| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 54 secs | 0 Comments
In one sense the charges against Paul and Silas are not true. In both Thessalonica and Berea, it is the accusers who form a violent mob. Paul actually exhorts believers to live quiet and tranquil lives (1 Tim 2:2) and be subject to the authorities (Rom 13:1-7). But in another sense it should be true […]
| By Andy Moyle | 2 mins 2 secs | 0 Comments
Paul & Silas reach Philippi and employ their normal church planting strategy of preaching the Gospel with signs and wonders, causing a riot and finally leaving a greatly encouraged fledgling church. I’ve not done it that way yet, but there’s still time! The exploited slave girl has a demon, literally a python spirit and […]
| By Andy Moyle | 5 mins 7 secs | 0 Comments
There are a lot of things that can be drawn from this passage: I could talk about the concept of fathering, in the way Paul took Timothy under his care; about freedom, based on the ‘unnecessary’ circumcision of Timothy, or about not giving unnecessary offence, based on the same verses. Then the faithful praying women […]
| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 49 secs | 0 Comments
I love the smell of the New Testament – brothers and sisters, dear friends on mission together. The Jerusalem council letter has gone down well in Antioch and there is freedom for the Gospel to spread and churches to be planted. Paul and Barnabas decide to visit the church plants to see how they are, […]
| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 44 secs | 0 Comments
The Jerusalem Council “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved”, is the summary of the main issue Paul faces in his letters to the churches. The Gentile mission is successful with many becoming disciples and churches planted all over the Mediterranean. Some Jewish believers, the Judaisers, are wanting […]
| By Andy Moyle | 3 mins 0 secs | 0 Comments
One of the most alarming things that has ever happened to me, within a Christian context, is when I once prayed over a village in India and a man threw some coins on the floor, then prostrated himself before me and grabbed my feet so I couldn’t move! Thankfully, one of the local Christians released […]
| By Andy Moyle | 2 mins 10 secs | 0 Comments
Preaching the Gospel gets two responses – rejection and acceptance. As Paul and Barnabas see favour in Pisidian Antioch and Iconium many are becoming disciples, experiencing “the word of grace and signs and wonders” 14:3, that leads to joy and Holy Spirit saturation. Note that those “appointed to eternal life” are those that believe. This […]
| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 54 secs | 0 Comments
Bridges and walls Jesus’ last words were “go and make disciples in all nations” and Paul and Barnabas are doing just that by planting local churches. They travel into a town, see some new disciples made, plant a church and come back to encourage and appoint elders. There’s no concept in the New Testament of […]
| By Andy Moyle | 3 mins 5 secs | 0 Comments
‘The word of God increased and multiplied’, v.24, is the summary of this passage. We need to remember and be encouraged that no power can triumph over the word of God and those who attempt to harm God’s people will in the end face judgement themselves. We might find this difficult to comprehend when […]