Engaging Scripture

Is it true that, “when Christ calls us, he bids us come and die”? – Acts 21, Part 1

I recently watched a few episodes of Netflix’s series Greatest Events of World War 2 in Color. The series is actual footage from World War 2, but the footage, which was originally in black and white, has been colorized. If you’ve ever watched black and white newsreel of events in World War 2 it can appear distant and detached, almost as if you’re watching something that wasn’t fully real. The colorized version brings new life to World War 2, forcing the viewer to confront the fact that it really happened.

There really was a guy named Adolf Hitler who led a Nazi regime to slaughter millions of people through war and through genocide. One of those people who lost his life was a German pastor named Dietrich Bonhoeffer. As I studied Acts 21, which this week’s series of posts cover, the events of Acts 21 reminded me of something Bonhoeffer said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Intense, right?

Turn to Acts 21, and I think you’ll see what I mean. Last week we heard Paul’s final teaching to the elders of the church in Ephesus in Acts 20. Go ahead and read Acts 21, verses 1-16 as Paul and his companions continue their journey to Jerusalem.

In verses 1-3 they sail from Miletus to Syria, where verses 4-6 tell us they spend seven days with Christians in Tyre. Then in verses 7-9 they travel from Tyre to Ptolemais (staying with Christians for a day) and then to Caesarea where they stayed with Philip and his four unmarried prophetess daughters! We first met Philip in Acts chapters 6 & 8.

They stay at Philip’s house for a few days, we learn in verses 10-14, and another blast from the past shows up. The prophet Agabus, who we met briefly in chapter 11, arrives from Judea bringing a prophetic word saying that the Jews in Jerusalem would arrest Paul. Hearing this, the Christians in Caesarea plead with Paul to not go to Jerusalem. His response in verse 13 is astounding, “I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” There it is. That’s what had me thinking of Bonhoeffer in Nazi Germany.

But what does that have to do with Americans in 2020? Hold that thought. We’ll come back to that. True to his word, in verses 15-16 we read that Paul and the group travel from Caesarea to Jerusalem. This brings us to the second section of the text, verses 17-26. Go ahead and pause reading this post and read Acts 21:17-26.

How about that! Things in Jerusalem start off great. Did Agabus get his prophetic signals crossed? In verses 17-19, Paul and his entourage visit the leaders of the church and give a report of their missionary work. The leaders and church praise God. Then in verses 20-26, the leaders change their tune a bit. In order to avoid controversy, the church leaders ask Paul to go through a Jewish purification rite. This is an interesting section that reveals the cultural/theological differences in the church: Jewish culture vs. Gentile culture. We’re going to talk more about that too, as it seems to me there are some interesting parallels to that aspect of the early church and our American church. So to keep the peace, we read that Paul endures the purification ritual. I suspect that might have been frustrating for Paul, but so far things are going pretty smooth in Jerusalem.

But not for long. In the final section of Acts 21, verses 27-40, the city of Jerusalem is thrown into frenzy, and guess who is in the middle of it? No surprise. Paul. Read verses 27-40.

What happened? The prophetic word from Agabus was right on the money. Look at verses 27-29. Asian Jews seize Paul. It is important to note that these Jews are not Christians. What is going on, then, is not a church matter anymore, but a Jewish theological matter. The Asian Jews accuse Paul of false teaching and defiling the temple. Of course, Paul had taught Christ, which the Jews would call false teaching, but it is highly unlikely that he defiled the temple.

Things go from bad to worse in verses 30-32, as the city erupts and the Jews start beating Paul, until the Romans show up. The Roman commander tries somewhat unsuccessfully to understand what the Jews are concerned about, as we read about in verses 33-36. Then in verses 37-40, Paul and the Roman commander have a talk, and the commander gives Paul permission to address the crowd.

With that, we hit the pause button. Next week we’ll have our next current events sermon, and then the following week, we’ll continue with Acts 22 to learn what Paul says to the crowd.

For the rest of this week’s five-part series, we’ll reflect on what we can learn from the events of Acts 21. Check back in tomorrow as we start looking deeper at Paul’s apparent death wish in Acts 21:13.

Which is better: giving or receiving? – Acts 20, Part 5

As we come to the conclusion of Paul’s ministry training buffet in Acts 20, verse 32 is a kind of prayer of commissioning in which Paul commits the Ephesian elders: “To God and to the word of his grace.”

For a Christian to say to other Christians, “I commit you to God,” is fairly expected. It’s kind of like the common phrase in Star Wars, “May the Force by with you.” Or the Christian version: “God be with you,” or “Go with God,” or “Godspeed.” All these variations are similar to what Paul meant, a that God would care for, protect and guide them. But what is God’s word of grace? Is Paul referring to the Bible? Probably at least that. But he may also be including the guidance of the Spirit, and the other ways God speaks his word: through nature, through dreams and visions, through his people.

But here is the key to identifying what Paul means when he refers to the “word of grace,” it is gracious. He says, it can build you up. It is a strengthening word, a unifying word, an encouraging word. If teachers claim to have a word from God that is not gracious or is divisive, it is not from God. Finally, and this is the result, Paul says the word of grace gives you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. This inheritance is not only, of course, the future hope of eternal life, but also the experience of abundant life now. So Paul’s view is not simply beyond the grave. How do we know that? By where his thinking takes him next.

The idea of inheritance seems to spark more about thinking about how Christians live the abundant life of Christ now, because in verses 33-35 he talks about money, possessions and the mission of God. Inheritances are most often about money and possessions. But what is Paul getting at?

First in verse 33 he says that he has not coveted anyone’s wealth or possessions. Why does he say this? Just a reflection on his pattern of ministry among them? Maybe, but it does seem he has a purpose for talking about his approach to money, a purpose which we will see as we follow his logic. What is that logic? By mentioning that his motivation was not to increase his wealth or prosperity, is Paul saying that wealth and prosperity are bad? Maybe he is saying that Christians should not desire them? Let’s see if we can follow his train of thought here.

In verse 34 he reminds them of how he worked. We heard about this previously in chapter 18 in Corinth, where he also worked as a tent-maker, which in our day would be a leather-worker, along with his friends Priscilla and Aquilla. Paul apparently did the same in Ephesus, earning money to care for his needs and the needs of this ministry co-workers.

Then in verse 35 he says Christians should work hard, not to enrich themselves, but “to help the weak”, because Jesus said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” This is another interesting statement in the buffet of Paul’s message to the Ephesian elders, and one that we can glean from as well.

Look at it carefully. This statement is “it is more blessed to give than receive.” It is very familiar to us, of course, and if asked to quote it, before studying this passage, I would have told you that it goes like this: “it is better to give than to receive.” I was remembering it slightly wrong. Jesus did not say it is “better” to give than to receive. He said, it is “more blessed.” What does he mean by “more blessed”?

The word there, “blessed” is the same word that Jesus uses in the sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, for his famous Beatitudes, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, Blessed are the peacemakers, etc.” When Jesus and Paul use the word “blessed,” they aren’t so much saying that you will receive blessings, like power or prosperity, but instead what that word means in the original language is something more like, “Happy are you.” In other words, the blessing is not so much a physical reward, but an emotional one, a relational one. When you give, there is a deeper happiness than the happiness you experience when you receive. Clearly we feel happy when we receive something, right? So while happiness abounds for both the giver and the receiver, the happiness of the giver is deeper. Therefore, Paul is telling the Ephesian Christians to work hard, gain wealth, but not for personal gain. Instead, work hard and give your wealth to help those in need, and both the giver and receiver will experience the deeper happiness of generosity.

With his final remarks to the Ephesian elders concluded, we read in verses 36-38 that Paul kneels down with them all, prays, and they embrace, weeping and kissing. They walk with him to the ship, where he boards, and the elders are grieved because he had said in verse 25 that he would never see them again.

This is a loaded passage. As I said in the first post of this five-part series on Acts 20, it’s a bit like a buffet, with something for everyone, I hope. What have you learned from Acts 20? Comment below!

Two important principles for leaders – Acts 20, Part 4

Leaders, I encourage you to pay special attention to this post. As you’ll see it is specifically about leaders in the church, but I think the principles apply broadly to leadership in any venue.

So does that mean you can skip this post if you’re not a leader? Actually, this post is not just for those of you on church leadership teams; it also applies to Sunday School teachers, committee chairpersons, small group leaders, and ministry leaders. Even if you are not serving in any of those roles, I think you’ll find this post also applies to those of you who aspire to be leaders one day. To aspire to leadership is a good thing. This is for all of you! In Acts 20, starting at verse 28, Paul gives some specific instructions to the elders of the Ephesian church who had visited Paul at his request.

First, keep watch over yourselves. This is crucial. Set the example. How you live is vital. So watch over your own life first. Practice living the way of Jesus. We’re not talking 100% perfection here. Only Jesus was perfect. But Paul is saying that leaders should have a humble ability to self-reflect, to evaluate themselves, and not have an inflated or false sense of their own importance. Watch over your own life.

Then and only then, after you are living the way of Jesus, second, keep watch over the church for which the Spirit made you leaders. It is important to remember the Spirit’s role in this. We are serve at the pleasure of the Spirit. That means we leaders are followers first. Once we see ourselves as following the Spirit, we then seek to keep watch over the church. How do we do that? Paul brings up a common metaphor for his day and age: shepherds and sheep.

Be shepherds of the church, because Jesus bought the church with his own blood. Clearly he is referring to the crucifixion of Jesus, and all it entails. To our contemporary mindset, the thought of blood sacrifice can, and I think should, come across as very strange, even brutal. Suffice it to say that something powerful happened when Jesus died on the cross, and Paul is saying that of all that Jesus’ death accomplished, one important aspect was the purchase of the church.

We need to see ourselves in that light. He is our Lord. So people of the church, know this: we are owned by Jesus. Leaders of the church, it is neither your church, nor my church. It is Jesus’ church, and that is important to keep in the forefront of our minds as we lead. We should lead the church to become what he wants it to be. That means we should find out what he wants the church to be. Again, leaders are followers first. We follow the leading of the Spirit, and then we lead the church as he wishes. This is another reason why it is so vital to know the Scriptures, because a significant portion of how God wants us to lead is already written down in the Bible.

Paul goes on then, in verses 29-30 to warn the leaders about bad actors from without, and even possibly some from within, who will distort the truth, trying to draw the disciples away from what Paul taught them.

So be on guard, Paul says, remembering his three years with them, when he “never stopped warning each of them night and day with tears.” Pretty intense statement, isn’t it? I wonder if Paul is exaggerating at all. What might that have looked like? He couldn’t have been crying every day he taught them, could he?

My guess is that Paul is trying to convey the passion with which he presented the way of Jesus to them. He was sincere, he was committed. He really, really, really wanted them to learn the true way of Jesus, so they would not be enticed away by false teachers, by temptations, and the like. Paul is once again an example to us of what it should look like to approach the mission of Jesus. For Paul it was not an afterthought, it was the guiding vision of his life.

It does make me wonder, did the guy ever have fun? Did he ever relax? Maybe he was into sports, considering how often he talks about running. I don’t know. He does give the impression that he is an uber-serious dude, and always seems to have been that way. Whatever he was doing, he was all in. Once Jesus appeared to him, once Paul was convinced of the truth, he was all in for Jesus. Being all in for Jesus is the baseline expectation Jesus has for his followers.

If our lives are less than all in, what does that say about us?

What makes life worth living – Acts 20, Part 3

What makes life worth living for you? Think about that. Is it spending time with your family? Is it enjoying vacation? A hobby? Maybe you’re working for the weekend? For some people it is getting outside and being in nature, gardening, hiking, or some other sport. What makes life worth living? What makes lives worthwhile to you?

Now look at verse 24, and Paul says, “I consider my life worth nothing to me if only I may…” What?

Finish the race. I love running metaphors because running is how I exercise. Faith Church has an informal group of runners who have done more 5Ks than I can remember, three half-marathons, and three marathons. In each of the marathons, once I’ve gotten past 20-21 miles, finishing is all I can think about. It becomes a mental war. Thoughts are flying around my mind: “Why did you sign up for this, you stupid idiot? Who in their right mind runs that long? You don’t need to do this…ever. You can get quality exercise by doing far, far less. Just quit. It doesn’t matter. No one needs to run a marathon. You do not need to finish the race.”

For me, at least, I’ve needed just about four hours to complete each of the three marathons. That voice starts blaring in my head right around hour three. So for a whole hour, I’m battling. Not only are my thoughts telling me to quit, but also my knees and lungs and head are screaming, “You do not need to finish!” But I’ve trained for 18 weeks for this, and there is part of me that wants to finish. I know the euphoria of crossing that finish line. Also my friends are running with me, and we’re in this together, a powerful encouragement to keep going. So you know the mantra I use? “Just keep running, just keep running, just keep running…” I want to finish the race. And I start breathing the mantra to the pace of my steps.

The race Paul is talking about though, is the completion of the task given to him by Jesus, which is to tell the story of Jesus. Specifically, he calls it the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. That’s what Paul lives for. Traveling around as a missionary, telling as many people about Jesus as possible. That is his marathon. What is yours? How are you living out the mission of Jesus in your context? Just keep running, just keep running on the mission of Jesus. What will it look like for you to just keep running on the mission of Jesus?

Then in verse 25, he switches gears to something that would have been hard for the Ephesian elders to hear: he says they will never see him again. Kinda harsh, don’t you think? How does he know that they will never see him, anyway? Maybe he is just preparing them for the worst? Maybe the Spirit told him this? We don’t know how he knows, but it gives Paul cause to reflect on his time with them. So he says in verse 26 that he is innocent of the blood of all men? What is that about? Why would he think he is in any way guilty?

Paul says he is innocent because he has not hesitated to proclaim to them the whole will of God. Ah, there it is. He is saying that he has obediently fulfilled the mission of God among them. How so? He told them the whole will of God. What is the whole will of God? What does he mean? Preaching of the Scriptures? It seems Paul is making a thematic connection here to verse 20, which we studied in the previous post. There he said that part of the content of his message was teaching them what was helpful to them. Now he adds that the content of his teaching was the whole counsel or will of God.

Some people believe this means that pastors should preach through books of the Bible all the time, which is mostly how I approach preaching. We have topical series here and there, of course, as well. If you follow the blog, you’ll see that. But I don’t think that kind of consecutive biblical exposition is what Paul had in mind in verse 27. It seems instead that he is saying that he has taught them, at the very least, the essentials of what it means to live the way of Jesus. They are ready, they are prepared for him to leave. Sure, there is always room to keep learning the Scriptures, but the people of Ephesus have all the foundation they need to continue to be the church without him there.

In chapter 19, verse 9-10, we learned that Paul spent two years teaching them every day. That’s 700+ days of teaching. In other words, Paul is saying that they’ve had enough teaching, and they are ready to be the teachers, leaders, and disciple-makers.

The point Paul is making is that we need to know the whole will of God, the whole counsel of God, and that is primarily found as we learn the Scriptures. This is why he gave so much time and attention to the word of God, and why we do the same.

I’ve often heard that pastors are to feed people the word. Or I hear people say that they went to a worship service, and either they did get fed or they didn’t get fed. Get fed? They aren’t referring to a meal. They certainly aren’t talking about communion, which is usually a tiny piece of bread and cup of juice or wine. They are talking about the quality of the sermon, usually. No doubt preachers and teachers are to present the word of God in an intelligent and engaging way. But people in a church should not just be feeding and feeding and feeding. More importantly, they should be doing something with what they learn, which is where Paul heads next.

Three essentials for Christians – Acts 20, Part 2

My family recently spent a week at a state park. Along with our extended family, we rented cabins, and while the cabins had electricity, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens, we had to bring pretty much everything else we needed. Pots, pans, utensils, bedding, toiletries, etc. Because our vehicles have only so much room to transport people and supplies, we had to determine what was essential. I thank my wife who planned almost all of that for us.

What is essential for Christians? How would you answer that question? And once you answer that question, is it possible you are not giving enough time and energy to the essentials? Have you been distracted by lesser things?

As we continue reading in Acts 20, verses 13-18 detail more of Paul’s itinerary as he is headed back to Jerusalem. In verse 18, we read that he has sailed just past Ephesus, landing at Miletus where he Paul sends word back to Ephesus asking the elders of the church to come see him. The elders from Ephesus arrive, and Paul begins talking to them about the essentials. In this and the following three posts on Acts 20, we are going to study Paul’s words to the Ephesian church elders.

What is the first thing he says to them? What is the essential ministry principle he wants them to know? In verses 18b-19 Paul briefly reflects on how he lived among the Ephesians. He says he practiced humility, and with tears, though he was targeted by the Jews. Humility is essential for disciples of Jesus. No matter how we are gifted, no matter what role we have to play in the Kingdom of God, our lives should be marked by humility. It doesn’t matter if you are an extrovert or introvert, the standard is humility.

From that foundation of humility, Paul reviews his essential method and message in verses 20-21. What Paul has to say about his method and his message is not just for preachers or missionaries. We can all glean from this, as we all have carry the mission of God, each in our own context and our own community.

First, his Method.

Paul said his teaching was both public and private, house to house. In find this helpful. It means that even if you are uncomfortable with public speaking, there is still an important place for you in the mission of God. House to house. Small groups. In fact, I sense that the house to house, private, expression of the Kingdom is where most of us find our place. We need public speakers, and you might be one of them, but it is likely that the majority will be involved in telling the story of Jesus in that smaller group setting. So what is your setting?

Paul also says, when he taught he included Jews and Greeks. Another way to say this is, “I included everyone.” All people are to be equally in view when it comes to the Kingdom of God. Whatever method we use, it is to be inclusive of all. There is no person or people group that is excluded. Jesus built this expansive vision into the mission from the very beginning. You might remember that in Acts 1:8, he told his disciples that they were to be witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth. That means all people are in view. Christians, therefore, should known for not only being inclusive, but anti-exclusive.

Second, Paul talks about his Message. The message of the Kingdom includes three components that Paul suggests are essential: (1) Preach anything that would be helpful, (2) Turn to God in repentance, and (3) Have faith in Jesus. That first component, preach anything that would be helpful, we’ll talk about more in a future post in this series. What does Paul mean, though, by the last two, repentance and faith?

He matches the word “repentance” with the concept of turning to God. What does it mean to turn to God in repentance? The word “repent” has often been described as “stop doing the wrong thing, and start doing the right thing,” but in Scripture the image we see in both the Old and New Testaments starts at a deeper place. Stopping wrong things, and starting right things, is good, but it can be entirely outward. The repentance Jesus calls us to, the repentance Paul is preaching about, is not simply outward. Repentance is a willful choice that transforms us internally and thus leads to external restoration with God and others. It is an act of faith that radically changes us from the inside out, so that we follow the way of Jesus. That is the message of good news we preach. Do you see how the content is different from telling people to just follow the rules and regulations of the church? Instead, we preach an encounter with the living God who wants to make each and every person into something new. Faith in Jesus means that kind of repentant change.

Next in verses 22-25 Paul gives them a peek into where he is headed in his travels. He says that he is compelled by the Spirit, heading into the unknown in Jerusalem, remarking ominously that in every city the Spirit warns him that prison and hardship are facing him. In the next post we’ll look at verse 24, in which Paul states his purpose, and I think you find it a quite powerful anthem that we also can claim as our own.

For now, how are you doing with the essentials? If you are a Christian, is your life marked by humility, by repentance, by faith in Christ, by including all, by living out your gifts in public and private?

The most bonkers story in the Bible? – Acts 20, Part 1

Author’s Note – I was on vacation recently, and I’m thankful to Faith Church’s Ministry Coordinator, Emerald Peters, who preached Acts 19 in my absence. I hope to publish her posts on that chapter soon.

The Bible includes so many stories there are plenty of candidates for the most bonkers Bible story award. In my opinion, there’s one really good option in Acts 20. Actually, Acts 20 is a kind of buffet chapters, where I think you’ll find there is something for everyone. It’s one part travelogue, one part bonkers story, and one part ministry smorgasbord training.

Turn to Acts 20. Paul is on his third missionary journey, having spent nearly three years in Ephesus. But the time has come to move on. Read verses 1-6, and you’ll find the first travelogue section, as the author describes numerous stops that Paul makes.

In the middle of the travelogue, let’s rest our attention for a moment on verse 4. Paul has assembled quite a ministry team, and notice that they come from all over. We would do well to see Paul giving time and energy to disciple the various members of the team. Likewise, we Christians are team players, part of families, friend groups, and church families. We are people who play well with others. We seek to bring people together for the cause of Christ.

Paul’s team is together in the city of Troas, and in verses 7-12 Luke records a very interesting occurrence. No, “interesting” isn’t a strong enough adjective. To my way of thinking, this is an absolutely bonkers story.

First of all, I love how this episode gives us a glimpse into the gathering of the early church. The Christians in Troas have come together on the first day of the week to break bread. For them, the first day of the week is Sunday, and the early Christians gathered on Sundays, as we still do 2000 years later, because that was the day Jesus rose from the dead. Sunday was not a weekend day for them as it is for us. It was a work day, so most of them would have worked all day, and then gathered in someone’s house for the evening meal, including communion. Also, this is a special gathering because it is to be Paul’s last night before leaving, so he talks long into the night, till midnight.

I love the detail Luke gives us in verse 8 that there were many lamps in the room, setting the scene, that even though it was after dark, they were still able to have a gathering. Some scholars surmise that the smoke and haze from the lamps could have had a drowsy effect on people.

Right in the midst of this church gathering, tragedy strikes. In verse 9 one of the Christian young men, Eutychus, falls asleep sitting in an open window sill and falls three stories to his death. Yikes!

I so identify with Eutychus, kind of. I can pretty much fall asleep anywhere and almost anytime. At 9:30pm or so, when my wife, Michelle, and I sit on our living room sofa and read or watch TV, I can’t make it long before my head is nodding off. In seminary, if the professor turns off the lights to show a video, I’m out cold.

But what about Eutychus? Has he fallen prey to the stereotypical borefest sermon? Personally, I highly doubt that Paul was a boring speaker. But even the most eloquent, engaging speaker cannot possibly expect to keep people’s attention for hours into the night. There were probably others in the gathering struggling to keep their eyes open too. Eutychus just had the great misfortune, or lack of sense, of sitting in an open window three stories up.

Imagine that scene. People were probably freaking out. Did anyone see him fall or did they just notice the rustling of movement and hear the sickening thump down on the street below? It is crazy to think about being there, right?

It gets even crazier. In verse 10, Paul raises Eutychus to life! Then Paul goes back up, breaks bread and eats, like nothing totally insane just happened! Then in verse 11, we read that Paul continues talking all night long, till daylight! As if there wasn’t just a freaky death AND a resurrection!

There is a certain level of emotion, though, if we look closely. Paul’s words in verse 10 reassure the people who were alarmed, when he declares that Eutychus is alive. Then in verse 12 the people take Eutychus home, still alive, and they were greatly comforted. What a story!

Why did Luke include this story, I wonder? For one thing, it is simply wild. When you have a story that bonkers, you include it. But more than that, in this story we see the resurrection power of God at work, and that is amazing and encouraging. It doesn’t mean that God will raise people from the dead every time a death occurs. Instead, we simply dwell in wonder at the power-working God who calls us friends.

The next section, verses 13-18a, tell the story of the beginning of Paul’s journey back to Jerusalem. It is another itinerary section, in which we read that after numerous stops land him at Miletus, Paul sends word back to Ephesus for the elders of the church to come see him in Miletus. The elders from Ephesus arrive, and Paul begins talking to them. And that is what we’re going to spend most of our time on in the remaining posts in this series on Acts 20.

How your home can be a place of strengthening – Acts 18, Part 5

*Photo by Stefan Vladimirov on Unsplash*

Do you have a place where you sleep and eat? All over the world these places might look very different, but nearly everyone has a place we call home. Of course there are those struggling with homelessness, and we are called to reach out in love to them. In this final post on Acts 18, though, we’re going to learn about how one couple saw their home as a place for strengthening others. That couple is Priscilla and Aquila, friends of Paul, whom we met in the first post of the series. As we conclude Acts 18, Luke takes us back to Ephesus, where Paul had left Priscilla and Aquilla. Read Acts 18:24-26 to follow along.

We meet someone new: Apollos! He is an Egyptian Jew, from the famous city of Alexandria, Egypt. Apollos, we read, is very educated. He knows his Bible, and is a passionate speaker. Luke even tells us, in verse 25, that Apollos “taught about Jesus accurately.” Scholars debate whether or not Apollos was a true Christian disciple at this point. Either way, he is lacking in his teaching because he only knew about the baptism of John (John the Baptist). What is Apollos lacking, then?

We’re going to learn more about that next week. You can certainly peek ahead if you want into the first few verses of chapter 19, where we read that Paul faces a similar situation with other people who know about John’s baptism, but are missing something important. More on that in the next series of posts.

For now, we read that Apollos traveled to Ephesus, where Priscilla and Aquila invite him into their home and teach him more adequately. I love that. They are discipling him, strengthening him. Even though he is a gifted teacher, he still needs to be taught, and Priscilla and Aquila take him under their wing. So Priscilla and Aquila have continued this week’s theme of not being afraid, but focusing on strengthening the disciples.

The idea of having people into your home is key. Make your home and table a place of physical and spiritual nourishment. Is your home a place of strengthening? I know that we are in a worldwide pandemic, as I write this in July 2020, during which time we have restrictions on gatherings, and it is wise to be cautious. So let’s talk a bit more about fear and wisdom. Where is the balance between the two? Evaluate it for yourself: Has fear kept you from giving your life for the strengthening of the disciples?

It seems to me that even in a quarantine, we have very little excuse, especially when we consider social distancing and technological capabilities. My wife is doing a book study with some friends who are spread out across the country, and they are meeting on Zoom. It is possible to meet people outdoors, in the park, around a campfire, wearing masks if you cannot be socially distant.

How can you be like Paul, Priscilla and Aquila? Is there a step you need to take so that fear is not hindering you, and you are giving your life for the strengthening of the disciples?

Chapter 18 comes full circle as the Christians in Ephesus support Apollos’ desire to go to Achaia, of which Corinth is the capital city. If you peek ahead to chapter 19:1, we read that in fact Apollos went to Corinth. What was he doing there? Read verses 27-28 to learn more.

Apollos continues his ministry doing two things. First, in verse 27, he is a great help to the church. He is strengthening them in the faith! Second in verse 28, he continues what might be called an apologetic ministry. Apologetics is the idea of defending the faith, trying to explain how the faith is true. And it seems that Apollos was very gifted in this.

See that? Apollos is strengthening the church, not afraid to speak up.

Do not be afraid to strengthen the disciples.

What will it look like for you to face your fears about speaking up for Jesus? How do you need to overcome fear to make room in your life to strengthen the disciples?

If you are a teenager, what can it look like for you to speak up and strengthen the disciples? I look back on my high school years as a missed opportunity. I rarely talked with my friends about Jesus. I let fear win. So I encourage you to get a team together, like Paul did. Yes, sometimes he was alone, but most often he connected with other people. Silas, Timothy, Priscilla, Aquila, and many others. Who is your team? Who are the like-minded Christians at school, on your team, at work, in your neighborhood, who you can work together with to strengthen others. A team is a great way to help overcome fear.

If you are a parent or grandparent, what can it look like for you to speak up and strengthen the disciples in your home? As with Priscilla and Aquila, make your home a place where there is conversation, especially around the table. I have been encouraged by Leonard Sweet’s book From Tablet to Table, as well as from Priya Parker’s book The Art of Gathering. Both include wonderfully practical ideas for being intentional about overcoming fear so that you can gather people in your home to strengthen them.

What will it look like to overcome fear and strengthen the disciples in the church? In your workplace? In your home?

What is needed to help people grow as followers of Jesus – Acts 18, Part 4

Are you a pastor, a small group leader, a Bible study teacher, seeking to help people grow as followers of Jesus? Or maybe you are a parent, or a grandparent, and you would love to help your kids or grandkids better follow Jesus. I’ve preached countless sermons and had numerous conversations with people, many times thinking, “This is going to be the sermon or conversation that makes a huge impact in their lives.” I can get very excited thinking that from this day forward, things will be different, and the people I’m interacting with grow like crazy in their relationship with Jesus. Except that almost never happens.

A number of years ago, I preached a sermon about the importance of prayer, and the following week, our attendance at Wednesday evening prayer meeting more than doubled. I was so happy. Was this the beginning of a new movement of prayer in our church?

A month later, the answer was a clear, “Nope.” Attendance had dwindled back to its regular level. I understand that people can pray in many ways, and thus we don’t need to have a Wednesday prayer meeting. But I had hoped that my sermon was the start of something, and now I was disappointed with the reality that it didn’t last. Maybe you’ve been in that position as well, as you seek to reach out to people. It can be frustrating, as we wonder how to help people, sometimes feeling like we are failures. What we’ll see in Paul’s life as we continue studying Acts 18, I believe, is a realistic vision for what it takes to help people grow as followers of Jesus.

After receiving a vision from Jesus to not fear, but to stay in Corinth and continue teaching, look what happens in Acts 18:11. Paul remains there for a year and a half. It seems Jesus wanted Paul to settle down for a while and help this church get established.

For years and years Jesus had led Paul to journey from city to city, mostly staying in one place only a short time. Why does Jesus now guide Paul to take a different approach, to stay longer? Is it possible that Corinth has a unique situation as compared to the cities Paul had visited? Is there something going on in Corinth that would necessitate Paul to stay there longer?

As I wrote in the first post in this series on Acts 18, Corinth could be described as a very dysfunctional town. Temple prostitution is one piece of evidence, and we see more evidence in Paul’s letters to the Corinthian Christians. The church would go on to have numerous struggles. It seems that Corinthian culture had a history of instability, affecting behavior and relationships.

Consider how different the way of Jesus would have been for them. Jesus calls us to practice self-control, selflessness, love for one another, including commitment in marriages, and in families. Jesus calls his disciples to a very different way of life from what the Corinthians were accustomed to. Skim through the letter of 1^st Corinthians, for example, and you’ll see they struggled with issue after issue after issue. What’s even more striking to consider is that the struggles described in letter of 1^st Corinthians come after Paul had already spent the 18 months with them!

It is a reminder to us that while the Spirit of God can change people cold turkey, instantaneously, and permanently, so that they rarely again struggle with sin, that is most often the exception that proves the rule. The rule is that our Christian journey is a lifelong process, filled with ups and downs, as we learn to live like Jesus lived. But we press on, and like Paul with the Corinthians, we give ourselves to the long haul with people. That is what discipleship is about. Building a solid relationship can take time and investment. It takes patience. And more patience.

In time Paul’s struggles flared up again. Look at verses 12-17. The Jews who disagree with Paul previously just can’t let things go, so they try to get Paul in trouble again. But the message Jesus had for Paul in the vision, as we read in verses 9-10, came true. No one harmed Paul. Yes, he was threatened, but he was not harmed. As a result, Paul has confidence to stay in Corinth further, as we read in verse 18.

Eventually the time comes for Paul to journey on. Read verses 18b-22, and you’ll find it is an itinerary of sorts, where Luke catches us up on the end of Paul’s mission trip. Paul, along with his fellow tent-makers, Priscilla and Aquila, leaves Corinth, headed for nearby Cenchrea. There Paul shaves his head as part of a vow, the reason for which we know nothing. With his now bald head, Paul, Priscilla and Aquila board a ship and sail to Ephesus.

We read that Paul leaves his friends in Ephesus. Before continuing his journey, he visits the synagogue in Ephesus, which is usually a recipe for trouble. This time things go okay for Paul, as the Jews want to hear more. Paul is on the move, though, so he declines their request, promising to return, if it is God’s will. And it will be God’s will, as we’ll see in chapter 19! Furthermore, Priscilla and Aquila remain in Ephesus to keep teaching, so it is not as if Paul is avoiding ministry in Ephesus.

He sails to Caesarea, which is a port city in Israel. Verse 22 reads that Paul “went up and greeted the church,” which most likely means that he traveled from Caesarea to Jerusalem to give a report of his missionary journey to the leaders of the church. Then he returns to his home church in Antioch. His multi-year mission trip that started all the way back in Acts 15:39 has now come to an end.

But look at verse 23. Paul starts yet another mission trip! We’ll hear more about in the coming weeks. For now, did you notice how that next mission trip is described: Paul visits places where he had previously started churches, strengthening the disciples.

With that word “strengthening,” we have a theme emerging! Do not fear, but press on to strengthen the disciples. This theme is one way to describe the mission of Jesus. Our lives are not to be ruled by fear, but marked by courageous, persistent strengthening of the disciples. This theme continues through the end of the chapter, as we’ll see in the next post.

A vision from Jesus for those who struggle with fear – Acts 18, Part 3

Recently a friend sent me a video of an American pastor who said he received a vision from Jesus detailing awful and terrible things that will happen to the USA in the fall of 2020. I’m writing this in July 2020, and the last few months have already been deeply troubling, considering divisive politics in an election year, the coronavirus pandemic, and police brutality against blacks. Perhaps it will get worse. I recently read a biography of Frederick Douglass, and the chapters on our Civil War reminded me that our country has gone through horrible periods in our past, and it could happen again.

I have to admit, though, that the video struck me as potentially motivated by fear. I don’t know that, of course. It could be that the Lord really did give this man a vision of the true future. I highly doubt it, but I recognize at least the possibility. What concerns me, however, is how fear can cripple us. It seems much more likely that this man, like the rest of us experiencing the tumult of 2020, is affected by strong emotions. If you are like me, one way those emotions and fears come out is at night in my dreams. Rarely are my dreams comforting. Frankly, they are usually bizarre, like the one a few nights ago in which I was wearing buckets for shoes, and in the middle of the dream I remember looking down at my bucketed feet thinking, “Why am I doing this? It is really strange.” As we continue our study of Acts 18, Paul also has a striking vision from Jesus one night, and fear plays a big part in it.

In the previous post we learned the exciting news that a new church has been started in the city of Corinth. Even the Jewish synagogue ruler and his family believed! Does the presence of a new church mean that Paul’s mission in the city of Corinth is complete? It could seem that way given Paul’s pattern of ministry, usually staying in a city for a short time, enough to start a church, and then traveling to another city. But in Acts 18:9-10, Jesus gives Paul a vision with some specific instructions. Before continuing with this post, please read Acts 18:9-10 to learn what Jesus has to say to Paul.

Since Acts 9 we’ve learned of numerous visions God gave to Paul. This one is unique because while many of the previous visions directed Paul to go here or there, in this one the Lord says, “Do not fear, stay put, keep speaking.”

Why would God mention fear? When I read about the choices Paul makes, and when I consider the teaching in his letters, it seems like he is one of most fearless Christians who ever lived. But do you know what Paul says when later on he writes to the Corinthians, reflecting on his first visit to them (the same visit we’re reading about in Acts 18)? Here’s what he wrote:

“I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.” (1 Corinthians 2:3)

As the years gave gone by, Paul has been beaten down, physically, emotionally, and relationally, enough times that it seems he is dealing with some fear in Corinth. So let’s read again, the words Jesus has for Paul in the vision: “Do not be afraid. Keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

What an encouraging message! We can hear these as God’s words to us too! When we think of telling the story of Jesus, it can be very easy for us to get nervous, not wanting to offend, not wanting to bring negativity on ourselves, not wanting to alienate, all of which are important concerns. Is Paul dealing with some of that? For Paul the fear might have been more acute as he literally had to deal with the memories and threats of personal bodily harm done to him because he was preaching Christ. We need to see Jesus’ words to Paul as personal. Will Paul trust Jesus?

Maybe Paul could make the argument, “Well, Jesus, thank you for that encouraging vision, but there are plenty of other towns that need to hear about you, so I think I best be moving on from Corinth.” Or maybe that’s just what I might be thinking! Consider that Paul’s calling to mission was a legitimate calling. Therefore, Paul could have also made the argument, “Jesus, you yourself told us to make disciples everywhere. In fact, you told me to do that personally. So you’re sounding a bit inconsistent. First you tell me go, now you tell me stay.” I imagine all kinds of thoughts running through Paul’s mind!

Similar thoughts go through our minds. Fear can keep us down, keep us silent, keep us holed up in our houses. It’s tricky, though, because it is wise to practice caution. Fear, in that sense, can lead us toward wisdom. Imagine you’re having coffee with a friend, and maybe the topic of religion comes up, and as you’re talking, you start picking up from their body language the tell-tale signs of discomfort and anxiety. At that point, what happens inside you? Fear creeps up in you, saying to you, “Alert! Alert! Something’s not right here.” At that moment, fear could be a helpful guide, because we don’t want to unnecessarily offend people.

But if that fear alert system sounds off enough times, we can allow ourselves to get into a habit of fearful thinking, a pattern of seeing far too much from a fearful perspective, and that can be crippling. Fear can lock us down into non-action, into silence. Before long, then, we move away from pursuing the mission of God, and instead we can selfishly over-protect ourselves. We can become the helicopter parents of ourselves, insulating ourselves from any awkwardness or fear-inducing situation, so that fear actually keeps us from participating in the mission of God.

It seems Paul needs to hear this from Jesus, “Fear not, stay, speak up, keep teaching, there is more work to be done here.” Do you need to hear that too?

The last phrase of the vision is a curious one. “I have many people in this city.” When I hear that, it sounds to me like God might have secret agents in the city who will watch over Paul. Or maybe he was talking about guardian angels? It is highly likely that Jesus had something else in mind. It seems best that we should read Jesus as saying, “Paul, I want many more people in the city to become Christians through your ministry, so do not fear, stay put, keep preaching, and I will protect you, and those people will become disciples of Jesus.”

We need to hear that too. We disciples of Jesus are people who are called to speak up and to be disciple-makers. God has given us that mission and he will protect us to accomplish it. But how?

In the next post we’ll find out how Paul responds to the vision from Jesus. There is much we can learn from what Paul does next.

Is it okay to give up on some people? – Acts 18, Part 2

Have you heard the words, “There is no hope for them”? Maybe you were the one saying those words or a phrase like it. Maybe someone said it about you. Often we say these words about a person who has a pattern of making bad choices, or a stubborn streak, and they seem unteachable, unreachable and arrogant. We know intellectually that no one is beyond hope, but sometimes we give up on people when they rebuff our repeated attempts to help them or get to know them. The moment comes when we say, “I’m done!” and we turn and walk away.

As we continue studying Acts 18, in Corinth, Paul had an “I’m done” moment. In the previous post, we learned that he teamed up with Aquilla and Priscilla who were in the tent-making business like Paul. Together they got involved in the leather-working trade, but that wasn’t all. Read verses 4-5.

Paul continued his normal ministry practice of going to the Jewish synagogue and preaching there, we read, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. Eventually Silas and Timothy travel to Corinth as well. Remember that Paul had left them in Berea, which we read in chapter 17:15. Most likely, Silas and Timothy brought missionary support donations from the churches in Macedonia, because we read that once they arrive, Paul is able to resume full-time ministry.

As has been the case in nearly every city Paul visits, it doesn’t go well for him in Corinth. In the Jewish synagogue, he tries to teach the Jews that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Some believe, but some Jews have a strong reaction against Paul, including being abusive to him. Abusive? What does that mean? It is the word, “blaspheme.” So the Jews are not physically hurting him, but they are insulting him or trying to destroy his reputation. It is verbal abuse.

This time, it seems, Paul has reached his limit. Read verses 6-8.

Paul is done with them. He says that from that day forward he is changing his focus and method, and now he will preach to the Gentiles. And what happens? People believe in Jesus, including the synagogue ruler and his family! And they are baptized.

That’s not what I expected to happen! You’d think that after the abuse from the Jews and the strong response from Paul, the last person to believe in Jesus would be the leader of the Jewish synagogue! It is a reminder to us of the sometimes surprising work of the Spirit, and that we shouldn’t write people off, even the person you think is least likely to want to have a spiritual conversation or take Jesus seriously.

Again, we do not view people as spiritual projects. Thus we shouldn’t be obnoxious in our presentation of the good news. It is a tricky balance, because we should trust in the Spirit to be at work, and we should believe in Jesus’ parable about God’s loving heart to leave the 99 in order to go after the 1. But we should also be wise and loving and gracious about how we present ourselves, as we tell the story of Jesus, holding onto hope, asking God to be at work in their lives.

Clearly, in any abusive situation, Paul is an example to us of moving on. We should not allow ourselves to be a doormat or receive abuse of any kind. But we can continue to pray for people, as Jesus taught us, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” These are difficult words, and they require great caution and wisdom. But let us not give up hope on people.

Back in Corinth, then, out of the difficulty the Jews were giving Paul, a light emerges as the synagogue ruler and his family believe and baptized. A new church has been started! Does the presence of a new church mean that Paul’s mission is complete? We’ll find out in the next post!