Faith Caught - Acts 13 & 17

It is instructive for us to compare Paul's messages. This week we will look at his message in Acts 13 (Psidian Antioch), and his message in Acts 17 (Athens). In chapter 13 he went to the synagogue - not simply for some nice worship - but to give, he went strategically to tell about Jesus. In Acts 17 he did the same, and from there he went on to the Aeropagus - that's the gathering point of the clever and influential. Again he did this not because it would be nice or stimulating, but because it afforded him the chance to give - to tell of Jesus.

Powers Fall - Acts 12

Acts 12 finishes with the story of Herod dying and eaten by worms. We might wonder why Luke includes this, when he could have turned to another account of witness, healing and salvation. The reason is that Luke is making a point. There is opposition and persecution against the witness to Jesus. The chapter starts with James captured and executed, and goes on with Peter also arrested.

Ananias and Saul - Acts 10

Saul is an educated Jewish person who moves in the circles of power in Jerusalem. He is appalled at the people who claim to 'follow Jesus' and preach 'Jesus as Lord'. He sees them as deluded and dangerous, distracting people from the true Jewish faith. He is a man on a mission, and pro-active with it. He gets permission to widen his operations, to round up believers he has heard are now in Damascus.

Blow Your Mind - Acts 10

Let's be honest - we all have prejudices and 'unconscious biases'. We see certain 'other' people and think negatively about them. With any ingrained prejudice there comes a time when the Holy Spirit moves to simply blow it out of the water. Acts 10 is the story of Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is not of a Jewish background, so he is 'unclean'. A Jewish person would not visit his house, for fear of becoming unclean, as if they might 'catch something'.

[IN] What false views of other people does God need to change in us?

 Challenge: Pray for the most 'unlikely' person you know