In Acts 19, a mob in Ephesus drags two of Paul's ministry partners into a 20,000-seat amphitheater. The crowd is furious. They've been chanting for two hours. The instigators want Paul, and if they can get to him, things are going to get violent.Then the mayor steps up and quiets the crowd. He defends Paul's… Continue reading Subversive but Not Combative
In the mid-50s A.D., the Apostle Paul was three years into his third missionary journey, preaching the gospel in Ephesus — one of the most powerful cities in the Roman world. Ephesus was the capital of the province of Asia, a thriving port city, and home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient… Continue reading What Made Demetrius So Angry
Apollos had everything going for him. He was brilliant. Educated in Alexandria — one of the great intellectual centers of the ancient world. He was a gifted communicator, trained in rhetoric, and he knew the Scriptures deeply. He believed in Jesus. He preached boldly. And by every outward measure, he was doing great. But there… Continue reading What Apollos Can Teach Us About Following Jesus
If you've never read the book of Acts, here's the first thing you need to know: it is one of the most important books in the Bible. Not just for historians. Not just for theologians. For you. Acts is the story of what happened after Jesus rose from the dead — how a small group… Continue reading The Book of Acts in 7 Movements
Somewhere along the way, we lowered the bar. Being a Christian got reduced to something like this: you believe certain things are true about Jesus, you try to be a decent person, you show up to church when it's convenient — and that's pretty much it. But that's not what the Bible says a Christian… Continue reading You’re Not Just a Believer
struggling and striving to follow Jesus
Joshua Wester 