Acts 21, 22
Overview: Paul travels to Jerusalem. Paul is beaten by a mob, arrested and addresses a Roman tribunal.
"When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us warmly." (Acts 21:17)
Paul travels to Jerusalem and checks in with the leaders of the Jerusalem church. Things seem to be going well as Paul and the Jerusalem leadership are working out what it means to be a follower of the Way for Jews and for Gentiles in terms of religious practice. It's a warm welcome, which has to be a good thing and they are making progress on the issues at hand. So how can a good visit go bad quickly. Paul goes to the Temple, a riot breaks out, false accusations are hurled, Paul is beaten and then Paul is arrested. Yet another biblical example of a faithful follower of Jesus having a less than stellar day. As is often the case it is not simply that a follower of Jesus can have a bad day, it's that this follower of Jesus is having a bad day specifically for what he is doing as a follower of Jesus. I would say again that it is not universally true that we have to get in trouble to be sure we are following Jesus, but it is abundantly clear that smooth sailing and no trouble in our life is NOT an indication that God likes us better than other less faithful people. Christian faith and practice is essential in our lives in good times, in challenging times and in times that can only be described as bad. Further there may well be times when we find ourselves in those challenging and bad times not in spite of, but because of our faith. Faith is hard. Rewarding and life fulfilling like nothing else. But hard.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Acts 19, 20
Acts 19, 20
Overview: Paul is still on the move. Traveling around and encouraging churches and presenting the good news. Paul makes what he says will be his final visit with the leaders of the church in Ephesus on his way to visit the church in Jerusalem.
We are told in Acts 19 that seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva try to cast out a demon. Their formulation is to order the demon out by invoking the "Jesus whom Paul proclaims". The demon's response is at one level comical: "Jesus I know, Paul I know, but who are you?" It is reminiscent of places in the Gospels where demons that Jesus is casting out seem to be the ones who most clearly know who he is and what sort of power he wields. Here in this passage we have individuals who are attempting to co-opt the work of Paul in the name of Jesus and while it is unclear if the general population believes they are part of the movement known as the Way (Jesus followers) it is clear what that demons clearly recognize who is following Jesus and who is simply wanting to make a grab at power.
Acts 17, 18
Acts 17, 18
Overview: Paul, Silas and Timothy share missionary journey. Apollos arrives in Ephesus.
Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica. The Jewish leadership is unhappy with what the two are stirring up amongst the people. This leads to a great line - "These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also." (17:16) What a great, succinct description of what happens when Jesus gets into the mix. Priorities get challenged, lives get transformed, change breaks out all over, the world gets turned upside down. How upside down has our faith made our life. What is it like living in the kingdom world of Jesus' priorities? How is it so very different - so different that it makes people say "they are turning the world upside down". Paul and Silas got noticed. Are we 2011 followers of Jesus getting noticed?
Monday, March 7, 2011
Acts 14, 15, 16
Acts 14, 15, 16
Overview: Paul and Barnabas continue their missionary journey and are mistaken for Zeus and Hermes. Paul and Barnabas take up the Gentile question with the Jerusalem church and are backed by Peter. Paul and Barnabas have a falling out and Paul continues his work with a new partner, Silas. Paul and Silas put an end to a bad business plan (and are not thanked for it) and then they live through an earthquake while in jail which leads to the creation of a great Sunday School song.
Singing songs of praise,
Singing songs of happiness,
Dark the day,
Light your way,
Keep singing songs of praise.
Paul and Silas were in jail,
Bail they could not raise,
Jailers callin',
Walls start fallin,
Singing the songs of praise.
I'm not positive, but I think that's how the song went. We used to sing this on a regular basis at Whirlybird and Jet Cadet meetings at Memorial Presbyterian Church when I was growing up. One of the great things about so many of these Acts stories - many of them are visceral and fantastic - the kind of thing that appeals to the mind of a young person. Plenty of adventure along with the reassuring message that God will take care of us.
Acts 14 features the story of Paul and Barnabas being mistaken for Zeus and Hermes. Zeus or Hermes aside, I am always impressed by the way the followers of Christ in the book of Acts consistently point beyond themselves to Christ. In an earlier passage it was Peter who was faced with being treated like a god and instead pointed beyond himself to God. Pride must have been a great temptation especially when things were going well, the message was being well received and people were being healed. The preachers and teachers of the early church kept ever before them that it was Christ's gospel that animated all that they did. And because of their single minded devotion the church is here today with the same mission - point to Christ - now entrusted to us.
Overview: Paul and Barnabas continue their missionary journey and are mistaken for Zeus and Hermes. Paul and Barnabas take up the Gentile question with the Jerusalem church and are backed by Peter. Paul and Barnabas have a falling out and Paul continues his work with a new partner, Silas. Paul and Silas put an end to a bad business plan (and are not thanked for it) and then they live through an earthquake while in jail which leads to the creation of a great Sunday School song.
Singing songs of praise,
Singing songs of happiness,
Dark the day,
Light your way,
Keep singing songs of praise.
Paul and Silas were in jail,
Bail they could not raise,
Jailers callin',
Walls start fallin,
Singing the songs of praise.
I'm not positive, but I think that's how the song went. We used to sing this on a regular basis at Whirlybird and Jet Cadet meetings at Memorial Presbyterian Church when I was growing up. One of the great things about so many of these Acts stories - many of them are visceral and fantastic - the kind of thing that appeals to the mind of a young person. Plenty of adventure along with the reassuring message that God will take care of us.
Acts 14 features the story of Paul and Barnabas being mistaken for Zeus and Hermes. Zeus or Hermes aside, I am always impressed by the way the followers of Christ in the book of Acts consistently point beyond themselves to Christ. In an earlier passage it was Peter who was faced with being treated like a god and instead pointed beyond himself to God. Pride must have been a great temptation especially when things were going well, the message was being well received and people were being healed. The preachers and teachers of the early church kept ever before them that it was Christ's gospel that animated all that they did. And because of their single minded devotion the church is here today with the same mission - point to Christ - now entrusted to us.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Acts 11, 12, 13
Acts 11, 12, 13
Overview: The Jerusalem church discusses the inclusion of Gentiles with Peter following his experience with Cornelius. Peter is put in prison and then helped to escape by an angel. Paul and Barnabas preach and teach.
The story in Acts 12 is one of my favorites in all of Scripture. A great story about the real power of prayer and about the expectations we bring to prayer. Peter is in prison. Followers of the Way are gathered in a home praying for his release. An angel is sent to aid Peter in escaping from prison. Peter makes good on leaving the prison and heads for the home where the folks are locked up inside praying for his release. He knocks on the door. A servant girl, Rhoda, answers. Rhoda runs and tells the people that Peter is at the door - in essence she runs and tells them, "Your prayers are answered." The response of the assembled prayer group of believers? "You are out of your mind."(12:15) This story always draws me in. It makes me laugh and then it makes me examine once again how much more seriously I need to value the power of prayer. The people pray. They love God. They love Peter. They want Peter out of prison and they are talking to God about getting Peter out of prison. But they are shocked beyond belief and reason when the prayer actually works. We are called to prayer; this passage pushes us a bit farther to the point where we are to pray as though we believe it may work. Pray expectantly and wait for the knock that can't come at the door as though it may come at any moment - such is the power of God.
Overview: The Jerusalem church discusses the inclusion of Gentiles with Peter following his experience with Cornelius. Peter is put in prison and then helped to escape by an angel. Paul and Barnabas preach and teach.
The story in Acts 12 is one of my favorites in all of Scripture. A great story about the real power of prayer and about the expectations we bring to prayer. Peter is in prison. Followers of the Way are gathered in a home praying for his release. An angel is sent to aid Peter in escaping from prison. Peter makes good on leaving the prison and heads for the home where the folks are locked up inside praying for his release. He knocks on the door. A servant girl, Rhoda, answers. Rhoda runs and tells the people that Peter is at the door - in essence she runs and tells them, "Your prayers are answered." The response of the assembled prayer group of believers? "You are out of your mind."(12:15) This story always draws me in. It makes me laugh and then it makes me examine once again how much more seriously I need to value the power of prayer. The people pray. They love God. They love Peter. They want Peter out of prison and they are talking to God about getting Peter out of prison. But they are shocked beyond belief and reason when the prayer actually works. We are called to prayer; this passage pushes us a bit farther to the point where we are to pray as though we believe it may work. Pray expectantly and wait for the knock that can't come at the door as though it may come at any moment - such is the power of God.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Acts 8, 9, 10
Acts 8, 9, 10
Overview: Lots of stuff going on. A brief appearance by a venomous Saul. The story of how the disciples disperse to elude their persecutors and continue to preach and bear witness to the good news in a variety of places. Great story of Philip and the court official from Ethiopia who meet up in the wilderness. Saul heads for Damascus to do harm to Christians and has his life permanently adjusted. Peter has a vision that moves him to believe that the good news of Jesus is for Gentiles as well as Jews.
Where did you go yesterday? Who did you see and speak to? Where are you headed today? Our lives are a mixture of planning and random moments. We may feel at times like we are precisely where we are supposed to be and at other times like we are where we are for no particular reason. These three chapters all push us to take seriously that wherever we happen to be at any moment is exactly the spot that God has in mind for us to be. Philip is called away from a successful work in Samaria to to a southern road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza. The text offers an aside - "This is a wilderness road." This appears to be an odd turn of events. Leave a place where you are doing effective work so that you can be on a wilderness road. Not in Jerusalem. Not in Gaza. Specifically on the road, the wilderness road, between the two of them. Random. He happens upon a court official from Ethiopia. The court official happens to be reading a particular passage of Scripture. He happens to ask for help from the person who happens to be nearby - Philip. Philip happens to be able to help. THEN there HAPPENS to be water on the wilderness road. The Ethiopian asks to be baptized - what's to prevent it seeing as how he understands what he is reading and there happens to be water. So many random moments falling into place, except they only superficially appear to be random. God puts people in places for purposes.
Paul is ready to go terrorize some Christians in Damascus. He's fired up, has his marching orders in hand and he's off. Jesus happens to appear to him on the road and sends him to a Chrisitan leader in Damascus who happens to be someone who is able to overcome his misgivings about Paul and reach out to him in Christian love. And Paul is off to the synagogue and a where a persecutor had once been a powerful force for the gospel is unleashed. I do not believe Ananias happened to be the person who was handy for the job. I believe Ananias was the person who God had been preparing for that very particular assignment.
Peter is in Joffa at the home of Simon the tanner. He happens to be on Simon's roof and has a vision. At the same time Cornelius, a God fearing Gentile, is having a visit from an angel asking him to send for Peter. Peter winds up traveling to Cornelius' home and more proclamation and baptizing ensue. All as a result of events that could have seemed disconnected or random, but which, when the story is strung together take shape with a purpose that come clearly into view.
Where are you going today? Who will you encounter? Imagine for a moment that none of it is random. Believe for a moment that all of it is a piece of God's unfolding plan. Our days just got way more interesting.
Overview: Lots of stuff going on. A brief appearance by a venomous Saul. The story of how the disciples disperse to elude their persecutors and continue to preach and bear witness to the good news in a variety of places. Great story of Philip and the court official from Ethiopia who meet up in the wilderness. Saul heads for Damascus to do harm to Christians and has his life permanently adjusted. Peter has a vision that moves him to believe that the good news of Jesus is for Gentiles as well as Jews.
Where did you go yesterday? Who did you see and speak to? Where are you headed today? Our lives are a mixture of planning and random moments. We may feel at times like we are precisely where we are supposed to be and at other times like we are where we are for no particular reason. These three chapters all push us to take seriously that wherever we happen to be at any moment is exactly the spot that God has in mind for us to be. Philip is called away from a successful work in Samaria to to a southern road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza. The text offers an aside - "This is a wilderness road." This appears to be an odd turn of events. Leave a place where you are doing effective work so that you can be on a wilderness road. Not in Jerusalem. Not in Gaza. Specifically on the road, the wilderness road, between the two of them. Random. He happens upon a court official from Ethiopia. The court official happens to be reading a particular passage of Scripture. He happens to ask for help from the person who happens to be nearby - Philip. Philip happens to be able to help. THEN there HAPPENS to be water on the wilderness road. The Ethiopian asks to be baptized - what's to prevent it seeing as how he understands what he is reading and there happens to be water. So many random moments falling into place, except they only superficially appear to be random. God puts people in places for purposes.
Paul is ready to go terrorize some Christians in Damascus. He's fired up, has his marching orders in hand and he's off. Jesus happens to appear to him on the road and sends him to a Chrisitan leader in Damascus who happens to be someone who is able to overcome his misgivings about Paul and reach out to him in Christian love. And Paul is off to the synagogue and a where a persecutor had once been a powerful force for the gospel is unleashed. I do not believe Ananias happened to be the person who was handy for the job. I believe Ananias was the person who God had been preparing for that very particular assignment.
Peter is in Joffa at the home of Simon the tanner. He happens to be on Simon's roof and has a vision. At the same time Cornelius, a God fearing Gentile, is having a visit from an angel asking him to send for Peter. Peter winds up traveling to Cornelius' home and more proclamation and baptizing ensue. All as a result of events that could have seemed disconnected or random, but which, when the story is strung together take shape with a purpose that come clearly into view.
Where are you going today? Who will you encounter? Imagine for a moment that none of it is random. Believe for a moment that all of it is a piece of God's unfolding plan. Our days just got way more interesting.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Acts 5, 6, 7
Acts 5, 6, 7
Overview: Two members of the community hold back profits from the sell of a piece of property. The disciples need some organized help. Stephen is arrested, preaches a great sermon and is stoned to death.
Acts 4 ends with the early Christian community in something of an idyllic state. Everything is held in common by all and there was not a needy person among them. This goes on all the way until the very beginning of the next chapter. Which is to say, not very long. Immediately in Acts 5 we have the story of Ananias and Sapphira who misrepresented what they had sold a piece of land for and attempted to deceive the community so that they could keep some of the profit. Peter sees through what they have done and points out to both of them that it's not what the community they are trying to deceive, but God and that this is an impossible project. Both Ananias and Sapphira then drop dead. Continuing on there is some unhappiness with the way some of the folks in the community are receiving what they need which leads to the disciples getting an earful from the unhappy parties involved. This issue is met by the naming of a group specfically to deal with caring for the physical needs of the community. In Acts 7 Stephen is arrested and following an impassioned sermon is stoned to death. The community which had been living in bliss is quickly faced with internal disobedience, discord and attack from the outside. The point being that, once again, the Bible makes no case for faith being easy. It is telling that the book of Acts is not four chapters long and does not end with the church living happily ever after. Instead it chronicles the challenges, the great acts of faith and the hardships that the community lives through as they follow the Way. It is helpful in our imperfect days and imperfect communities to see that we share our imperfection in common with our earliest Christian predecessors. And, perhaps, it will inspire us to be as courageously faithful in the face of our sin, shortcomings and imperfections as they were as well.
Overview: Two members of the community hold back profits from the sell of a piece of property. The disciples need some organized help. Stephen is arrested, preaches a great sermon and is stoned to death.
Acts 4 ends with the early Christian community in something of an idyllic state. Everything is held in common by all and there was not a needy person among them. This goes on all the way until the very beginning of the next chapter. Which is to say, not very long. Immediately in Acts 5 we have the story of Ananias and Sapphira who misrepresented what they had sold a piece of land for and attempted to deceive the community so that they could keep some of the profit. Peter sees through what they have done and points out to both of them that it's not what the community they are trying to deceive, but God and that this is an impossible project. Both Ananias and Sapphira then drop dead. Continuing on there is some unhappiness with the way some of the folks in the community are receiving what they need which leads to the disciples getting an earful from the unhappy parties involved. This issue is met by the naming of a group specfically to deal with caring for the physical needs of the community. In Acts 7 Stephen is arrested and following an impassioned sermon is stoned to death. The community which had been living in bliss is quickly faced with internal disobedience, discord and attack from the outside. The point being that, once again, the Bible makes no case for faith being easy. It is telling that the book of Acts is not four chapters long and does not end with the church living happily ever after. Instead it chronicles the challenges, the great acts of faith and the hardships that the community lives through as they follow the Way. It is helpful in our imperfect days and imperfect communities to see that we share our imperfection in common with our earliest Christian predecessors. And, perhaps, it will inspire us to be as courageously faithful in the face of our sin, shortcomings and imperfections as they were as well.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Acts 3, 4
Acts 3, 4
Overview: Peter and John heal a man at a gate to the temple. Peter preaches. The Church grows and the folks share things.
Peter and John's actions show they've been paying attention to Jesus. And by that I mean they've been paying attention to the fact that Jesus pays attention to people. When Peter and John encounter a man asking for assistance at the gate to the temple known as Beautiful, they listen to what he asks for and then they pay close attention to him to offer what he needs. He asks for alms, it's what he's become accustomed to doing. Peter and John say that they do not have any silver or gold to share - they could just let it drop at that point. Instead their assessment of the situation leads them to believe that they have something else to offer - something more valuable - something the man needs - healing. The man had been lame - the disciples help him to walk. One take away for us is to remember to pay close attention both to what people ask for and to what God's Spirit leads us to believe they need. Another is to ask ourselves what resources God has placed in our hands to help those in need. Peter and John did not have financial resources at that moment - it did not stop them from helping.
Acts 4:20 also offers us a challenge as we pursue our own walk of faith. "We cannot keep from speaking about what we have heard and seen." Personal safety have become unimportant considerations for Peter and John. What is primary for them is sharing what they have witnessed - sharing the life giving message of Jesus Christ. Our personal safety is usually not going to be part of the equation - it's not out of the question, but our largerst concern is typically going to be our comfort level with talking about and sharing Jesus with others, as opposed to facing arrest or physical danger. When God's life changing power is at work in our lives Peter and John's words will be our own, "we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard."
Overview: Peter and John heal a man at a gate to the temple. Peter preaches. The Church grows and the folks share things.
Peter and John's actions show they've been paying attention to Jesus. And by that I mean they've been paying attention to the fact that Jesus pays attention to people. When Peter and John encounter a man asking for assistance at the gate to the temple known as Beautiful, they listen to what he asks for and then they pay close attention to him to offer what he needs. He asks for alms, it's what he's become accustomed to doing. Peter and John say that they do not have any silver or gold to share - they could just let it drop at that point. Instead their assessment of the situation leads them to believe that they have something else to offer - something more valuable - something the man needs - healing. The man had been lame - the disciples help him to walk. One take away for us is to remember to pay close attention both to what people ask for and to what God's Spirit leads us to believe they need. Another is to ask ourselves what resources God has placed in our hands to help those in need. Peter and John did not have financial resources at that moment - it did not stop them from helping.
Acts 4:20 also offers us a challenge as we pursue our own walk of faith. "We cannot keep from speaking about what we have heard and seen." Personal safety have become unimportant considerations for Peter and John. What is primary for them is sharing what they have witnessed - sharing the life giving message of Jesus Christ. Our personal safety is usually not going to be part of the equation - it's not out of the question, but our largerst concern is typically going to be our comfort level with talking about and sharing Jesus with others, as opposed to facing arrest or physical danger. When God's life changing power is at work in our lives Peter and John's words will be our own, "we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard."
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