D.A Carson wrote in “For the Love of God, Volume 1, July 28” and helps us understand our reading from Acts 15 today. In Acts 15, it is critically important to understand what the dispute was about that called into existence what has since been labeled “the Jerusalem Council.” Some (Jewish) men traveled from Judea … More At issue: the freedom of God’s grace
January 25 Acts 15:1-21 (ESV) The Jerusalem Council 15:1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were … More January 25 Acts 15:1-21
The following excerpt comes from “Twelve Appeals to Prosperity Preachers” found in the new edition of Let the Nations Be Glad.(John Piper) with a reference to our reading for today, Acts 14. Missing from most prosperity preaching is the fact that the New Testament emphasizes the necessity of suffering far more than it does the … More Don’t be surprised at suffering
January 24 Acts 14 (ESV) Paul and Barnabas at Iconium 14:1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. [1] 3 So they remained for a long … More January 24 Acts 14
Today we read Acts 13:26-52, where Paul recounts the redemptive history of the people of God in the Old Testament. Here are words from John Piper, in a sermon “History is God’s Story” …Is this the way you tell stories about what happened? When you tell somebody about the past, do you say, “God did … More History is God’s Story
January 23 Acts 13:26-52 (ESV) 26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, … More January 23 Acts 13:26-52
Today we read Acts 13:1-25 in our reading plan. John Piper concluded a message from Acts 13:1-12 this way: God is a searching and saving God; that he is a God on a mission; he has straight paths that lead to faith; he is still sending us “to seek and to save the lost.” He … More God makes persecution a launching pad for missions
January 22 Acts 13:1-25 (ESV) Barnabas and Saul Sent Off 13:1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, [1] Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for … More January 22 Acts 13:1-25
Here is a summary of the main point of Acts 12, the passage in our read-through-the-Bible plan today. It is taken from the introduction of a sermon by John Piper, “Execution, Escape and Eaten by Worms”: The chapter begins with Herod killing James the apostle of the Lord Jesus (v. 2), and ends with the … More Acts 12: If You Oppose Jesus, You Lose
January 21 Acts 12 (ESV) James Killed and Peter Imprisoned 12:1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of … More January 21 Acts 12
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