July 10, 2022 Acts 27:1-12 “Finally! To Rome!” Service Overview: Finally, Paul boarded a ship for Rome. He was accompanied by Luke and Aristarchus at the very least. However, it was too late in the season to be in open water, and Paul, sensing the danger ahead, encourages the ship’s crew to hunker down for...
July 3, 2022 Acts 25:23-26:32 “Absurd Truth” Service Overview: Festus, mindful of Agrippa’s familiarity with Judaism, and needing to prepare legal papers before sending him on to Caesar, arrange a special meeting with Paul. Festus found Paul’s testimony absurd; Agrippa found it pointed and a bit too close to home. Nevertheless, Paul took advantage of...
June 26, 2022 Acts 25:1-22 “Providence in Politics” Service Overview: Some Jews, once again, try to con the Romans into transferring Paul to Jerusalem in hopes that they could ambush his transfer and kill him without a trial. But this ambush, once again, is thwarted by both providence and the politics that are at play...
June 12, 2022 Acts 24:1-27 “Paulitics” Service Overview: This is the first of a trio of encounters Paul has with Roman politicians, each of which reject Christ for various reasons. But in this case, while the approach Paul’s accusers take is one of flattery, Paul’s approach is the bare truth of the matter. Paul trusted...
June 5, 2022 Acts 23:12-35 “Killer Conspiracy” Service Overview: Some Jews once again gather to try and have Paul killed; even going so far as to promise not to eat or drink until he was dead. Little did they know Paul’s life was in God’s hands, not theirs. And God’s cosmic conspiracy to get...
May 29, 2022 Acts 22:30-23:11 “Dispute and Distract” Service Overview: Paul’s appearance before the Sanhedrin placed their dysfunctionality on full display. God wasn’t done with Paul and so Paul brings up a matter more controversial to these people than even he was; the idea of resurrection. This distraction, and the drama that unfolds, once again...
May 22, 2022 Acts 22:21-29 “Paul’s Defense – Part 2” Service Overview: Paul’s audience was tuned in, that is, until “Gentile” rolled off his tongue. This word triggered the crowd, and it was Rome to the “rescue” once again for Paul. Memory Verse for the Week: “Many are the plans in a person’s heart,...
May 15, 2022 Acts 21:37-22:22 “Paul’s Defense – Part 1” Service Overview: Paul serves as a good example of someone who made a good faith effort to establish common ground with his audience before diving into the controversial things he would have to say. Paul indeed “became like a Jew, to win the Jews” (1...
May 8, 2022 Acts 21:27-36 “Arrest and A Rescue” Service Overview: The rumors of Paul’s abandonment of the law grew, and a mob was stirred. But as fate (or rather providence) would have it, Paul is rescued by none other than the Romans themselves. God’s rescue can come in surprising ways at times. Memory...
May 1, 2022 Acts 21:17-25 “Rumor Has It” Service Overview: Rumor had it that Paul was teaching Jews to turn away from the law, but this just wasn’t true. To prove it, Paul not only participates in a purification ritual with some local Jews, but pays for their participation OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET! Sometimes...
