My Bible Journey

Acts continues...

• Acts 5:1, Ananias...That's a cool name.
• Acts 5:3-4, Interesting that Ananias & Sapphira chose to make themselves look good and lie about their gift. Why lie? God loves a cheerful giver! And did they actually think Peter was stupid or something...here they are bringing 50g's for a piece of property that everyone knows is worth 200.
• Acts 5:5-11, WOW!! Both Ananias & Sapphira drop dead in their tracks! All because of their lies. They chose to make themselves look better instead of giving what they could & had.
• Acts 5:12-16, God was using His people to do some awesome things. All the Believers were meeting together regularly...they had a church service! When you are following God's will and doing what He has called you to do...when it's all about Jesus...your ministry will be blessed and lives will change!
• Acts 5:17-23, Tough times and opposition will always happen when God's work is being done. But God will always take care.
• Acts 5:26-42, You can't shut the Gospel up! ~Even when there is pain, persevere!
• Acts 6:1, When growth occurs people get very uncomfortable, and sometimes even disgruntle.
• Acts 6:2, Focus should be very clear!

My Bible Journey

My Journey through the Book of Acts

• Acts 1:9-11, Stop staring into space and reach people who don't know Jesus
• Acts 2, Some pretty freaky stuffed was going on. I like freaky stuff!
• Acts 2:15, 9am is way too early to be drinking...how's 10? People sometimes mistake passion for drunkenness.
• Acts 2:37-38, Some huge heart changes were taken place. Peter laid out loud and clear the way to be saved. REPENT of our sins and TURN to God! Then show the world through your actions.
• Acts 2:40, Peter was a Baptist Preacher.
• Acts 2:41, One day I would love for God to use me like He did with Peter and see at least 3,000 people come to know Him. If not me, I would love to be in a room where at least 3,000 people come to know Jesus...WHAT A PARTY!!
• Acts 3, I love that Peter made the most of every opportunity to talk about Jesus.
• Acts 4:1-2, It makes me laugh that the religious leaders and the "pastors" of that time were ticked off about what Peter and John were preaching, although it was previously prophecied. Many times pastors forget that its about Jesus and not their agenda.
• Acts 4:4, Church growth-want your church to grow like it did in this passage? Make it about Jesus not about you!
• Acts 4:8-12, I love that Peter & John were in troubel and yet they stayed strong and even witnessed to the officials.
• Acts 4:13, It is awesome that God used people like Peter & John, plain ordinary people who were willing to give up everything and follow Jesus! It is awesome to see that they were recognized by the crowd they hung out with...Jesus. They were known as people who hung out with Jesus. How cool is that? Could they actually say, "Jesus is my homeboy?"
• Acts 4:32, Unity! They shared everything they had (probably didn't have siblings -joking)! Really makes me think, "Can't we all just get along?"
  

Road Trip

I love traveling! And no, I'm not being sarcastic, I really do love going to new and exciting places.

As many people know I love traveling to Jamaica...it's one of my favorite places in the world. I have been to several other places: Mexico, Cayman Islands, Honduras, Belize, Canada, and I have even visited many of our 50 states (not all 50, but one day I will).

Cyndi and I are even taking off on a Road Trip next week as we head home to Fort Wayne, IN for Thanksgiving. We will be spending at least 12 hours (each way) together in a car. I really can't wait to spend that much time with her. I know she isn't looking forward to it. She hates traveling, she loves just getting there.

All that said, I have currently been in a Road Trip. You see I want my Spiritual Journey to be an Adventure, sorta like a Road Trip. So I want to share with you my Road Trip from the Book of Acts. Why the Book of Acts? Well, recently I have felt like I need to gain an idea on church growth, because our church is experiencing some major growth right now.

Acts 1-
verse 9-11: Jesus just left earth, in a not so typical fashion. (Isn't just like Jesus to do things totally different?) And the disciples are just standing there, staring up to the clouds, were Jesus just was. He isn't there anymore. Kinda like Criss Angel, there one minute gone the next. I too, would probably be in awe, standing there with my mouth wide open, totally shocked!
But there the disciples are just staring up in the sky (like many Christians, just standing there waiting for something to happen, instead of doing something). But these two angels appear and I can totally imagine them making fun of the 11 disciples, okay its not anywhere in the Bible but I can see it in my own head.
I imagine the angels telling the disciples, "Hey guys, ummmm, stop looking up there. He's gone! Remember, He told you this world isn't your home, nor is it His. Remember, He's gone to prepare a place for you. He told you all of this, so why are you so shocked? Stop staring up there, He promised you that He will return one day so go! Go spread the news about what just happened, to make other disciples! GO!"

*One thing this first chapter really points out to me is that the disciples had a strong desire and a commitment to reach everyone! They didn't care who it was they wanted to share that Jesus is the One they all had been waiting for. And then when they would reach one, they built that person up, they trained them so that they too would reach. They weren't going to stand still, so that the world will stand by. They got out there BOLDLY, COMPASSIONATELY, FAITHFULLY, and most of all LOVINGLY, and shared the grace and love of Jesus. They reach out, and then built up so that more can be brought in.