February 10, 2014 – Acts 1 – Evangelism

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

What Does this Passage Say?

• Today we begin the book of Acts. Acts was the second book written by Dr. Luke. Luke’s first work was the gospel named after him. Many scholars believe Luke wrote both Luke and Acts for the purpose of the Apostle Paul’s trial before the Roman Emperor. These two works would possibly serve as a foundation for the Emperor for who Paul was and what Christianity is. The way this book ends gives some credence to this theory as it all the sudden stops with Paul in Rome.

• In our reading we have not yet read Luke’s first work; his gospel. Luke’s gospel was about the life of Jesus. The book of Acts is about the early life of the church. It picks up where his gospel leaves off. It gives us a glimpse into Jesus final day and His final teaching before being called up to Heaven.

• Through Acts we learn that Jesus spent forty more days on the earth after His resurrection. During this time He taught His disciples all they would need to know and do to prove to the world who He was. In the beginning pages of Acts Jesus gives us His mission strategy; Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and all ends of the earth. Basically Jesus taught them start at home and move on from there. After all His teaching was done Jesus was called up to Heaven.

• These disciples have a huge task before them. For ten days they will be without the power of the Holy Spirit. There used to be twelve in their inner circle of Jesus followers, but now, after Judas decision, there are only eleven. They felt it necessary that there be twelve men. Maybe they thought because Jesus choose twelve they must continue with twelve. Maybe they thought the number twelve represented the twelve tribes of Israel. For whatever reason they choose a twelfth man by drawing straws: that twelfth man was Mathias, a man who saw Jesus entire ministry from baptism to death to ascension 

What is this passage teaching?

• Jesus had a specific purpose for the men He chose to be a part of His inner circle. These men had the responsibility of bringing the Kingdom of Heaven into existence upon the earth. The work would not be easy, but Jesus would give these men all the preparation they needed, including an evangelism strategy. The work was not easy, so they disciples found it necessary to include all the men they could into their inner circle. 

How can I apply this passage to my life?

• The book of Acts opens strongly with the hint that evangelism is going to be a key virtue of the Kingdom of Heaven. How are you doing at living a life of evangelism? How are you doing at sharing your faith? Join us as we learn some practical lessons in Acts in ways to share our faith. 

November 26 – Acts 17

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Acts 17. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

 One of the hypothetical questions that seem to be discussed in American Christian circles is that of persecution. In a lot of ways Americans have not had to experience the physical side of persecution. We are privileged to be living in a country and a time where we are allowed to worship freely. For the majority of our nation’s history Christianity was the norm. Not only did that keep Christians from the persecution that others experience around the globe, but Christians were and still are protected to worship freely. While we are no longer the norm … Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Atheism, Agnosticism, and many other world religions are gaining acceptances in America … we still have the freedom to worship God how we choose.

In our reading today we come to a story about a man named Jason. Jason lived in Thessalonica and was a believer in Jesus. He let Paul and Silas stay with him while they were in town. Because of this, some Jews wanting to rid their city of the Apostle, rounded up Jason and others and brought them before the courts. They were punished and a bond was set, all because they were following Jesus and being kind to His followers.

When we read that story what floods our mind. Are we detached from that story because we have never as American’s really experienced that type of persecution? Do we read it and simply continue on? Do we internalize it and try to imagine what it would be like? Does it transform us in any way? If you take nothing else from today’s reading contemplate how you would respond to a threat like Jason faced (or imagine one even worse). How does your answer today differ than an answer you would have given just a few years ago?  

November 20 – Acts 11 & 12

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Acts 11 & 12. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Kieran Connellan

I am in love with an Indie Rock Band Walk Off The Earth from Burlington, Ontario, Canada. They are incredibly talented group of musicians and vocalist. They are well known for their YouTube videos covering some of the most popular music of today’s current artists. Their video covers often take a song to an amazing new level. I am blown away by the talent God has blessed them with. Their most recent release was one of the members of the group along with two friends covering Miley Cyrus’ newest song Wrecking Ball. I am not a Miley fan, did not even care for the song until I listened to this cover. The pain and emotion displayed in this song is just amazing from these three ladies.

Through their emotion I am reminded that there are so many people in our world whose lives have been confronted by the proverbial wrecking ball. Maybe it was their marriage. Maybe it was their finances. Maybe it is currently a relationship with family members. Maybe it is a job situation. Maybe it is legal trouble. Maybe it is some kind of consequence to sinful choices. As Christians how should we respond when people come to us in the midst of the wrecking ball experience of life?  

In our reading today we encountered a man named Barnabas. Barnabas was not his real name, only his nickname. Barnabas means Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36). The early church has nicknamed this man by his dominate characteristic. So as the church grew, and people outside the Jewish community started becoming Christians, it is obvious to send the encourager to these new Christians.

We can be confident that these people who were coming to Christ were certainly people who knew the wrecking ball of life. They were people who more than likely worshiped the god’s of the day, not the one true God. But soon they began worshiping the one true God and accepting Jesus as Lord. Barnabas goes and is excited to see God working. It is here that he begins encouraging … “When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.” (Acts 11:23 NIV) From Barnabas we can learn a valuable lesson.

When people in our church, in our lives, in our communities encounter the wrecking ball, often what they need most is a little bit of Barnabas. They need encouragement. They need to be uplifted. Let me encourage you to face the wrecking ball with encouragement to remain faithful! 

 ☻mrhappy☻ via Compfight cc

November 19 – Acts 9 & 10

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Acts 9 & 10. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Have you ever worked on a project and no matter what you did you were not able to be successful? You kept working and working but nothing you did made you successful. Finally you just set the project down and walked away. Then amazingly when you came back and picked it up you completed the project successfully on the first try? I do not know how many times I have done this. I remember in college I was playing a video game. For days I worked to try and beat what turned out to be the final level. No matter what I did I was not successful. Finally I got frustrated and stopped playing the game for months. One day I decided to pick the game back up, went in and completed the mission on my first try.

Why do we do this? Sometimes it’s because we do not know any other way. Sometimes our skills just are not up to the task at hand. Other times our knowledge might not be as great. Sometimes we just are not ready to learn. Sometimes we need to step away, clear our minds, and approach the problem or task with fresh eyes. Many times it is new perspective (at least fresh perspective) that gives us the needed clarity to complete the project.

In our reading today we find Peter, one of the twelve, the man who had the privilege of delivering the first presentation of the gospel message (a message where three thousand people were baptized), and he needed a new perspective. Until chapter ten of Acts all Christians were Jews who accepted Christ. There were some exceptions … the Samaritans, but they were simply half bread Jews, and others who had fully converted to Judaism. Now for the first time God is ready to extend salvation to a full on Gentile.

So to prepare Peter, God works to give him a new perspective. He shows the vision of the white sheet and the unclean animals. He tells Peter to accept the messenger’s invitation. He pours out the Holy Spirit before baptism. He does all of this to bring about new perspective; this time a new inclusion of people into the Kingdom of God.

Is there a place in your heart where you could use a time away to draw a new perspective? Maybe it is clothing worn to church. Maybe it is a new heart for hurting people. Maybe it is a new look at your marriage. Maybe it is a renewed approach to your parenting. Maybe it is a fresh approach to worship. I do not know what your current perspective is, but I am confident there is an area that we can all improve ours in. 

November 18 – Acts 7 & 8

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Acts 7 & 8. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

The life of Jesus is now behind us. He has went to the cross and resurrected. He has even left His disciples on earth until His final return at the end of days. While He has left earth, He has not left His disciples alone. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon mankind bringing salvation along with it. Now the church has begun. People are being brought to a life changing relationship with Jesus. Those who are opposed to Jesus, pulling the old power strings, are fighting back against the church. They have now arrested Stephen.

Stephen stands before the Sanhedrin and he is telling them the story of their ancestral history, concluding with their deliverer from Egyptian slavery, Moses. In this retelling Stephen gave this line after God called Moses, “So God sent back the same man his people had previously rejected when they demanded, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’” (Acts 7:35 NLT). I absolutely love when something new stands out to me no matter how many times I have read a passage … this was one of those times.

In many ways Jesus was compared to Moses. Moses delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Jesus delivered all of mankind from the slavery of sin. Moses was considered a prophet. Jesus was considered a prophet. Moses gave God’s original Law. Jesus fulfilled the Law and provided a new Law … Grace. And in another similarity Moses was rejected by the people he came to rescue. Jesus was rejected by the people He came to rescue.

What is wonderful is both times God won. When God is in charge, when God is leading the way, when God is the one we trust, we will come out victorious. 

An Introduction to Acts!

If you are looking for Tuesday February 9ths Bible reading please look below.

Throughout the year we will begin many new books of the Bible. With each new book I will try to provide you with some information concerning the background of the book. That background will typically be: Purpose, Author, and Date of the book.

The Purpose
There are several reasons this book may have been written. The author … Luke … states in the opening verses of his previous book … The Gospel of Luke … that he wanted to provide “an orderly account for you.” Many see the book of Acts as a continuation of the book of Luke. Thus you would have an account beginning at the announcement of the birth of Christ, traveling through his ministry to his death and resurrection. The second book picks up with the beginning of the church and then highlights the spread of the church … beginning in Jerusalem and going to the outer ends of the world.

Many also believe that Luke was also putting together a defense for the Apostles Paul. At the end of Acts Paul is on house arrest awaiting trial before Caesar. Some argue that Luke has researched all this information to present to Caesar to show what Christianity was and how it spread.

Both of these reasons present us a work that gives us insight into the beginning and growth of the church. Without Acts we would have not know about Pentecost or have information of conversion to Chrisitanity. Without Acts we would have no record of the early Christian church.

The Author
The book of Acts provides for us internal evidence as to who the author is. No where in the book does the author identify himself. It does indicate that whoever wrote the third gospel also wrote Acts. We can also see that the style and language indicates one author for both books. Within the book we see passages that indicate the author is personally familiar with what he describes. The author is also present in several places as indicated by the usage of “we.” (15:10-17; 20:5-15; 21:1-18; 27:1-28:16). Paul identifies Luke as one of his companions on several occasions … Philemon 23-23 & Colossians 4:10-17, we also learn here that Luke is a Doctor. Throughout his writing we see that many technical terms are used.

While the book itself points to authorship of Luke, externally there is evidence that credits him as author. Some early Christian writers give Luke credit for writing the third gospel. Since they are of the same author we can take liberty and assign him credit for Acts. But we do not have to stop there. Other early church fathers and writers, men like Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, and Jerome, speak directly of Luke as author. Thus the case can be closed; Luke is the author of Acts.

Date of the Book
Dating the book is directly linked to authorship. If Luke wrote Acts, it had to be in the first Century. This is especially true if Luke is a contemporary of Paul. Acts would have been written after his gospel, which tends to be dated around 60 AD. Thus a date of 63 AD is very likely.

There could be a chance the book was written later than that. Is the imprisonment of Paul that is described in the closing verses the one where he is martyred? If so, tradition tells us Paul was killed around 67/68 AD. This would allow Acts to be penned after Paul’s death, and could allow writing in the 70’s or 80’s. However, many scholars believe the imprisonment described was not his final Roman imprisonment. Thus we believe 63 AD. to be a very good date for the book of Acts.