Winning! By Oxycodone
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1568229660683{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]“They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch…” (Acts 14:21, NIV) The Greek in this verse, describing Paul and Barnabas’ time in Derbe, says: “They evangelized that city and made a great number of disciples.” But I […]
WWBBD (What would Bear Bryant do?)
One of my favorite football stories is about famed Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant. He was sending out young coaches to recruit for Alabama. “You know the guy who gets knocked down and then gets back up?” he asked. “Sure coach – that’s the guy we want, right?” “No,” Bryant says, “we don’t want him.” […]
Good News / Bad News
When Paul and Barnabas came to Lystra and Derbe, a man who had been crippled since birth was healed. Amazed, the people jumped to the conclusion that these apostles were gods: Zeus and Hermes. One of the priests of Zeus even began preparations for sacrificing bulls to Paul and Barnabas. The apostles urged them to […]
Go Team!
“At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for […]
The Art of Shaking the Dust from Your Feet
Confession is good for the soul, they say. So here goes. In high school I didn’t read Silas Marner. I was supposed to. I wanted to (I love to read). But I was too busy. So I read the Cliffs Notes. Sorry, Mrs. Hayes. There, I feel better already. In Acts 13:13-52, Paul and Barnabas […]
Being the Church of Second Chances
“From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.“ (Acts 13:13, NIV) Like any good historian, Luke gives us the facts. John left Paul and Barnabas’ team to return to Jerusalem. But Luke’s also a great story-teller…and this is a great story! John was mentioned […]
Here’s Your Sign
“…The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight […]
Diversity!
“In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have […]
On Politics, Kings, and Death Angels
“…Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the […]
Crazy
“You’re out of your mind…” (Acts 12:15, NIV) And that was Rhoda’s diagnosis. Peter had just escaped prison with some angelic help and went to Mary’s house where the church was praying. He knocks on the door. Rhoda opens the door and is so surprised to see him she leaves him standing on the street […]
Supernatural
“Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a […]
Wake Up!
“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in […]
