Adapting the Approach

Backstory:
On his 2nd missionary journey, Paul visited the cities of Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. A traveling preacher was a new experience for the residents of these cities, and they responded in different ways to Paul’s teachings. Many believed, while others rejected what they heard.

God’s Story:
The Good News of salvation is for all people in every nation. Some will hear the message and receive it with great joy and thanksgiving. Others will hear it and rebel against it. Still others will listen, analyze and question it. I will never stop seeking my lost children. Through my servant who tell my story, I will steadfastly call people back to me.

Read Acts 17:1-34

Your Story:
Paul received different responses to his preaching in different cities. He even changed his approach to relate to different people, especially in Athens. Which group would you say you were most like when you first heard the gospel message? Did you rebel against? Analyze and question it? Or did you feel great joy? How have you changed since that time?

It’s All About Attitude

Backstory:
Years after establishing a church in Philippi, Paul wrote a joyful letter to the believers there while he was imprisoned in Rome. Philippians 2:6-11 may have been an early Christian hymn.
God’s Story:
Rejoice! My Son is a shining example for all believers to follow. His life and death were part of my plan to bring my people close to me and show them how to live lives of humility, compassion and love. When they live in harmony, they align their lives with my plan for my kingdom.

Read Philippians 2:1-30

Your Story:
Living as Jesus lived is a daily challenge. Your “flesh” (sinful nature) always gets in the way. Pride, ambition and conceit want to triumph over humility. The priorities of the world overshadow those set by Christ. Extremes lead to self-loathing rather than self-worth as a child of the King of kings. How can you “shine . . . Like stars in the sky” (Philippians 2:15), yet remain humble like Christ?

The Gospel Spreads to Europe
Backstory:
Paul had preached in numerous cities throughout Asia Minor (modern western Turkey), bring the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. Prevented by the Holy Spirit from ministering in the Roman provinces of Asia and Bithynia, Paul and his companions kept traveling west to the city of Troas on the coast of Asia Minor. Throu a vision, God called them to go to Macedonia (the northern part of modern Greece). At Philippi, Paul founded the first church on the continent of Europe. Paul’s preaching brought many to believe in Jesus, but it also caused major opposition.

God’s Story:
The vision I am giving my servant Paul of a man  in Macedonia will change history. Because of Paul’s obedience, the gospel will spread westward; ultimately, all of Europe will hear the Good News! Response to my call is never a trivial thing. Indeed, as in this instance, untold blessings may depend on it.

Read Acts 16:1-40

Your Story:
We don’t know how the Holy Spirit told Paul that he and his companions should not go into Asia or Bithynia. It may have been through a prophet, a vision, an inner conviction or some other circumstance. To know God’s will does not mean you must hear his voice. He leads in different ways. When seeking God’s will, make sure your plan is in harmony with God’s Word. Ask mature Christians for advice, and check your motives — are you seeking to do what you want or what you think God wants? Also, pray for God to open and close doors as he desires — not as you desire.

Live By Faith, Not By the Law

Backstory:
After Saul (Paul) converted to Christianity, he became a formidable preacher. He later wrote letters to the churches he helped establish on his missionary journeys. After Paul’s successful ministry in Galatia, legalistic Jewish Christians began telling Gentile converts that they had to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul addressed this situation head-on in his letter to the churches in Galatia.

God’s Story:
My people are struggling to make the transition from the old covenant to the new. Some want to rely on keeping the Law of Moses but live in the promise of the Spirit. They cannot reconcile obedience to the law with obedience to Christ. Paul will help them see that it was the law that led them to Christ, but they now must live by faith in my Son, who redeems the true children of Abraham from the crust of the law. Works (adhering to the law) won’t save them; faith in Jesus will.

Read Galatians 3:1-29

Your Story:
Christians today often get bogged down in superficial details about church order, style of worship, methods of preaching and ministry, and who’s in charge of the kitchen, nursery, food pantry ministry or sound equipment. Many of the details that spark disagreements among believers really don’t matter at all, but believing in God’s love does. The law teaches you about your need for salvation; it is through God’s grace that you receive it. True faith means believing in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved.

A Radical Change

Backstory:
The church grew rapidly as news about the Messiah spread. Some who heard the teachings of Jesus were filled with joy, while others were overcome with hate and ferociously persecuted those who believed. Stephen, one of the 7 leaders of the early church chosen to help with food distribution to widows, became the first martyr. The fight was on for many, but one major persecutor got the visit of his life — and it dramatically changed his outlook about whom and what he was fighting for.

God’s Story:
I have a zealous fighter in Saul, but unfortunately, his energies are being used for evil. Well, he certainly has a surprise waiting for him down the road! I have a great plan for Saul — one he could never have imagined! He has been running his life according to his plan, which he believes is something great. But soon, he will align his life with my plan, and then he will witness something truly spectacular!

Read Acts 9:1-31

Your Story:
Some Christians ease their way into believing in Christ, while others experience a sudden radical change (a “Damascus road” experience) like Saul had. Throughout the Bible, God often selected unlikely candidates to work for Him (people like Moses, Rahab, David). By doing so, others saw God at work, rather than the individual. Saul (later called Paul) may be the most memorable Biblical character because of his murderous past. However, remember that none of that matters to God. God calls ordinary — like you — to do his work. What is most important is how you respond to his call.

Mission Possible

Backstory:
One day at the temple, Peter healed a lame man in the name of Jesus, resulting in an opportunity for Peter & John to preach to a crowd. This stirred up the jealous anger of the religious leaders, but they failed to stifle the apostles’ courageous ministry. The members of the infant church learned how to live in fellowship with one another, voluntarily sharing their possessions. However, one couple’s desire for praise and their love for money led to the first recorded sin in the life of the church and how it was handled.

God’s Story:
My people must guard their hearts, for although my church has started strong, evil still lurks everywhere. Focus is the key right now. They must remain dedicated to their task of spreading the gospel. If they keep the spotlight on Jesus and his message of salvation, my Spirit will be free to work as I intended.

Read Acts 5:1-42

Your Story:
The members of the early church faced complications and struggles from both inside and outside of the body of believers. From within the church, greed and dishonesty were insidiously wreaking havoc. From outside, the religious leaders and others, distraught by the shake-up Jesus triggered, were poised and ready to quash any hint of his legacy. 2000 years later, the church is still susceptible to many of the same threats. How do the problems of your church and the Church as a whole today, compare to the problems of the early church? What are some ways you can initiate and effect change and guard against future problems?

The Spirit Explosion

God’s Story:
Yes! I cannot contain myself any longer! I want my people to feel my presence burning within them. I want them to feel the passion and love that has kept me fighting for them for so long. I will make my presence available to all who believe in me. My fire will scorch the sin and doubt from their souls and ignite within them a yearning and need like they have never known. The Holy Spirit will create an explosion within my church, and my people will spread the Good News to the ends of the world. Through the church, the voice of my Son will echo across the nations and throughout the centuries, calling all my people back to me.

Read Acts 2:1-47

Your Story:
The Holy Spirit now indwells every follower of Jesus. Each one of them is the new temple — the dwelling place for God on earth. The disciples began to meet together in homes all over Jerusalem. They devoted themselves to belonging to each other, growing together in their faith and serving the needs of the people around them. They extended the presence of Jesus on earth, and many people were added to their numbers.

Spectacular Exit

Backstory:
Luke the physician wrote the Gospel of Luke as well as the book of Acts. Both were addressed to Theophilus, who possibly was Luke’s patron, responsible for seeing that the writings were copied and distributed. After appearing to the disciples on several occasions following his resurrection, Jesus was taken up into the sky before their eyes, leaving them to tell the world the Good News of God’s magnificent blessings.

God’s Story:
What an accomplishment — my Son’s mission is complete! Many people were drawn back to me through my Son’s ministry on earth, but many missed out. I took Jesus up to heaven to his place at my right hand. Soon, I will send my Spirit to fill the believers with the power to spread the gospel to every nation. My plan is still unfolding and there is still a lot of work to do.

Read Acts 1:1-26

Your Story:
In the middle of the lesson of the day, Jesus left. All of a sudden, he was gone. He gave last-minute instructions but did not indicate his imminent departure, likely leaving his disciples mystified. They recovered quickly and dove right into their mission, but why do you think Jesus left them this way? Was this quick exit necessary? Think about what it meant for the disciples to see Jesus taken up to heaven and its impact on them as witnesses on behalf of the early church.

Now You See Him, Now You Don’t

Backstory:
After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to various groups of disciples over a period of 40 days. On Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared to 2 of his followers on the road to Emmaus, a village about 7 miles from Jerusalem. By divine intervention, they were kept from recognizing Jesus.

God’s Story:
I want this experience to leave my children amazed and ready to fight. I want them to say, “WOW!” My Son’s time on earth will soon end. His final appearances will leave his followers with much to ponder and discuss in the years ahead. They will be filled with wonder and awe and will believe that Jesus is my Son, the Messiah. I want to capture their hearts — and the hearts of all believers after them — when the Scriptures open up to them regarding my Son and the Good News of his salvation provided for all people.

Read Luke 24:1-53

Your Story:
Jesus appeared, vanished and then suddenly showed up again in different places. Amazing! Jesus had a real body when he appeared after the resurrection. The disciples could touch him, but his body wasn’t quite like theirs anymore. It was immortal. In God’s eternal kingdom, all believers will have bodies like the glorious body of Jesus after his resurrection (see Philippians 3:21). You too will be immortal (see 1 Corinthians 15:42-53).

Compassionate Confrontation

Backstory:
Chapter 21 is an epilogue to the Gospel of John. It appears that one reason the book was written was to dispel a false legend concerning Jesus’ supposed prediction that the author, the apostle John, would not die before Jesus’ second coming. The reason for the disciples’ return to Galilee may have been to obey the command of Jesus to do so or to escape scrutiny by the authorities in Jerusalem. Or perhaps they were discouraged by Jesus’ death and decided to return to their old occupation of fishing. The kingdom had not arrived, and they had to make a living.

God’s Story:
With every appearance, My Son touches people’s lives and changes them forever. His miracles are  a display of my power through him and are for the benefit of those present. Peter’s life will change drastically when he fully realizes who my Son is and what Jesus has asked him to do.

Read John 21:1-25

Your Story:
The 3 questions Jesus addressed to Peter stand in contrast to Peter’s 3 denials following Jesus’ arrest (see Matthew 26:69-80). Read this passage closely and take note of how Jesus confronts a very delicate situation. Love permeates Jesus’ actions and words. His words are few, yet his message is clear. What can you take away from this interaction? Next time you’re faced with an awkward confrontation or you’re dealing with a sensitive issue, remember this exchange between Jesus and Peter. Then ask god to help you find the right words.