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¹Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” ²At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. ³Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”  ⁴Those who were standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”  ⁵Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'”  ⁶Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” ⁷When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)  ⁹There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ¹⁰The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

¹¹ The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

Meditation

1. Why would the high priest react so violently to Paul’s statement in v1 (see 21:21, 28)?  Why and how does Paul show his respect for the Jewish Law (vv1-5)?
2. Paul then changed the focus of attention from whether he has kept the law to his hope in the resurrection.  Given the tension on this issue between the Pharisees and Sadducees, what must the next few minutes of the assembly have been like?  What effect does the split have on Paul’s cases (vv7-10)?
3. The last time God spoke to Paul was in 18:9-10, after he had experienced a series of setbacks.  How would the Lord’s message here (v11) help Paul again?  How might this help Paul remember what the Lord said about him to Ananias in 9:15-16?
4. Describe a time when you felt the Lord especially near to you.  What circumstances caused this sense of the Lord’s presence?  What were the impacts on you?

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Paul knows that Jesus’ resurrection gave his life meaning and hope.  Sing “Because He Lives”.  Talk about the lyrics of this song.  Write the lyrics in your Family Devotional Journal.  Thank God for the hope Jesus’ resurrection gives you each day.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:26-28

²⁶ In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.  ²⁷ The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.  ²⁸ In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.

¹“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” ²When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.    Then Paul said: ³“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. ⁴I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, ⁵as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.  ⁶“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. ⁷I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  ⁸” ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.    ” ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ⁹My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.  ¹⁰“‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.    “‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ ¹¹ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

¹² “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, ¹³ came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. ¹⁴ And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; ¹⁵ for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

 

Meditation

1. Paul’s faith began in an amazing way on the road to Damascus.  He was bold to share his story and ultimately The Story, the one of God and man.  This passage gives us a thorough yet succinct explanation of the person Paul was before he met Christ, how he met Christ, and the person he became after he met Christ.
2. Reflect on your story –Who were you before Christ?  What was meeting Christ like?  In what ways is your life different now as a result of meeting him?  Are other people different today because of your interaction with Jesus?
3. Think about how you might describe your life-altering encounter with the Living God and your faith journey.  Now write your story of faith in just two or three paragraphs.  Ask someone to help you make it a simple but interesting story of your faith journey.
4. Pray that God will provide you an opportunity to present your story of God and you with another person in the coming week.  When you sense the open opportunity, take the risk and share the stories.

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Paul clearly knows that God has assigned him to be a preacher and a missionary.  God has a plan (or an assignment) for every Christian.  What do you think God has “assigned” for you to do?  How do you know?  What are you going to do about your “assignment”?  Write the assignments in your Family Devotional Journal.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:22-25

²² Do they not go astray who devise evil?  Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.  ²³ In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.  ²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.  ²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

⁷ When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. ⁸ On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. ¹⁰After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ” ¹²  When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”  ¹⁵After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Manson, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.

 

Meditation

1. Believers in Caesarea pleaded Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but to no avail.  So, they said, “The Lord’s will be done.”  How would this prayer “The Lord’s will be done” explain who’s really in control of your life?.  Now, who’s in charge of your life?  Is God in his rightful place in your life, or is there another “god” seated on that throne?
2. On January 8, 1956, deep in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador, five missionaries were brutally murdered by a tribe of stone age Indians. The five young men sang this hymn “We Rest on Thee”as they went to their death, taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Auca Indians. Check out this remarkable story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Duqi9T6JOh0

We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing, We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing, We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender! Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor, Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor, Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.

1. The five missionaries and their families knew that God was in charge of their lives.  Theirs is a life that lived out the prayer “The Lord’s will be done.”  After the murdering, the wives and other family members decided to stay to continue the missionary work left by their loved ones among these people.  A tragedy beyond comprehension, through love and forgiveness, has been transformed to an inspiring and moving story of miracles.  This link is a continuing story produced by one of the missionaries’ son, Steve Saint.  http://endofthespear.com/

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Get yourself acquainted with the five missionaries’ story.  Decide if and how you are going to view one or both movies.  There is a lot of material to talk about even if you only view a portion of them: on trusting God, depending on God and obeying God at all cost, etc.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:19-21

¹⁹ The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.  ²⁰ The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.  ²¹ Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

 

¹⁷From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. ¹⁸When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. ¹⁹I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. ²⁰You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.  ²²“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. ²⁴However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.  ²⁵ And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, ²⁷ for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. ²⁸ Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. ²⁹ I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰ and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. ³² And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³ I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. ³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. ³⁵ In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

 

Meditation

1. Paul is saying his final goodbye to the elders at Ephesus. He knows that more hardship and prison await him in Jerusalem. And he will never see the faces of these elders again.  It was a sad but fond farewell.  Somehow in just two brief years an unbreakable bond had been forged between Paul and these new Christians.
2. How was this possible?  Paul let people know how he lived (v18) by opening up his life and inviting people to see and know the real him.  Paul served the Lord with humility (v19) and maintained a close relationship with the Lord.  Paul didn’t hesitate to witness for Christ and taught new Christians God’s word (vv20-21).  He lived as an example of Christian values in action (vv33-35).
3. These qualities combined to foster a bond of love and affection between Paul and the Ephesians.  And the same qualities can create bonds of affection among us today, too.
4. Who is in your spiritual care?  How are you preparing those that you nurture spiritually so that you can leave them with the same confidence?
5. What would you want to say to those in your spiritual care if you knew that you were going to die? Take time to express your hope and your love to that person in the near future.  Ask God for the courage to say these most important words to those you love and for whom you care deeply.

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Paul obviously had a clear sense of purpose in life.  What is it (vv22-24)?  What is your life’s purpose?  Allow everyone to share.  Write them down in your Family Devotional Journal.  What training or experience will you need to achieve your life’s goal?  Will the family need to make some sacrifices to help you achieve that?

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:15-18

¹⁵ The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.  ¹⁶ One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.  ¹⁷ A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.  ¹⁸ The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

⁸ And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.¹⁰ This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

¹¹ And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. ¹³Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ¹⁴Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵(One day) the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” ¹⁶Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.  ¹⁷When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. ¹⁸Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. ¹⁹A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. ²⁰In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

 

Meditation

1. Paul’s ministry in Ephesus was blessed by God with miracles and wonders.  Some seeing this tried to imitate Paul’s ministry by using Jesus’ name to cast out evil spirits.  But they failed miserably.  Wonderful things happened among many of the believers.  The word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
2. Uttering or chanting the name of Jesus is no key to supernatural power.  The key is having a personal relationship with Jesus, being available to Him and learning to see where He is at work.
3. Do you use Jesus’ name lightly?  If so, are you willing to honour God and ask him to help you off this bad habit?
4. Is there still anything in your life that belongs to the idols or witchcraft?  Are you willing to get rid of them all?  Do you want to honour God by getting rid of these objects?  Ask God to give you peace and strength for it.  (It’s best you consult your pastor or church leader for this decision and ask for their prayer and direction.)

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Do you use Jesus’ name often?  Did you use it because of your love and respect of Jesus or for other reasons?  What is so important of Jesus’ name?  How do we use Jesus’ name properly?  Parent, lead the family for a prayer of confession, if needed, and ask Jesus to help everyone to treat Jesus and His name with love and respect.  Make a poster reminding everyone to respect Jesus’ name.  Draw it in your Family Devotional Journal.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:12-14

¹² There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.  ¹³ Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.  ¹⁴ The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

²⁴Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.  ²⁷When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

 

Meditation

1. Apollos probably came to believing the Way and learn about Jesus in Alexandria.  Basically, he was still waiting for the arrival of the Messiah just as John the Baptist.  His baptism was based on repentance but not on believing the finished work of Christ.
2. Priscilla and Aquila realized the problem with Apollos, they graciously invited him over and explained to him the way of God more accurately and clearly.
3. When you see someone making mistakes, what is your reaction?  Do you have the love and wisdom to correct and to teach?

For me ‘twas not the truth you taught,

   To you so clear, to me so dim,

But when you came to me you brought

   A sense of Him!

And from your eyes He beckons me,

  And from your heart His love is shed,

Till I lose sight of you and see

  The Christ instead.

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

When Priscilla and Aquila realized the problem with Apollos, they invited him over and explained to him the way of God more accurately and clearly.  What would you do if you see your friend making mistakes?  How would you help him/her?  Discuss different situations and ways to help.  Turn to yesterday’s page in your Family Devotional Journal, to the people and place you decided to share the gospel.  Plan the steps to carry it out and pray for them.

 

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

 

Proverbs for Today 14:8-11

⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.  ⁹ Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.  ¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.  ¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

²²Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.  ²⁴“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. ²⁵And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. ²⁶From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’  ²⁹“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. ³⁰In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ³¹For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

Meditation

1. Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill (Areopagus) began by drawing on pagan Greek poets to establish a point of contact, and then went on to proclaim God’s truth.  Paul had caught glimpses of God’s truth in the religion and culture of those people but knew that they needed to be pointed to the God of the truth. So Paul’s quotes connected him with the Athenians and set the stage for his teaching.
2. What are the “points of truth” from which you can start to communicate the gospel to those in your world?
3. Majority of the people today still doesn’t know the true God.  How do you need to better prepare yourself to effectively communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ to those to whom God has called you to minister?  Ask God’s help to prepare you to be His witness to unbelieving folks around you.

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Use a Bible Map to locate where Areopagus.  Paul shared the gospel with the Greeks at this place.  Whom have you shared the gospel with?  Where did you do it?  Identify the people and place that you can share the gospel with this week or this month.  Write them in your Family Devotional Journal.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:5-7

⁵ A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.  ⁶ A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.  ⁷ Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

²²The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. ²³After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  ²⁵About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. ²⁷The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”  ²⁹The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  ³¹They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” ³²Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. ³⁴The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.  ³⁵When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” ³⁶The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”

Meditation

1. Paul and Silas were unjustly put in jail.  However, their response to being in jail and beaten was to pray and sing hymns.  How does your response to opposition to and suffering for the gospel compare and contrast to that of Paul and Silas?
2.  The jailer was so affected by Paul and Silas’ behavior that he made his prisoners feel at home with his family, Paul and Silas baptized the family, they ate a festive meal together while nobody had any idea what would happen to Paul and Silas the next day.  What an amazing outcome out of suffering and injustice.
3. Paul and Silas speak the truth of the gospel as well as living it out. How do you give both a verbal and a living witness to Jesus?
4. Ask God to give you courage as you step in faith to obey him, to tell those around you about the good news that has transformed your life.  (Refer to the Prayer Guidelines on p??.)

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Do a Bible skit using this passage.  Decide how many characters in the skit, assign the different roles.  Record the decision on your Family Devotional Journal. Enjoy a dramatic rendition of this incredible episode.

 

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 14:1-4

¹ The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.  ² Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.  ³ By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.  ⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

¹ But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”² And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. ³ So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.⁴ When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. ⁵ But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

⁶ The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. ⁷After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. ⁸God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. ⁹He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. ¹⁰Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? ¹¹No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”  ¹²The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. ¹³When they finished, James spoke up: “Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. ¹⁵The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, ……

¹⁹ Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰ but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. ²¹ For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

 

Meditation

1. The Jerusalem council is a good model of handling conflicts within a church: to face the problem, listen to all sides, try to show no partiality, appoint spiritually mature leaders to lead the discussion, to make wise decision, and when the decision is made that the community will obey.
2. In your church’s history, has there been any problem or conflict?  How was it handled?  Compare it with the Jerusalem Council, what can you learn from them?
3. Is there any problem in your cell?  What should you do or how to handle it?

 

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

What is the meaning of GRACE?  Give some examples in your daily life that would explain what grace is.  Then, explain v11 “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved”.   Are you saved?  Help anyone who is not sure of his/her salvation.

If anyone makes the decision today, write it in the Family Devotional Journal.

 

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

 

Proverbs for Today 13:22-25

²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.  ²³ The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice.  ²⁴ Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.  ²⁵ The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

 

¹⁹ But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. ²⁰But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. ²¹They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²²strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. ²³Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

²⁴ Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, ²⁶ and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. ²⁷ And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he hadopened a door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they remained no little time with the disciples.

 

Meditation

1. Paul believed that the purpose of ministry was to “strengthen believers’ souls” (v22) and “equip the saints” (Eph 4:12-13).  We are commanded by Jesus not only to make disciples, but also to teach them to obey everything that Jesus commanded.  This is the “Great Omission from the Great Commission” in many churches.
2. How much do you know of the various Equipping opportunities at your church?  What have you been committed in?
3. Recalling your own Christian journey, how much equipping have you received?  Are you willing to receive training for spiritual growth and ministry preparation?
4. This “260 Appointments with God” is an Equipping opportunity.  Thank the Lord for this exercise, and pray that God will help you persevere to the finish line.

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Saul has changed his name to Paul.  Look up a Bible dictionary to find out the meaning of Saul, and Paul.  Do the two meanings match who Saul and Paul were before and after he met Jesus?  What’s the meaning of your name?  Pass the Family Devotional Journal for each to write or draw meaning of their names. Pray that God will help them to live up to their namesake.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 13:19-21

¹⁹ A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.  ²⁰ Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.  ²¹ Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.

 

¹In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ²While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

⁴ So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. ⁵ When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of Godin the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John toassist them. ⁶ When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certainmagician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. ⁷ He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. ………

¹³ Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, ¹⁴ but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. ¹⁵ After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” ¹⁶ So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:  “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.

 

Meditation

1. In this passage, worship, prayer and fasting are integrated into the selection and installation of Barnabas and Saul as missionaries.  Today worship and prayer are common in the ordination of pastors and installation of missionaries, but fasting is not.  Why has fasting been dropped from the preparation for these times of consecration?  How possible would it be to suggest that fasting be part of the next ordination or installation service in our church?  Or for the next church-wide meeting regarding future planning?
2. Read carefully the definition of these three elements to gain a better understanding.  Find ways to implement one of these this week.  (Spiritual Formation Bible)

Fasting: The voluntary abstention from an otherwise normal function – most often eating – for the sake of intense spiritual activity. Other examples include websurfing, TV, favourite food, sports, etc .

Prayer: Interactive conversation with God about what we and God are thinking and doing together. Therefore, there is talking and also the silently listening.

Worship: Expressing in words, music, rituals, and silent adoration the greatness, beauty, and goodness of God, by means of which we enter the supernatural reality of the glory, of God.

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

What is in a Worship service?  Discuss each item as children name them.  Plan a Worship service at home.  Record your plan in the Family Devotional Journal for your family’s weekly or monthly Worship at Home.

 

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

 

Proverbs for Today 13:15-18

¹⁵ Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.  ¹⁶ In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.  ¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.  ¹⁸ Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.

¹ About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. ² He killed James the brother of John with the sword, ³ and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. ⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

⁶ Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. ⁷ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. ⁸ And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ⁹ And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. ¹¹ When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

¹² When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. ¹³ And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. ¹⁵ They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!”¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷ But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

 

Meditation

1. What does the church’s response to James’s death and Peter being in prison (vv. 2, 5) demonstrate about prayer?  Why do you think the praying Christians reacted as they did to Peter’s return?
2. The earnest prayer of the church significantly affected the outcome of the events of this chapter. How is your motivation to pray influenced by this truth?  How have you seen God respond to a group of people who were earnestly praying?
3. Recall a time when God answered one of your prayers. Thank him for the joy and encouragement you received from his gracious blessing upon you.

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)
God did a miracle in getting Peter out of the prison.  What has God done to you and your family?  Encourage everyone to share.  Pass the Family Devotional Journal for each to write or draw the sharing. Thank God for His goodness and care.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 13:12-14
 ¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.  ¹³ Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.  ¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

¹⁹Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. ²⁰Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. ²¹The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  ²²News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. ²⁴He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.  ²⁵Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Meditation

1. Barnabas appears as a minor character taking a backseat to Paul.  His name means “son of encouragement.”  He brought the money, having sold a field, to the apostles for charity use (4:37).  Later he encouraged the believers to accept Paul(9:27).  Paul and Barnabas began an itinerary ministry, teaching, caring and evangelizing.  Barnabas is described as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith”.  Though Barnabas enters and disappears in Acts quietly, we hear echoes of Jesus: “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant” (Matt 20:26).
2. Who in your life has impacted you most deeply?  Who was like Barnabas that has believed in you, supported you when you sorely needed it? Who, as Barnabas did, “strengthened (your) souls… and encouraged (you) to continue in the faith”?
3. Barnabas could be characterized as a giver – he gave of his money, time, energy, and position.  Which of these types of giving is most difficult for you?  In what way might God be asking you to give right now?
4. How can you imitate Barnabas as an encourager of others, seeing their potential, and spurring them on in proclaiming the good news of Jesus?

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Barnabas is an Encourager and a cheerful Giver.  Do you like to give away things to people who need it?  What have you given to people?  Discuss ways and things your family can give to a needy family or a person.  Decide when and how to accomplish it.  Record your plan in your Family Devotional Journal.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 13:8-11

⁸ The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat.  ⁹ The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.  ¹⁰ By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.  ¹¹ Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

⁹About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. ¹⁰He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. ¹¹He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹²It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. ¹³Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”  ¹⁴“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”  ¹⁵The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”  ¹⁶This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.  ¹⁷While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. ¹⁸They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.  ¹⁹While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.

²⁷Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. ²⁸He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. ²⁹ So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

 

Meditation

1. The Jews did not want to interact with the Gentiles, they don’t go into their homes, or touch their things, or eat at their table, etc.  This is mainly because the Gentiles eat what was forbidden by Jewish laws, they are ceremonially unclean, and interacting with the Gentiles would make the Jewish people unclean.
2. However, while Cornelius’ messengers were on their way to Peter, God used the vision to change Peter’s view toward the Gentiles.
3. Is there anything (of culture, background, custom, habits, education, interests) that have limited or prohibited you of true fellowship or reaching out to others?
4. Reflect on you prayer experiences.  In what areas have you experienced God’s guidance in prayer?
5. What are some of the social and cultural barriers that you need to break through as you seek to reach out to your friends for the gospel?

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Which friend of yours comes from a different background than yours?  What are the differences and similarities between the two of you?  Thank God for the many people in the world.  Put a photo of you & your friend in your Family Devotional Journal. Lead the family sing “Jesus loves the little children”.  Since Jesus loves all the children of the world, so shall we.

 

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

 

Proverbs for Today 13:5-7

⁵ The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.  ⁶ Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked.  ⁷ One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

 

 

 

¹Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ²and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”  ⁵“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

 

Meditation

1. This is the beginning of Saul’s new life in Christ.  The focus of this marvelous experience is Jesus Christ.  Saul not only saw a vision, he personally met the risen Christ (vv4-5). He recognized that Jesus was the Son of God and changed the direction of his life. True repentance came through a personal encounter with Jesus, when a relationship with Jesus was established and new life began.
2. Recall your encounter with Jesus: how you acknowledged Jesus as your Lord, repent your sin, gave your life to Jesus, determined to live an obedient life, established a personal relationship with Jesus and began a new life.
3. Thank God for your conversion experience.  And dedicate yourself to God once again to live an obedient life for God.

 

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

What did Saul see?  How will you feel if you were Saul?  Who was talking to Saul?  What did Saul do before Jesus talked to him?  Do you think Saul changed after this?  Why?  Have you met God?  Share.

 

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 13:1-4

¹  A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.  ² From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.  ³ Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.  ⁴ The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.