“You also became imitators of us and of the Lord…” (1 Thessalonians 1:6a)

            It was only a matter of weeks which Paul was able to spend with the Thessalonians before he was driven out of town by his enemies, but those few weeks made a strong impression.  The church followed and imitated Jesus, but they also imitated Paul.

            The good news of Jesus is rarely received in a vacuum – the person who delivers the message of Life colors the reception.  When the gospel is delivered with compassion and conviction by those who are living selfless lives, it is received quite differently than when it is delivered with irritation or condescension.   Who we are says volumes about who we believe Jesus is.  Our lives are the lens through which evangelism is seen.  When the people of Thessalonica saw Paul, they saw a life that spoke of Jesus, and they imitated it.  Go and do likewise.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Questions to ask:

1. How is Paul feeling as he writes today’s passage? What is his mood?
2. What are the central themes in Paul’s preaching and teaching which are being emphasized, or how are the central themes in this epistle being emphasized in today’s reading?
3. How does our reading show Paul’s people skills, especially how he handles conflict?
4. What in this passage would change the lives of the believer(s) being addressed? How does it make me a better disciple?
5. How does this show the “good news” of the gospel? How can I share that with someone else?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent…” (Acts 18:9)

            When I first began to study the Bible and familiarize myself with Paul, I viewed him as an imposing figure – a giant amongst men.  I always envisioned him as this formidable force who carved his way through territories from city to city, preaching the gospel with unencumbered bravery.  Paul was larger than life from my initial observations.

            I think I was wrong.  Acts 18:9 has God telling Paul, “do not be afraid”.  I never pictured Paul being afraid of anything!  Acts 18 paints a picture of a man who struggled at times to keep going and wrestled with his fears.  He preached and lived as he ought while carrying doubts and questions on his journey of faith.  He needed to be encouraged, consoled, and reaffirmed.

            This vulnerability of Paul makes me love him more.  A man who never doubted is hard to relate to, but the real Paul makes me want to be like him when I grow up.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 18:1-11
Note: It is in Acts 18:5 that Paul writes 1 & 2 Thessalonians, the next books in our reading schedule.

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.” (Acts 17:23)

Worship is like swimming.  Without training and knowledge, we’ll flail our way to the bottom.  We are meant to worship, but we aren’t meant to worship blindly.  We need to know Who we are worshipping and how He wants to be worshipped.

Jesus’ disciples asked Him how to pray, and Jesus instructed them in righteousness.  God rebuked kings like David, Saul, and Uzziah for inappropriate worship, and Ananias and Sapphira were struck down for offering God a gift in the wrong way.  Unaccepted worship goes back as far as Cain and Abel!

Should we worship? Absolutely.  We should just be reverent to Who it is for and how we do it.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 17:22-34

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

In Christianity, the traits of questioning and examination are praised, not condemned.  There is no such thing as “blind faith” in the New Testament – such terminology is man-made and anti-Scripture.  The Bereans were lauded for their honest skepticism.  They did not accept doctrine based upon emotionalism or traditionalism or cultural preference.  They compared what was being taught to the Scriptures and examining it for truth by comparing it to truth.  They asked questions, they listened actively, and then they made sure to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling (see Php 2:12).

We’d better not check our brains at the door if we are going to follow Jesus.  He requires us to love God with all our heart… and all our mind, too.  Christianity asks you to be a critical thinker and a student.  There is no room for a passive faith.  The Word is active and sharp, and those who wield it must do so with diligence and care.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 17:10-21

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Appolonia, they came to Thessalonica…” (Acts 17:1)

In the history of Paul’s travels, one detail that is typically understated is… the actual travelling.  This one single verse represents over 60 miles of travel done on foot… almost three marathons just to travel amongst cities preaching the gospel! How much sandal tread must Paul have gone through?  How many campfires must he have sat around or cool nights he bedded down with a bedroll and none of the creature comforts of a typical home and a warm bed?

Our blessings stand on the backs of giants who sacrificed so much to bring us the good news of Jesus.  May we live in a way that honors their miles.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 17:1-9

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25)

You never know who is listening.  You can’t pick your audience; you can only pick the song your life will sing.

Choose wisely.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 16:25-40

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“These men are throwing our city into confusion…” (Acts 16:20)

If you read the entire account of these events – it is like Opposite Day.  Paul and Silas were accused of throwing the city into confusion, but it was just the opposite – they were preaching good news, and their enemies were the ones who incited a mob.

Why were they mad at Paul? What evil thing did he do?  He freed a slave-girl of demonic oppression.  The one offering liberty was the imprisoned – Opposite Day.

This is often the life for God’s people.  The religion that promotes love is accused of not being loving.  The faith that teaches forgiveness and equal hope for all is labeled as bigoted and full of partiality.  It’s Opposite Day in the world.  The truth will be realized in the end.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 16:16-24

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’” (Act 16:9)

Paul’s Macedonian vision represented the souls of the people in Macedonia. They were hungry for truth. They were hungry for grace. They were hungry for God’s love. What if we thought of the lost this way?  I suspect, if we thought of people as starving to death, we would be much less likely to ignore our responsibilities to evangelize. When we view evangelism as meeting the deepest needs of the human soul, we stop thinking of it as evangelism and start thinking of it as feeding the hungry.

Today, like in Macedonia, there are souls crying out, “Come help us!”  Will we?

Today’s Reading: Acts 16:9-15

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“and he [Timothy] was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium.” (Acts 16:2)

Timothy’s reputation opened doors for him. The truth is that without a good reputation, you never know what opportunities could have happened but just never revealed themselves. If Timothy hadn’t been the person, he was: dedicated, faithful, passionate, trustworthy… then Paul would have never asked him to travel with him. Timothy wouldn’t have known the opportunities of the life he could have had.  How sad is that?  The world would be a bleaker place without the Timothy we know and love.

Reputation is preparation. Train to be the person who’s ready for the door to be opened.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 16:1-8

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message.” (Acts 15:32)

What words did Judas and Silas use to encourage the brethren and give them strength? The words they used were God’s words.  When we hear the things which God wants us to hear and we listen to the things that God wants us to know, we are stronger for it, and we have encouragement. God is good, and so is His Word.

Also, this is biblical proof that long sermons can sometimes be a good thing!

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 15:32-41

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision