Thessalonica

Acts 17:1-9

The first sentence makes the trip to Thessalonica was a pleasant stroll through the country-side. Actually, it is a distance of over 100 miles of walking travel. In a single verse the journey was pretty much dismissed moving on to the important point of the book, furthering the gospel of Christ. People were hearing and accepting Paul’s preaching of the truth of the gospel.

Thessalonica is very important because it is on a major ‘highway’ connecting to other parts of the Roman Empire known as the Aegean Way. This allows the gospel to continue to travel with the Christians on to more parts of the world. These paths were the key to commerce and communication in the Roman Empire.

Paul began in the community by debating the scriptures in the synagogue. This was his normal mode of business by offering the message to the Jews first then the others. During this debate the Jews were noticing that Paul and Silas were ‘stealing’ the gentiles from them. They saw the gentiles as part of their community and they were threatened just like when Jesus did during his ministry.

The Jews did their best to slow Paul and Silas down. They began by stirring up the crowd with emotion. Then, when they dragged Jason in front of the magistrates, they accused the missionaries in preaching political rebellion. Sound familiar? They accused Jesus of the same thing as they attempted to accuse him in the end. What can you learn from this situation? Is stirring up the crowd the best way?

Stirring up the crowd reminds me of the junior high and high school ‘drama’ that so often happens when someone gets angry in a situation. So often, teenagers will stir up and seek support from friends instead of going and confronting the object of the anger.

On to Borea and Athens next week. Have a Blessed week!

Brad

The Pytho and the Jailer

Acts 16:16-40

The slave girl was known as a Pytho, someone who could give people glimpses into the future. The girl was also insane. These people were strangely respected by people in ancient times. They would say that she lost her wits to have the mind of the gods. The owners of this girl were making their living off of her “abilities.” When they realized she could no longer do this, they went after Paul and Silas appealing the people to all things Roman playing to the anti-semitism of the crowd. They were successful and had Paul and Silas arrested in maximum security.

As we choose our livelihood or career to make a living, what is acceptable for this profession?

When Paul and Silas were arrested their physical freedom had been taken away, but their freedom to worship God was still in tact. As Christians our ability to worship God and keep with him is with us and cannot be taken away no matter what setting we find ourselves.

Paul never held a grudge. He was quite willing to open the door of salvation to the jailer who had closed the door of freedom on him. He stood on his dignity and claimed his rights as a Roman citizen. He demanded the respect of his position for the sake of his calling. He wanted the people of Philippi to understand that the Christians of their city had influential friends. They should think before instigating persecution.

How would we react in a similar circumstance?

The Philippian jailer would represent the solid middle class of Roman society. He had standing in the community because of his official position. When the earthquake hit and all of the prisoners stayed, his physical life had been spared. He had heard Paul and Silas singing hymns and had heard something of the message because he was ready to be saved. God had his attention.

How does God demand our attention today?

As soon as everyone’s spiritual needs were met, the jailer changed his actions having Paul and Silas’ wounds dressed and food set before them at his table, a true change of heart.

Have a Great Week!

Brad

http://www.putnamchurchofchrist.com

Preaching in Macedonia

Acts 16:6-10

Paul, Silas take the gospel to Europe

The doors were closed to Paul when it came to preaching the gospel where he was. This must have been a little perplexing to him since he was a Roman citizen in a Roman colony trying to preach. The Spirit kept telling him no and he kept searching.

How did the Holy Spirit send this message to him? We don’t know. Common ways in the early church were through a prophet of the Lord, it may have been by a vision, or it may have been an inescapable conviction of his own. Another way of communication could have been his ill health-his thorn in the flesh. At any rate, the message was clear to Paul. How do we react to these sorts of things? Could it be that we are being led in a particular direction?

What makes Paul’s health a possibility is that in verse 10 the story changes from third person telling to first person witnessing. Luke was a doctor making it more likely that Paul was suffering from some ailment that he felt needed attention. This is an example to us that Paul took his weakness as being a messenger from God.

Next, week is Paul’s dream and the first conversion from preaching in Europe.

Acts 16:11-15

Review: The dream of the man in Macedonia gave Paul guidance to seek to go on to Macedonia to preach the good news. What do Christians see as guidance from the Lord / Holy spirit today? Consistent study of God’s Word gives us guidance through faith in our convictions based on our study. We have read before that the amount the Holy Spirit works through us is a direct result in our attitude and growth in faith.

Are we paying attention? We have talked about the times in our lives when a check showed up in the mail on the day a bill was due or the milk ran out for the baby when there was no other money to pay for it. Are we paying attention and looking for these instances in our lives when something occurs by God’s intervention?

Do we keep searching for an answer or do we quit and wait for the answer to come to us? The search for answers can get exhausting and it is work. In our society today the prevailing attitude of young people is that it has to easy or I’m not going to be taking part. I don’t care what the consequences are. The addage of nothing worth-while comes without effort seems to have been lost to a certain extent these days.

In Philippi, the Jews didn’t have synagogs, but they had a place of prayer where they met each Sabbath. These places were generally along a river in a lonely, shady place. Paul’s work was so extraordinary there because of the cross section of people that were there. Lydia was among the most wealthy in the city being a merchant of purple. This was very costly because the dye was gathered drop by drop from a certain shellfish.

What do you think about the Lord opening Lydia’s heart to Paul’s message?

Lydia’s immediate reaction was to extend hospitality to Paul and his friends. When Paul was explaining Christian character he said that Christians should extend hospitality (Romans 12:13). Peter urged the same thing about hospitality on his converts recorded in 1 Peter 4:9.

Hospitality is hard for me because of the amount of effort it takes to get the kids on board for the hospitality program, clean the house, and have the energy to entertain. Then, there is the issue of space. Growing up, we had people around many times, but not really like what Paul and Peter are describing. I have started a new program in my business life that I hope will change this and get hospitality into our program giving us more motivation to do more of this.

Next week, the slave girl who tells the world Paul and Silas are preaching the Word of God.

Have a Great Week!

Brad

Something new: http://HeartFelt.myctmh.com

Led by the Holy Spirit

Acts 16:11-15

Paul, Silas take the gospel to Europe

The doors were closed to Paul when it came to preaching the gospel where he was. This must have been a little perplexing to him since he was a Roman citizen in a Roman colony trying to preach. The Spirit kept telling him no and he kept searching.

How did the Holy Spirit send this message to him? We don’t know. Common ways in the early church were through a prophet of the Lord, it may have been by a vision, or it may have been an inescapable conviction of his own. Another way of communication could have been his ill health-his thorn in the flesh. At any rate, the message was clear to Paul. How do we react to these sorts of things? Could it be that we are being led in a particular direction?

What makes Paul’s health a possibility is that in verse 10 the story changes from third person telling to first person witnessing. Luke was a doctor making it more likely that Paul was suffering from some ailment that he felt needed attention. This is an example to us that Paul took his weakness as being a messenger from God.

The dream of the man in Macedonia gave Paul guidance to seek to go on to Macedonia to preach the good news. What do Christians see as guidance from the Lord / Holy spirit today? Consistent study of God’s Word gives us guidance through faith in our convictions based on our study. We have read before that the amount the Holy Spirit works through us is a direct result in our attitude and growth in faith.

Next week, the first conversion from the preaching in Europe (Lydia)

Have a Great Week!

Brad

Paul and Timothy

The Second Missionary Journey – Introduction

Paul's narrative of the second journey occupied about three years of time. The record of this journey is from Acts 15:36 – 18:23 beginning from Antioch. The biggest part of this journey is that Paul extends his ministry beyond Asia and into Europe.

Acts 16:1-5 – Timothy

Paul finds Timothy and decides to take him on the journey. By deciding to accept Timothy as a Jew, Paul is breaking down more barriers. Timothy was the son of a Jewess but his father was Greek. The strict Jews would have grieved the loss of their daughter and carried out a funeral when she married a gentile. Paul circumcised Timothy because of the Jews in the areas they were going to preach the gospel.

Timothy had a great heritage with his mother and grandmother (1 Timothy 1:5). He had been taught well and well prepared for the ministry he was beginning. He would become Paul's messenger when Paul was 'detained' (1 Corinthians 4: 17, 1 Thessalonians 3:2-6). Timothy was with Paul in Rome when Paul was in prison (Philippians 1:1, 2:19; Colossians 1:1; Philemon 1). Timothy and Paul had a special relationship with Paul. When Paul wrote the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 4:17), he called Timothy his beloved son. When he wrote to the Philippians (Philippians 2:19-20), he said there was no one whose mind was so much like his own. He saw in Timothy the continuation of his work. Paul believed in Timothy and gave him the gift of training and example to further the work of the gospel.

Next Paul will take the gospel to Europe week after next. Next week we will be celebrating my parent's 50th wedding anniversary - Charles and Erma Jean Loveland!

Have a Great couple of weeks!

Brad

Who Believes in You Now?

Acts 15:36-41

Who Believed in You as You Grew Up?

Paul was always moving around. During the preparations for this particular journey, a large disagreement surfaced between Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark along and Paul did not. Paul refused to work with John Mark for whatever reason. Logically, we can see that John Mark had been with them on the first journey and left them to go home from Pamphylia. Perhaps Paul felt that he would not be up to completing a long, hard mission? We really don't know what Paul's reasons were, but he felt strongly enough about them that he and Barnabas went their separate ways after this.

Clearly, Barnabas believed in John Mark enough to stick by him and go a separate way from Paul. He was fortunate to have someone to believe in him like Barnabas. We have seen before when Barnabas' heart showed through large and warm.

Over the years, there have been a parade of beginning ministers who have preached at Putnam. Batsell Barrett Baxter and Paul Faulkner just to name a couple. A relationship evolved that helped both the congregation and the preacher. All have gone further into the ministry or have become missionaries. God uses the people we are around to lead us to where we are supposed to go.

One gentleman was intent on going to New Zealand. As they were preparing to go, the family had a child who could not thrive well in New Zealand's climate. God led them to Africa. They are missionaries, but at a different location than they originally planned. Remember to keep your mind open to God's will. It may not be exactly what you thought it would be.

Who do you believe in deeply?

Do you encourage them much and often?

Barnabas believed in John Mark, and in the end John Mark justified that belief in his ministry during life.

The Second Missionary Journey – Introduction

Paul's narrative of the second journey occupied about three years of time. The record of this journey is from Acts 15:36 – 18:23 beginning from Antioch. The biggest part of this journey is that Paul extends his ministry beyond Asia and into Europe.

Have a Blessed Week!

Brad

PS Join the study of Matthew by emailing the group subscription address at matthew@bradloveland.com