Monthly Archives: June 2012

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day six)  “Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service” (2 Timothy 4:11)  It is possible to have a positive end to a difficult chapter.  Sometimes being “friends again” is better than being “friends the first time”.  No narrative is supplied [...]

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day five)  “And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another and Barnabus took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus.  But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord”  (15:39-40)  Sometimes godly people disagree.  Sometimes strongly.  [...]

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day four)  “He (Barnabus) rejoiced and began to encourage (parakaleo) them”  (11:23)  “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (parakaleo) (John 14:16)  “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the GIFT of [...]

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day three)  “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (11:24)  The Greek word pleres meant “full”.  It described a vessel filled to the top, a surface covered in every part, or a soul completely permeated.  The Bible says that we must be filled [...]

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day two)  “He rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord”  (11:23)  I sometimes think that encouragement should be written enCOURAGEment.  Most moderns miss the heroic call that the ancient word implied.  Perhaps this explains the nickname “Barnabus” (Arabic, bar=son of, [...]

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day one)  ”Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabus by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement). . .sold it (his land) and brought the money and laid it at the apostle’s feet”  (4:36-37)  Encouragement!  What a great word.  In a world that [...]

RE Verse reading–Acts 2:41-47, 4:32-35 (day seven)  “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles”  (2:43)  Occasionally, I hear people say that awe means “respect or reverence”.  Maybe so, but the Greek word used by Luke in Acts 2 is the common word for fear. (phobos-”panic, dread [...]

RE Verse reading–Acts 2:41-47, 4:32-35  “For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. . .If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit”  (Galatians 5:22-23, 25)  It can be discouraging to look at the picture of the early church.  Their “first love” (Revelation [...]

RE Verse reading–Acts 2:41-47, 4:32-35 (day five)  “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own.” (4:32)  “Now is the law of the Jungle–as old and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep [...]

RE Verse reading–Acts 2:41-47, 4:32-35 (day four)  “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common”  (2:44)  I am at Youth Camp this week.  Thank you for your prayers.  Our evening sessions are focused on the fruit of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-23 (taken together with our reading in Acts) gives powerful testimony to the words of [...]