Church

Some prayers are easy to pray the first time. “God, would You fix this problem?” “God, would You heal this disease?” What is harder is praying the same prayer for the fiftieth time. I have had some of those prayers, and I am guessing you have too. At some point, the question changes. It starts as, “God, will You change this?” Eventually it becomes, “God, can I trust You if You don’t?” That is what makes Acts 27 so compelling. Paul is caught in a hurricane, and God does not immediately stop it. The question is: Why does Paul have hope when everyone else has lost theirs? Our hope is found in knowing God can be trusted. When Everything Falls Apart Paul is a prisoner on a ship headed for Rome, where he will stand trial before Caesar. The journey has already been difficult, with strong winds and dangerous conditions.…

If I asked you where to get your favorite pizza, you could probably name two or three places without thinking very hard. You would not need to do research. The answer would come naturally because it is part of your experience. But if someone asked, “Why are you a Christian?” many of us would freeze. Even pastors can make that question more complicated than it needs to be. Where do I start? How much theology do I need to explain? What if sharing your faith begins with something you already know—your own story? That is exactly what we see in Acts 26. Our story isn’t ultimately about us. It’s about what Jesus has done for us. Our Story Begins With Our Past For much of the second half of Acts, Paul travels throughout the Roman world telling people about Jesus. Eventually he returns to Jerusalem, where he is falsely accused…

Have you noticed how much easier it is to do something difficult when you are not doing it alone? A child walking into a dark room feels differently when a parent is holding their hand. A college freshman walking onto an unfamiliar campus feels differently when one familiar face is waiting there. What makes the difference? Often, it is simply knowing who is with you. That is what Paul experiences in Acts 23. His circumstances are not about to get easier. In fact, they are about to get worse. But in the middle of the chaos, Jesus gives Paul exactly what he needs. The presence of Jesus gives us the courage to take our next step of obedience. Obedience Does Not Always Make Life Easier Paul had returned to Jerusalem after years away, knowing the trip would be difficult. He was falsely accused, surrounded by an angry crowd, and rescued…

Faith does not require knowing how the story ends. It requires knowing the One who holds the story.

When I became a senior pastor at the age of 21, I had far more enthusiasm than experience. I was serving a small church in San Diego, and to be honest, I didn't always know what I was doing. At board meetings there was one gentleman, John, who seemed to oppose nearly every idea I brought forward. I found it frustrating. One day, an older pastor named Bob Prestwood invited me to lunch. He listened, offered some wise counsel, and suggested a different approach for the next meeting. I followed his advice. Everything changed. At the time, I thought Bob was a genius. Looking back, I realize he was simply doing what mature disciples do—investing in someone who was still learning. That's exactly what Paul models in Acts 20. The greatest leaders are people who first become faithful disciples. Your Life Speaks Before Your Words Do Acts 20 records Paul's…