Acts 9 - A Few Clicks Off

The hardened man Jesus encountered in Acts 9 did not start that way. A tender-hearted lad of about 13 went from Tarsus to study with Gamaliel, the most honored rabbi in Israel. After 7 years of study he earned the equivalent of 2 Ph.Ds in theology. By 21 he was perhaps the most educated Jew in Palestine. How does one so well versed in the Word of God completely miss the Word of God made flesh? Those who sail strive to hold their course precisely. Just a few degrees off; leads miles from your destination. One common errant turn is man-ward. Saul of Tarsus bragged about his spiritual pedigree; but Paul the Apostle gloried only in Christ. Focus on self steers us far from the glory of God. “Cat & Dog Theology” (Authentic Media, 2003) makes it simple, “A dog says, ‘You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, you must be God.’ A cat says, ‘You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, I must be God.’”! Do you need to recalibrate?

Acts 9.20 - Son of God

A zealous Pharisee is the only one to use this provocative title in Acts (9.20). He’ll use it another 15 times in his 13 New Testament letters. A Chinese businesswoman responded with disbelief to me, “So…God had a child?” A Ugandan Muslim soldier holding a gun to my face once said, “You Christians believe in three gods!” The newly published Kazakh language Bible uses “Son of the Most High” to dodge this bullet. If we invented a religion, we might dumb it down a bit! The rough edges that shock and anger other religionists could be sanded a bit smoother. But God does not invite us to edit His Word, but to embrace it. Neither are we to apologize for it, but like Saul – here in his ‘Christian infancy’ – we are to announce it – even in Jewish synagogues! Although we cannot figure out all the intricacies of God’s Word, we are to be faithful to it – to Him. Only He has the Words of life.

Acts 14.26-28 - No Place like Home

13 different beds, 23 church services, 1 Missions Conference, 2 Training Seminars, 21 small group meetings, and 29 working meals - that was our “vacation” in Hawaii. Enjoying tropical fruits and island foods, swimming with dolphins and sea turtles in the sparkling blue Pacific, hearing birds sing, reunions with family and friends, humbled by how many people are praying for all of us here in ZGC, and a few days with nothing to do but read. That was our “home assignment.” Hard to leave? Yes! Good to be back? YES! Feel like home in ZGC? Totally! Thanks to you fellow Elders, Deacons, Ministry Leaders, Phil and Terry, for serving faithfully! Thanks to our faithful preachers for loving God’s Word and God’s people. Thanks to all of you for showing that church is not about a man, or a couple, but His global family loving and serving Jesus together.

Acts 15.35 - "they…and many others"

I love to study the church of Antioch. When I pastored in Hawaii I preached an 8-week series on vital truths that 1st century church teaches our 21st century Church. Frankly, I was a bit jealous that Dave and Nate got to preach about Antioch (Acts 11, 13) when I was in Uganda. But I enjoyed their wonderful messages. In today’s text I found something I’ve never noticed:  “Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord” (Acts 15.35). Many ‘Supporting Actors and Actresses’ joined the two apostolic ‘Headliners’ in God’s Kingdom advance!  That’s the G.I.G.O. Principle at work.  Good things were put in them: “For a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people” (Acts 11.26), and soon those Good things came out. Many embraced the Word; then they announced the Word. Even the church in Antioch was busy, ‘gathering, growing, and going!’

Acts 15.39 - Who Knows? Who Cares?

“They – Paul and Barnabas - had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company” (Acts 15.39). OMG! Divorce! Apostolic-duo-extraordinary rent asunder! What happened?!  We won’t get a juicy gossip morsel out of Luke – just the final outcome. My, how far we have ‘developed!’ Today, reporters would camp in front of their tents, pay to interview distant relatives, and comb through their dung heaps. Newscorp would tap their phones. Because the public deserves to know! Most ‘Christians’ today know more about Kobe, J.Lo, and Lady Gaga than Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel – even in Beijing and Uganda! Paul speaks to our modern craving for ‘personal dirt,’ “For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret” (Ephesians 5.12). This sad episode in Acts does tarnish the luster of our missionary heroes. But the tone of Luke – who humanly ‘owed’ his salvation to Paul – reminds us that Jesus is our only real Hero: in Acts, in life, for eternity!

Acts 16.31 - Two Gospels

There are two “Gospels” – messages claiming ultimate truth and promising eternal hope – in our world. One is huge, diverse, colorful, and widely believed. It is revealed in different “holy” books, espoused by diverse “holy” officials, and pursued through various “holy” rituals. But, diverse as this “Gospel” is, the bottom line of them all is the same – “we can do it!” They claim that by prayers, sacrifices, giving, obedience, and rituals their “deity” is appeased and their “destiny” is improved. The other Gospel is about One Man and comes from one Book. His followers are from every culture, but they share one confession – “He did it!” They humbly – sometimes painfully – admit even their best efforts fall short of God’s holy perfection. This other Gospel is about Jesus Christ and is revealed in the Bible. He did it by dying on the cross and rising from the dead for us.

Acts 17.6 - Hot Topics

“If your essay is on politics or religion, I will not accept it!” My high school English teacher was adamant; those controversial topics did not belong in her classroom. The rag-tag apostles of Jesus in Acts had a simple view of politics and religion, it all belonged to Jesus. For them His Word held ultimate authority, His mission was their purpose of life, and His glory was their greatest aim. They spoke boldly when Jewish authorities tried to silence them. They fed hungry widows no matter their race. They led VIP’s – a Queen’s official and a purple seller – into an act of radical self-abandonment. They liberated a slave girl unleashing the anger of her owners. They challenged idolatry even though it rocked the economy. They respectfully obeyed authorities who fulfilled their God appointed calling. Their pulse beat was ‘Jesus is Lord’ over all of life.  And, like their Lord, they paid the ultimate price.