Anthem Hayden

As Paul’s third missionary trip drew to a close, he and his ministry partners visited believers in Tyre, Ptolemais, and Caesarea. At each stop, the Holy Spirit spoke and clearly warned Paul that affliction and persecution awaited him in Jerusalem. Nevertheless, Paul remained steadfast in his conviction that the Spirit was using these warnings to prepare him for persecution, not to spare him from i...

In this week’s text, Paul is tenderhearted and loving as he informs the Ephesian elders that they will never again see him in this lifetime. This passage gives us a unique picture of Paul’s heart for people he loves, as well as a beautiful picture of what Godly leadership can and should look like in the local church. While Paul’s address was specifically to elders, his words of exhortation and enc...

This week’s text tells the story of a young man named Eutychus, who attended a church service in Troas to listen to Paul preach. Unfortunately, this young man positioned himself on a window ledge. While he was technically in the service, he was also right on the edge, right between the light of the room and the darkness of the night outside. During the marathon service, Eutychus grew drowsy and ev...

From before Roman times, Ephesus was home to a local false goddess who became known as Artemis (known to the Romans as Diana). In this week’s passage a group of Ephesian craftsmen who fashioned idols of this false deity began a riot against the believers who were threatening their culture, religion, and livelihood. Soon a massive crowd formed as numerous other Ephesians joined in the tumult, even...

During Paul’s time in Ephesus, God poured out His Spirit in numerous exciting ways: people heard the Gospel, God performed extraordinary miracles, the sick were healed, those under spiritual oppression were liberated through the power of Christ, the fear of the Lord fell upon all, the name of Jesus was extolled, people confessed their sins and renounced their sinful behavior, and the Word of the L...

This week’s passage finds Paul returning to Ephesus at the beginning of his third missionary journey. Upon arrival, he encounters 12 men who claim to be disciples, but who have only heard the message of John the Baptist. Paul then shares the Gospel with them, and they gladly respond in faith to Jesus Christ. They are then baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. Although there are clear differenc...

This week’s passage focuses on an Egyptian Jew named Apollos. He was highly educated, passionate, and articulate. He was the poster child for religion, and he boldly proclaimed his message in Ephesus. The only problem with Apollos was that he was lacking in one critical area: a complete understanding of the Gospel of Jesus. He was well-versed in the Old Testament and instructed in John the Baptist...

In this week's lesson there are several areas that we examined. We first looked at Priscilla and Aquila and what it means to use our everyday lives for the Kingdom. We also pondered what it means to trust God in the midst of uncertain trials, and finally the importance of Paul's passion for the church.

This week’s passage details Paul’s address to the Greek philosophers in Athens, Greece. Upon hearing the Gospel, the philosophers brought Paul to the Areopagus where he was asked to explain his message. Taking this wonderful opportunity, Paul confronted their idolatry and false beliefs as he shared with them the hope of the Gospel.

After being released from the Philippi prison, the travelersjourneyed to Thessalonica, where they were accused of "turning the world upside down" with the Gospel. From there Paul and Silas travelled to Berea and continued to preach. The Bereansdemonstrated more noble behavior by receiving the Gospel with eager and open hearts, and byverifying it through a thorough examination of the Word...

In this week’s passage, Paul and Silas inadvertently cause an uproar by casting out a demon. The Philippians responded by beating and imprisoning them. At about midnight, as they were praying and praising in their cell, a supernatural earthquake freed the prisoners, opened all the doors, and loosed their chains. Despite their chance at freedom, they stuck around to bring the Gospel to the jailer a...

God is at work expanding the church from Asia minor into Macedonia (modern day Greece). We see the Spirit direct Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke to know where to go, guide them in winsome evangelism, and give them words to speak. We also see the Spirit open the eyes of Lydia to truly see the beauty of the Gospel!

Jesus Christ conquered death... He is risen! As 1 Peter 2:24-25 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Resurrection Sunday celebrates our Lord’s victory over death and the grave. The resurrecti...

This week’s passage of scripture details the final portions of Paul and Barnabas’s first missionary trip. During this time the missionary team preached the gospel in numerous destinations with varying results. At various times they were welcomed, mistreated, run off, believed, stoned, and even worshiped. When we share the Good News of Jesus, we never know how others may respond. Nevertheless, we a...

This week’s passage continues to tell of Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Stopping at the island of Cyprus, they traveled around preaching the Word. Soon they were invited to share the Gospel with a very influential man, Sergius Paulus. However, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus attempted to prevent them from converting the Roman official. Unsurprisingly, the Lord prevaile...

In this week’s passage Paul preaches his first sermon recorded in scripture. While the entire crowd is initially pleased to hear the gospel, the Jewish leaders grow envious when nearly the entire city shows up the next week to hear from Paul. Sadly, these Jews were more concerned about themselves and how others perceived them than they were about Jesus and the spreading of His Gospel. Their jealou...

This week’s passage is short and sweet. Covering just the first three verses in Acts 13, we took a closer look at some of the spiritually gifted leaders of the early church in Antioch. These verses also portray a compelling picture of the passionate way these men sought the Lord’s guidance and direction. The Lord spoke clearly to these believers to go and preach the Good News across the known worl...

This week’s message reexamined the martyrdom of James and the miraculous release of Peter (Acts 12) through the lens of Hebrews 11:32–12:3. This passage teaches us that genuine, God-honoring faith sometimes results in victory, liberation, and prosperity—but not always. At other times, God’s faithful servants endure significant hardship and injustice because of their faith. Regardless of our life c...

This week’s passage details another wave of persecution which swept through the early church. This time the persecution stemmed from King Herod Agrippa, who killed the apostle James and hoped to do the same to Peter. In reaction to this, the local church gathered and prayed fervently for him. Contrary to the king’s plans, the Lord sent an angel who miraculously freed Peter from impending death. In...

Last week’s passage ended with the apostles’ amazement at the conversion of Cornelius and his entire household - salvation had now come to the Gentiles! This week’s passage zooms out to include a much larger gospel movement among non-Jewish people. In the city of Antioch, God used unknown, average believers to share the Gospel with all sorts of people. Barnabas was then sent to provide leadership...

This week’s passage is the third and final retelling of how the Lord brought Peter and Cornelius together. This time the events are recounted by Peter, who is called upon to give an explanation to the other apostles and to give a defense for his actions to the members of the circumcision party. Sadly, this last group was so focused on their man-made traditions and expectations that they completely...

This week’s text continues the account of Peter and Cornelius. As we covered last week, Peter was given a vision which directly confronted his views on what (and who) was common and unclean. He was then commanded to accompany a group of Gentiles back to Cornelius’ home. This week we examined what took place once he arrived, and it was monumental! In a surprise twist, the Lord granted salvation to...

This week’s passage centers around two incredibly different people: Peter, a proud Jew, and an apostle of Jesus Christ; and Cornelious, an Italian Gentile, and an officer in the Roman army. Despite their vast differences, they each love the Lord, and each of them receives a vision from Him which will unite them in previously unthinkable ways. As the Lord directs Cornelius to Peter, He shows Peter...

To better understand this week’s Advent theme, which is receiving, we looked at John 1. In this poetic introduction to his gospel, John declares that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14a). Sadly, His own people did not receive Him... “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). After exploring what it means t...

This week’s Advent theme is Preparation. God used John the Baptist to prepare God’s people for the arrival of their Messiah. John’s message was clear and simple - he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins as the key element for preparing oneself for the Lord. John’s curt and unpolished message, referred to in Luke 3 as “good news,” still has much application in our lives to...