At first glance, this passage of Scripture can seem a little disorienting. It feels like a weird story about a long-winded preacher who literally preaches someone to death, sandwiched in between two really boring GPS maps.
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This passage is centered around the battle between idolatry and the gospel. The gospel had slowly but surely been taking ground in the city of Ephesus for quite some time and now the idolatry that lurked in the shadows of that dark culture was rearing its ugly head.
Continue readingThe passage in front of us today is a case study in making war on the darkness. Any time the gospel advances into a new area – whether it is a new culture or a new place deep within our hearts – the darkness will reveal its ugly head.
Continue readingWhen I read this portion of the book of Acts, I cannot help but to think of the Great Commission. The Great Commission (Matt. 18:18 – 20) is basically Jesus’ final words to his disciples before he ascended back into heaven.
Continue readingThe apostle Paul was definitely a man of grit and grace. He had the grit to endure insurmountable odds and he also had the grace to face his worst enemies with a heart that still ached for their eternal salvation. Do you ever stop and wonder where all of Paul’s grit and grace came from?
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The book of Ephesians is probably my favorite book in the entire Bible; right next to the book of Romans and especially Romans chapter eight. This seems appropriate to me since some people believe that the book of Romans is most likely an extended commentary on the themes that Paul began to explain in Ephesians.
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What do you struggle to believe about Jesus? To believe something is to accept that something is true and reliable. When you and I believe that something is true and reliable, we put our trust in it; we do not trust what we do not believe to be true or reliable.
Continue readingI want us to think for a few minutes about the certainty of the Christmas season; about the things we can count on when Christmas comes around. We can be certain, we can count on, getting together with some friends and family, maybe eating some good food, giving and receiving some Christmas gifts, the Christmas Story movie playing on repeat on various TV channels, Christmas music playing everywhere we go, and the beauty of Christmas decorations all over the place.
Continue readingOne of my favorite debates during the Christmas season centers around the validity of the Die Hard movies being Christmas movies! I personally think those movies are great Christmas movies since they were released around the Christmas season but nevertheless, I digress!
Continue readingWhat do you love the most about the Christmas season? The Christmas season is one of my favorite seasons of the year. I love the beauty of the season with all of the lights, and the music, and the festivities, and the special food, and the time we spend with family and friends.
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