“The End of an Act”

May 5, 2024

May 5, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 19, Psalm 150, Acts 28

Do you have a favorite play or show that you have seen? I have been to see “Wicked” at the Fox Theatre a couple of times and enjoy the storyline from one of my favorite movies growing up, The Wizard of Oz. Screen plays and shows often come with acts, which are large sections of the play that contain several scenes often tied together by a similar theme.

When the ship that Paul was traveling on wrecks into the beachhead at Malta the people of the island have all sorts of opinions about who Paul is. First they think Paul is a murder for having such bad luck from being bitten by a viper, but then when he survives, they view him as a god. “When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god” vv. 4-6. Paul had a really wide first impression from the people, both of which were wrong.

Paul finally arrives in Rome and he gets back to what he has always been doing, sharing the gospel with anyone he can. “For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain” v. 20. He stays there for two years preaching the gospel allowed to live in a house under a Roman guard.

Here in the last chapter of the book of Acts we find the end to Paul’s story. It is left a little unfinished as we do not read about the fate of Paul. Tradition tells us that he was martyred for his faith there in Rome. How will you end your final act? None of us may know, but we can make sure like Paul that our trajectory is one that serves the Lord. Will we be faithful like Paul to serve him until our last breath?

What else do you see in these chapters? What words or phrases, or stories stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“When Jesus Messes with Your Money”

April 26, 2024

April 26, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 10, Psalm 140-141, Acts 19

I have learned in life that many people often vote in politics or make decisions based on what the bottom line is with their money. “Candidate A” wants to raise or lower my taxes or “Candidate B” wants to give my profession a raise for examples. Having good finances is important but it’s not the most important thing we should make our decisions on when it comes to politics or laws being passed.

We find a case of this in Acts 19 when Paul came to Ephesus. In Ephesus many of the people had a living from the temple of Artemis and the things connected to it. They worshiped this god of Artemis which was some how likely connected to a meteor that had fallen in the past and the people viewed it as some type of godly act. They made shrines and other objects people could take and use. “A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: “Men, you know we receive a good income from this business” vv. 24-25. The people were threatened by the work of Paul and his companions. If more and more people became believers in Christ, they would lose their business and livelihood. What comes first in our lives? Is it obedience to the Lord or is it something personally important to us?

One more final thought. It is so easy for us to read through the book of Acts quickly and get the fast summary of what Paul and the other disciples went though and where they went. But don’t let this seem like a 1-2 week mission trip for them. Verse 10 really puts it in perspective for us. “This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” Paul stayed in Ephesus for two years ministering to the Jews and the Greeks there. This speaks about his faithfulness and his level of commitment to share the gospel. Can we say we have the same level? What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Criticize or Participate”

April 18, 2024

April 18, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 2, Psalm 124-125, Acts 11

Have you ever been criticized for something you have done even when it was the right thing to do? In Acts 11 we find a story about some Christians who criticized Peter for doing what God called him to do in Acts 10. Think about this again. Peter had gone to the home of Cornelius a Gentile centurion shared the good news with them and many of his family and friends believed and were saved. “Then Peter said, 47 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days” vv.46-47. In the next paragraph we find out that some of the Jewish believers became critical rather than rejoicing about the Gentiles who became believers. “So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, ‘You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them’” vv. 2-3. These Jewish Christians had their minds on the wrong thing. It was not on the main thing, that many got saved, only that Peter had eaten with Gentiles. Peter explained himself and these Jews corrected their attitudes. They had much to learn, and it started from Peter.

A little later in the same chapter the church gets their chance to redeem themselves and they nail it! “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus” vv. 19-20. Now there mission endeavors to the Greek in Antioch. The message of the gospel was spreading more and more. This time, instead of complaining the church decided to help out and be a part of the work of God. “News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” vv. 22-23. The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to help the new believers and to encourage them.

We have the same choice today. We can either complain or criticize things that we might not like but where God is moving, and people are being saved or we can choose to be a part of the movement and come along side others and help them by participating in the work too. It’s your choice.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, verses, or themes stick out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“When a Plan Comes Together”

April 17, 2024

April 17, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 1, Psalm 122-123, Acts 10

In my early years I spent just about every Friday night watching my favorite show, the A-Team. The four members of the A-Team would be out to help someone in need, and you could garuntee by the end of the program they were going to create something to rescue and save the day. The lead role of Col. Hannibal Smith had a tag line he would say when the plan worked out. “I love it when a plan comes together!” Cue the music and then the show was off.

As I read Acts 10 I find myself wondering if God might have said the same thing when it was all said and done. Infinitely more complex and knowledgeable God pieced together a plan to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. A Gentile Roman Centurion named Cornelius was visited by an angel. “One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter” vv.3-5. At the same time God had also given Peter a vision of a sheet with animals on it and then commanded Peter to kill and eat them.  “’Surely not, Lord!’ Peter replied. ‘I have never eaten anything impure or unclean’” v. 14. Three times God told him the same thing. Just about then the men from Cornlius house arrive and ask for Peter to come with them. God confirms it and tells Peter to go with the men. On arrival at Cornelius’s house the rest of the story is made known to Peter. Then Peter understands the plan. “Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right” vv. 34-35. God had to show Peter though a vision of food that the Gentiles were also clean and ready to receive the gospel from Peter. All these working parts came together to complete the mission and save the Gentiles that Cornelius had gathered at his home.

How have you been a part of God’s plan and seen God working together with others to accomplish the mission? What else do you see here in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Boldness”

April 13, 2024

April 13, 2024

Read Numbers 33, Psalm 119:41-80, Acts 3-4

What would you do if you had a little more boldness? Would you do something crazy like sky dive or ride a motorcycle for the first time? Maybe you would take more chances in business or in life? One of the traits we see in the book of Acts is the boldness of the disciples as they are impowered by the Holy Spirit to share the good news of the resurrection. What made them have this boldness? I believe it came from their experience of seeing the resurrected Jesus and the power from the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 4 is an example of this boldness. The Jewish leaders had Peter and John rounded up and began to question them “’By what power or what name did you do this?’ 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed’” vv. 7b-10. The Holy Spirit is probably the most forgotten and minimized part of the trinity, at least in my experience. But equally as much God as the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is vital for God’s work in our lives. Peter’s boldness was not just a softball tossed at him to easily hit a homerun, Peter and John were standing before the most powerful people in Israel who had the power to jail or shut them up. Acts 4:12 is probably the most exclusive statement in the New Testament about how we attain salvation. “Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” v. 12. Peter was clear, it was not the law that saved, it was Jesus. The response from the religious leaders tells it all. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” v. 13. The good news is that you don’t have to be trained or educated or have money or status to be bold. It can come from the Holy Spirit and from our personal experience of witnessing the power of God in our lives.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon