VerseD: Galatians 3:28
There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28, CSB
God has adopted us into the goodness of His Son, and when God looks at us He sees Jesus.
a simple man of God
Hopefully making theology simpler to understand! (2 Corinthians 1:12)
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VerseD: Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2, CSB
God has told us what is good, and by adopting us through the blood of Christ and renewing our minds by the power of the Holy Spirit, He helps us live in loving obedience.
VerseD: Deuteronomy 11:18
“Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads.”
Deuteronomy 11:18, CSB
God has told us what is good and expects us to follow, and He proved His love by adopting us through the blood of Christ. Now, we imprint His goodness on our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit because of the imprints of the nails on Christ’s hands amd thorns on His head.
VerseD: Isaiah 40:8
“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.”
Isaiah 40:8, CSB
God has told what is good and that He has adopted us through the blood of His Son, and we know that His promises are eternal.
VerseD: Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19, CSB
Christ has adopted us as His own by His blood, and He equips each of us for reaching this fallen world with His love.
Sermon: Acts 23:9-22 – Conspiracies, Violence, & Persecution
I preached again!
I was once again at Paulden Christian Fellowship, planned for nearly two weeks, so before the events of the first full week of September 2025. Fortunately and unfortunately, the message was ready for this week. I also was dealing with a cold.
As usual, below are my rough notes (in fact, very rough notes this time), so there is a deviation from what is written and what was said. (P.S. I made the correction to the PowerPoint that I reference in the sermon.)
Acts 23:9-22: Conspiracies, Violence, & Persecution
[Intro]
[Read passage]
- Not facing anything new
- Paul went from persecuting to persecuted
- Hebrews 11:1-12:3 – Long list of those who suffered for their faith.
- Abel (Genesis 4)
- Joseph (Genesis 37-40)
- David (1 Samuel 18-30)
- Most of the Prophets
- John the Baptist
- Stephen (Acts 6-7)
- The Apostles and other Christians (Acts 3-8 and beyond)
- Thousands (or millions) of martyrs through today
- [Jesus] – Hebrews 12:2-3
Recent events also show it continues.
- Approximately 380 million Christians today (opendoors.org)
- [Confirmed] 4,476 killed in 2024
- [Confirmed] 4,744 imprisoned in 2024
- [Confirmed] 7,679 churches/properties attacked in 2024
- North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Eritrea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan are the top 10
- 8 under Islam, 2 other tyrannical rule
- Nigeria alone has at least 7,000 confirmed killed Christians THIS YEAR (as of August)
In the US
Rise in Persecution: In the past 15 years, so many Christian businesses, ministries, and individuals have faced civil and criminal legal troubles for standing for their biblical faith, such as the Masterpiece Cakeshop and Jack Phillips in Colorado.
(I think Kim Davis of Kentucky is a slippery story, and musician/activist Sean Feucht is creating problems.)
Charlie Kirk:
- Shot on Wednesday, 9/10, at Utah Valley University
- Shooter appears to have come from a conservative Republican and Mormon home, who went to Utah State University, where he was apparently led into agreeing with Antifa and other radicalized political groups.
- Engravings on bullet casings stated things like “Hey fascist! CATCH!”, the Antifa logo, and other sayings in support of groups that on the left side of politics.
- The shooter and his family disagreed with Charlie Kirk, but his family showed their disagreement over violence when they turned him in to authorities, knowing many were calling for the death penalty.
Step on toes: Remember that political violence happens on both sides. (Gabbi Giffords, JFK, MLK, abortion bombings of the 1980’s-90’s and later in 2020’s, shots fired/knives bared at the White house in the past four administrations).
Both sides of the political aisle have ramped up violent rhetoric.
But this serves as a reminder that we have a message that divides:
- Luke 12:49-53
- Matthew 10:16-25
- Matthew 24:3-14
- John 16:33
Remember First:
v. 11: Unlike Paul, most of us don’t get a message straight from Jesus confirming anything past today, but we have the message that He is with us (Matthew 28:20; John 16) and that we have hope of eternity when we die (Luke 23:43).
Remember Second:
vv. 12-15: Some conspiracies are true, and people will hate us for preaching righteousness.
- Matthew 10 – 10:26-28
Remember Third:
vv. 16-22: We fight for life and light & reveal darkness, but we remember those made in God’s image.
- Ignorance: Acts 7:60; Luke 23:34 (They think they’re right.) [examples of feeling they’re right compared with “our side”]
- Deceived: Romans 1:22-25 (God let them go their own way.)
- Reach out: Matthew 5:44; 2 Corinthians 5:11-16; Jude 22-23
The Real Battle:
2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:12 (and after)
Therefore, Proverbs 3:5-6, and Romans 12:14-21.
This Sunday at Church: Pray for people in America to trust in Jesus
For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Pray for people in America to trust in Jesus.
This Sunday at Church: Pray for people in America to trust in Jesus
VerseD: Mark 3:35
“Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3:35, CSB
We have been adopted into God’s family by the blood of Christ, and we join in the work of God to reconcile this world together with Him.
VerseD: 1 Peter 3:15
but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
1 Peter 3:15, CSB
The message has not changed, so may we focus on our holy, perfect, loving, grace-filled Savior and God, sharing the good news of the salvation He offers and why we can trust Him.
VerseD: John 1:14
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14, CSB
The story has not changed: God loves us and came to us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, bringing truth, Grace, and forgiveness to humanity.
a simple man of God
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!
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