The Prophets Did Not Bring a New Message
When the prophets prophesied, they did not bring a new message. They spoke according to the covenants—the Scripture—that had already been given.
Addressing the Issue of Racial Tension
Though it is often overlooked, racial tension is present throughout the book of Acts and had serious implications for the development of the church. This message introduces the issue of racial tension by examining the history of racial tension in the first century church and how it applies in our generation.
God’s Discipline is a Sign of His Commitment
God’s judgments preserve His unique purposes for Israel. They are not a sign of His rejection of Israel, but a sign of His unique relationship to her. God disciplines Israel so she will ultimately become the saved nation He has destined her to be. When God delays judgment, sin and
God Disciplines His Children
God’s discipline may seem severe, but it is ultimately a display of His righteousness for our good.In His discipline, God displays His glory, the seriousness of sin, His tender concern for us, and His commitment to mature us. God’s discipline is so perfect His own Son was matured by it:
God’s Loving Discipline of Israel
We are usually uncomfortable with God’s judgments because we lack a revelation of the greatness of God and His name. When we esteem a person, we are naturally enraged when their name is maligned. The greater revelation we have of the greatness of God, the greater agreement we will have
The Vengeance of the Covenant
God’s judgments are described as the vengeance of the covenant.[1]God’s goodness causes Him to respond to the blasphemy of His name with vengeance. His vengeance results in great good for His people. Creation flourishes when God expresses His zeal for His own glory.This is a key difference between God and
The Cross—The Ultimate Revelation of God’s Judgments
The cross is the ultimate demonstration of the nature of God’s judgments. It reveals the certainty of God’s judgments, the perfection of God’s judgments, and the redemptive nature of His judgments. First, the cross reveals God’s judgment is certain.[1]There is no escape from it. God’s goodness required Him to respond
The Redemptive Nature of God’s Judgments
We tend to think of God’s judgments primarily in terms of the punishment they inflict, but they are also redemptive. When God releases His judgments for His name’s sake, the natural result is the redemption and restoration of creation.The ultimate outcome of judgment is not death, but life. God’s name
God Makes Himself Known in His Judgments
God reveals Himself in His judgments. Consider the words of Ezekiel:[1] “My eye will show no pity nor will I spare. I will repay you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst; then you will know that I, the Lord, do the smiting.” (Ezekiel 7:9 NASB)
God’s Good Discipline
The curses of the Mosaic covenant result in what we can call the discipline of the covenant. While the discipline of the Mosaic covenant is unique to Israel, Israel’s story reveals God’s nature and His character. Therefore, God’s discipline of Israel instructs us in the knowledge of God. God’s discipline
Church, Ministry, Missions, and Wine Skins
Jesus’s saying about “new wineskins” is one of His best known sayings: And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.” (Mark 2:22 ESV) Over
The Apostolic Pattern of Acts 13 (2017)
Luke’s description of the church in Antioch in Acts 13 presents Antioch as the prototype church in the nations and Paul and Barnabas’ sending from Antioch as the biblical pattern for formation and sending in the church. This chapter is foundational for our understanding of church, formation, and sending.