God is sovereign and His Spirit leads us to the right opportunities for ministry. We see this in Acts 16:6-10…. Pastor Steven J. Cole comments: Opportunities come to those who are already serving, not to those who are doing nothing…..Sometimes people don’t serve the Lord because they’ve never experienced a dramatic “call” to ministry. But this … More Get Moving
John Piper, in a sermon “Be Like Barnabas, Not Like Ananias!” Ananias and Sapphira stand for the exact opposite, namely, people who have not really been changed on the inside by being satisfied with all that God is for them in Christ, but who still want some place in the visible church. The reason they … More Warning to phonies and fakes
John Piper comments on Acts 4:23-31 Acts 4:23-31 When they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the earth and … More Five Reasons This Prayer Is Relevant
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, (Acts 3:19-20 ESV) I should not be amazed that the Bible is so cohesive. Today, we read from Matthew … More Call to repentance
Acts 2: 23 “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” John Piper, in a sermon,“Did You Kill the Lord of Glory?” I can hear a superficial cynic respond to this and say, “What kind of endorsement is that? … More God’s plan to crucify Jesus vs Pilate’s plan to crucify Jesus
One of the benefits of a Bible reading plans that draws from different sections each day is that there are times when you are struck with similarities between passages. Today is one of those days. In Matthew 1 yesterday, we read that Mary was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. The second chapter … More Holy Spirit: Birth of Jesus; Birth of the Church
Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. —Acts 1:16 ESV John Piper, in a sermon, What Judas’s Death Teaches Us About the Spirit, tells of the invincible purpose of the Holy Spirit: God wants … More Piper: the all-encompassing invincibility of God’s purpose
Acts 1:1–3 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many … More Mending bodies and taking notes..more than a doctor
John Piper: “A snake bites Paul, so they think he’s a criminal. He doesn’t fall dead, so they think he’s a god. Beware of human polls.” (Twitter, February 21, 2011) After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a … More John Piper: Beware of human polls.
Bob Deffinbaugh comments on the ending of the book of Acts: One final word about the supposedly “sudden and abrupt” ending of the Book of Acts. Many have noted the unusual ending of Acts. Some have explained this ending by suggesting that Luke intended to write yet another volume. I think that the ending of … More Deffinbaugh: Gospel-centered ending to Acts
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 