A delightful video made its appearance in my newsfeeds today. A reporter was walking around telling people he would give them $50 if they could quote one Scripture verse. This beautiful and vibrant, mature lady quoted Isaiah 40:21-31without hesitation. Caught off guard, the reporter congratulated the lady and gave her the $50. To which she retorted: "Praise the Lord!" as she waved the bill in the ...  Read More

"Know that the LORD has set apartthe faithful for himself;the Lord will hear when I call to him." (Psalm 4:3, CSB).They were on their way to prayer when Paul and Silas encountered trouble (Acts 16:16). They confronted that demon 'in the name of Jesus Christ' (16:18). There is power in the Name! Of course, they were imprisoned...you know the story. There they prayed and praised Jesus, the Powerful ...  Read More

"On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer." (Acts 16:13, CSB). Had someone told Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke that there was a 'place of prayer' or was it such a common practice that their chance of finding one was great? Luke doesn't say. What he tells us without saying it, is that Philippi as big and important as it was to its reg...  Read More

"For it was the Holy Spirit's decision - and ours..." (Acts 15:28). This is the Church of Jesus Christ at work as it should be. The synergy is perfect. It is beautiful. First, the Holy Spirit makes plain His purpose. You noticed that He did so through the conversation of people surrendered to Jesus and filled with Him. They were reminded of the Holy Spirit's work throughout their brief history, an...  Read More

It is difficult to overestimate the conversation of Acts 15. At its core is this belief: the death of Jesus was not sufficient to forgive the sins of the world and His grace not enough to offer salvation full and free. If the Jerusalem Council would have affirmed the Judaizers (proponents of embracing the Covenant of Abraham and Law of Moses before you could become a follower of Jesus), that would...  Read More

The missionaries returned to the sending church and reported all that had taken place (Acts 14:27). They celebrated the work of God through His people and affirmed the courage and obedience of the sending church. We need to be reminded that God is faithful, that He uses us all, and that every gift used in His service is eternal in its application and consequences. We have benefitted in the last mo...  Read More