“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” –Acts 2:42.
In the above verse, Luke, the historian of the early church, lists some of the most important activities that were practiced by the first Christians. Among them is “the breaking of bread”, a term that most scholars agree is a reference to communion, also called the Lord’s Supper.
The early believers were devoted to the practice of having communion as Jesus had ordained, so that they would remember in a deep, meaningful way, the sacrificial death that Jesus had died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world. They did not take the Lord’s Supper for granted. Nor did they approach communion casually. No, they took it very seriously!
May we all seek to replicate their devotion as we look forward to our observance of this important act of Christian worship.
I’ve often thought that as we drive down the highway, the signs we see along the way often remind us of some of the instructions God gives us in the Bible. Let’s look at some of them, and we can see if you agree.
STOP –The familiar bright red sign that gives us the command to come to a halt might remind us that God tells us to stop doing certain things. There are quite a lot of “thou shalt nots” in Scripture! To the blind man that Jesus had just healed, the Lord said, “…Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14). Is there some sin that you need to stop committing?
NO PASSING –We need to get rid of that “me first” attitude that is so prevalent among mankind. Phil.2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
REST AREA –This sign is often a welcome sight to see, especially if you got a super-sized drink the last time you stopped! The Bible often reminds us to get our rest. Jesus says in Matt.11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The only meaningful and lasting rest we can find is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
PAY TOLL AHEAD –You might have expected there would be something about the offering! 1 Cor.16:1-2 says, “Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. One the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
CHILDREN AT PLAY –Is there a more important sign than one that reminds us to be careful of the children!? Jesus paid special attention to the children, taking them in his arms and blessing them. We need to make sure that children feel welcome in the church. Yes, they can be loud, and they can be messy. But the church that does not have patience with these little ones is in danger of becoming a church without children. Such a congregation is to be greatly pitied.
CONSTRUCTION AHEAD –Jesus is building his church, and sometimes that might mean that we are inconvenienced. That will be all right if we remember that it’s his church and not ours! Are you excited about the construction work at your congregation? In what way are you helping with the work?
DETOUR –In Acts 16:6-10, Paul and his companions had plans about the route they would take on their gospel mission. But God had other plans. We must be flexible and trust God when he decides to take us in a different direction.
ONE WAY –This sign reminds us that Jesus says he is the only way to God (John 14:6), a truth that his apostles continued to preach – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts :12).
YIELD –The final sign we will look at shows us the need to yield to Jesus, since he is the way and the truth and the life. Rom.14:11, quoting Isa.45:23, says, “It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” It is time now, in this life, to yield to Jesus and confess him as Lord, before it is to late to do so voluntarily!
These are some of the signs along the way that remind us of the Word of God. Can you think of some others?
Many who desire to lead others to Christ will present what is called the “Roman Road”. This method of evangelism lists several verses from the New Testament book of Romans as the path to receiving Christ as your Savior. Typically, the presentation goes like this.
First, Rom.3:23 points out the universal need for salvation— “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Then, Rom.6:23 states what the penalty of our sins will be, while offering a much better alternative— “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
From there we go to Rom.5:8, which says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The crucifixion of Jesus is of course a crucial element of any presentation of the gospel message.
The road continues to Rom.10:9-10— “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ And believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Here, faith and confession are shown to be key parts of our response to the grace that God offers us through Jesus.
The Roman Road, as it is usually presented, concludes with Rom.10:13, which states, “for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” The presenter of this method will then assure anyone who has followed these steps that they are now saved.
Those who have a thorough knowledge of what the Bible says to do to be saved will quickly notice a glaring omission in the above presentation of the gospel—there is no mention of baptism.
Baptism is a crucial part of our response to the gospel message. This truth is seen over and over in the New Testament. Jesus and his apostles consistently preach that those who want to be saved are to be baptized. Jesus links baptism with salvation (Mark 16:16) and so does the apostle Peter (1 Pet.3:21). According to Luke, the author of Acts and the historian of the early church, baptism is the occasion of our sins being washed away (Acts 2:38; 22:16). Matthew, recording the words of Jesus in the Great Commission (Matt.28:18-20), points out that baptism is the very first thing you do to make someone a disciple of Jesus. These Scriptures, and many others, tell us that baptism is commanded by God to those who want to be saved.
So, the “Roman Road”, as presented by many, is in much need of repair. And it is more than just a pothole that needs to be patched. The road is washed out and therefore impassable. Is the Roman Road damaged beyond repair? Thankfully, no, it isn’t.
Rom.6:3-4 says, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” There it is! Baptism is clearly a part of the “Roman Road”.
God, in his infinite wisdom, has carefully paved the road to heaven for all who would receive Jesus as their Savior. Let’s make sure that we lead them down the right road!
How we think determines how we act. Therefore, it is extremely important to have a proper mindset if we want to behave in a Christian manner. The Bible often addresses this issue. One such passage is Phil.4:4-9.
This Scripture begins with an exhortation to rejoice in the Lord always. We must remember that the apostle Paul was chained up in a prison when he penned these words. Joy does not depend on our circumstances. Rather, it results from being in the Lord. Those who are in Christ should be able to maintain a joyful mindset no matter what life brings our way.
Then Paul encourages us to practice gentleness. This is a trait not always on display nowadays. From business to politics to interactions on social media, gentleness is hard to find. In fact, gruffness and rudeness seem to rule the day. However, we Christians are supposed to go against the flow and stand out against the norm. When it comes to gentleness, we are to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile. Gentleness, in fact, is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) that every Christian is to display.
Another aspect of the Christian mindset is to not be anxious about anything. Jesus speaks against worry in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6:25-34). The remedy for anxiety is to pray. It is difficult to stay worried while you are conversing with God. Prayer turns anxiety into peace.
Then we are encouraged to think about things that are: true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. The word “meditation” is not found here, but I believe we see the concept. Meditation is not emptying our minds of everything but filling our minds with the wonderful things of God. Time spent thusly will go a long way toward developing a Christian mindset.
Finally, this passage of Scripture tells us to put into practice the teachings of Christianity. It is not enough just to think the right things; we must do them as well. Our thoughts fuel our actions, and our actions in turn fuel our thoughts, cementing the type of mindset that will enable us to be true followers of Christ.
The big day has finally arrived. The wedding is scheduled to take place at 6:30pm. In order to get ready, the bride arrives at the church at 5:00am. She is accompanied by all of her bridesmaids, who have but one job for the day—make her look beautiful!
However, the task is too much for them, so they call in some extra help. A hairdresser is brought in. She will spend several hours making sure that every hair is perfectly in place and will stay that way for the duration of the ceremony. Another professional comes in to apply the makeup. It will take some time, but she will create a masterpiece with blush and mascara. Someone else comes in to do the bride’s nails. With all this preparation, the collective breath of the guests will be taken away when the beautiful bride finally makes her dramatic appearance.
That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but most brides do spend quite a bit of time making themselves look their very best on their wedding day. And who could blame them? Those wedding pictures will be viewed for decades to come!
Revelation 21:2 gives us a picture of the church, the bride of Christ—“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”
There are several observations we can make about the church as it is portrayed here in Scripture.
First, the church comes from God, not from humans. The church is not a man-made institution that creates its own definition and designs its own purposes. The church was created by God, and it cost him a big price to do so. Acts 20:28 says, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” God became a man and died on the cross to pay the price of our sins so that we could become his children and be a part of his church. Let us never forget the price God had to pay for our salvation! This is part of the reason the bride of Christ is so beautiful.
Second, we should note that the church has been prepared by God. It is not of our own efforts that we are saved. It is by the grace and mercy shown by God through Jesus Christ that we have been saved from our sins.
Third, let us not forget the beauty of the church. Oh, we Christians definitely have our faults. We are by no means perfect. But God sees us as though we have never sinned because Jesus has taken our sins away! Those who criticize the church are in danger of saying that the wife of Jesus is ugly!
Fourth, notice that the church is dressed for her husband. When you enter into eternity, you definitely do not want to be found lacking the proper wedding clothing! (Matt.22:11-14). Thankfully, the necessary clothing has been provided by Jesus. Gal.3:26-27 says, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Finally, let us never forget that the church is the bride of Christ. We have a special connection with Jesus, one that will endure for all of eternity!
The Old Testament book of Jonah has many important truths to teach anyone who wants to live for God.
The book starts with the word of the Lord coming to Jonah, telling him to go to the wicked city of Nineveh and preach. Instead, Jonah went in the other direction, booking passage on a ship. But God wasn’t going to let Jonah get away that easily. The Lord caused a violent storm that threatened to break up the ship. Jonah told the sailors to throw him into the water to calm the sea. They did that, and Jonah prayed a sincere prayer as he sank in the depths of the sea. But God provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah. The fish eventually spit Jonah onto dry land and the word of the Lord again came to Jonah, telling him to preach to Nineveh. This time he obeyed, and the wicked city of Nineveh repented and turned to the Lord. Instead of being happy that the Lord had used him in such a great way, Jonah got angry and pouted. The Lord told Jonah that he was concerned about the people of Nineveh, and that Jonah should have the same concern.
Here are some of the lessons we can learn from Jonah. First, the Lord expects us to obey him. He is the Lord, and we are his creation. Therefore, he has the right to tell us what to do. God gives us commands, not suggestions, and he expects us to do what he says.
Second, we learn that God is full of grace. Grace is the unmerited favor of God. It cannot be earned; it is a free gift. God gave a second chance to his wayward prophet and to the wicked city of Nineveh. Through Jesus, the Lord gives second chances to all who will believe in him and respond to his grace.
Third, we see the necessity of repentance. Jonah had to stop running away from God and turn to go in the opposite direction. Nineveh also had to do an about-face and start to live for God. Jesus says that unless we repent, we, too, will perish (Luke 13:1-5). Anyone who finds themselves running from God must, like the prodigal son, come to their senses and turn toward our heavenly Father.
Another lesson we learn from the life of Jonah is the importance of prayer. Like so many people today, Jonah waited until he was in dire straights before he prayed. How much better off we would be if we did not wait until it is a last resort to pray! When we do pray, God hears the prayers of his children and answers them without fail.
We also learn here of God’s mighty hand to save. God provided salvation to Jonah in the belly of the huge fish. He also relented from destroying Nineveh and saved them from being annihilated. God is able to save all those today who will turn to him in faith and give their lives to his Son Jesus.
A final lesson to learn from this book is that we need to see others through the eyes of the Lord. We should have concern for their salvation just as the Lord does. We can’t be content to experience our own salvation. We must strive for the salvation of others and rejoice when they turn to the Lord.
Basketball great Jerry West, pictured above, has just died at the age of 86. He had a storied career in college and the NBA. His individual statistics were superb, and his teams consistently competed for championships.
It has long been assumed that Jerry West was the inspiration for the official logo of the NBA. The logo, a silhouette of a player driving toward the basket, is recognized by many basketball fans all around the world.
Many young basketball players have no doubt tried to pattern themselves after West, aspiring to become the best they can be.
In the same way, we Christians try to pattern our lives after Jesus, who is our perfect example of how to live our lives.
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”—1 Pet.2:21.
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”—2 Cor.3:18.
A just read an advertisement for a public auction that was scheduled to take place at 10:00 on a Sunday morning, a time when many people are either worshiping the Lord or on their way to a worship service.
The list of antiques and collectables available for purchase was impressive, including: dishes, stone pots, butter churns, wooden benches, trunks, lanterns, lamps, vintage toys and much more.
What was not listed as being present: Jesus.
“I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”—Psalm 122:1.
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”—Johne 4:23.
Our purpose in life is to live for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible is filled with instructions on how to do that. Luke 17:1-10 contains some specific teachings on how to live for Jesus.
First, it has to do with holiness. We have been set apart to live for God. This means leaving behind a life that is filled with sin. In verses 1-3 Jesus stresses the importance of not causing anyone else to stumble into a life of sin. We must not lead anyone down the path of sin. If we do, it would be better for us to have a millstone thrown around our neck and be cast into the sea. This is indeed a dire warning not to be a bad influence on those around us. Therefore, Jesus says, “So watch yourselves…” (v.3). We must always strive to be a positive influence on others.
Jesus then talks about forgiveness. We must offer forgiveness to those who sin against us, even if they do the same thing seven times in one day! (vv.3-4). One of the hardest things to do in living for Jesus is to forgive those who do us wrong. It’s difficult because their words or actions really hurt us badly. It is hard to forgive, but then it was not easy for God to forgive us of our sins against him. He had to send his son Jesus to the cross to die for our sins to be forgiven. So, as we have been forgiven, we also must offer forgiveness to others. It is a crucial part of living for Jesus.
In response to his teaching on forgiveness, “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’” (v.5). The disciples realized that they were not able to offer the kind of forgiveness Jesus was talking about unless they had a different kind of faith. Jesus answered by saying that they only needed faith as small as a mustard seed to do great things. It seems that it is not so much the size of our faith that matters; our faith must be genuine. Real faith will enable us to forgive those who have sinned against us, and to accomplish much more in our effort to live for Jesus.
Jesus concludes this section of teaching by discussing the duties of a servant. A servant should not expect extra congratulations for simply performing their routine tasks. He or she should realize that they are only doing their duty (vv.7-10). Sometimes we get the impression that we should receive special recognition for reading the Bible and praying every day, gathering for worship every week, tithing, witnessing, being involved in the ministries of the local church and a host of other things that are simply the regular on-going duties of someone who is living for Jesus.
Let’s keep striving to do our best to live for Jesus. After all, he did his best for us when he died on the cross to pay for our sins!
Young Samuel began his ministry in days when “the word of the Lord was rare” (1 Sam.3:1). The Lord spoke audibly to him one night, but he thought that the priest Eli was calling out to him. Eli realized that the Lord was speaking to Samuel, so he urged the young boy to go back and listen. The Lord told Samuel that he was about to do something in Israel that would make everyone’s ears tingle. It had to do with bringing judgment on Eli’s family because of the wickedness of his sons and his own failure to restrain them. Samuel was reluctant to relay this message to Eli, but the old priest insisted that Samuel tell him the truth, even if it was bad news.
Samuel continued to listen to God, and the Lord was with him in his ministry. Israel recognized that Samuel was a prophet of the Lord, and the Lord’s word came through Samuel to the entire nation. (1 Sam.3:1-4:1).
We live in a time and a place where the word of the Lord is not rare. We have an abundance of Bibles that are readily available. Many Americans have more than one copy of the Scripture. A lot of people have a Bible app on their phone, always giving them easy access to the word of God.
The word of the Lord is not rare in our society. The problem is that people rarely listen to the Lord. Most don’t read the Bible. Many of those who do aren’t really listening to what God is saying. They are attempting to confirm their own pre-existing notions of the truth and affirm their current decisions about how to live their lives. Others are confused by various other voices that are vying for their attention and therefore are unable to understand what the Lord is saying.
The Lord is still speaking today, loudly and clearly. We need to be like Samuel and listen to what the Lord has to say. We also need to be like Eli, who accepted the word of the Lord even though it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. We need to be like Israel was at this time, understanding who is truly speaking the word of God and realizing that the Lord has plans for his people.
If we ignore the word of the Lord, we will most assuredly suffer the consequences. However, if we listen to God and obey him, we will be blessed beyond all measure. The choice is yours. May we all respond as Samuel did— “…Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1Sam.3:10).
Jesustrek 