Have you ever been around a child learning to count? My kids, at that very early stage, would often skip numbers in the teens, “11, 12, 13…15, 16, 17…” It was humorous, but we would stop them and say, “You missed 14…let’s try it again.” After practice, they learned. In the previous post, I suggestedContinue reading “Are you counting your blessings the right way? (or the wrong way?) – Acts 12, Part 2”
Tag Archives: early church
How should we count our blessings? – Acts 12, Part 1
What have you been grateful for lately? Or has it been hard for you to be grateful? We all go through seasons of abundance and seasons that seem dry like a desert. What season are you in right now? I’m writing this in the spring of 2020 when the entire world has been on quarantineContinue reading “How should we count our blessings? – Acts 12, Part 1”
The one thing you must do to get unstuck in life – Acts 11:19-30, Part 5
Do you feel stuck during the quarantine? Does it feel like the trauma is walling you in? It can be crippling, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. What is the solution to get through a difficult time? Move! Move? Sell your house or get a new rental and move? No, not that kind of move. To explainContinue reading “The one thing you must do to get unstuck in life – Acts 11:19-30, Part 5”
Two inspiring stories to encourage us during the loneliness of quarantine – Acts 11:19-30, Part 3
For most of us, quarantine is turning two months old, and I wonder if it is getting to you. The daily news reports about the number of infections and deaths can weigh heavy on us. Are you feeling it? You might not be jumping for joy like the guy in the picture. As we continueContinue reading “Two inspiring stories to encourage us during the loneliness of quarantine – Acts 11:19-30, Part 3”
Moving from frustration to purpose when you’re stuck at home – Acts 11:19-30, Part 2
How are you dealing with being stuck at home these past two months? Feeling frustrated? This week we’re studying Acts 11:19-30, and what we read there could help us move from frustration to purpose. So grab a Bible and and read that passage. Did you notice there are three sections in the passage? There isContinue reading “Moving from frustration to purpose when you’re stuck at home – Acts 11:19-30, Part 2”
How raves and body piercings might help you understand a Bible story – Acts 9:32-11:18, Part 3
How do you feel about raves and body piercings? If the thought of them makes you feel uncomfortable, then perhaps this post is for you. In the previous post we studied Peter’s bizarre dream about a blanket of animals dropping down from heaven. The animals were all deemed unclean by a list in the JewishContinue reading “How raves and body piercings might help you understand a Bible story – Acts 9:32-11:18, Part 3”
Why the supporting cast is vital – Acts 9:1-31, Part 1
Were you in a school play? Were you a lead role? Or maybe you were a supporting role? Perhaps a part of the crew? If you ever go to a play or musical, you know that the lead roles get their picture in the program, along with usually a paragraph with their bio. But ifContinue reading “Why the supporting cast is vital – Acts 9:1-31, Part 1”
When it comes to the Kingdom of God, all are welcome – Acts 8:4-40, Part 4
Does your church welcome all ethnicities? All races? Does your church’s ethnic demographic resemble that of the community around you? If not, why not? This week we’ve been reading Acts 8:4-40, learning how the Spirit has been pushing the church to get woke. So far the Spirit, through the ministry of Philip, has taken theContinue reading “When it comes to the Kingdom of God, all are welcome – Acts 8:4-40, Part 4”
Simon the Sorcerer vs the Holy Spirit – Acts 8:4-40, Part 3
There was a powerful man in Samaria. Simon the Sorcerer. All week long we’ve been studying Acts 8:4-40, learning about how Christians should get woke like the early church. One of those earliest Christians, Philip, had traveled to Samaria and started demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit. But there was already a man withContinue reading “Simon the Sorcerer vs the Holy Spirit – Acts 8:4-40, Part 3”
Jesus’ example of wokeness – Acts 8:4-40, Part 2
The church should be woke because Jesus was woke. As I mentioned in the previous post, in the section of Acts we’re studying this week, Acts 8:4-40, we meet a man who had some fascinating encounters as he preached Jesus along the way, and his name was Philip. Today we’re going to learn how Jesus’Continue reading “Jesus’ example of wokeness – Acts 8:4-40, Part 2”
Engaging Scripture 