Chapter 29 - Paul's Mission

Acts 13-14; 16-20

Romans 1; 3-6; 8; 12; 15

1 Corinthians 1;3;5-6; 10; 12-13; 15;16

Galatians 1; 3; 5-6

1 Thessalonians 1-5

Introduction to the Reading: 

What was my first thought after reading this chapter? I thought, "That was long!" There are some amazing words from the Lord today, and I don't want you to become discouraged by the length of this reading, so I'm going to keep my commentary short this week. 

As I've mentioned before, a few years ago I spent six months backpacking Europe. Before I went, I decide that I wanted to make the most of my time. I made a list of things I wanted to see and things I wanted to do. Not only did I want to visit particular places, but I wanted to make the most of my time non site-seeing as well. For instance, I decided I wanted to take a certain number of pictures each day, that I wanted to stop in a grocery store in each town we stayed to see how the locals ate, and that I wanted to visit at least one historical site or museum each day.

As you read about Paul's journeys, you can tell he had some specific tendencies while traveling and goals as well. For instance, he would usually visit the Jewish synagogue first, and after the Jews rejected the news about Jesus, he would start preaching to the gentiles. What do you notice about Paul's travels? There are plenty of things you may notice. In fact, I've written a whole paper just on Paul's interactions with the Roman government. But from a broader viewpoint, what would you say are Paul's goals? Most importantly, how would you summarize Paul's message?

The river in Philippi where Paul met Lydia

The theater in Ephesus where the mob gathered shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:

Dave Playing Chess at a Hostel in Amsterdam

One of my most important goals while backpacking Europe was to read my Bible every day. Of course, I do that even when not traveling. What was different was that I usually read my Bible during dinner. You see we usually stayed in hostels with kitchens. It saved us money to cook our own food, but there was an added bonus that people from all over the world would be cooking right next to you. Before long you would be having dinner in Poland with people from Australia, Japan, and Brazil. More often then not, having my Bible there at the dinner table was a perfect conversation starter. It was my way to start a conversation about Jesus.

Paul's main goal was obviously to share the good news about Jesus. While we may not be called to be full time missionaries and travel the globe, we too can intentionalize what we do too. We too can deliberately find ways to share Jesus. How can you share Jesus in your daily travels - even if they are only to the grocery store?

Paul had a message to share. It was quite clear: we all are in some way responsible for Jesus' death since we are all sinners, but Jesus has conquered death - and sin! Forgiveness of sins and eternal life is yours. What is your message?

Prayer/Hymn:

by Frances Havergal

Lord, speak to me, that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou hast sought, so let me seek
Thy erring children lost and lone.

O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.

O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.

O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.

O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee
To weary ones in needful hour.

O fill me with Thy fulness, Lord,
Until my very heart o'erflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.

O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessed face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share!

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/903#ixzz24nXGrL20

For Those Who Like More:

If you are really adventurous, you can read my paper on Paul's Developing View of the Roman Government.

Chapter 28 - New Beginnings

Acts 1-10; 12

Introduction to the Reading:
Some of you may have noticed that we weren't at The Story study before worship last Sunday. It wasn't because we didn't intend to go. Rather, just as we were pulling out onto the main street by our house, we heard a strange noise coming from the car. My wife pulled over, and I got out to take a look. Our tire was flat.

We drove very carefully and very slowly the two blocks back to our house. There I found the jack in the trunk and raised the car. Everything was going quite smoothly until it came time to take off the lug nuts. I used the bar that came with our car and two loosened up nicely. The other three, however, just would not budge. While wearing dress clothes, I pried and pried at it, but nothing happened.

Then I remember that I had an electric impact wrench. I found that battery in the charger, found a socket, and headed to the car. In about a minute the remaining 3 nuts were off the wheel. It's amazing what you can do if you just have the right tools! 

As we begin our reading today, we hear how the disciples weren't exactly in the best position. There were 11 of them, and Jesus their leader is leaving them. They have quite the project: they are to witness to what they had seen and heard. They were to proclaim the truth that Jesus rose in the city of Jerusalem, the regions of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Jerusalem, Judea, and even Samaria I can see an 11 man team handling - given they have the right PR skills. The ends of the earth, however, is quite the project. The fact that we are here, halfway around the world, listening to what the disciples witnessed, however, shows that they got the job done. How did they do it? Once again, it's amazing what you can do with the right tools! 

Before You Read - Background of the Book of Acts:

Sometimes the book of Acts has been called "The Acts of the Apostles." As you will notice, however, very few of the Apostles are even discussed. We hear about Peter, but beyond that we really don't read much about the other 10 original disciples in our reading today. 

Another title for Acts is "The Acts of the Holy Spirit." It was interesting as I read this week how often the Holy Spirit is mentioned! How could the disciples carry out such a monumental task? Well they had exactly the tool they needed to get the job done: The Holy Spirit. As we read this week, let's stop along the way to see how the Holy Spirit helped the early Christian Church.

Breaks Along the Way:

Top of Page 390 One page in and the Holy Spirit has been mentioned three times! Jesus clearly explains that the Holy Spirit would give them the power to carry out the task they were assigned. He isn't like a boss who just hands you a job and says, "Figure it out on your own." I'm sure the disciples felt overwhelmed at this point: one moment Jesus is a rising star, the next moment he's been killed, one moment he's dead, another moment he's alive. Just when the disciples start to settle into a new routine, all of a sudden Jesus is about to leave them. Jesus knows what they need: a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a visual reminder of his presence with them.

Bottom of Page 392 So what did the Holy Spirit's special presence allow the disciples to do? Well they could speak in different languages that people from all over the world could understand. They could prophesy, that is, they could speak on God's behalf and proclaim his message. But let's not overlook the most important gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter himself talks about it, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." The greatest gift of the Holy Spirit is faith in Jesus that he has forgiven our sins through his death on the cross. (To learn more, check out "For those who like more" below.)

Middle of Page 399 Did you notice how Stephen is described as having received "wisdom from the Holy Spirit?" The message of the cross is foolishness to us. It doesn't make sense: how can one man dying take away our sins? How can Jesus have raised himself from the dead and how come that assures us that we too will rise from the dead on the day of judgment? Our logic can't answer these questions. This is where the Holy Spirit steps in. He gives us the wisdom to trust the Gospel message, even when it doesn't make sense to us. 

(Also notice, what can be the result of such a gift? Well Peter was described as being filled with the Holy Spirit and ended up beaten, bound, and put in jail. Stephen receives wisdom from the Holy Spirit and ends up dead. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the opposite of the gifts we receive on our birthdays as kids which are fun for 10 minutes and then get old. The gift of the Holy Spirit can bring difficulties and hardships now, but brings us joys that last into eternity.)

Middle of page 401 In spite of the sufferings that the early Christians endured, there came a time of peace from the chaos and persecution. Notice where their comfort comes from? The Holy Spirit. He encourages them. Have you gone through a time of chaos? Where do you find your peace and encouragement?

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:
"Alright, so where do I sign up? I want my name on the list of the Holy Spirit!" This is the thought process that many people have. In fact, we saw it even today in our lesson. People wanted to be like the disciples: doing miracles, speaking in tongues, etc. etc. How do we get the Holy Spirit? How do we know we have the Holy Spirit?

Let me ask this: do you believe in Jesus as your Savior? If so, then you already have the Holy Spirit! See, as I mentioned earlier, you can't come to faith on your own. The message of the cross is foolishness to us! Now just because we have the Holy Spirit, doesn't mean that he will give us the ability to perform miracles, but he already has performed one of the greatest miracles on us: he brought us to faith.

We had been like those that Peter addressed: we had rejected Jesus Christ of Nazareth like a piece of building material that most people would throw in the dumpster - the leftovers, the scraps. Yet the Holy Spirit has taught us that,"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

Luther explains the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed this way:

I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church he daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers. On the Last Day he will raise me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true. 

How does your faith grow? How can you live a godly life? How can you spread the good news of Jesus and help the Church grow? On your own, you can't! But you have just the right tool: the Holy Spirit.

Prayer/Hymn:

Attributed to Rhabanus Maurus around 800 A.D. (Also one of my wife's favorite hymns.)

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And make our hearts Your place of rest;
Come with Your grace and heav'nly aid
And fill the hearts which You have made.

To You, the Counselor, we cry,
To You, the gift of God Most High;
The fount of life, the fire of love,
The soul's anointing from above.

Your light to ev'ry thought impart,
And shed Your love in ev'ry heart;
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate.

Drive far away our wily foe,
And Your abiding peace bestow;
With You as our protecting guide,
No evil can with us abide.

Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And You, from both, as Three in One
That we Your name may ever bless
And in our lives the truth confess.

Praise we the Father and the Son,
And Holy Spirit, with them One,
And may the Son on us bestow
The gifts that from the Spirit flow!

For those who like more:

I'm sure you've all heard Paul's famous chapter on love, "Love is patient, love is kind..." What I find interesting, is the context in which it's found. What topic is Paul addressing? Order in worship! It seems that the Corinthians had a free-for-all worship style. People would get up and speak in tongues whenever, usually in languages no one could understand. Others would interrupt the service to prophesy, but no one could interpret it. People were getting drunk off of communion. Others weren't getting any of the Lord's Supper at all. It was chaos. The irony is that the Corinthians thought that they were better than other congregations because everyone had all of these cools gifts from the Holy Spirit.

What is Paul's reaction? "Great! You have gifts from the Holy Spirit," he ways. "By the way, I have them too. Now unless they are going to be useful for everyone at worship, why don't you just use them at home." Is speaking in tongues cool? Sure! Is prophesying cool? Of course? But what does Paul says is the best of all the gifts the Holy Spirit gives? Love!

Read 1 Corinthians 12 through 14. Explain how Paul's great discourse on love fits so well within the context. Then answer the questions, "Of all the talents, accomplishments, skills, possessions that you have, where does love fit in?"

Chapter 27 - The Resurrection

Matthew 27-28

Mark 16

Luke 24

John 19-21

Introduction to the Reading:
If you were to pick a portion of one of the New Testament books other than the Gospels to read on Easter Sunday, what scripture lesson would you pick? I know I might choose something from Paul's great "resurrection chapter" (1 Corinthians 15) or maybe Romans chapter 8 where he explains that we are more than conquerors in Christ.

Interestingly enough the traditional reading for Easter in the Christian church comes from 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.  There Paul writes, "Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast permeates the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch. You are indeed unleavened, for Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old yeast or with the yeast of malice and evil but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. " (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

So what in the world do those verses have to do with Easter? Personally I've come to realize how these verses are perfect for Easter. Maybe it's because I understand the context in which they are written - or maybe it's because I like making bread!

To begin with, let me start by explaining some bread making basics. Typically, as most of you know, when you make bread you need yeast. In the recipe that I most often use, it calls for 4 teaspoons of yeast (I eat quite a lot so I make large batches!) Here's a picture of the amount of yeast you are supposed to put in:

Now let me tell you a little secret. It's actually no secret at all since people have known it for literally millennia, but somehow we as a society have almost forgotten it. Do you know how much dry yeast you need to add to a batch of dough? NONE! The secret, if you make bread every week like I do, is simply to save some of the dough from your last batch (see below), mix in some warm water, and put it into the new batch. The amazing thing about yeast is that it multiplies all on its own. As it feeds on the sugars in the grains it spreads throughout the whole batch. Thus, as Paul said, "A little yeast permeates the whole batch of dough!"

Great to know, but what is the connection with Easter and what is the "feast" that Paul wants us to observe. Well before we read our chapter today let's venture back to chapter 4. Yes I said chapter 4. Do you remember that far back? At the time you probably skimmed over the phrase that unlocks what Paul is talking about. You probably remember how the Lord sent plagues on the land when the Israelites were in Egypt. The final plague was the death of all the firstborn. The only way to prevent this tragedy was to slaughter a sheep or goat without defect and put the blood over their door frame. Then the Lord would pass over their house and not kill the first born male in the family. They were also supposed to eat the meat from the lamb, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Why bread without yeast? Although not included in chapter 4, the Lord gives specific commands that they cannot have yeast in their house for 7 days straight.

According to Wikipedia, "Traditionally, Jews do a formal search for remaining leaven (Hebrew chametz, as in bedikat chametz) after nightfall on the evening before Passover. A blessing is read, and one or more members of the household proceed from room to room to check that no crumbs remain in any corner. In very traditional families, the search may be conducted by the head of the household; in more modern-style families, the children may be the ones who do the search, under the supervision of their parents...On the morning of the 14th of Nisan, any leavened products that remain in the householder's possession, along with the 10 morsels of bread from the previous night's search, are burned (s'rayfat chametz)."

To sum up where we are at: yeast multiplies on it's own within bread. In order to make a new batch you only need to take some of the old batch, which has yeast and mix it in with the new batch. When Jews celebrate Passover they remove all yeast from their house for a week. At this point you may still be trying to figure out the connection with Easter and at this point, I'm going to leave you hanging. Let's read about the resurrection, and as you read, try to connect the dots between bread making, the Passover celebration, and the resurrection.

When You're Done Reading:
It never gets old, does it? I found it fun reading a number of the resurrection accounts packed into one chapter. I can just picture the disciples running back and forth, talking back and forth, and debating back and forth about exactly what had happened. Let me ask you this question: what did the resurrection mean to the disciples? Spend a minute or two and try to list five things:

1.   
2.  
3.  
4.  
5.  

Want to hear my list? Alright, what I noticed first is that the disciples were filled with hope. They weren't "down in the dumps" any more. Although they hadn't put it all together yet the mood was definitely positive.

Secondly, it proved that Jesus was who he said he was: the Messiah. I've been asking the last few weeks who Jesus was, and the resurrection assures us that Jesus is truly God. Who else could raise themselves from the dead!

My third and fourth points are very closely related to the above: the truth that Jesus rose like he said he would means that everything else Jesus told the disciples they could also trust was true. Therefore also all the promises that he made to them they could rely upon as well.

Finally their purpose in life completely changes. We see glimpses of it already in our chapter, but the remainder of the story it is going to become extremely evident. No longer were they just disciples or followers, they would now be witnesses. Did you notice how the disciples are relating their experiences in this chapter so that others would know the story?

You see, the resurrection quite literally changed everything for the disciples. A number of years ago Sports Illustrated listed the greatest comebacks in history. I was pleasantly surprised when I got to number 1, "Jesus Christ, 33 A.D. Defies critics and stuns the Romans with his resurrection." It literally was a come back - coming back from the dead. It might be called the biggest game changer in history. Where Satan and death seemed to be in the lead and in fact seemed to conquer by bringing down God himself on the cross, they were ultimately crushed by Jesus' resurrection. I will say it again: the resurrection changed everything.  It changes the disciples lives. It changed HIStory and it changes our lives.

Making it My Own:
Which brings me back to yeast, Passover, and Easter. Once again: how do the three connect? Well the lamb that was sacrificed to save the firstborn children in Israel clearly pictures Christ, the lamb of God, whose death on the cross saves us from eternal death.

The yeast was a picture as well: a picture of how our lives are to be changed by Christ's death and resurrection. Whereas we had once been filled with sin and evil, these things are to be wiped out of us. "You are a new batch!" says Paul. We've been completely cleaned. Like Jews today still look through the cracks in their cabinets with flashlights just to make sure there isn't any yeast, we are encouraged to look at our lives and get rid of any sin. We are to be completely new - living lives dedicated to witnessing the resurrection.

The resurrection changes everything. Someone much wiser than I realized that and chose to read the verses I quoted earlier on Easter Sunday. They realized that we need to be reminded that the effects of the resurrection impact our every day life. Yes the truth that Jesus rose impacts eternity. Yes, it has profound impacts on the future of the universe. But it also impacts me, today. Over the next few weeks we will see many more examples of how the disciples' lives were changed. Today I'd like you to make one more list. How has the resurrection changed your life ... today:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Hymn:
(Leave it to Martin Luther to write such a great hymn for Easter. He obviously is bringing out the scripture lessons for Easter Sunday, including 1 Corinthians 5, and connecting the Old Testament pictures of Jesus with their New Testament fulfillment.)


Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands,
For our offenses given;
But now at God’s right hand He stands,
And brings us life from Heaven.
Wherefore let us joyful be,
And sing to God right thankfully
Loud songs of Alleluia! Alleluia!

It was a strange and dreadful strife
When life and death contended;
The victory remained with life;
The reign of death was ended.
Stripped of power, no more it reigns,
An empty form alone remains
Death’s sting is lost forever! Alleluia!

Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,
Whom God so freely gave us;
He died on the accursed tree—
So strong His love!—to save us.
See, His blood doth mark our door;
Faith points to it, Death passes over,
And Satan cannot harm us. Alleluia!

So let us keep the festival
Where to the Lord invites us;
Christ is Himself the joy of all,
The Sun that warms and lights us.
By His grace He doth impart
Eternal sunshine to the heart;
The night of sin is ended! Alleluia!

Then let us feast this Easter day
On the true Bread of Heaven;
The Word of grace hath purged away
The old and wicked leaven.
Christ alone our souls will feed;
He is our Meat and Drink indeed;
Faith lives upon no other! Alleluia!


For those who like more (food):
A picture of the pot of soup I made this last weekend. My wife contends it isn't soup, but rather casserole. 

Chapter 26 - The Hour of Darkness

Matthew 26-27
Mark 14-15

 Luke 22-23
John 13-14; 16-19

Introduction to the Reading:

It has been quite something, lately, hasn't it? As if the killing at the movie theater in Colorado wasn''t enough, right here in our own back yard a murderer goes and kills six people at the Sikh temple. I don't know about you, but I'm stunned that so many people lost their lives because one man decided it was his right (contrary to everything God teaches us) to cut short these individuals' time of Grace.

On top of it, one of my wife's friends died unexpectedly last Friday. She was in her mid-twenties, and although she had been struggling with a rare disease, no one anticipated that the Lord would call her home so quickly.

Every once in a while I'll watch a show called "1000 Ways to Die." At the beginning of each episode, the narrator says, "There's a lot of ways to wind up dead. The fact that we survive at all is a miracle, because every day we live [dramatic pause] we face 1000 WAYS TO DIE." This week I was reminded how true it is that life is a miracle of God - a time of Grace that comes generously from his hand - and how quickly that time can come to an end.

As you will read, in our chapter this week we also read about another death - the death of Jesus. I can't justify by any means what Michael Page the shooter at the Sikh temple did, and in my mind at least, I can't rationalize why my wife's friend died so young. Jesus' death wasn't justified - he did nothing wrong. While each of us mourns the lost of loved ones and struggles to see others taken from us, why do we celebrate Jesus death? What makes his death special? In spite of the millions and billions of people who have died over the course of history, why do we pay so much attention to one man dying?

I hope you already know the answer, but sometimes we need to be reminded of what we already know. I've probably read some of these verses hundreds if not thousands of times, but yet as I read these words of scripture this time, I was reminded of what made Jesus' death different. As we read this week, let's stop and pay attention to what made the death of the one man, Jesus Christ, so special.

Moments to Pause:

• Bottom of page 368: In one sentence, using your own words, what did Jesus mean that " Unless I wash you, you have no part with me?" What does Jesus' death do for us, making it so important?
• Bottom of page 369: The body and blood of Jesus, shed on the cross and present in the Lord's Supper, are the signs and seals of his new covenant with us. What is a covenant? Unlike the covenant the Lord made with Moses and the Israelites that he would bless them if they kept his commands, the covenant Jesus makes is one sided: it is simply God's promise to us. What is that promise? In the supper Jesus instituted, the forgiveness of sins won on the cross is sealed - made certain - to us as individuals. Jesus assures me that the punishment he took on - even though it happened nearly two millennia ago - impacts me. This isn't just any death - this is a death he died for me. He took on the punishment of sins for me.
• Bottom of page 370: At times Jesus spoke quite openly about who he was, and yet his disciples still didn't fully comprehend it (at least at the time). Who does Jesus say he is? What sentences in this section do you think most clearly explain who he is?
• Bottom of page 373: What evidence is there that Jesus is going willingly to his death? It's almost comical how no one really gets it! What do you think the "mob" thought about Jesus when they saw the miracles? How does Peter respond?
• Bottom of page 374: Who does Jesus clearly claim to be before the religious leaders?
• Bottom of page 377: Before Pilate, Jesus is not only called a king, but what else?

When You're Done Reading:
Finally someone gets it - really gets it! What made Jesus death different? For the last few weeks the underlying question I've been asking - and the ongoing question of those who met Jesus - has been, "Who is this?" Jesus' death is special - is memorable - is crucially important because it isn't just the death of some man. It is the death of the Son of God!

I can't understand how Jesus could be both human and God. I don't get how his death could be the substitute for the death I deserve for my sins. I don't know why he would even die for me. But he was, and it did, and he has. The whole Story - for that matter all of HIStory - has been leading up to this. With his death on the cross, Jesus crushed the head of Satan once and for all as prophesied all the way back in the garden of Eden.

Each day we face 1000 ways to die - if not more. We read about deaths in the newspaper and visit funeral homes. We are reminded constantly of our mortality. But the most important death to remember is that of Jesus - not just an ordinary man - but the Son of God. His death sets us free from eternal death so that we can enjoy the mansions he promised to prepare for us.

Hymn/Prayer:

by Johann Heerman

O dearest Jesus, what law have you broken
That such sharp sentence should on you be spoken?
Of what great crime have you to make confession—
What dark transgression?

Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish?
It is my sins for which you, Lord, must languish;
Yes, all the wrath, the woe, you do inherit,
This I do merit.

The sinless Son of God must die in sadness;
The sinful child of man may live in gladness;
Man forfeited his life and is acquitted—
God is committed.

Whate’er of earthly good this life may grant me,
I’ll risk for you; no shame, no cross, shall daunt me;
I shall not fear what man can do to harm me
Nor death alarm me.

And when, dear Lord, before your throne in Heaven
To me the crown of joy at last is given,
Where sweetest hymns your saints forever raise you,
I, too, shall praise you.