Sermons from Sweet Home

Paul's first major stop on his third missionary journey is in Ephesus, the capital of Asia. On his second missionary journey God didn't allow him to preach in Asia. But now, about 5 years later, God unleashes Paul in this region to the extent that Luke says everybody heard the Gospel. 

As Paul makes his way back to Jerusalem he stops over in Ephesus where he leaves two new disciples, Priscila and Aquila. While he makes the journey further, they continue meeting in the synagogue and there meet a man named Apollos. He knew the truth, but not all of it. Priscilla and Aquila being real disciples took him in and taught him more accurately. This is a wonderful picture of what it means to make disciples: Teach people that will be capable of teaching others. That is what Paul did well. 

Perhaps the best way to stay spiritually warm in an increasingly cold world is to be active in God's work. But what exactly is this work? When Jesus says His Father is always at work, what is that work? If we could summarize the work of Jesus into one sentence, what would that be? 
The American way is comfort and convenience. Even our churches are set up that way. But comfort and convenience are directly opposed to the "work" that Jesus calls us to. In other words, very few people are willing to get off the couch and get working for Christ. And in the end it is their own spiritual lives that drifts into lukewarmness. 
The truth is that Jesus asked us to pray for workers to be sent into a world where sheep are without shepherds. And as we begin this new year, perhaps this is something we can focus on as we scribe our new year's resolutions. Perhaps we can ask God to use us and make us workers for Him. 

Paul is not the type of guy that gets scared. But there was something in Corinth, perhaps a demonic lullaby, that discouraged Paul. But God is faithful, he comforts Paul in a dream and gives him courage. And lo and behold, Paul stays there for a long time and experiences great ministry success.

Perhaps one of the most powerful sermons Paul had ever preached was preached here in Athens. In intricate style Paul engages the philosophers of Athens in one of the polytheistic capitals of the world and reveals some truths about God and His connection to us.  

The Jews in Berea were of a different kind than Paul was used to. Luke actually calls these people "noble". They were more noble than the Thessalonians because they had "open minds" and "open Bibles". They were actually willing to listen to Paul and check his assertions with Scripture instead of just fobbing off his teachings. 

The Apostles had a fairly tough ministry in Thessalonica. There was a strong Jewish community that opposed Paul and incited a mob against him. The mob went looking for Paul at Jason's house, where he stayed. But because Paul was not there, they arrested Jason and gave him some grief. It is worth it to have good friends. 

Paul and Silas gets thrown into prison because Paul set a demon-possessed girl free from her spiritual chains.  Then God comes and sets Paul and Silas free from their chains. It seems like God is in the business of setting people free from chains, but Satan is not. 

As the world gets colder, as people start loving less, we will be tempted to love less too. But we have to counter the trend as Christians. And we can. Through obedience we can love people even if we don't particularly like them, or get along with them, and even if they hate us.
This is hard. But Jesus shows us how. The love of Christ embraces inconvenience. The love of Christ shatters the boundaries of difference. The love of Christ gives without expectation. What makes Christianity unique in the midst of all other religions is that it is founded on love. Take Islam for example. Islam essentially says, "love those who love you, kill those who persecute you". In sharp contrast, look at what Christianity says, "love those who hate you, bless those who persecute you". 

The first person to be converted in Europe was a lady that was a successful business woman. Her name was Lydia. Tune in to listen to the story of how she cam to meet Jesus.