Highlight: 

Acts 24:14-15 – “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.”

Explain: 

Paul was brought before the governor Felix in Caesarea and questioned about him being a plague and stirring up riots.  Paul was up front and honest about his faith, and confirmed that his “sect of the Nazarenes” was not a contradiction of Jewish belief of the Law.  He explained to Felix that followers of the Way (Christians) believe the Law and the Prophets.  The difference was the Jews did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.  Paul shows great boldness here, but it results in him being imprisoned for years.   

Apply: 

Christianity is often misunderstood by people who are not followers of Christ.  Our culture often lumps Christians in this category of bigotry and not loving all people.  This is not true, and just like Paul, we must bring clarity to those who do not know the truth about Christianity.   

Respond: 

Lord, help me to always speak your truth, in love, to people I encounter who do not know you, and who have a misunderstanding about who you are.

Brad Perry

5/22/19

Acts 23 (CSB)

H

Acts 23:3 – “Then Paul said to him, God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!  You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law you are ordering me to be struck?”

E

Paul was speaking to Ananias, the high priest, at the Sanhedrin.  While Paul was trying to testify, Ananias was ordering for Paul to be struck in the face. Paul here is rebuking the hypocrisy of Ananias who was trying to condemn Paul based on the Jewish law while at the same time violating it by having him struck in the face.  This reveals just how wicked and blind self-righteous people can become.  They may have the truth of God’s Word in front of them, but if it is not internalized and change the way they live, they will become blind, prideful hypocrites who fight against what God is doing instead of submitting to God.  

A

I must remember how irrational and blind people can become when they deny truth or mask their intentions in self-righteousness. This danger is just as real for people in the church as it is for those outside the church.  I must always humbly submit to God’s Word and never become prideful in my own “goodness” so as to not become blind and hypocritical.  

R

Prayer: “God help me to pursue you and trust in what you’ve called me to do in spite of the pushback or spiritual blindness of those around me.  Help me to always walk humbly before you and seek to obey you in all I do so that I too won’t slip into blind self-righteousness.”  

Aaron Pierce

Scripture: Acts 22:10

Highlight  And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’[1]

Explain: Because they assume that Paul has entered the temple with a Gentile, the people riot. In the middle of the riot, Paul asks for and receives permission to address the crowd. When he speaks, the people get quiet and listen. He simply tells them his story. That’s interesting. You might have thought he would offer up some defense of himself or let them know that their misperception that he had brought a Gentile into the temple was wrong. Instead, he just tells his story.  The greatest power you have in reaching others with the gospel is your story: the simple detailed account of how God saved you!

Apply: I think that this is something that I have been missing: Just telling my story of how God proved Himself to me in an undeniable way and how He has continued to prove Himself to me time and time again.

Respond I will think about how to do this effectively.

Rusty Russell

cripture:  Acts 21: 13-14 (NIV)

Highlight:  “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Explain:  Paul suffered much persecution as he traveled and shared the Gospel.  Some people tried to keep Paul from traveling to certain areas because of fear for his life.  In this particular case, Paul told the people not to be upset, and that he was willing to suffer and die for the Gospel. 

Apply:  Paul had courage as he traveled because he knew that God was with him. Many times, I “travel” throughout life, and I forget the One that is with me.  I fear and worry, and I should keep pressing on.  Paul’s courage is very humbling, and it is something that I would strive to attain if I were in his shoes. 

Respond:  Lord, please help me to remember that you are with me, and I have nothing to fear.  Please help me listen to your Holy Spirit as you lead and direct my life. 

Carl Bradshaw

Acts 20       

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; ²⁰ how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,²¹ testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.^[a] 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by^[b] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. ²⁴ But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God

E:         Paul had been going around to different regions preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. There were Jews who did not like what he was preaching, and were plotting to kill Paul when they could get to him. Paul knew that others needed to hear the Gospel message but there was an uneasiness about where he must go. Understandably, this was not an easy task but Paul followed the Spirits leading.

A:         Many times the Lord calls us to do things that are out of our comfort zone. He directs us to speak to someone we work with, live close to, or maybe who we are kin to. I don’t believe I have ever faced the challenge of knowing that if I shared my faith with someone that my life may be threatened though. That would have to be the most difficult thing to realize.

R:         I have to be willing to go where Christ leads me. Even if it means going to some dangerous situations for His sake. My eternal hope is in Him no matter what the cost.

Bryan Hughes

Highlight: 

Acts 19:13-16 – “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

Explain: 

God was doing extraordinary things through Paul as he was healing many people in the name of Jesus.  People were even taking handkerchiefs that Paul had touched to use on the sick and possessed.  Some Jewish exorcists heard about Paul and how he was healing in Jesus’ name, so they attempted to use Jesus’ name too.  They attempted this on an evil spirit, and the evil spirit said he knew Jesus, and was familiar with Paul, but did not know them.  The man that had the evil spirit overpowered them and the exorcists had no power over the evil spirit.

Apply: 

This story shows us that we cannot manipulate the name of Jesus to accomplish selfish gain.  There is power in the name of Jesus when there is a relationship with Him.  People may attempt to manipulate the name of Jesus, and they may even fool some people, but God will not let it stand.  As a pastor, I must always check my motives, and make sure I am not guilty of trying to manipulate God for my selfish purposes.

Respond: 

Lord, help me to always live in submission to your will rather than trying to use you to accomplish my will.

Aaron Pierce’s H.E.A.R. Journal Entry

5/15/19

Acts 17-18 (CSB) 

H

Acts 18:9b-10 – “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent.  For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.”

E

Paul has been consistently refuted by the Jewish leaders where ever he goes, including now in Corinth, where this passage takes place.  In these verses, God is speaking to Paul in a vision to encourage him by specifically showing Paul that God has more people who are ready to hear and respond to the Gospel in this city.  He then promises protection for Paul against the Jewish leaders to ensure his mission will be completed. 

A

God always has more people to reach, and by His sovereign will He knows who they are and when they’re ready.  I must remember this and learn to not be discouraged in the face of opposition or lack of results from my evangelism.  Instead, I should seek God’s guidance on how to find the people He has in Wilson. 

R 

Prayer: “God help me to always stay in tune with you in the face of discouragement so that I clearly see who the people in my life that are ready to respond to you, and give me the boldness to pursue them even in the face of opposition.”  
AaronPierceMultiplicationPastorPeace ChurchWilson, NCpeacechurchwilson.com

Scripture: Acts 16

Highlight (See the verses referenced below)

Explain:  In this account there is a pattern of the gospel coming to Philippi.   Paul is clearly called to present the gospel. That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10  So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. There is an initial reception of the gospel among some: On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests.  God moves powerfully to validate the gospel. One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her.  Paul suffers in some way to validate the message through his own life. Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace . . . A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. Paul remains faithful and witnesses through his suffering. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.God delivers his servants: Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! A church is born in the midst of conflict. 30And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed theirstripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Apply:  Perhaps there is a process to church planting that we can discern in this book and specifically in this chapter:  Call – The church planter must have a definitive call of God to go to the place and engage the ministry God gives Him. Paul receives the “Macedonian Call” Canvasing – There must be a phase of ministry in which the planter seeks to engage with that particular city/ministry to get some initial response to the gospel. Paul meets with a group of God-fearers at the river. Confrontation – There must be that phase of ministry in which the planter engages the particular manifestation of “lostness” his area and seeks to confront that lostness. In this case it was demon possession. In our day it could be drug addiction, affluence, or false religion. This confrontation may bring resentment or even suffering. Paul confronts the demon possessed girl and is beaten when he exorcises the demon. Witness – Through their suffering and confrontation, the witness of their faith is seen in the place where they have been called. In prison Paul and Silas sing and give witness to their faith. Deliverance – God shows up and brings deliverance. An earthquake releases them from their chains Conversion – A move of God begins that results in the birth of a church. The Philippian jailer is saved along with his household.

Respond I will seek the ways that God wants to use me to confront lostness in this city. I will also remember that God uses suffering to bring effective witness.

Highlight:  God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.  He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purifies their hearts by faith.  

Explain:  Paul and Barnabas were traveling together sharing what Jesus had done on the cross.  As they traveled, they came into contact with people that were still following the “old law and rules.”  These people still believed that you had to be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.  Peter spoke up and explained to the group of people what God had done for them with the Holy Spirit. He explained Gd’s grace to them which was a new way of thinking. 

Apply:  God has done the work for us.  He sent His Son to die on the cross.  We no longer live under the Old Testament law. We can live in freedom knowing that the grace of God abounds. He has sent the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, and because of the Holy’s Spirit’s work of guidance and conviction, we no longer live under the law. 

Respond:  Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit’s work in my life.  Thank you for loving us so much that you sent your Son to die on the cross for us.  Thank you that we no longer live under the Old Testament law, but we live under your grace.  Thank you for your grace and mercy that was given on the cross, and that you give us daily.  

Carl Bradshaw

Acts 13

H:        vss. 46-48 – ⁴⁶ And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
    that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed

E:         Paul and Barnabas had been preaching to the people and many were being saved. The Gentiles were hearing all that was being taught and questioned if it was for them as well. Paul and Barnabas gave them this proclamation that what they were teaching was for all people and the Gentiles rejoiced.

A:        What a proclamation to the Gentiles, that all that they were hearing from these men was available to them. For so long they were seen as outcasts by the Jews and now they were being considered equals. They believed what Paul and Barnabas were telling them was true and many became followers.

R:        The Gospel of Christ is for ALL people. Who am I to neglect telling someone about Christ because I don’t relate to them or for any other reason? “Lord, please forgive me for not sharing you with others even when we don’t have things in common.”

Acts 14

H:        ¹⁹ But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.²⁰ But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

E:         There was such a division among the people that those who opposed the disciples actually take Paul out of the city, stone him, and leave him for dead. Instead of just “throwing in the towel” and looking for another way to make a living, Paul continues on with what God has called him to do and shares the Gospel even more.

A:        Sometimes doing ministry is one of the hardest things in the world! I’ve even heard it said, “ministry would be great without people!” The problem with that though is that ministry is people! I have to remember that I am not doing this because of some great skill that I have, but because of a great call on my life from the Lord. If Paul can attempt to be stoned to death and continue to follow Christ, then anything that I face pales in comparison.

R:        “Lord, help me to have compassion on those around me, and not cower in the face of adversity. Help me to remember that You placed a call on my life to minister to Your people. Help to love like you love.” ~ Amen

Bryan Hughes