Pastor’s Blog

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica; for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”  Acts 17:11 “Noble character” is when you want truth more than you want to be right. Acts 17 starts with Paul preaching … Read More

Paul and Silas were in prison.  Their bodies were chained, but their spirits soared.  Paul and Silas sang with a conviction that caused their fellow prisoners to listen. They praised God at the top of their voices! And that choice to worship set off a chain reaction. You can’t plan miracles. But when you worship … Read More

            Study Romans 12:1-2. Then, review Acts 15:36-41. Scripture teaches us the bulk of God’s Will. Sometimes though, following His will gets confusing for us. We are left asking questions like, ‘where are we to go; or what are we to do; and/or when are we to move forward in God’s … Read More

What happened between Barnabas and Paul was real. The language used insinuates a passionate, heated debate. Being filled with the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean your life is absent of struggles, trials and relational tensions. As Pastor Shawn has said before, it is in those times of relational stress, of tension and contention, that we have … Read More

This chapter begins with some Jewish men from Judea to Antioch, teaching the Gentile people. This teaching did not sit very well with Paul, or Barnabas. Paul began to travel and give a full report of what happened when the Gentiles turned to the Lord. In giving a full report, Paul undoubtedly included an account … Read More

Keep It Moving Paul and Barnabas are doing ministry together, and God is doing amazing things. People are giving their hearts to Jesus, getting healing, and the church is growing at a rapid rate. However, in verses 19-23 we see how to respond when we face hard times or persecution. The people of Lystra were … Read More

“And John left them and returned to Jerusalem” Acts 13:13   Real Spirit-filled people have real relationship problems. John Mark leaves Paul and Barnabas in the middle of their demanding missionary journey.  He fails and flees from God’s mission to which he had committed.  In Acts 15:37-39, Paul & Barnabas split as a ministry team … Read More

In today’s reading, we have Saul (soon to be referred to as “Paul: and Barnabas being sent out on their first missionary journey to the Gentiles.  This missionary trip shows us the clear leading of the Holy Spirit.  One of the things the Church is called to do is take the Gospel outside of the … Read More

Acts 12 shows the contrast between trusting in the Lord and rejecting the Lordship of Christ. Here, the believers are waiting on the Lord through persistent prayer (1 The 5:17) for Peter (verses 5 and 12). James was put to death with the sword, and it appeared Peter would also be martyred. Instead, Peter’s work … Read More

Luke turns his attention to God’s work in Antioch, building on the theme from Acts 8:4 and setting the stage for Paul and his missionary journey’s to begin. Antioch was 300 miles away Jerusalem- as far away as Manhattan, New York is from Chester, VA. Manhattan is a fair comparison in other ways as Antioch … Read More