One of the problems with reading about the Apostle Paul in the book of Acts is that so few of us are like him. Of course, we are like him in some ways. He was, and we are, human. But in terms of giftedness, experience,...
Acts 16 is the record of the founding of the Christian church in Philippi, today Filippoi, Greece. What's interesting about this account is that Luke the writer gives us a picture of God's grace in the conversion of three individuals. Many people came to faith...
So much of what we argue and divide over is simply not worth it. Over the years I've seen friendships and families separate over issues that could have been worked out or overlooked. I've seen churches experience deep divisions because members and leaders thought their...
Acts 13 shows us that the word of the Lord is for the city. Acts 14 shows us the need for the church in the city. Paul and Barnabas brought the message of forgiveness and freedom through repentance and faith in Jesus to cities, and...
Have we sequestered the word of the Lord to the confines of the church walls? Never in the history of the Christian church have there been more Bible study tools available to the average person than we have today. Never before has there been as...
Acts 12 records the fate of two leaders of the early Christian church. One, James, is killed by King Herod for his part in the advance of the gospel. The other, Peter, is imprisoned by Herod who intends to kill him, but then is miraculously...
Churches, like people, need mentors. When Grace Community Church started, we found a mentor in Acts 11. As the first core group met together to talk about what a church is and what our church should be like, we looked to Acts for guidance. There...
Perhaps one of the most compact and clear statements of the grace of God toward us is found in Acts 11:18, "Then to the Gentile also God has granted repentance that leads to life." The early leaders of the Christian church, who were all Jewish, made...
Here are my predictions for 2017: the church will be challenged and Christ will keep us in the love of God. These predictions are straight out of the small letter called Jude found in the New Testament. Jude is the book of the Bible that people...
"Those who suppose that the doctrine of God's grace tends to encourage moral laxity are simply showing that, in the most literal sense, they do not know what they are talking about. For love awakens love in return." J.I. Packer (Knowing God) That phrase, "love awakens love in return," is...
