Author Archive
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.”
Matthew 13:44, CSB
God is in control, and that means we can trust His Word and His promises. We can live with abandon knowing He will watch over us and deliver us to eternal life.
Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.
Proverbs 19:21, CSB
God is in control, and we should trust in His plans. His way eins out, so it is better to join His will and live in His peace and joy.
I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11, CSB
God is in control, and the Bible helps us see His sovereignty and goodness, helps us to be faithful to His will.
Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.
Romans 12:10, CSB
God is in control, so we can love others with abandon knowing He will care for us and work our relationships for our good and His glory.
Declare his glory among the nations, his wondrous works among all peoples.
1 Chronicles 16:24, CSB
We can know that God is in control, keeping us from worry and fear. Let us share His glory and faithfulness with all people.
I preached again!
I was honored to once again be with the brethren in Paulden Christian Fellowship.
As usual, these are my rough notes, so not necessarily everything I said while preaching.
Ever been told news that changed everything? (Birth, Death, Dying, New Job, Lost Job, Prison, Debt [Forgiveness])
[Read passage]
v. 6c – “These men who have turned the whole world upside down” – More true than they realized. The gospel is a world- and life-changing message.
The true Roman Road was the Egnatian Way that went from Byzantium (Constantinople/Istanbul) to the west coast of Greece, about 1000 miles, to head toward Rome. Each of the cities listed are about a day’s journey by foot from each other, so that from Philippi to Thessalonica it’s about 100 miles.
Paul’s custom was to go to the synagogues in a city, and he spent three weeks showing/proving the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection from the Hebrew Scriptures (OT: ex: Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Zechariah 12-13).
The death and resurrection of Jesus is actually one of the most provable events in ancient history.
Three R’s: Reception, Resistance, and Recompense
Reception: v. 4: Some Jews, many devout Greeks, and a few leading women all believed.
Some Jews: We see that Jason is one who believed àRomans 16:21 calls Lucius (Acts 13:1), Jason (here), and Sosipater from Berea his “kinsmen” as an indicator that these are Jews. Jason may also have been one of the wealthier people as he housed them and had money to pay bail from prison.
Resistance: v. 5: Non-believing Jews get some wicked men of the rabble àthe lay-abouts and lazy men, prone to violence and crime, from the marketplace.
Continuing the trend begun in ancient times: the Israelites choosing the follow their idolatrous neighbors rather than what God has said. Choosing to try to kill the messengers rather than deal with their sin, like they did with the prophets.
Continuing the trend at Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion: “We have no king but Caesar!” “It is better to injure and kill these people!”
Continuing the trend seen in Acts: They’re messing up what we have, so let’s riot and get violent!
Recompense: (Payment) vv. 6-9: The people wanted retribution, but the authorities were paid the usual bail by Jason and the others. The people did not get the blood they hoped for, but it was still costly for the disciples.
Application:
Reception: What have you done with the gospel message? Do you believe, or are you resistant?
Resistance: We must realize that this fallen world will be resistant to the message, often getting violent.
Jewish Leadership (w/Jesus, Acts 4-9 … and the rest of Acts)
Roman government
Celsus (writing about 175)
Persecution around the world today. (2024: About 7,700 churches attacked; >200k displaced; >380M living under persecution)
Recompense: No, this is not where I call for giving to the church, though that is good for believers to do.
The world will want our blood, for violence to happen to us, to lie about us or misuse the truth (like with Jesus and the early Christians.)
Ironically, Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians deal with Christians who act more like the rabble seen in Acts 17, and he reminds those fearful for those who have died that we have hope in the Second Coming of Christ. God’s remuneration will come for all, with all of the verses that remind us of His vengeance and justice.
[2 Thessalonians 1:5-12]
Revelation 20-22 further reminds us that only those whose names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life will enter eternal life, while the rest receive their just punishment in the Lake of Fire.
We have hope, which helps face the troubles of this world, even with news that changes everything. (Birth, Death, Dying, New Job, Lost Job, Prison, Debt [Forgiveness])
The Good News of Jesus Christ should change everything about our lives. (Family, Friends, Work/Job/Business, seeing politics/government, community/global issues)
Change how we see truth.
Change how we see religion. Change how we think about God.
I know I have been hurt by people in churches, yet it is also a reason why I know I am in Christ – because my desire has been to make those in the Church better by the power of God. It has been finding faithful brothers and sisters that has given me those boosts in hard times, beyond and in fulfillment of the promises of God in His Word.
Daniel
This Sunday at Church: Being grateful for other Christians in the Universal church.
This Sunday at Church: Being grateful for other Christians in the Universal church
even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me.
Psalm 139:10, CSB
No matter what life brings, God is in control. It is best to trust Him and live by His leading as found in the Bible, by the Holy Spirit, and with help from the Church.
I have been seeing this in many places as of late, so I understand this better than I would like. (I wish I didn’t understand it at all.) Even a friend of mine, nearly two decades ago, I said a friend was so anti another group that he would probably end up joining them. A decade ago, it came true.
May we love people but not the sin that infects everything, realizing we may not be able to separate the sin from the person. May we guard our hearts and minds as we seek to honor God and each other.
Daniel
This is a later post that I’m writing than usual. Ministry interrupts plan often. Even more so taking more of an international role with ministry.
Beware: Hating a sin so much you end up doing it
Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:7, CSB
God calls us to rest, and He has shown us true rest in the work of Christ. Do not try to figure out life and the afterlife on your own, but trust the wisdom of God as revealed in Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ.
a simple man of God 