
2023 Week 12 Reading – Galatians 2
If Paul was willing to confront Peter to his face over this issue, it must be important!
If Paul was willing to confront Peter to his face over this issue, it must be important!
When reading the book of Hebrews I find it especially helpful to remember the broader context of what the original readers were experiencing. The author is writing to believers from a Jewish background. They had heard the gospel and they
I pray that I have the same confidence and boldness that Paul has if I am ever faced with the kind of persecution he experienced. One of the reasons that Paul was so bold is that he was so persuaded of the truthfulness of Christ and Christianity and the faithfulness of God. He was confident not in himself but in the Lord and His Word and so Paul could engage those around him without fear.
Everything seemed to be going well. Paul finally had a chance to speak publicly to the Jews in Jerusalem about what happened to him on the road to Damascus. He was sharing his testimony and the people seemed quiet and attentive. And then it happened. He mentioned the one word that the people did not want to hear: Gentiles! (Acts 22:21)
Sometimes when I read Scripture, I process my reading and the end result is some clear, developed thinking… much more often, it’s more like bullet points and questions in my head that I want to get back to later! So here are some bullet points that came to my mind while reading through Acts 17-18 this week.
The ups and downs that the early Christians experienced must have been challenging. I’m sure it’s the same for us.
The book of Acts traces the spread of the best news in the world. It’s the news that the promised Messiah King has arrived; he has died; he has risen; he will come again. This news needed to be spread,
One of the things we’re told in the Scriptures is that the servant is no greater than the Master—if people hated Jesus, they will hate His followers.
In the first half of Acts 4 Peter and John are arrested by the temple guard and thrown in jail overnight. The next day they are brought before the council, interrogated, and threatened. After the Jewish leaders reluctantly release them,
How amazing would it have been to be present on the Day of Pentecost when the Spirit was poured out
and the early Christians were filled?
We live in a society that prizes self-confidence. A lack of self-confidence is often seen as a fatal flaw and the presence of self-confidence almost as a guarantee of success.
By the time we get to Mark 12 the conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leadership is nearing its zenith.