November 28 - Acts 18:19-19:41: Correcting Believers and Surviving Mobs

Today’s Reading: Acts 18:19-19:41

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The Jews were not the only group to forcefully oppose Paul and the Way.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Paul returned to Antioch while Priscilla and Aquila stayed in Ephesus.
Priscilla and Aquila met Apollos, a disciple of John. They taught him about Jesus. He became a great help to the Christians in Ephesus.
Paul baptized disciples of John in Jesus' Name and the Holy Spirit entered them. Many people in Asia heard the Word.
Jewish exorcists tried to mimic Paul and excise a demon. They were unsuccessful.
As Paul planned another trip, an idol-maker organized a riot in order to squelch the Way. After hours of screaming "Great Artemis of the Ephesians!" the town clerk sent them home.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Priscilla, Aquila, and Paul provide a good approach for helping people who are not part of your group.

Growing up in the churches of Christ I was taught that the Restoration Movement had revived the New Testament church and I heard lesson after lesson about how denominationalism was wrong and we should not fellowship with them. In debate class I chose the topic of fellowshipping other churches. During my study I realized the Bible wasn't as simple on that topic as I had been led to believe.
When I moved to China I thought I would spend all of my time teaching people who were not Christians. The first few months we heard apocryphal stories of a Christian group on campus. "They're probably not following the Scripture," I thought, and ignored them. In the second year, I learned that the group was quite large (compared to our group) and they knew we were there. I wanted to keep my distance, though. It wasn't until my fourth semester there that they broke the separation. A few of their leaders wanted me to help them understand the Bible. At that point I realized how my pride prevented them from growing. My advantage—my gift you might say—was a background in reading the Bible. I used my experience and training to show them a way to read the Bible with their groups. I helped them find a way to get out of their old way of thinking and helped set them on a course to understand the Bible on their own.
Priscilla and Aquila would have alienated Apollos if they stood in their fellowship and complained that Apollos missed Jesus. Instead, they assumed he wanted to obey God and helped him see Jesus. That is our goal today! Our goal should not be to convince people to leave their religion/denomination/social group and follow Jesus. We want to help them see the Bible as it is—God's Message that He is setting all things right—and through that recognition have their relationship with God set right. (Remember, "Who is saved?" is the wrong question.) I believe many in the churches of Christ have an advantage over other Christians because we have read the Bible as God's Word for generations. If we humbly take people aside and tell them the rest of the story, we may find more like Apollos. And the Gospel can spread throughout the world as it did in Asia.

Not everyone that calls out in Jesus' Name will have their requests answered.

The Jewish exorcists' story is one of those stories you hate yourself for laughing, but can't help it. It is the opposite story of the one where the Apostles wanted to stop non-Chosen Disciples from casting out demons. The difference is in the attitude, not the name. The people in Mark 9 wanted to follow Jesus but were not part of His Circle. The Jews in Acts 19 wanted to look like Paul. They did not succeed because they wanted to make themselves look good. When we ask in Jesus' Name to make ourselves look good we fail.

Those who benefit from idol worship (of any kind) will not like Christians.

The riot in Ephesus was not started by Jews. In fact, Jews wanted to stop it. It was begun by people who knew their livelihoods would vanish if people believed this Paul who taught that an idol is nothing.
When we think of the idols people worship today they are mostly abstract ideas and not physical shrines. People who love "freedom" over God will not like the idea of obedience. People who love "order" over God will not like the idea of freedom in Christ. Entire industries are built around these abstract idols. When people realize these idols do not help them set things right the industry's business dries up. Notice, though, that Paul did not get up and denounce them all. The Christians stayed in the shadows and let the city leaders quiet the crowd. In the same way we shouldn't stand in front of people and tell them to shape up or face God's wrath. They will show their true selves and God's Way will be vindicated. When persecution comes because of rioting based on fear of losing their way of life, let God and those outside God's Chosen People quiet the crowds. We may get physically hurt, but they cannot keep us from God's Love.

How did people help you change by showing you the whole story?

November 26 - Acts 17-18:18: The Jews Stalk Paul; Paul Reaches the Athenians where They Are

Today’s Reading: Acts 17-18:18

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The Jews are following Paul and Silas as they go from city to city.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Paul and Silas customarily taught Jews first. In Thessalonica, some believed. Others tried stopping Paul.
Next, they taught in Berea. Gentiles and Jews believed.
Thessalonian Jews followed Paul. He escaped to Athens.
Paul grew angry at Athen's sea of idols. Paul spoke at the Areopagus against idols and about God wanting everyone to set things right because of the eventual Resurrection. Some mocked and some believed.
Aquila and Priscilla were expelled from Rome alongside the Jews.
The Corinthian Jews would not listen. So Paul taught the Gentiles.
God strengthened Paul's resolve.
He was arrested but the charges were dismissed.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Paul first went to the Jews.

God opened His Chosen People for the world to join. However, God made a covenant with Abraham, too. Therefore, when Paul and Silas went from town to town they first stopped in to help God's Original Chosen People understand why Jesus had to die. God will never give up on His Chosen People.

The Jews cared more for their way of life than God.

Notice how their charges against Paul and Silas are not about them being wrong about God but instead go against their culture. God may still want His Chosen People to change, but they were still too headstrong to change. God cannot set things right when His Chosen People want to keep their lifestyles instead of setting things right.

Paul's lesson in Athens was different than Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost and in the Temple.

Paul could go into the Old Testament and show them that Jesus must be crucified as he did with the Jews. He could tell them that their sins put Jesus on the cross, as Peter did. He doesn't do either of those. Instead, he points out that they have idols to a god they don't know and he wants to introduce them to Him. The irony for them is that God doesn't want their carved images because He created the world. Paul begins there because that is their mindset and what is in front of him. God begins where we are to help us connect to His Message. Don't teach the same message to everyone. Not everyone has the same mindset. Start with where they are and they will want to set things right.

The Jews were kicked out of Rome.

This will be important next week when we start Romans.

God would protect Paul.

God protects His Chosen Messengers. God always has and always will.

Do you care to keep your religious way of life or do you want to set things right?

March 12 - Deuteronomy 3-4: Moses Reminds Israel of God's Works and His Righteousness

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 3-4

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Moses is reminding Israel of the God they serve and what He has done for them to prevent what happened the last time they came to the Jordan.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

"God roundly defeated king Og. Three tribes now have his lands.
"Joshua, do not to be afraid of the Canaanites. Remember our God! I wanted to view Canaan and God allowed it.
"Everyone, obey God's laws. You have seen God's blessings and punishments. If you follow God, the world will wonder in amazement. Teach your future generations. God spoke the Ten Commandments at Horeb. There was no form, so make no images to represent Him. If you worship anything else you will be taken from your land. How great is God for doing this awesome thing for His Chosen People!"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God is reminding the people of their experiences to help them not be afraid as they enter Canaan.

Apparently taking a census was not helpful enough for Israel to know God would defeat their enemies. This time God used examples of their past. God also reminded them of His punishments He gave to the idolaters at Baal Peor. God wants us to remember our victories to gain strength to win other battles.

If Israel obeyed God's laws, the nations around them would be in awe.

This is something often missed by legalists and anti-legalists.

You'll become wise and understanding. When people hear and see what's going on, they'll say, "What a great nation! So wise, so understanding! We've never seen anything like it." Yes. What other great nation has gods that are intimate with them the way God, our God, is with us, always ready to listen to us? And what other great nation has rules and regulations as good and fair as this Revelation that I'm setting before you today? (4:6-8, The Message)

God deserves to be obeyed because His Laws are more fair and more just than any human law can create.

God wants to be remembered because of Righteousness not His Form.

God strongly prohibits making any image of Him. He reminds Israel that they saw no form when He spoke to them. They only heard a voice and saw a great fire on the mountain. God's followers must not make an image to represent God for God is Righteousness made real.

God's punishments are very strong and very real. God's mercy is equally as strong and as real.

Moses almost challenges Israel to worship another god.

[I]f you … become corrupt and make any carved images, no matter what their form … I can tell you right now, with Heaven and Earth as witnesses, that it will be all over for you. … God will scatter you far and wide. … [In captivity] you can worship your homemade gods to your hearts' content, your wonderful gods of wood and stone that can't see or hear or eat or smell.(4:25-28, The Message)

Immediately afterwards he reminds them,

But even there, if you seek God, your God, you'll be able to find him if you're serious. … God, your God, is above all a compassionate God. In the end … he won't forget the covenant with your ancestors which he swore to them. (4:29-31, The Message)

This is why Moses exclaims great praise to God for doing this magnificent deed for Israel. God is worthy of obedience because of what He has done for us in the past!

February 9 - Exodus 30-32: Aaron Leads the People to Sin and Gives the Lamest Excuse

Today’s Reading: Exodus 30-32

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God gives Moses the opportunity to be the father of a great nation. He turns God down.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God gave instructions for an incense altar inside the tabernacle. Each family gave a shekel to prevent punishment during a census—no matter whether rich or poor. God had them make "holy oil" for the priests. He wanted Bezalel and Oholiab to create the tabernacle, altar, and ark. God repeated the Sabbath command.
Fearing Moses was deceased, the people begged Aaron for a god. Aaron made a calf from their gifts of gold. The people bowed down.
God offered Moses Abraham's blessing. Moses refused. Instead, he destroyed the calf and purified the camp. God also punished Israel.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Everyone paid the exact same amount in the Atonement Tax.

This is a strange tax. God required it because he would otherwise punish the people for taking a census. That is odd. What is not odd or strange is that God required each person to pay the exact amount. He is explicit that no person is to pay more than half a shekel and no person is to pay less than half a shekel. Although part of me wants to bring out a political lesson from this, I have to remind myself that the Old Testament is not a grouping of parables. I cannot make any lesson I want out of the text. So I won't.

Designers can have God-given talent.

God personally chose Bezalel and Oholiab. He gave them His spirit so they could do what he had chosen them for. God-given ability to set things right is not limited to worship or "churchy" things.

God is serious—the Sabbath is to be holy!

God is dead-set on the Israelites having a day of rest. It is in the Ten Commandments and this is the third time it is mentioned in the Law. God is adamant—everyone needs one day of rest during the week. Breaking the Sabbath is punished by exile or death. God told them to either take a day off a week or lose everything. This is a big deal. Rest one day of every week to keep things right with yourself.

The people wanted a god because they thought Moses was dead, not because they were horrible, terrible, no-good, very-bad people.

When Moses climbed the mountain, a great cloud came over and made the entire mountain look like it were on fire (chapter 24). They feared Moses had died and they were then alone. When people feel alone, they do desperate things. So they made Aaron create a god for them.

Moses turns down Abraham's promise.

God was willing to make Moses the father of a great nation. But Moses—the one all of the people grumbled against—stood up for them and begged God to spare their lives. This should show how wonderful Moses was. Moses' want to make things right ranks along with Abraham.

Aaron gives what might be the lamest excuse I have ever heard.

As noble and great Moses shows himself to be, Aaron's excuse as to why they were worshiping the calf is politician-esque.

Master, don't be angry. You know this people and how set on evil they are. They said to me, 'Make us gods who will lead us. This Moses, the man who brought us out of Egypt, we don't know what's happened to him.' … I threw [the gold] in the fire and out came this calf. (32:22-24, The Message)

God required the blood of his own people to atone for cheating on him with another god.

This is a difficult passage to digest. Moses not only killed some of the people for worshiping the calf, he had the men kill their own family, their own friends, their own neighbors. This was to show God they were more dedicated to God than anything else. Being committed to God setting all things right on this earth requires severing ties with those who do not.