Six weeks and counting, Chronos!
The church continues to grow and spread ... but not without some problems.
Reminder: These passages are very rich. I can’t possibly anticipate your questions; so send them to me.
Blessings,
Steve
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We’re reading The One Year Chronological Bible, New Living Translation (Tyndale). It’s best with your own copy. Or, paste in this link to the daily reading schedule:
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This week's highlights:
Peter escapes from prison. Herod (finally) dies. Barnabas vouches for Saul (Paul) and then has to become his missionary partner. Lots of journeying by Paul and company. A bit of a dust-up between Paul and Peter. Jerusalem Church sets some church-planting rules. Woman founds first church in Philippi (yeah, those Philippians)! Paul teaches the Greeks a thing or two. First husband-wife missionary team. What do you do with a problem like the Corinthians?
Comments:
November 12, 2017 —Acts 13:1— Seems the church at Antioch (the first place we were called christians) had a little seminary going: prophets, teachers, and preachers. It included at least one man of color, a childhood friend of Herod(!), Saul (Paul), and Barnabas ... quite a collection of people!
November 12, 2017 —Acts 13:10— the Holy Spirit in Paul is speaking to the demon in the false prophet Elymas (called Bar-Jesus; it means “son of Jesus,” so there may have been an attempt to make others think he was actually the son of Jesus. Note how Paul calls him “son of the devil,” as if to underscore that Elymas Bar-Jesus was no son of Jesus of Nazareth).
November 13, 2017 —Galatians 12:19— James, the brother of Jesus, was an apostle. That means at least two members of His earthly family became followers. Can you name the other?
November 13, 2017 —Galatians 3:13— In writing to the Galatians about salvation, Paul makes it clear (“for our wrongdoings”) that when Jesus went to the cross it was not just for those who were then presently impacted by His ministry (e.g., had heard Jesus preach), but for future generations as well. The Galatians were included in “our” even though none had been physically present with Jesus.
November 14, 2017 —Galatians 4:16— another of my favorite scriptures. Paul asks this question of a people who at one time had welcomed him with open arms: “Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?”
November 14, 2017 —Galatians 5:22-23— “There is no law against these things!” Its a pretty interesting list!
November 15, 2017 —Acts 16:11-15— The founding member of the Philippian church was Lydia, a business woman. She went on to lead her entire household to Christ.
November 16, 2017 —Acts 17:16-34— Paul not only “preaches” to the leading philosophers of the day (at Athens, Greece), but leads some to Christ (including at least one woman philosopher).
November 17, 2017 —Acts 18:4-17— Remember all this trouble Paul experiences in Corinth (circa AD 51) when we read his letters to them later this week and next week. Bookmark this part of the Book of Acts; you’re going to want to look back.
November 18, 2017 —Acts 19:20— Paul is winding up his time in Ephesus when he writes his first letter to the Corinthians. It has been about two years since he was physically with them in Corinth. Even though the first letter starts this week, I will address all of the Corinthian matters together, next week.
Next week:
More Corinthian problems addressed by Paul. One body, many parts. The Love Chapter. How we got the tithe. A riot in Ephesus (One Apostle, one riot). A letter to the Christ-followers in Rome. More about why faith works where the Law does not. What it’s like to live in the Spirit.
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