“Something like scales fell from his eyes” (v. 18). That’s how the Bible describes Saul regaining his sight after being struck blind on the road to Damascus (v. 8). But it wasn’t just Saul’s physical vision that was restored – all the events of this passage opened his spiritual eyes…

“How can I possibly share the gospel with someone like him? We have absolutely nothing in common!” As American culture continues to fracture into smaller and smaller fragments, It’s easy to give into such despairing thoughts. This time of year in Port Gibson, Mississippi, you can run into young men…

There have always been people who come to Christ for the wrong reasons. And this isn’t just true of the social-climbers who come to worship to make connections with prominent people, or the teens who attend youth group to get a date. Don’t we all want more understanding of the…

Stephen was killed by an angry mob that threw rocks at him until he died (7:59). Saul broke into Christians’ homes, dragging them off to prison (8:3). These events, which happened some 2000 years ago, could have been pulled from today’s headlines in many parts of the world. In Iran,…

“Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us” (6:14). That’s what Stephen’s accusers said, and we cannot deny that many modern Christians are just as attached to the buildings in which they gather, as well as to their particular worship practices….

“We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses” (6:11). That’s what Stephen’s enemies said. They thus claimed to be the true disciples of Moses, the true adherents of the Law of God, the true followers of the “customs that Moses delivered to us” (6:14). In response, Stephen pointed out…

Bible Reading for March 8 – Acts 6:8-7:16 Those who reject the authority of Christ are not, after all, very creative. From radical Muslims who disown family members who become Christians to Marxist college professors who flunk students who stand up for Christian teachings, those who hate Jesus still tend…

So much of how Presbyterians organize our congregations can be found in this brief passage. Here we see the church governed not by one pastor but by a group of twelve apostles – we call our leaders ruling elders because that’s what the Apostle Peter called himself (I Peter 5:1)….

It’s easy to become discouraged when you are the object of bullying. And when the bullies control all the important cultural institutions and positions of political power, and when they are ready to arrest and beat and even kill people who disagree with them, how can anyone hope to stand…

Let’s face it – it would be easy for cult leaders and preachers of the health-and-wealth gospel alike to use the story of Ananias and Sapphira to wring more money out of their frightened followers: “If you don’t give all your money to God – and especially to my ministry…