Acts

To Be Continued...

To Be Continued...

The book of Acts comes to an anti-climactic end in chapter 28. We never hear about Paul standing before Caesar. There is little conflict from the Jewish leaders there. We never hear whether he made it to Spain afterward. It ends with him living in his own rented home for two years, continuing to share the Good News. The Story does not end here, because the Story is not over. It continues with you and I.

In a sense, Acts ends as it started. It was a continuation of all Jesus began to do through the Spirit — which he now continues through His Spirit at work in his followers.

Moving Forward In the Mission

Moving Forward In the Mission

Paul made three missionary trips around Asia Minor and Greece before traveling to Jerusalem for the Pentecost feast and to deliver some aid to the poor from Gentile cities. From there he would travel even further on. But before he left, he wanted to encourage the new believers in those cities to continue strong in the faith, following after Jesus, because he knew he would never see them again.

Luke’s retelling of this story includes a strange event right in the middle of Paul’s farewell tour; a young boy falling out of a window to his death. Yet, even in this tragedy, the Spirit of God was moving His mission of the restoration of life forward, just as He was moving Paul forward to share this good news with all the nations.

Don't Be Afraid - God Is With You

Don't Be Afraid - God Is With You

After leaving Athens, Paul traveled to the much different city of Corinth. There he was weary and afraid, likely because of the many obstacles he faced from his travels and even more so from the culture in Corinth he was surrounded by. Yet, God shows up. He provides community for him in Aquila and Priscilla, and Jesus himself speaks words of comfort and encouragement. This allows Paul the strength to stay in Corinth for a year and a half, speaking good news.

The words of Jesus to Paul are words for us still today.

One Story, Many Contexts

One Story, Many Contexts

Often, the work God has for us happens during what seems to be interruptions to our life. Paul found himself in Athens alone as a temporary escape from the threats in another city. Yet, God had him there for a purpose. This was a much different crowd, filled with many different thoughts and views on life. Yet, whether he was in the synagogue, the marketplace, or in the seat of philosophers, Paul had one message to bring: the story of Jesus.

Worship, Not Works

Worship, Not Works

In Acts 15, the council of apostles and leaders of the earliest community of Jesus followers had a question before them: ‘What determines whether a person is in Christ or not?’ Their answer: ‘The grace of God through the work of Jesus, not through our own work.’

This meant that the religious rules they had been taught to follow their entire lives, though they had their place, were not what saved them. This also meant the things that had distinguished Jews from the rest of the world as God’s own people were no longer dividing lines. Most of all, this meant that all people were welcome into the Kingdom of God as they recognized Jesus as King.

It is our worship of Jesus that saves us, not our works.

To the Ends of the Earth

To the Ends of the Earth

Charlie Meo, pastor of Missio Dei Tempe, visits us with a message from Acts 13:13-52. What happens when we are formed by God, together, but not for the sake of others? This is what Israel looked like. How have we patterned this? Are there any barriers or blindspots we haven’t realized we set up which keep others from coming into the community of God’s people? May we be a people formed by God, together, for the sake of others.

What's In A Name?

What's In A Name?

From Barnabas to Bar-Jesus, Acts 13 introduces us to a lot of new names. Each of them has a significant meaning and tells a story. Bar in the Hebrew/Aramaic means “son of”. Barnabas was ‘son of encouragement’ and Bar-Jesus, ‘son of salvation’. One of those characters lived up to their name. What name do you carry? How can you live up to the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit you have been called into?

Restoration of Life

Restoration of Life

In this scene of Acts we see a community at peace, a man healed, the marginalized cared for, and a woman brought back from death to life. These miraculous things were a preview of what is to come in fullness one day. The works of Jesus, pointing us to the ultimate work he has accomplished at his death and resurrection and we will fully experience at his return. In the power of his Spirit, we too can become a preview people, showing the world a glimpse of restoration.

Philip and the Ethiopian

Philip and the Ethiopian

The Spirit of God continues to work through ordinary men and women. Philip is one of those willing participants in God’s work, partnering with the Spirit to bring the message of good news of the Kingdom of God through Jesus, to even the least likely of people. God is building His family and community and gathering people from all tribes, tongues, and nations together, as one.

Simon and the Spirit

Acts 8 gives us a snapshot of another ordinary man filled with the extraordinary power of the Spirit of God. Philip traveled to Samaria to bring the good news of Jesus to a people traditionally hated by Jewish men and women. There, he encounters a man named Simon who is using another power to gain control and status in the community. Yet his power is no match for the power of God — so Simon wants the power the followers of Jesus possess and is willing to pay the right price for it.

It may seem like a strange, otherworldly story to us. But are there ways we try to obtain the favor, love, or power of God too? Do we try to earn or buy it, when it is freely given by Jesus?

Stephen and the Story

Stephen and the Story

Stephen was an ordinary man, who was filled with the extraordinary love, wisdom, and power of the Spirit of God. In this love and power, he was able to share good news with many. When he was confronted with those who were angered and threatened by the way of Jesus, the Spirit gave Stephen the words to retell the Story of their faith, and show how Jesus was the culmination of that Story. And when those same people were outraged by this story and began to murder Stephen, the Spirit gave Stephen a peace and strength allowing him to suffer in the same manner as Jesus — so that he would also share in his glory.

Today, we are invited into this same Story, to be filled by the same Spirit, to share in both the same suffering and glory.