After the Jerusalem Council recorded in Acts 15, Paul sets out again, taking Timothy with him on his second missionary journey (Acts 16–17). "As they traveled from town to town [in Macedonia and Greece], they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey" (16:4). They witnessed the daily growth of the church as they strengthened them in the faith (16:5).
christianity
Exploring Acts 13–15: The First Missionary Journey
In Acts 13–14, we journey with Paul and Barnabas (and Mark) on their first missionary journey. We travel to town after town witnessing the signs and wonders God did and the many who believed in the word of God. Opposition arose yet they persevered, strengthening and encouraging the new church. In Acts 15, the church overcame the first major threat to the good news of salvation and reiterated that Gentiles are accepted as believers and do no need to become Jews first.
Exploring Acts 10–12: Christ is Lord of All
In this section of Acts, we see "Christians" realize and accept that the "good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all" is for the Gentiles too. The first apostle is martyred (James) and Peter is rescued from prison. Yet "the word of God continued to spread and flourish." Here are my (somewhat) random thoughts from Acts 10–12.
Exploring Acts 4–6: Filled With the Spirit
There is so much to see and learn from the action-packed book of Acts, so I'm only sharing snippets of thoughts and insights that stand out to me—things like being filled with the Spirit, courage, prayer, authority, persecution, leadership, and of course more salvation verses.
Exploring Acts 1–3: Insights and Reflections
Acts is a different book from my other studies. Tara-Leigh Cobble in her guide, ACTS: The Spirit and the Bride, describes it like this: "For Christ-followers, studying the book of Acts is like watching a documentary about the establishment of our faith via God’s work through men and women who sacrificed for us to know Jesus."
Advent 2025 First Sunday: HOPE
This year, I’m still pondering my recent study of Galatians. While we celebrate Jesus’s birth at Christmas, we cannot separate it from the reason he came nor his promises for the future. Join me here as I look at each of the traditional Advent themes—HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE—found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Today we start with HOPE.
Galatians 6:1–18: New Creation Living
Paul begins the last chapter in his letter to the Galatians (Galatians 6:1–18) with more instructions on how to live out their freedom in Christ, especially in regard to relationship. He's already directed them to walk by the Spirit, but what happens when someone is overcome by wrongdoing? Paul calls for gentle restoration and then concludes his letter back on the topic he started with—circumcision doesn't matter. What counts is living as a new creation.
Galatians 4:8–5:12: We Are Free in Christ
In Galatians 4:8–5:12, the apostle Paul continues his defense against the Judaizers who claim that believers in Christ must also follow the law in order to be right with God. Paul pleads with the Galatians to not return to the yoke of slavery, but to live free and express their faith through love.
