Acts 20:17-38 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (v. 24) Paul’s life goals were fairly simple and straightforward, to …
Author Archives: Fred
July 14 / Acts 20:1-16
Acts 20:1-16 We’re a bit chronologically challenged with today’s reading. In The Chronological Study Bible the first three verses in chapter 20 fall between I and II Corinthians. That is, Paul was on the move from Ephesus (after the “Demetrius silversmith” riot in Acts 19) to Macedonia (Thessalonica, Philippi) where he presumably wrote II Corinthians, …
July 13 / Romans 16:17-27
Romans 16:17-27 So today we finish Romans! We’ve been just four days short of three months in I and II Corinthians and Romans, Paul’s longest letters. Tomorrow we move back to Acts for a bit. It’ll be a nice change! Scholars believe that Paul wrote Romans from Corinth. Recall that he had spent 18 months …
July 12 / Romans 16:1-16
Romans 16:1-16 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. (vv. 3-4) Prisca (Pricilla) and Aquila, Aquila and Prisca. Yeah, another day of tying things together! We met …
July 11 / Romans 15:22-33
Romans 15:22-33 …I have so often been hindered from coming to you. (v. 22b) Way back on March 31 I posted that Paul had gone south from Thessalonica to Berea, then on to Athens and Corinth. He was being hassled by Jews in Thessalonica, so much so that The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas …
July 10 / Romans 15:14-21
Romans 15:14-21 …thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation… (v. 20) So often I look for Paul’s writing with application to our own times. Sorry, not this time! In our sharing of the Gospel, every one of us …
July 9 / Romans 15:1-13
Romans 15:1-13 I am amazed at Paul’s command of Scripture. In a span of just four verses (9b-12) he quotes from II Samuel, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, and twice from Psalms. Understand, folks, he did not have Google to search electronically for “Gentiles”. He KNEW where to find those specific verses. Amazing!! We who are strong have …
July 8 / Romans 14:14-23
Romans 14:14-23 It’s a simple statement, but I love Paul’s wording: Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. (v. 15b) If our “liberty” in our behavior creates friction with another brother or sister, it’s better not to exhibit that liberty. I was trying to think of an example and came up …
July 7 / Romans 14:1-13
Romans 14:1-13 Paul could easily be talking to us today in today’s reading. Initially I was thinking Democrat-Republican policy fights and name-calling at the national and state level. Then I thought of our own Men’s Group Bible Study, how our discussions have sometimes gotten heated over politics – unfortunately, more often than not, way off …
July 6 / Romans 13:8-14
Romans 13:8-14 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. (v. 11) I think Paul is speaking directly to today’s Christian church – it truly is time to wake up!! We’ve been slumbering long …