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. […]
Paul at the Jerusalem Council
Read: Acts 15:1-31 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. (v. 3) Paul’s first missionary journey was a tremendous success, and it had brought great joy because non-Jewish people, the […]
Mistaken for Gods
Read: Acts 14:8-28 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. (v. 12) I have been mistaken for someone once. Unfortunately, it was not a Greek god, like with Paul and Barnabas. It was Glen Campbell. I never really saw the resemblance, but it was a thrill being mistaken for […]
Perseverance in Preaching
Read: Acts 14:1-7 . . . they continued to preach the gospel. (v. 7) During a Monday night football game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants, one of the announcers observed that the Chicago running back, Walter Payton, had accumulated more than nine miles in career rushing yardage. The other announcer then […]