Chapter Nine – The Perfection of Pain

Jan 20, 2015 | Books, Jesus Wept

From “And Jesus Wept,” by Pastor K. David Oldfield A Perfect Ten I must assume that most of us have never been criminals, so we can’t speak with authority in this area, but it’s reasonable to assume that even thieves want to be the very best that they can...

Wandering Jews – Acts 19:13-17

Jan 20, 2015 | Acts

Sunday evening I asked: “Why did the Holy Spirit tell us about Paul’s miracles in Ephesus?” My two suggested answers were: This was a special case, and the Lord granted miracles here where He didn’t in other communities, Or we are told about this case...

Jesus and the Demons – Acts 19:11-15

Jan 20, 2015 | Acts

In verse 12 we read that Paul exorcized demons during his Ephesian evangelistic campaign. Verse 13 suggests that Paul carried on that work through the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul may have been smart, eloquent, bold, and any number of other wonderful...

Sceva, a Jew – Acts 19:14

Jan 20, 2015 | Acts

The title to last Wednesday’s lesson was: “Wandering Jew.” I tried to explain that that was the meaning of the Biblical statement: “vagabond Jews.” That message was primarily about what the sons of Sceva were trying to do when they said,...

The Fruits of Repentance – Acts 19:13-20

Jan 20, 2015 | Acts

One of the saddest things about modern religion is its general lack of serious seriousness. To many people, religion is a just a waste of time – the ruin of a perfectly good Sunday. They dread the two Sundays out of the year when they are expected to be in church....

European Vacation – Acts 19:21-22

Jan 20, 2015 | Acts

Has the vacation or travel bug ever bitten your heart? Sure it has. Have you ever had the opportunity to plan a truly marvelous trip to some exotic place? Maybe it was Yellowstone or Glacier; maybe it was Calgary or Washington DC; maybe it was Europe. Well then, have...

The Benefit of the Doubt – Acts 19:23-41

Jan 20, 2015 | Acts

I have told you before that one of my more dangerous habits is giving people the benefit of the doubt. When someone tells me something, I am more apt to accept it as true than to reject it outright. It’s similar to being gullible, but little girls are gullible; I am...

Defense of the Vested Interest – Acts 19:23-41

Jan 20, 2015 | Acts

One of the reasons that I am enjoying our study in the Book of Acts is that it is so practical. We are looking at the work of the Lord in ways that our eyes can see, our hands can handle and our minds can grasp. Much of theology is abstract. That is not necessarily...

Paul’s Companions in Travel – Acts 19:29

Jan 20, 2015 | Acts

Don’t you think that Luke makes an interesting comment in verse 29? Gaius and Aristarchus were called “Paul’s companions in travel.” So many things might have been said to describe these two: To use Paul’s own language, they were perhaps fellow-soldiers....