will now preach his first recorded sermon in this chapter. Paul’s audience was the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. It was a powerful message that won some converts but did not sit well with most of the Jews. It will become the turning point and the fulfillment of God’s promise to reach the Gentiles for salvation. Let’s see what happened and commit to praying for the salvation of the Jews. ACTS 13: 13-52 13From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On t...