Open Season on Christians
Acts 16:35-39 (NIV) 35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly […]
Zoom Out
Acts 16:22-25 (NIV) 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the […]
On Demons, Money, and Lies
Acts 16:16-21 (NIV) 16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These […]
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 […]
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.” […]
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 […]
