In Paul’s day it was necessary to have at least ten Jewish men to have a synagogue. They must have fell short in Philippi. So a small group of women found themselves holding prayer services outdoors by the river outside the city gate. One of them, Lydia, a Gentile who had been drawn to the Jewish faith...
Read MoreOnce you get by the intimidating task of reading all these ancient, foreign names, you have to be impressed. Paul was a team player. He rarely traveled alone. He likely wrote these words while under house arrest in Rome...
Read MoreChange is hard. Imagine being a conservative Jewish leader and hearing some brash uneducated followers of Jesus of Nazareth charging you with murder and threatening to destroy your traditions. Peter and John were “in your face” witnesses for Jesus Christ...
Read MoreSometimes we can be like Simon Peter when we lead. We can be bold, even brash – the first and maybe the only one to step out of the boat and go wave-walking. Maybe we just say what needs to be said. We put it out there and let the chips fall where they may...
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Jesus called them (His disciples) together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you..."
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Esther will always be remembered for seizing the opportunity to save her people from a 5th Century BC plot to exterminate the Jews living in the Persian Empire. Esther’s great beauty had led Persian King Xerxes to choose her as his queen...
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