Acts Actually: 14 – What Keeps You Going

They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. 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) They preach the gospel, […]

It’s Alien To Me

There are some things that people take for granted that I’ve been conditioned over the years to see differently. Indeed the concepts are alien to me. For example heaven. I am aware that the society around me has a view on heaven particularly as the destination to which they believe they are headed after death. […]

Acts Actually: 13 – Adventures on the Mission

Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first.Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring […]

Focus On Jesus

Hearing some people it’s clear where their priorities lay. Catching myself from time to time highlights how challenging it is to live in a way that won’t compromise the gospel. This week I was challenged about my thoughts to a particularly unpleasant and slippery personality. The two-faced sneaky character really got on my nerves and […]

Acts Actually: 12 – The Surprising Power of Prayer

When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” (Acts 12:14, 15) James is killed. Peter is arrested and looks […]

In It Together

Whether it’s teaching together or sharing meals together, there’s something powerful about life together. Seeing the Holy Spirit in operation in the book of Acts it’s just so remarkable how He knits hearts and minds together to do mission together, to spread the Word together, to live the Word together. It is not a story […]

Acts Actually: 11 – Partnership Teaching; Community Sharing

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:25, 26) The gospel spreads and Jerusalem catches up […]

Culture Merge

The cross cultural appeal of the gospel is something I find hugely endearing. I find now that there are people like me in and among people very much unlike me that I would not have been able to recognise if it wasn’t for the Spirit of God that brought us together. By being like me […]

Acts Actually: 10 – Gospel Expansion – Breaking Down The Barriers

You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. (Acts 10:28) What makes Acts such a great narrative is how it shows people getting the hint and going with the […]

Prayer Assist

Today, I was reminded how important prayer is to every day life as a follower of Christ. I recognised again that without prayer and an attitude predisposed to ongoing communication with God, my life is likely to go off the rails. What triggered that was reading another chapter in the excellent book Seven Marks of […]