I am always fascinated but the different ways that Jesus reaches people.  Sometimes through a friend, others through a big life event.  Maybe a sermon or a conference.  Perhaps even by simply watching and observing other Christians.  God reaches people in a variety of amazing ways in the early church through miracles and wonders.  Yet here is an example of a very ordinary way that we hear about in Acts 19.  Let’s look at it together today.  

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

Often Paul’s preaching reaches people in amazing ways throughout the book of Acts.  Yet after three months of preaching people are not responding.  Instead he simply has discussions daily with believers.  In other words he is discipling people in an open setting where others can observe, and listen to what is going on.  He spends the next two years doing this.  That’s right Paul, the man constantly on the move sharing the gospel stays in one place for two years and simply talks with the believers about Jesus.  We are told that everyone in that region heard the Word of the Lord as a result.  To me this is another scripture that we could totally miss the significance of.  God uses this two years of discussions to reach so many people.  It reminds me that others are always listening to us and we always are sharing the gospel even if we aren’t preaching or proclaiming bit like Paul normally did.  Simple little conversations can impact others far more than we know or realize.  I pray that we all might share the gospel in such a way by our conversations over coffee or at the sports field or wherever we go in life.  If it was worth two years of Paul’s life and ministry it is worth our time each day as well.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

One of my favorite things about the Bible is that you can read a passage over and over and God can speak to you through it in different ways.  This morning as I was reading Acts 18 something jumped out at me in a way that it had not previously.  Let’s take a look at it together today. 

After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

When I read the story of the early church it can be easy to simply focus on the main characters.  It is really incredible to think just how many people were actively involved in its development.  Just in this brief section of Acts 18 we have:  Aquila, Priscilla, Silas, Timothy, Titus Justus, Crispus, and of course Paul.  It reminds me of just how important our partners are.  Having people who partner in ministry is so important and such an incredible blessing.  They encourage you, push you, and help in ways that you are not necessarily gifted in.  It truly takes a team to accomplish great things for God.  Take a moment today and thank those in your life that partner with you in ministry and encourage you along the way.  Partners are crucial!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

This Morning I want to talk about a Bible character that you might not be familiar with.  I’d like to talk about Jason.  Jason is probably not someone that you remember learning about in Sunday school when you were a kid.  The Jason’s of the Bible and the world play an incredibly important and vital role.  Let’s look at the story of Jason found in Acts 17 together today.

When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. 5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.

Three things come to mind in this brief story of Jason.  First when the “Christians” are causing trouble the officials immediately go to Jason.  This means that he was a known follower of Jesus.  They assumed that he would be at the center of whatever was going on with Paul and Silas.  Then we find out that in fact Jason was hosting them at his house.  He was willing to embrace Paul even when he knew of the possibility of trouble because of it.  Jason is arrested simply because the officials cannot find Paul there.  He is forced to pay bond.  Jason’s efforts enable Paul to bring the Gospel to Thessalonica and also allow him to leave and continue to carry to Gospel to other places as well.  We all have a tendency to focus on Paul and the Paul’s of the world.  With Jason’s Paul’s cannot accomplish what God has called them to.  So today and every day know that whatever role you play in sharing the love of Jesus is a crucial and important one.  Be a Jason and use your gifts to build God’s kingdom. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever had a strong sense of direction from the Holy Spirit as to what to do? I suspect that we get these prompts more often than we know and simply “miss” them because of the business and noise of life.  When we are told to be still and know that I am God in Psalms we are reminded of the skill of listening to the Spirit.  Let’s look at Paul’s experience of this from Acts 16. 

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

I love this passage that might be easy to miss the significance of.  Paul wanted to go to Bithynia.  We are told that he tried to go there but the Spirit would not allow him to.  To be listening well enough to God that he was physically not able to go somewhere is pretty impressive.  Paul then has a dream which ultimately leads him in another direction.  It leads him to Philippi which ends up becoming one of the most important and significant early churches.  It’s amazing how God often orchestrates plans to do amazing things that we might never dream of ourselves.  Today and every day make it a point to listen you just might be amazed at the places God leads you.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Acts 15 contains the story of the Jerusalem Council.  It was a meeting to discuss a disagreement about how Gentiles should be treated and received as members of the body of Christ.  There had been a distinct division until this point but as we all know our God is a God of unity.  Let’s look at part of the account together today. 

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” 6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” 12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me… 19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

Because of the leadership of Peter and James, the Gentiles are received and not required to “become Jewish” to follow Jesus.  That’s the beautiful thing about grace.  We don’t bring anything to the table when it comes to God.  He does it ALL.  Faith is our only requirement and even that comes through God’s work in us.  I am grateful to the early church for holding on to this truth and reminding us of it in their very first important decisions.  I pray that we would also faithfully hold to this truth and proclaim it to the world!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

This past Sunday was the Super Bowl or Taylor Bowl as some are calling it.  Whether it is the most popular entertainer on the planet right now or a favorite sports team it is amazing how much attention and affection are given to these things.  It made me think a little bit of how easily our worship become misdirected.  Not that we are “worshiping” celebrities of sports teams but they are taking away our time, our interest and affection, and often our money.  In Acts 14 there was another case of misdirected worship as well.  Let’s look at it together today.

In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. 11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

Paul and Barnabus were upset because while they were trying to point people to Jesus they became the objects of the people’s worship.  They tore their clothes and were upset. Often in Scripture stories like this have a happy ending.  Someone speaks and turns them around and they rightly begin to direct their worship to God.  This story doesn’t turn out that way.  The people still are trying to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabus.  You see we were made to worship and we seek things to worship.  God alone deserves our worship and praise.  We need to seek to worship Him with our lives and with our praise.  Today and every day may we give God the worship and praise that He alone deserves.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever been in a conversation or been reading something and you missed something significant?  Maybe your mind was elsewhere or you just didn’t pick up on something but it happens to us all.  There are moments in Scripture where there are significant things that you can easily miss.  Let’s look together at one that is found in Acts 13. 

42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region

When we think of the early church we usually think about the apostles and what a great job they did of sharing the message of Jesus with the world.  This is true and they deserve a ton of credit.  I think we sometimes neglect the importance of everyone in the early church sharing with their friends, and neighbors as well.  Take a look back at verse 44 in this passage.  What does that tell you?  In one week it went from a few people curious about Paul’s message and asking some questions to an entire city coming to hear what Paul had to say.  How does this happen?  It happens because people were sharing the message and inviting others to hear more.  That is the real way that the early church grew as well and as fast as it did.  People were passionately telling their friends and neighbors about Jesus and inviting them to come and hear more.  The apostles were simply the voice that proclaimed the message it was the people who were really spreading it far and wide. I pray that we also would be a people that share the message and love of Jesus far and wide!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Often when God begins to do a significant work it is met with opposition or persecution.  This has been true throughout history and remains true today.  Whenever people bemoan the thought of Christians losing freedoms I think maybe that means God is about to do something big!  This was certainly true for the early church.  The more it grew the more opposition they began to face.  Let’s look together at one such encounter found in Acts 12 and see how God responds. 

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. 11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

The thing is God’s plans cannot be thwarted.  No matter what opposition the early church faced the Holy Spirit worked to overcome it.  When Peter gets arrested the church springs into action and prays.  God send an angel and rescues Peter.  There is power when people pray particularly when they pray in unison.  The church continues to grow and Peter continues his ministry.  Eventually he is martyred but not before he leads many more people into a life changing encounter with Jesus.  If you find yourself in the midst of opposition today be on the lookout for God to show up in a big way.  That’s often when He does His most amazing work!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever noticed how God often uses bad situations or circumstances in our lives to do some of His most amazing work?  I think of how God used one of the toughest, most difficult situations in my life to bring me to Advent.  I think of all of the blessings that I know have as a result of that.  I also hope that God has used me to be a blessing to many as a result.  Yet without walking through that difficulty none of this would have happened.  I’d like to look at a situation like that from Acts 11 together today

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

After Stephen is killed massive persecution breaks out.  Saul/Paul is a leading figure in this persecution but as a result believers are scattered all over often leaving family and friends.  This difficult period leads to the gospel being shared all over and in particular many in Antioch came to faith and the church are quite large and strong there.  He even used Saul/Paul there as one of the main forces along with Barnabus of building and discipling the church.  God certainly has a sense of humor.  He uses the man who many were running from to build the church in the place where they run to.  As you inevitably walk through difficult times in your life be on the lookout for the big things that God does in the midst of those times of challenge.  I pray that He would do amazing things in and through your life!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

The Bible is filled with amazing stories.  In its entirety it is THE story of God and His great love for people.  There are some passages that to this day you can tell are game changing passages.  Acts 10 is one of these game changers.  I’d encourage you all to take a moment and read all of it, but we will simply look at the end of the chapter.  To this point the church had been growing rapidly but the converts were almost all former Jews who had embraced Jesus as their Messiah.  Acts 10 is when God reveals to Peter the need to bring the gospel to the Gentiles as well.  Let’s look at what happens when he first does this together today. 

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

God uses a Gentile named Cornelius and a dream that he gives Peter three times to begin to bring the gospel message to the rest of the world.  It might be easy to skip over the significance of this moment.  This is the moment when Christianity goes worldwide.  All the world is now open to receiving the message of Jesus and His love.  It should serve as a reminder to us all of how God uses little moments to do life changing things.  A simple opportunity to share your faith could result in hundreds or even thousands of people hearing about Jesus.  A simple act of kindness toward a friend or even a stranger can change everything for them.  I pray that God might help all of us to take advantage of those simple moments that can change the world.  May God use all of us this way to be world changers.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave