Paul

  • The Conversion of Saul

    Acts 9:1–9

    God stopped Saul in his tracks and can do so with any who oppose Him. But He sometimes allows persecution to buffet His church. Do you believe God can bring good out of hard times for His people? If not ...Read More

  • The Calling of God

    Romans 1:1–7

    Though it is not directly mentioned here, each believer has a call to service. Many have been gifted to labor in the world. Others have been gifted to work with men and women, perhaps in the church. God’s call ...Read More

  • Letters to Corinth

    1 Corinthians 3:1-10

    Those who seek to have Christ as Savior only are the “wood, hay, and straw.” They will be burned up, because they have torn up the church by their carnal behavior. Read this chapter. If it applies, correct your ways ...Read More

  • Paul at Ephesus

    Acts 19:1–10

    With the destruction of the temple, the outward features of the old covenant came to an end. We no longer take Nazirite vows and we no longer expect either defilement or blessing to be transmitted through clothes. The “clothes” of ...Read More

  • Paul at Corinth

    Acts 18:7–11

    In the holy war conquest of Canaan, enemy cities were burned as whole burnt offerings, almost certainly by God’s altar fire. In Acts 2, tongues of fire fell on God’s new altar-people, who then take holy war to ...Read More

  • Judgment Day in Athens

    Acts 17:22–34

    Paul asserts all kinds of common ground with the Greeks. Paul does not confuse common ground with neutral ground. At every point, the Greeks have misinterpreted this common ground because they suppress the truth. They must repent and change. Don ...Read More

  • A Letter to the Thessalonians

    1 Thessalonians 1-3

    Paul loved the Thessalonians so much he shares not only the Gospel of God but his very life as well (2:8). How much of yourself have you given away to your local church out of love for the people ...Read More

  • Paul’s Ministry at Philippi

    Acts 16:11-40

    Paul never asked the civil magistrate to sponsor the Gospel. Following Jesus’ advice, the disciples avoided conflict with the “powers that be.” When calling on the magistrate was pointedly useful to the Gospel, however, the apostles did so. Here Paul ...Read More

  • A Crisis in Antioch

    Galatians 2:1–21

    Myron Augsburger’s book Caring Enough to Confront proves that confronting, when done biblically, is a virtuous act. When confronting Peter, Paul had the greater good of the church in mind. Accept the responsibility to care and confront, and to ...Read More

  • The Preparation of Paul

    Galatians 1:11–24

    How likely is it that the acknowledged leaders of the church today could come to such unanimous theological agreement? It was no less difficult then, yet it was achieved. What would it require for such accord in our generation? Pray ...Read More

  • Who Were the Galatians?

    Galatians 1:1–10

    Christian scholars continue to debate the topic of today’s lesson. While such an exercise might be valuable, we must be careful to insure that the issue of the book’s original audience does not obscure its meaning to us ...Read More

  • Hermes and Zeus

    Acts 14:8–28

    Just as outwardly religious Jews were the Gospel’s enemies in the first century, so today the great enemies of the Gospel are the carnal members of the church. Jealous, lukewarm, and liberal “Christians” are the greatest enemies of the ...Read More

  • The Transfer of the Kingdom

    Acts 13–14:7

    Just as the first missionaries took the ministry of the Good News to their own first, in some sense we also have home ministry obligations to the family of God which should take precedence over those outside the covenant community ...Read More

  • The Spread of the Gospel

    Acts 9:19–10:8

    Think about your own locality. How is the Gospel spreading in your town, city, or metropolitan area? Does your church have a strategy for reaching ever wider through ministries of the church and community, and by supporting missionaries around the ...Read More

  • The Call of Saul of Tarsus

    Acts 9:1–10

    There have been few conversions as dramatic as Paul’s. True conversion, however, need not be dramatic to be authentic. Think back on your conversion. Thank God for “invading” your life and calling you, and consider how or if you ...Read More