From the desk of Pastor Edd

  Scripture: Acts 19:11 Paul found great support from God Title: Through it all I have learned to trust in Jesus Acts 19:1 Paul's journey took him back to the believers in the southern valley of Turkey and then over the pass and down into Ephesus. He found some disciples who had learned of faith from Apollos, who was now in Corinth. 2 Paul asked, "Have you received the Holy Spirit?" They responded, "We have not heard about the Holy Spirit." 3 He asked about their baptism, and they talked of John's. 4 Paul said, "John's baptism was for repentance, but he told us to believe in the one coming after him, referring to Jesus." 5 They said they wanted to be baptized in the name of Jesus. 6 Paul laid his hand on their heads and the Holy Spirit poured over them and the spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 They were a group of twelve men.   In some ways, the baptism of the most churches today is more like the baptism of John. When we share the g...

  Scripture: Acts 18: 27 Apollos desired to cross over to Achaia, so the believers encouraged him on his way   Title: Our Ways are in His Hands           Determining dates of events in the Bible is not an easy thing to do. However, in the case of the next section of Acts we can pinpoint the date down to a 1–2-year time period, 51-52 AD. Gallio’s brother Seneca was a prolific author, and much was written about Gallio and the events of his time.           If we look at the life of Paul, we can calculate to this date as well. Paul was about 18 when he stood by and watched the elders of Israel stone Stephen. (Acts 7:57) The stoning took place within a few years of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We can place the stoning at a point around 34 AD. His subsequent trip to Damascus to continue the persecution of Jesus followers, opened his eyes to the truth of the good news. He came...

  Scripture:  Acts 18:10  “ I will be with you, and no one will harm you. I have many people in this city who believe.”   Title: God has not promised skies always blue.  Acts 18:1 Paul left Athens and journeyed westward to the city of Corinth. 2 He became friends with a man named Aquila who was originally from the region of Pontus, on the southern shore of the Black Sea. He and his wife, Priscilla, had recently left Rome during the reign of Claudius who expelled all of the Jews from that city. 3 Paul and Aquila were both tent makers by trade so Paul stayed with them and worked alongside Aquila. 4 On the Sabbath he would go to the synagogue and reason with the Jews and the Greeks about the teachings of the Scriptures and the coming of the Messiah.   Seutonius, a Roman historian, writing around 100 AD, reported that all Jews who were not Roman Citizens were commanded to leave Rome in 49 AD because “they were constantly rioting at the instigation of Chr...

  Scripture: Acts 17:7 These men are proclaiming the existence of another king by the name of Jesus, and that is contrary to the laws of Caesar.”   Title: Reasoning with Others about Jesus   Upon leaving Philippi, Paul and his traveling companions continued on their journey.   Acts 17:1 After visiting the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia Paul and his companions arrived in Thessalonica and visited the synagogue. 2 It was his custom to start his teaching with the Jews in a local town and he stayed there for three weeks reasoning with them, referring to the Scriptures 3 and explaining how they told of the Messiah and His need to suffer and rise again from the dead. He told them, “Jesus, the One I am talking about, is the Messiah, the Anointed One.” 4 Some of the Jews believed in the message of Paul and Silas, as well as many from the Greek community and a group of the leading women of the city. 5 However, there were a number of Jews who gathered a few wicke...

  Scripture: Acts 16:25 Paul and Silas were still praying and singing hymns around midnight and all of the prisoners were listening to their witness.   Title: Expectation in the Midst of Every Circumstance   Acts 16:1 When Paul arrived in Derbe and Lystra he met a disciple by the name of Timothy, whose father was Greek and mother was Jewish. 2 He was known throughout the region and treated with respect in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted him join with them in the ministry and circumcised him because of the many Jews in the area who were aware his father was Greek. 4 They continued through many cities and told the believers about the letter from their meeting with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 All of the believers found great strength and encouragement in these words and the numbers of followers increased daily.   6 Paul and Silas sensed that the Holy Spirit was blocking their way into Asia, so they continued to teach as they went through the re...