Handling Controversy in the Church:  The Jerusalem Council In Acts 15, the controversy between Jew and Gentile Christians reached a head as Paul and Barnabus were challenged by some Jews to require the Gentiles to be circumcised.  There was a sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabus and the Jews, so much so that a council [...]

As we continue our survey of the New Testament with respect to the local church, Acts 14 gives us a special focus on ministers of the gospel. Two Threats to Ministers of the Gospel  (14:1-18) 1.  The Threat of Opposition:  At Iconium (14:1-7) We see Paul and Barnabus facing a variety of challenging circumstances in [...]

When we get to Acts 13, we begin to see the missionary activity of the church on the rise.  This, of course is a fulfillment of Acts 1:8, as the gospel begins to go out to the ends of the earth.  As we go through these chapters in Acts, we will continue to look for [...]

Again we come back to our survey of the New Testament with special focus on what it teaches about the local church.  In Acts 12, we again see some key points of emphasis to be considered as we think about what the New Testament directs the church to be today. We are reminded first of [...]

1  Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Our chapter opens with a criticism of Peter for [...]

In chapter 10 in the book of Acts we see the transition from a focus on the gospel among the Jews to the spread of the gospel among the Gentiles.  With the conversion of Cornelius, we also see the beginnings of the fulfillment of Acts 1:8 to take the gospel to the ends of the [...]

Borrowing from the apostle Paul, I am adopting this prayer as my own for our church in 2011 . . . 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of [...]

As we come to Acts 9 we see the great chapter which details the conversion of Paul.  Paul is confronted on the Damascus road by the risen Christ and is blinded for three days.  During that time the Lord calls a man named Ananias to go to pray over Paul.  Paul is healed of his [...]