Bent Oak Church

Chris reminds us that God proves himself most with us not just in the conclusion of life but all along the complex narratives of living. Christmas is the season of Advent, a time of waiting and anticipating. So too, all of life is Advent: a careful watching and waiting for Christ's return and the restoration of all things. Between Christ's birth and his return, we are not alone. We are given the spirit, made a temple of his presence. God with us. 

Justus Boever begins our Christmas series by describing his heart for missions and how Christmas is a missionary event, the God who came into the world to reveal himself and save even the one.

Luke chooses Ephesus as the final image of Paul's missionary work. It proves to be fruitful and frustrating with miracles, converts, riots, and persecution. Luke uses the stories to give us a picture of how we respond to the gospel. It's an important final perspective.

Paul was finished with his second missionary journey and on his journey back to his home church in Antioch. But Luke takes us back to a new character, Apollos.Apollos is a common name in the New Testament but a relatively minor character in Acts. It's puzzling why Luke would take the time to introduce us to him without him ever being mentioned again in Acts. Eventually, Luke's reasons come through. For as prominent as Paul is in Acts, this is not Paul's story. This is the story of how Jesus is continuing his work through the Spirit. Luke leaves no room for celebrities in his story. 

Corinth is Paul's furthers point from home on his second missionary journey. It's also a time, in his own words, of fear and trembling. Paul had been beaten, stoned, jailed, isolated, smuggled out of towns and drug before rulers. Arriving at Corinth, Paul was alone and worn down. He couldn't have imagined how his time in Corinth would have proved so encouraging. 

Paul arrives in Athens. The great church apostle is in the great city of Greek philosophy.The Greeks weren't too impressed with his preaching. They taunted him as a babbler and after listening to his message mocked his hope in the resurrection. 

It is hardly the first time accusations have been made against Paul or the church. From the beginning, Christians found themselves defending their faith before religious leaders and politicians.But unlike the great speeches of Peter and Stephen, these accusations against Paul go unanswered. They are left hanging—left for us to consider. Wherever the gospel is preaching, the world is turned upside down; Christ is king. 

No sooner had the church reconciled its disputes at the Jerusalem council than we discover another dispute, this time in the most unexpected place—Paul and Barnabas. Two of the church's most prominent leaders ended up in sharp disagreement, and this time there was no reconciliation. Frustrated, the two friends split and each when their own way. Luke is careful not to take sides, but he doesn't white-wash the embarrassing moment. He wants us to see how easily our personalities drive wedges between friends. He also hopes we will see how God works even the worst of our personalities for his good.

No one likes talking about conflict, but we all experience it. For all of the early church's successes, they weren't exempt from conflict. Paul and Barnabas are surprised to find teachers from Jerusalem teaching their congregations in Antioch that without circumcision, you can't be saved. Paul adamantly disagrees. The dispute leads to the first church council in Jerusalem.It's not a blueprint for handling conflict, but paying attention to their conversation helps us learn about how to better handle our own.