Learning to Lose
23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:23 (NIV) The goal in sports is to win. But one of the most important lessons you learn as an athlete is how to lose. Because, […]
Election Sermon
“Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.” (Acts 14:21-22, NIV) Paul and Barnabas were now headed into three new cities – new fields of ministry. The first […]
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 […]
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 […]
