The Mission to Cyprus
Read: Acts 13:4-12 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. (v. 4) In Mark 5, Jesus healed a man with an unclean spirit. As Jesus was getting into a boat, the man started begging to go along. He was so captivated by […]
Going Global
Read: Acts 13:1-3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (v. 2) When Jesus ascended into heaven, he spoke these parting words: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the […]
Biking for Words of Hope
As registration for our Near + Far 5K takes off, Words of Hope had one of our Board of Directors take physical activity to the next level: Doug Van Beek had an idea to do his own Bike-A-Thon as a way to raise money for Words of Hope! Doug is going to ride his bike […]
Barnabas to the Rescue
Read: Acts 9:26-31 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. (v. 27) I once knew someone whose earlier days were full of embarrassing drunken displays and obscenities. Then one day I heard that this man had become a pastor. My response was disbelief. Yet, according to reliable reports, he is now serving […]
Not an Easy Road
Read: Acts 9:23-25 But his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. (v. 25) Saul learned very quickly that his life and mission as a Christian would not be an easy road. Here he had barely started following Jesus and he narrowly […]
What a Change!
Read: Acts 9:19-22; Galatians 1:15-24 For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed. (vv. 19-21) I remember singing an old gospel hymn in my younger days that goes like this: “What […]
A Disciple Named Ananias
Read: Acts 9:10-18 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul . . . ” (v. 17) One commentator calls Ananias “one of the forgotten heroes of the Christian church” (William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles). Indeed he is! The fact that he referred to […]
The Damascus Road
Read: Acts 9:1-9 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (v. 5) Saul was not content to imprison the Jewish followers of Jesus in Jerusalem. He “went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he […]
Persecutor of Christians
Read: Acts 8:1-4 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. (v. 3) I am a lifelong Christian, and I have lived a quiet, peaceful life. I haven’t experienced persecution, and I have experienced freedom and justice in my country, but […]