Posts from 2022 (Page 3)

  The sentence of death in this scripture does not mean any decree of heaven, or appointment of God that they should die, nor any sentence of death passed on them by the government, but an opinion or persuasion in their own minds.  They looked upon themselves as dead men.  The tribulation was so violent and overwhelming that Paul had no hope of escaping death. Paul means that there was such a violent upsurge of evil against preachers of the…

  During the First Century, miracles were common.  They were performed by Jesus and the Apostles.  There were also others given this power as well.  The power to do the supernatural could be passed from an Apostle to someone else by the laying on of hands.  However, that person could not pass on the gift. The main purpose of miracles was to support the word being taught, not to be used selfishly or for gain.  In Acts 8 we have…

  When Christians come together on the first day of the week, they are instructed by the Bible to do certain things, commonly referred to as “Acts of Worship.”  In 1 Cor 11 Paul centers on the Lord’s Supper.  The Corinthian brethren were not observing this act of worship in the correct way.  They had confused the Lord’s Supper with a common meal.  The rich would have plenty, but the poor might not have anything. The Lord’s Supper is not…

  Ray Steadman was a famous preacher and author from California.  He passed away in 1992 and at his request on his tombstone in Grants Pass, Oregon, are engraved these words: “He was a faithful steward.” As a noted author Ray had received many accolades during his lifetime, but he wanted to be remembered as simply a servant who faithfully dispensed God’s glorious truth to God’s people.  That seems to be the same sentiment of Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:1:…

                 Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together. – Vesta Kelly                  There can be union without unity: tie two cats together by their tails and throw them over a clothesline.  – Unknown                  Unity is a common theme throughout the Bible.  It is something that can be seen as extremely important to God.  As Paul opens his letter to the church at Corinth,…

                 Remember the board game Memory?  It had a bunch of tiles all with the same artwork on the back and a different picture on the front.  There were always two of each picture.  To play, all the tiles were laid face down in any order, and on your turn, you had to turn over two tiles.  If they matched, you got to keep the tiles and go again.  If they didn’t, it was the next person’s turn.  You…

                 There seems to be a lot of discussion (or controversy) in our country about social class “privilege”.  A lot of people voice their opinions nowadays that it is unfair that some people are born into situations that are very beneficial materially, where some are not.  While it may be true that we are all born into different situations (a debate can be had as to if that is unfair), we are all on common ground with the fact…

                                             “Baptism”, a word that derives from the Greek word, baptizo, means so much.  Baptizo, in Greek, means “to immerse,” yet Romans 6 brings baptizo to life so much more.  For instance, in verse 3, where Paul asks the question: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?”  The sin of…

                                 I have been watching some of the old Twilight Zone episodes on Netflix, so I’m writing this paragraph in my best Rod Serling (the narrator of The Twilight Zone) voice:                “Imagine if you will…” an auditorium, much like the one at Woodlawn.  There are two sides and a central aisle to walk down.  On one side of the auditorium, sit the Jews of the 1st century, a people who…

                 It’s interesting to see Paul’s relationship with Julius in Acts 27.  As a Roman centurion, Julius was charged with delivering Paul and his fellow prisoners to Rome and helping them to have safe passage.  At the beginning of the chapter, when the Adramyttium boat lands at Sidon, Julius has such a strong relationship with Paul that he allows Paul (even though he is a prisoner) to go visit his friends that were there and receive care from them. …

                  Secular Roman historians tell us that during the Julio-Claudian period, Roman law protected Roman citizens who invoked this special right called ad caesarem provoco  (I appeal to Caesar). This right was ordinarily invoked only as a resource against an unfair sentence so Roman citizens who were guilty of murder or pirates caught in the act, were barred from making this legal appeal. And it was reserved that for full-fledged Roman citizens, common Roman subjects, would never try to invoke…

    “And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” (Acts 23:1).  I am not sure we fully understand the gravity of the situation that Paul was in as he stood before the Council.  As he is being accused of being an apostle, anti-Jewish and a man that associates with the unclean Gentiles, he boldly stands before them to defend himself.  First of all,…