Focal Passage: Acts 15:7-9, 22-31  Entitlement is not a virtue most of us would consider a good thing. Entitlement can cause us to develop many other undesirable such as pride, jealously, envy and selfishness. It can also cause us to look at others with contempt and arrogance.  The dictionary defines entitlement as “the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment”. Entitlement is something most people would

Focal Passage: Acts 14:11-23  Sometimes we may find ourselves in a position of miscommunication. This is especially true when we have different languages, cultures and social practices. Years ago, we ministered at a church that was close to a large university. The university would close a number of dormitories during long holidays to conserve energy and costs since most of the students would return home during this time.  The international

Focal Passage: Psalm 8:1-6, 14:1-7  God’s creative purpose for this world and humanity is greater than any fulfillment we can find ourselves.  Because of the Fall, however, mankind has rejected God’s ideal and sought selfish ways to find meaning in life.  As we studied last week, this only leads to frustration and despair.  Only when we seek the Lord shall we find true and lasting purpose in our lives.  

Focal Passage: Acts 13:42-52  In this study, we find that Paul and Barnabas have left Paphos and traveled to Perga in Pamphylia  (modern-day Turkey). John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas and had accompanied them as a helper according to Luke in Acts 13:5.  It was here that John Mark abandoned Paul and Barnabas and returned to Jerusalem. Luke gives no details as to why he left. We do not

Focal Passage: Acts 13:1-12  I have served in several churches during my 40-plus years of ministry, range from three to eight years to my longest ministry at one church of 14 years. I once was asked, “If you love a church and its congregation, and they love you, why leave and go somewhere else and start all over?” There are many reasons pastors would give, some of which would have

Focal Passage: Acts 12:6-18  The study this week focuses on a topic that we talk about a lot but in many cases do very little of. We confess our belief in the power of prayer, but often times fail to apply that power to our lives as we should.   Let me give you an example. All of us encounter problems in life. And, if we are believers, prayer is

Focal Passage: Acts 10:34-48  Have you ever noticed how people react to one another in large groups or crowds?  The peculiarities which become very distinguishable?  How people begin to segregate from the larger group into smaller groups of commonalities.   Some might call what I have just described as a clique. I have always seen that term as being judgmental and a little harsh because it has always been used

Focal Passage: Acts 9:32-43  In our study for today we will be discussing an issue that many have difficulty with. Can someone be an instrument through which healing can take place?  We all have heard examples where someone claims to have been healed through the powerful prayer or action of other individuals at a religious gathering. But we also know that not everyone who suffers from a physical condition is

Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 18:5-16  In this six-week study on sidekicks in the Old Testament we would not quickly assume David to be numbered as one of the subjects  David is one of the most pivotal names in the Bible. He is the king who starts a dynasty that is ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus the Messiah. However, contained within all the biographies of the great men and

Focal Passage: Acts 9:3-16  There are times in our life when we may have done things that we thought were right but later we discovered were wrong. At first, we may feel zealous about our actions but something in the back of our minds begins to prick our conscience. Even though we think what we are doing is right, it just doesn’t feel comfortable for some reason.   In this