David Bahn - Reflections

High above all these people, events, schemes, and conversations is the upper story of God's grace, truth, purpose, and plan. Paul will safely go to Rome. Jesus has indicated that to him ( Acts 23:11 ). This episode is a part of that greater story. But there is an even greater arc that reaches even beyond us today. We read about this. It edifies us. It encourages us. It may even challenge us. B...

Perhaps I'm jaded: some of the political trickery and strong arming within the church is not just distasteful, it offends me. It's bad enough that the Jews sought to kill Paul. It is unseemly that Christians fight anyone in the name of Jesus. It is unthinkable that I would ever resort to strongarm tactics to win the day. That may be because I am well past my physical prime. But it is surel...

Our mission may not be as momentous as Joshua's or as critical as Paul's. But our calling is every bit as important. We must sometimes take courage in big or small mission efforts. We can do so - assured of Jesus' presence, strength, and promise - whether we appropriate God's promise to Joshua or Jesus' promise to us all:  I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Thank God we can cling to the hope of the resurrection and rejoice in the Holy Spirit's presence and blessings in our lives - and look toward the day when all God's holy angels will gather us into the eternal bliss of the life of the world to come.

What's it all about Alfie is a song connected to the movie, Alphie. Alphie is a young, womanising man leading a self-centred life, focused on his own enjoyment until events force him to question his uncaring behaviour, his loneliness, and his priorities. The song asks some good questions, but not the ultimate one. It's all about Jesus, Alphie. It's all about Jesus, and Jesus is Lord of...

I wonder what kinds of pettiness and maneuvering Jesus has gotten around in order to bring the gospel message to you and to me. Thank God he was absolutely committed to doing so.

I wish we never had to engage in political debates, or that such debates remained civil. But there is nothing new under the sun. God is never surprised by it. He is not powerless in the face of the most blatant attack on Jesus or his Church. There is another thing to remember in the face of the most vivid displays of godlessness and immorality. God is on his throne. There will be a day of reckonin...

The fullness of our conversion is to receive forgiveness, confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and live under Christ’s reign and rule now and forever. We’ll never do this fully and perfectly. But that is still the call. And as we turn again and again to Jesus for forgiveness, confessing him as Lord, we are set again on the path of obedient love and faithful living. All by his grace. All by the Holy...

Many years ago a pastor shared with me what I used as the title for this post:  The world begins at the end of your skin. In other words, you don't have to go far to engage in God's mission. It might be across town. Or even another state. But mission trips can also take us to downtown Houston. Your neighbor may be in a place that allows you to bring the love of Christ and the news of his r...

A Harvard MBA student once described the mission of a prominent church as being that of turning pagans into missionaries. Paul wasn’t a pagan. But in some ways he was worse. He had been a sworn enemy of the Christian faith. What turned him around? What made the difference in his life? What was he seeking to display? Now these three remain, faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.

We who have been baptized have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and connected with Jesus' death and resurrection. Our salvation has been secured. Thanks be to God!

Paul used his identity to defend himself in the face of those who were accusing him of desecrating the temple. We best claim our identity to remind ourselves of who we are and whose we are, and to offer to others a grace-filled way for others to think of us, and to point them to Jesus.

Next time you have an opportunity to do a good work, attach that to God’s grace, and his advance preparation for you to do the good thing. Paul was told about this after Jesus intervened and saved him from persecuting others and continuing on his path of self-destruction. Our rescue may be a bit less dramatic, but our calling is the same: walk in the good works that God has prepared for us to do -...

Just as Peter's encounter with Jesus and his naming as Rock-Man would lead Peter to speak of a living-stone building, Paul's encounter with Jesus' question: "Why are you persecuting me?" will shape his understanding of the church. We are the body of Christ. Redeemed. Sanctified. Saved. Enlightened. Gifted. Holy. One body, working together for the sake of each other.

The New Testament is written in koine Greek - the common language of the common man. God wants our hearts, so he speaks to us in our heart language. Engendering faith. Sustaining hope. Inspiring love.

This is the second of three times Paul will recount the events leading to his conversion. The story is always the same - with new details added or omitted each time. But it goes like this:  I was a violent persecutor of the Church and of people who followed Jesus. I was on my way to take more prisoners when I was struck down by a blinding light. Jesus spoke to me asking, “Saul, Saul, why are you p...

Paul does not protest when the Tribune and soldiers show up to rescue him. It was an  Any-Port-in-a-Storm moment for him. Wherever he might find safety and rescue it would be welcome.  I notice, however, that he does not let this traumatic situation move him away from his mission. When the danger has passed - or rather when he is no longer in imminent danger - he will ask to speak. Guess what he w...

Jesus' followers are urged to be zealous for love and good works. We must be careful that our zeal is tied to the grace and truth found in Jesus Christ. Please Note: I misidentified the James reference by one verse in my recording today. The correct reference is James 1:20. The quote is accurate.

Sometimes we may need to protect ourselves from those who would desecrate our religion, demean our Savior, or ridicule our faith. But to assume from the outset that someone is not worthy or welcome in God's house is a dangerous and destructive thing to do.

Here is the link to my photos from our teaching time in Tanzania: https://fbgpbd.smugmug.com/Tanzania-2024-PLI-International God’s source of grace and blessing is inexhaustible. It never runs out. We won’t use it up by passing it on. We won’t siphon the wellspring of his love dry. Jesus offered the woman at the well, living water,  “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” We who have been b...

We don't have the same kinds of vows that Paul experienced in Jerusalem. But we do have occasions when we must show the sincerity of our beliefs and intentions. It's more than putting earnest money or a deposit down when we buy or rent a house. It is like saying, "I do," or "I promise with the help of God," or I so promise, so help me God." And keep these promises...

These offerings, vows, and purifications were done because of God's favor and work in his heart, not as a means of gaining God's favor. His whole message stressed this vital truth - one we must keep in mind whenever we seek to honor God by any means - while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, forgave our sins, and offers us eternal salvation by his grace through faith.

Thousands of people in Jerusalem don't become believers through the influence of 12 apostles alone. When persecution broke out in the church in its earliest days, and everyone except the apostles were scattered. Those who were scattered preached the gospel wherever they went. Something must have also been happening in Jerusalem so that 1000s were brought to faith. We can learn a lot from these...

Paul will not have 30 like David did. But he will have four who will stand in the gap with and for him. They will complete a vow and vouch for Paul's faithfulness. There may not be a war in the same way as David fought, but there is a spiritual war going on. And the devil will use anything he can to derail God's mission. Thank God for those who stand with their leaders and fellow servants...

We may want to claim our lane and avoid letting someone in. But God calls us to give way for the sake of Christian love, and as a show of true humility. Paul was willing to do this for he had experienced the grace of God so richly and wanted people to know it so fully. How about us? Have we experienced the grace of God richly? Do we want people to know it fully? Give way!