Corinth: Ministering in Sin City
Read: Acts 18:1-23 And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. (v. 8) In the United States, the title “Sin City” is synonymous with Las Vegas, Nevada. I have been to Las Vegas, and there is no denying that immoral things happen there. The old slogan of the city reflects this idea: […]
Paul Preaches to the Philosophers
Read: Acts 17:16-34 Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along . . . I found also an altar with this inscription: “To the unknown god.” (vv. 22-23) Last year my wife and I went on a Mediterranean cruise, and one of the stops we […]
Leaving Home
Bahati did not have an easy start to life. She grew up in Niger, a country with high levels of poverty. Her first marriage ended in abuse and rejection at the hands of her husband. With two children to support, Bahati returned to her family’s home. She lived peacefully there for a time, but one day she heard a radio program that would change everything.
Eagerly Examining the Word
Read: Act 17:1-15 They received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily. (v. 11) The Berean church is the kind of church every pastor would love: “they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily.” It was obvious to them that studying the Scriptures was exciting. They had now found the […]
The Shaping Power of a Devotional Life
When you read any Words of Hope devotional you will find insight, challenge, comfort, or inspiration. Perhaps a story will resonate with your heart and you will find yourself thinking about it all day long. You might feel as if it was written just for you; it touches a pain or a joy in your […]
The Gospel Comes to Europe
Read: Acts 16:11-40 . . . and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. (v. 12) My mother used to say, “It takes all kinds.” She was referring to the fact that God has made all kinds of people with all kinds of personalities […]
The Macedonian Call
Read: Acts 16:6-10 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (v. 9) All of us have times when we don’t know what to do—times of uncertainty when future plans seem fuzzy or unclear. Maybe that […]
A Disciple Named Timothy
Read: Acts 16:1-5 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. (v. 1) Paul was now beginning his second missionary journey. As he traveled proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, he decided to […]
A Sharp Disagreement
Read: Acts 15:36-41 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed. (vv. 39-40) Do Christians always agree? We may wish that were the case. Especially when churches split or individuals go their separate ways. […]