Category: Acts

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Why would Paul be distressed to see idolatry in Athens? The philosophers listened to Paul until he spoke on the resurrection. The resurrection causes similar reactions within Australia today. The resurrection doctrine reminds us that our future is as humans, not as angels or spirits.

SJA Notes

* Living God, thank You for teaching us from Your word today. May we hear and obey.

“Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,”

God is not far from each one of us.

This is the message of good news to the nations, to those around us!

We may be mocked and even despised for telling this message.

And it is true, the divide between God and His enemies is a cast and unfathomable-to-us chasm.

But that God our Creator, Sustainer and Life-Giver would send Himself to bridge that gap, to make it possible for us as enemies to become friends of God … What a God we have!

The good news of Jesus, for all – God is not far from us, Jesus is the answer!

* Gracious Father in Heaven,

Please help us to spread Your good news to our loved ones, our friends and family, those folk we meet throughout the week.

Please help us to be bold and to be brave, ready to be ashamed for the sake of our King Jesus, knowing that in Him the shame of the world has no lasting power.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

In both Thessalonica and Berea there are believers. However, the characters of the two towns are different. What is the difference? (Thessalonica is called Salonika today.)

SJA Notes

* Mighty God, please teach us from Your word today, that we might teach those around us of You and Your great love for us.

“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,”

It seems madness to unbelieving hearts that God says we are sinners in need of salvation that only He can give through the shed blood of Jesus, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.

Look at these words from the mouths of people who rejected Jesus and worked hard to discredit those who preached Jesus as the Christ,

“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,”

From the mouth of unbelievers comes a most important message!

By taking the good news of Jesus to the world around us WE TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

How wonderful and amazing and sometimes scary this is!

That God would work through us, broken and frail vessels, to turn the world on its head.

Hallelujah, what a powerful all-knowing all-seeing God we worship! What a King we have! What a Saviour that continues to work for our good!

* Dear Lord God,

The message of Jesus turns the world upside down.

Please help us to preach the good news with our thoughts, words and deeds.

And please drive us all towards You, remind us of You, let us see You today.

Amen.