Engaging Scripture

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!

Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and growing as a Christian – Acts 18, Part 1

*Photo by Jelleke Vanooteghem on Unsplash*

On Wheel of Fortune, what are the five letters contestants receive for free at the beginning of the final puzzle? Did you say, “RSTLNE”? If so, you’re right! Why does Wheel of Fortune give people those letters? It’s because they are the most commonly used letters in the English language.

Now let’s combine that with Jeopardy. I’m going to give you the most common answers to a question, and you tell me what the question is. The category is “Christianity,” and this is the $2000 Double Jeopardy question. Well, actually, I think you’ll find it an easy one, so maybe it is just the $400 question. Here is the answer:

Pray. Read your Bible. Go to Church.

What is the question?

How do you become a stronger Christian?

Did you guess that? To answer how you become a stronger Christian, what I suggested above are the most common answers for a reason. We teach them to our kids because they are very important, and whether young or old, Christians would do well to practice those habits on a regular consistent basis. The problem is that there are times in our lives as disciples of Jesus when we feel stuck. Maybe we’re not practicing the basics and we could be. But maybe it is something else. Maybe it is fear.

Are there fears holding you back? If you’ve ever felt even a touch of that, you’re not alone. When you’re in one a dry spell or struggle with fears, what should you do? How do you become a stronger Christian? How do you grow in your faith?

Turn to Acts 18, as we see that there are other ways to go stronger in the faith. We have been following the 2^nd missionary journey of Paul, and in Acts 18, we’ll see how the trip concludes with Paul’s last major stop, which we read about in Acts 18 verse 1.

That last major stop is the city of Corinth. To get from Athens (where we last left Paul) to Corinth, Paul could either travel by land or by sea, each route about 50 miles. Corinth was a major city at the time, with a possible population of 250,000 free persons and 400,000 slaves. It was situated at a significant crossroads for travelers and commerce. There were at least 12 temples in the city, and perhaps the most famous, or infamous, was the temple to the goddess Aphrodite, which included a practice of temple prostitution. Historians note that at one time there were 1,000 sacred prostitutes serving at the temple. It is probably no surprise, then, that in Corinth immorality was the norm. In fact the word “Corinth” became a verb, “to corinthianize,” which meant “to practice sexual immorality.”

Quite the place, huh? Let’s continue reading verses 2 and 3 to see what Paul will do there.

Paul makes some new friends, Aquilla and Priscilla. In verse 2 we learn about a situation that is recorded in the ancient history books, “because of tumults caused by Chrestus,” Jews were forced to leave Rome. Who is Chrestus? Christ! What tumults did Christ cause? Well, if you review Paul’s adventures in Acts, we’ve studied a number of times he faced riots and upheaval in cities because he preached Christ. Is it possible that is what the Roman Caesar reacted to? Possibly! So it wasn’t Christ in person, but it was the Christian movement that led to the deportation of the Jews from Rome. But that is curious, isn’t it? Why would the Caesar kick the Jews from Rome, when it was Christian preaching that led to tumult? It could be that the Romans didn’t distinguish between the two groups, especially when you consider that Christianity came out of Judaism. Or perhaps it was simply that it was the Jews who so strongly reacted against Christianity. Either way, Aquilla and Priscilla have to leave, and they move to Corinth.

There Paul has a special connection with Aquilla and Priscilla because they share the same profession, tent-making, which mostly likely involved sewing animal skins together. In our day, we would say they were leatherworkers, making more than tents. Think canopies, awnings, tarps, bags, etc.

This word “tent-making” is used in missionary lingo today, referring to people who live and minister bi-vocationally in a different culture, particularly in nations where it is difficult or impossible to get a visa for Christian ministry. That’s exactly what Paul, Aquilla and Priscilla were doing in Corinth. What will they do in addition to working with leather? Check back in to the next post, and we’ll find out.

Practical ideas to help you talk about God – Acts 17, Part 5

Talking about religion, God, or church can be tricky. But if it is the least bit true, it deserves to be talked about, doesn’t it? This is the last in a series of posts on Acts 17 (starting here), and each step along the way we’ve observed the creative and engaging way that Paul tells the story of Jesus. He knew his audience. He was able to speak in their language, using ideas and concepts that were meaningful to them.

When we think about telling the story of Jesus to people in our day, we would do well to follow the example of Paul. What are the cultural touch points that can help us connect with people to share the story of Jesus? For Paul it the was the statue to the unknown god (which I wrote about here) and the Greco-Roman poets (which I wrote about here).

Can you think about any similar touchpoints in our day? I would like to suggest a few I thought of, and I invite you to comment below with your suggestions.

I recently watched the TV Show Devs, and I think it could be a cultural touch point especially for people who are into new TV shows or sci-fi. It is about a CEO of a fictional tech company like Apple or Google or Microsoft, and the CEO lost his young daughter and wife in a car accident. He tries to leverage his wealth and the technological capabilities of his company to deal with his pain. I won’t give away the story, but I will say that some of the main themes of the show are about free will and determinism. Are we humans free or are we slaves to our fate? Can we change our fate? These are deep questions that just might open the door to a conversation about faith. This might be especially true during a worldwide pandemic when many people are wondering if God is in control. What if you start a group that watches a show together and discusses it?

Or given the worldwide protests for racial justice, what if you invite friends to do a book study about it? I highly recommend the podcast Seeing White. That series helped change my views. I’ve listened to the 14 episodes three times through, and each time I learn more. What if you were to ask a group of friends to listen and discuss together? If people prefer reading, the podcast is available in transcript format. Listen or read each episode on your own, and then gather (including a Zoom option) to discuss what you’re learning.

Or what about a hobby you enjoy? I have a pastor friend who loves running, so his story really stuck out to me. He decided to start a running club in his community, trying to make friends with people who like to jog. Tons of people started participating in the club! Do you have a hobby or interest like that? Invite people to join you.

As we seek connections to share the love of Christ, let us remember that people are not projects, and we should treat everyone like living breathing human beings made in the image of God. Equally loved, no matter if people follow Christ or not.

I write this in the early summer of 2020, when church doors are re-opening after three months of quarantine from Covid-19, and there might be a temptation to look inward, but let us instead look outward. Let’s ask God to help us find those cultural touch points that can help us make connections with people to share the amazing story of abundant life and eternal life in Jesus.

When talking about Jesus, it might be best not to refer to the Bible? – Acts 17, Part 4

What do you think about the title of this blog post? If you are a Christian, are you wondering if it bad advice? When we talk about Jesus, why would we not refer to the Bible? When I was a teenager going on mission trips with my church youth group, and then when I was a young adult in Bible college, I learned lots of verses and passages from the Bible that teachers and authors suggested should be peppered into conversations about Jesus, in order to properly talk about how to have a relationship with him. But what if the people we’re talking with don’t know about the Bible? What if they are not convinced of its authenticity? What if they believe other ways of looking at life are authoritative?

As we saw in the first post in this series on Acts 17, the reality is that American culture is changing, and we should not assume that quoting biblical passages is a meaningful way to connect people with the story of Jesus. Interestingly, we would do well to learn from the example of Paul in Athens. In the previous post, we learned that the academic community heard Paul conversing about Jesus, and they brought him to their gathering of scholars on Mars Hill, giving him a chance to share his views. As I mentioned in the previous post, Paul used a three-step method in his speech, with the goal of inviting the people there to consider that God wants to be in close relationship with them, a view that would have been very different for most of the people in the group listening to him.

Paul knows, therefore, that he has to prove his case, especially to the scholars there who disagree with his view of God. So in verse 28, he does something incredibly smart. To provide some backing to his argument, Paul draws on his knowledge of Greco-Roman poets, showing that they have written about the very things Paul is talking about. Of course, those poets weren’t referring to Jesus. But those poets made some statements that supported Paul’s relational view of God.

The first poet Paul quotes is Epimenides who wrote, “In him we live and move and have our being.” Very relational, right? Epimenides is describing a view where humanity has a very close connection to deity. The next phrase, “We are his offspring,” is possibly from the poet Arastus, another Greco-Roman poet talking about how humanity is closely connected to God.

Paul wants the people at Mars Hill to see the relational nature of God. Humanity is connected to God. It doesn’t matter that the Greco-Roman view of deity was different from the Judeo-Christian view. All that Paul is trying to do is establish a bridge between the two theological systems so that he can help his listeners cross that bridge.

Why? Because he wants to introduce the people to Jesus. And that is exactly what he does next. In verses 29-31, he concludes that if God wants to be in relationship with us, then it does not make sense for us to conceive of God as an idol made of stone or wood. Instead, God invites people everywhere to repent of that viewpoint. God is a living being who created us and wants to be in relationship with us.

Furthermore, Paul says, God has done something amazing to prove this relational idea of God. What did God do? He rose someone from the dead. Resurrection. Notice Paul doesn’t mention Jesus. Or belief. He simply says that there is a man from God who brings justice to the world, and the proof that this special messenger is from God is that God raised this man from the dead.

That claim causes a stir in the crowd that day on Mars Hill, as you can read in verses 32-34.

“Resurrection? Really, Paul?”, you can almost hear some of them say to him, thinking Paul is a babbler, “A dead person came back to life?” To some in the Areopagus that day, this sounds preposterous.

We Christians believe resurrection is the essential miracle of our faith, of course, but some people that day sneered at Paul, just as some people in our day struggle with the idea of the resurrection. But as Paul would go on to write in 1^st Corinthians 15, if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, our faith is in vain. The resurrection of Jesus is absolutely necessary for Christian faith.

But because dead people don’t come back to life, is it reasonable to believe in the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection? A person who denies the possibility of the miraculous or the supernatural will say, “No, it is not reasonable,” and they would be entirely consistent with their view of life. Responding to them, I would ask if they would join me in looking at the evidence. Much more thorough investigation has been done, than I have time for in this blog, but I do want to mention a few words. If you want to read much better sources, I’d be glad to point you to some, starting with Surprised by Hope by NT Wright.

Admittedly, the case for the resurrection is circumstantial. It is something that Christians believe by faith. Theologically, we believe God is capable of such a miracle, like raising Jesus from the dead. But did he?

The primary piece of evidence I commend to you is Jesus’ body. There were plenty of people in Jerusalem that first Easter weekend, and in the days and weeks that followed Jesus’ death, including people who had a vested interest in squelching the Christian movement. That’s why they killed Jesus. They wanted what they considered to be a cult, an uprising, to go away. But it just kept growing and growing. The reasons why it grew were numerous, but most important among them was the claim made by Jesus’ followers that Jesus’ dead body had come back to life. The Jewish and Roman authorities who wanted to stop this movement could have easily discredited this outlandish miraculous claim. All they had to do was bring out the dead body. They never did. We believe they couldn’t produce a body because that body had risen again.

Are there other potential reasons that the Jewish and Roman authorities could not produce a body? Sure. Jesus’ disciples could have stolen the body and disposed of it, which is what Matthew’s account suggests the authorities claimed at the time. But the likelihood of that is suspect, as the disciples were extremely skittish, afraid that the Jews and Romans could conspire to kill them, as they easily did to Jesus. The apostles were in hiding. Furthermore, would they risk their lives at that moment, then proclaim a lie (namely, that Jesus had bodily risen) for the rest of their lives, and then sacrifice their own lives for what they knew was false? It seems fairly unreasonable to believe Jesus’ disciples would pursue that. To be fair, other religious leaders have staked their lives on total fabrications, so it is not impossible. In the end, we have evidence for and against the resurrection, and in my view the evidence for the bodily resurrection of Jesus far outweighs the other.

In Athens, Paul was talking with a group of highly educated people, people who had very good reason to be skeptical about an idea so fantastical as the bodily resurrection of the dead. His creative approach to sharing this story of good news, by employing Greco-Roman poets to substantiate his claim that God wants to be in close relationship with humanity, won some over and it turned others away. As we seek to talk to people in our day about the good news promised by Jesus, and verified by his resurrection, like Paul, we face a tall order. What cultural connection points might help us? Check back in to the next post as I’ll talk about a few that I’ve discovered!

3 steps to follow when talking about God (to avoid offending people) – Acts 17, Part 3

It can be difficult and scary to talk about God. And maybe for some of us, it always will be, as talking about God can feel very personal, or very easily offensive. But in this post, as we continue to follow Paul’s journey as told in Acts 17, Paul will demonstrate how to talk about God with graciousness. In the first post, Paul was in Thessalonica, and the in second post we learned about his visit to Berea. After his ministry was so well-received in Berea, trouble flared up, so Paul traveled to Athens.

In Paul’s day Athens was, as it is now, a historically famous city, featuring the famous Parthenon, depicted above. A couple hundred years before Paul’s time, Athens was home to some of history’s greatest philosophical minds: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Things had changed since those days when Athens was the center of the philosophical world, but even in Paul’s day, Athens was still a very important academic city.

We read in verse 16 that soon after Paul arrives in the city, he became greatly distressed because he noticed many idols there. Eventually, using his regular custom, he begins his ministry by visiting Athens’ Jewish synagogue. He “reasons” with his fellow Jews there, as well as with people in marketplace. The Greek word for “reasons” is where we get our English word “dialogue.” It could be that Paul was giving a formal speech, but it seems more likely that he was engaging people in conversation.

Once again trouble follows Paul. In verse 18 we read that the Athenian philosophers start to dispute with him. These academic elites are watching this newcomer Paul preaching boldly in their city streets, and some call Paul a “babbler.” In the original language these philosophers are making fun of Paul, using a word picture that likened Paul to a bird that picks up seeds. What did they mean? One source I read says that they were accusing Paul of being the kind of person who, “learns lots of trivial things and wants to tell everyone about his knowledge, ‘a pseudo-intellectual who insists on spouting off’.” (Louw & Nida)

You probably know people like this. Know-it-alls. They talk…a lot. They almost certainly don’t know as much as they think they know, or as much they want everyone to believe they know. They’re babblers!

When these philosophers, whose lives have been dedicated to reading and learning big ideas, encounter Paul in the marketplace talking about Jesus, some think he is a pretender. They bring him to a meeting of the Areopagus, which translated means “Hill of Ares,” or “Hill of Mars,” depending on whether you go with the Greek or Roman name for the same god. Most often, the place they take Paul to is called Mars Hill, and it was a regular gathering place for philosophers and academics in the city. Why do they take Paul there? It seems that though they are inquiring about his teaching, many are not taking him seriously. But maybe there were some who were genuinely interested in the new ideas that Paul was teaching. So they give him a shot.

Now let’s pay close attention to what Paul says in front of this gathering of academics. This would be a tall order for Paul, wouldn’t it? How would you feel about telling the story of Jesus to a group of college professors? What will Paul do? Paul uses some methods in his speech that just might be very helpful for us, as we seek to talk about Jesus in our communities, whether we are talking to intellectual people or any others. Read verses 22-27, and try to discover Paul’s approach.

Did you see how creatively he handles this unique occasion? Paul is not speaking to Jews, so he doesn’t mention Jewish Scriptures or ideas. Instead, in front of the Greco-Roman academic elite of Athens, Paul speaks in words and concepts that they will understand. He uses a three-step process to tell the story of Jesus. In this post, we’ll look at the three steps, and in the next post, we’ll further examine how he develops his speech. So maybe look over Paul’s speech again, verses 22-27, and see if you can observe the three steps. Then come back, and continue with the post, as I attempt to describe Paul’s steps here.

First, he begins by complimenting them, saying they are very religious. He talks about walking around Athens looking at their religious symbols. This is a wise move on Paul’s part because he knows the story of Jesus might feel like a critique to their view of life. He starts off with a compliment to show he is not on the attack.

Second, he finds a connection point. When he first arrived in Athens and walked around the city, he says he noticed one altar in particular had an inscription, “to an unknown god.” Paul is eager to find a cultural touch-point that might serve as a bridge to communicate the gospel, and this altar is it. You can see his eyes light up when he first noticed that altar. The unknown god…, he thinks, that is what Jesus is to them, unknown. Perhaps Paul can help the unknown become the known. Maybe this altar will help the Athenians make a philosophical connection to the one true God.

Third, only after complimenting them and connecting with them does Paul begin to communicate the story of Jesus. He doesn’t start with Jesus though. He goes back further to talk about the one true God. Notice in verses 24 and following that Paul presents a particular view of God. In other words, Paul is doing some theology and philosophy of his own here. His is a biblical view of God, but one that not everyone in the Areopagus would agree with.

As he continues, he makes a statement about the relationship between God and man. Look at verse 27. Paul explains why God created humanity. God wants people to seek him, reach out for him, and find him. Paul is presenting a relational view of God. This is a God who wants to be close with his creation. Paul goes even further when he says that God not only desires closeness with humans, God is also “not far from each one of us.” Paul wants his listeners to know of the possibility of a warm relationship between God and humanity. Again, this would be a different conception of God for some of the people listening to Paul.

Paul has complimented them, he has found a connection point, and he has begun to communicate the message of the one true God who wants to have a close relationship with humanity. Paul knows that he has to prove his case to the scholars there who disagree with his view of God, especially because he has more to say about the resurrection, and they had previously (vs. 18-20) called his teaching into question. So in verse 28, he does something incredibly smart, and we’ll learn more about that in the next post.

For now, think about Paul’s three-step method: compliment, connect, communicate. How can you follow Paul’s example as you tell the story of Jesus in your community?