Spurgeon: Paul had a secret Friend who kept his courage up.

Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo.  And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. Since … More Spurgeon: Paul had a secret Friend who kept his courage up.

Coty Pinckney: Christian behavior RESULTS from a relationship with God; it is NOT a prerequisite to that relationship.

Today in our reading plan, we come to Leviticus 18-20. Pastor Coty Pinckney shares some insights that help us understand Leviticus in light of the New Testament: The break in Leviticus between chapters 1-16 and chapters 17-27 is similar to the break in Ephesians between chapters 1-3 and chapters 4-6. Remember, in the first half … More Coty Pinckney: Christian behavior RESULTS from a relationship with God; it is NOT a prerequisite to that relationship.

Paul describes his conversion to Agrippa: darkness to light, death to life

Bob Deffinbaugh comments on Paul’s testimony before Agrippa: Paul did not describe his conversion as some kind of evolution, but rather as a radical transformation, a change from darkness to light, from death to life, a change from persecuting Christianity to practicing and promoting it. He was actively opposing the church when Jesus stopped him dead … More Paul describes his conversion to Agrippa: darkness to light, death to life

The scapegoat takes our sins to the wilderness of forgetfulness.

In a sermon, “As Far as the East is From the West”, a sermon on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), on Leviticus 16 by Coty Pinckney, The Scapegoat This sacrifice, while different and more detailed than the usual sin offerings, nevertheless is similar to that daily ritual. The next act on the Day of Atonement, however, … More The scapegoat takes our sins to the wilderness of forgetfulness.

John Piper: Imprisonment will interrupt your evangelistic strategy, but it will not interrupt God’s evangelistic strategy.

In our Bible reading passage for today, we come to Paul’s testimony before Agrippa in Acts 26.  In a message, “Christ’s Purpose in Evangelism,” Dr. John Piper said: When Jesus looked into the future and predicted what would happen to his disciples, he said something very sobering, but also very encouraging. He said (in Luke 21:12–13), … More John Piper: Imprisonment will interrupt your evangelistic strategy, but it will not interrupt God’s evangelistic strategy.

Acts 25: Promises, plans and the proclamation of the Gospel

Bob Deffinbaugh from Bible.org At the time of Paul’s conversion, God revealed that he would bear testimony of the gospel “before the Gentiles and kings” (Romans 9:15). Paul has already stood before Claudius Lysias, and Felix, and now Festus, and in the next chapter of Acts (26) he will stand before “king” Agrippa and Bernice. … More Acts 25: Promises, plans and the proclamation of the Gospel