Focal Passage: Acts 17:22-34  Idolatry is something we don’t think about often, but it is very real and it’s all around us. Most people are not even aware of its presence would tell you they do not idolize anything. But if we were honest and looked closer, we might discover that we do.  Some might discover we value having money and self-sufficiency. Others might value recreational enjoyment. Still others might

Focal Passage: Acts 16:11-15, 29-40  God has a way of getting us to where He wants us to go. Often, we think we have an idea of what God wants us to do only to find out that we are so off the mark that we are left clueless and completely confused and bewildered.  If only I could count the many times, I have heard people say, “Pastor, I really

Focal Passage: Acts 15:39-16:10  Sometimes things happen, which at the time, seems to be devastating. However, later we discover was the best thing that could have happened. Let me give you an example. There was a church that was strong and healthy in the community in which I lived. It was an evangelical church, and had a strong presence in our town.  An issue arose over the use of musical

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